When Race2Play opened it's doors this past January, we began a whole new level of sim-racing. International to the extreme and numbers of participants unmatched by any other online racing organization. Along with that doors opening to the public came some new 'rules' to the world of sim-racing that conflicted, or differed, with much of our past sim-racing experiences. At first these new, odd rules were met with some resistance. Now, a half-year later, they have become the norm and have even been adopted in many external leagues.

I thought it was time to explain why some of these odd-ball rules exist at Race2Play and what they are doing for you as the race participants and future real world track-day drivers.

Re-joining the racing surface
This policy is simple; Safety. When you attend a track-day, HPDE, club event, or even many amateur racing events, you are not allowed to rejoin the racing surface until a track corner worker directs you too. This policy is simply to prevent the "heat of the moment" instinct to get back in the race without losing positions. That instinct puts people at risk, and if you were to attempt it at a NASA/HPDE/Club event you would be black-flagged and sent home without a refund. A U-turn across a racing surface would likely get you black-listed across all sanctioning bodies and clubs in your region... if you survive the accident you will have caused.

Use of ESC key in qualifying session
This was a very new rule in sim-racing. Many new members of Race2Play have difficulty with this policy, but there is some very simple logic behind it's implementation. As much as this rule can be considered to be in place for realism, it is not. Again, it's reason is safety for all cars on track. When you know that you only have one car, one life, no reset button... you drive differently. You drive with more caution and patience. Because of the different mindset, there are less accidents in qualifying. Less accidents equates to a better experience for everyone. Even if a person does have an accident, we all know he will not be back on track afterwards so the track is safer the rest of the session. Race2Play is teaching you to pace yourself so when you attend a real-world track event, you know better then to attempt hot laps right out of the pit lane.

Paddock and Pit speed limits
Why do we bother when there is no life or limb at risk? Again, safety. Not that we are going to be harmed by it while sitting behind our PC, but the fact remains that many of us will eventually be attending a NASA event or equivalent. When you make that step and are in your car cruising down the pit lane for the first time, what do you want to have as your instinctive reaction? Speeding or following the speed limits of the track? This rule, while not necessary in a simulated world, is embedding real-world instincts into your brain and preparing you for when your life and limbs *are* at risk.

Another aspect to this policy is the waiting for the green lights at the end of pit lane (single file). This is really a simple thing and we all should be following it. If you were to attempt to enter a "close track" at a NASA event, you would be sent home before you completed your first lap. Recently, a few Formula-1 drivers found out how serious the FIA is about a red-light at the end of pit lane (Montreal) with two drivers being DQ'd from an event all together. You dont want to be that guy at an HPDE event.

Passing / Being Passed (aka "Do not move over for faster cars")
Another policy that is met by much confusion as most other online racing organizations have required slower cars to "move over" for the leaders. Blue-flags are not enforced at Race2Play, and to go even further it is highly discouraged for a slower driver to move off line to allow a faster car to pass. Why? (I bet you already know the answer) Safety. The faster car is the one responsible for completing a clean and safe pass. He is likely the more experienced driver as well. He is the one that should be making the decision where it is safe (or not) to complete a pass. When a slower car moves over, not only are you being unpredictable you are being hazardous. Again, this helps prepare you for a real world track day or HPDE event. At my first HPDE event the entire group was told by the lead instructor, "If you move off line to let someone pass, we will kick you off the track and be sent home". For the same reasons stated above, NASA requires their non-professional participants to stay predictable and safe.

Marked Course (aka "White Lines rule")
A dual purpose rule both to keep everyone on an even playing field and safety, the "white lines" rule sets clearly defined and never changing boundaries to what is considered the safe racing surface. Anything beyond those white lines not only can be seen as an unfair advantage, but also can be extremely hazardous to yourself and others when in close proximity to others. While some NASA HPDE events will allow you to cross the lines to hunt for different racing lines, it is never the best choice as a safe line. Race2Play sides with caution over faster laps and this is great instinct to have when you are at a real world track day event.

I know many of you may not realize it but these odd-ball policies are preparing you for real world racing. You will be one step ahead of everyone else with more instinct, knowledge, and comfort. You will be safer and so will all others on track with you. Instructors will acknowledge this immediately and sign you off into more advanced classes faster, saving you money and time.