Track rules

From Trackpedia

1.Don't hold up a faster car. Time trialing club rules will invariably include no passing in corners, and depending on the track, faster cars will not necessarily be able to easily pass you on the straights. If a car catches up to you in the corners, but you can pull away on the straights, then the other car is still faster overall. Slow down on the straight (yes, that means let up on the gas), and let the other car pass.

2. Raise your arm to communicate significant slowing in an unsual spot. If you are slowing more than usual or in an unusual place for any reason (trouble with your car, you see debris, or a car in trouble ahead, or you're planning on pulling into the pits), raise your right arm so your hand and forearm are visible through the rear window. A raised arm is a universal signal that indicates a car is slowing well below the racing pace. If you're just letting off the gas to slow down in an unusual place, touch or even lightly pump the brake pedal so the lights show. Clubs with a majority of street cars often prefer drivers raise their left arm out the window. It is more visible, but under race conditions the window would have a net, so get in the habit of using and looking for the right arm inside the car if you plan to move up to a racing class. If you are wiggling your right arm between the seats, it's a good idea to wave your arm a little to be sure the driver behind notices.

3. Get off the racing line if your car has problems. If you're having trouble with the car, or are going to pull into the pits, drive the car off the racing line. That is, do not stay driving on the normal path you would use when racing. Stay out of the way of other cars by driving where they are not likely to be.

4. Let faster cars know its OK to pass. As time trial driving typically does not allow passing in the corners, it is important to communicate with other drivers that you are aware of their presence and need to pass. Even when there is no passing in corners you should develop the habit of checking your mirrors. Someone may have brake troubles, or may simply get in over their head thinking they could have passed you before the corner. If you see someone needing to pass, wave your hand and point the driver behind to the side of the car you want to be passed on.

Whether passing is done on the left or the right can depend on a few factors. The club you run with should have very clear rules about this. Usually the safest rule is to have the car doing the overtaking make the pass off the racing line. The slower car stays on the racing line. In club time trialing, with many driver's not having much track experience, the slower car may not even be aware of the faster car, and this rule helps to avoid accidents due to miscommunication.

5. Keep your cool and use the race steward to mediate if you need to. Time trial racing, like anything else, will have its hot-dogs that don't believe the rules apply to them. If a driver obviously ignores the rules, and is compromising his and your safety with his driving, you owe it to both of you to complain about it. You have two choices: you can complain directly to the driver, or do it through an event official, typically the race steward. Which you do depends on you. If you can engage in a conversation politely reminding the driver of the rules that perhaps he wasn't aware of, then by all means, you'll probably make a friend out of it. Sometimes what appeared to you as an aggressive move, was due to misunderstanding or maybe even car trouble. If, however, you suspect that either you or the other driver is likely to get a little heated over the discussion, then it's better to use an official as your liaison until cooler heads can prevail.

6. The nearest visible corner worker is your communication point when you go off the track. If you spin off the track, once you have stopped, give a "thumbs up" to the nearest corner worker to indicate you're not hurt. If you do not move the car, and if you do not motion to a corner worker, the track officials will assume you need assistance. If your car is not damaged, and you're OK, position the car so you can see the nearest corner worker, and he can see you. The corner worker will let you know when it is clear to enter the track. If he holds up a few fingers, he's telling you how many cars will pass before you can go. Enter the track slowly, and off the racing line if possible. Do not spin the tires -- this will just spray debris all over the track and cause delays to get it cleaned up.

7. On or off the track, never drive against traffic. When you spin off the track, and want to get back to the pits, never drive against the flow of traffic on the track or even off the track. Even if the nearest exit is just a few yards back, drive with the flow of traffic to the next exit -- even if it is all the way around the track. If your car is damaged, stay put until the session is stopped. You don't want to end up in a worse position, and you don't want to be dropping car parts or fluids on the track, or increasing the damage by driving the car.

8. Never back up in the hot pit unless directed to do so by a track official. The hot pit is part of the track, and part of the one-way flow of traffic.

9. Do not spin: If you spin round or are about to, just brake and declutch as hard as possible. Keep vigilant to a visual target in the intended direction, to quickly regain your driving line if allowed to keep on going. Most race tracks do not allow more than two spins.

Use of flags

In open-wheel, stock-car and other types of circuit auto races, flags are displayed to indicate the general status of a race and to communicate instructions to competitors in a race. While the flags have changed from the first years (e.g. red used to start a race), these are generally accepted for today.

Flag	Displayed from start tower	Displayed from observation post
	The race has started or resumed after a full caution or stop, or the race is proceeding normally.	End of hazardous section of track.
	Full course caution condition for ovals. On road courses, it means a local area of caution. Depending on the type of racing, either two yellow flags will be used for a full course caution or a sign with 'SC' (Safety car) will be used as the field follows the pace/safety car on track and no cars may pass.	Local caution condition — no cars may pass at the particular corner where being displayed.
	Debris or slippery patches on the track.
	The car with the indicated number must pit.	The session is halted; all cars on course must return to pit lane.
	The car with the indicated number has mechanical trouble.
	The driver of the car with the indicated number has been penalized for misbehaviour.
	The driver of the car with the indicated number is disqualified or will not be scored until they report to the pits.
	A car must allow another car to pass if the flag is blue only. With an orange or yellow stripe, it simply serves as a warning that faster traffic is behind.	A car is being advised to give way to faster traffic approaching.
	The race is stopped—all cars must halt on the track or return to pit lane.
	One lap remains.	A slow vehicle is on the track.
	The race has concluded.

Exactly what the organization will do at the event will always be covered in driver's meetings.

One very important point about flags -- pay attention to all flag stations! It is very easy to ignore them as you get accustomed to the track environment. However, you must make it a mental point to know where each station is, and to remain aware of every station on every lap. This doesn't mean staring at each one as you approach it, but there is typically enough time for a glance at each station. You'll also need to develop the skill of keeping aware of them from your peripheral vision.

The flag workers are there for you and your safety. Pay attention to them as they may be communicating something that will save you and your car from serious harm.

Use of hand signals

Hand signals are used in two distinctive communicative systems: The first with other drivers and the corner workers. You make contact by hand signals to other driver whenever you:

Passing: Slower cars are obligated not to hold back faster cars. Therefore, they must let the following driver to know it's okay to pass (and not to tell him to pass), in passing zones.The passing signal is – Driver’s left arm raised out the window, fingers pointing to the passenger side of the car. The car being passed holds the line and is passed on the right.
Going back into the pits: Slow down gradually while putting your left hand out the window and making a fist pointed up.

Connection with the corner workers is done by weaving your hand out the window, which is used to let them know you are fine after a spinout or off-track venture, or to acknowledge them that you have seen the flag (usually the black or checkered flag) and are yielding to it. Another use for the hand wave is the traditional 'thank you' to the corner workers during the cool-down lap.

Pit rules

When coming out of a lap, go into the hot pit directly and not the Paddock. In the pits, do not overdo the specified speed limit untill passing the go sign into the track. Reversing, passing or stopping in the Pits are forbidden unless permitted and guided by a track official and likewise, the pit lane is forbidden in use as part of the track for cornering and/or passing.

When exiting the pit-lane onto the track, await order to procced and stay to the entrance side of the track. Be carefull in entering the track, both from fast cars on it, as from other cars besides you attempting an overtake. When pulling into the pits, make sure you give the required signal in advance, on the exit of the corner before the pit enterance lane. Stay all the way over to the side of the track and pull into the pit lane slowly

Referenced material

[1]