This topic relates to the Bathurst 1000 on Oct. 12.

This event will be run differently from any other event at Race2Play. Any group of drivers wishing to cover the 1000 km distance as a team must gather in the same physical location, use the same PC, the same wheel, the same setup ... Real driver changes like it's done in the real world. All drivers on the team will be credited with the same finishing position and laps following the race.

Understand ... Software driver changes or hot-swapping are not allowed. The only driver changes allowed are by drivers gathered in the same physical location using the same PC.

If you can compete as a team under these guidelines (in the same physical location), please do so. Create a team for this special event, or use an existing team. Have *all* drivers sign up for the event under the team name. After the event, all drivers will be credited with the team car's finishing position and laps.

Solo drivers may run the race, as well, but should NOT enter under a team banner. Leave the team entry blank to differentiate between team entries and solo drivers.

It is understood that at some point during the 1000 km, a solo driver may have to take an extended break. To do this, pull your car into pit lane and park in an empty garage or in the red-highlighted area in the image below, making sure not to block any other cars.. Do not park in a pit stall as it will prevent another car from being able to pit.

On race-day
On race day, only the starting driver will connect to the race, using his proper driver name. Only the starting driver will be credited with the qualifying position. During the race, change drivers at any time and at any interval. For everyone's sake, please conduct driver changes in pit lane in your pit stall. The race is expected to last 6 hours or more.

I recommend having a spare PC or laptop for live scoring and voice communications between teams and stewards.

We are planning to have two "manual caution periods", one every 2 hours (at the top of the hour). These caution periods will be called by the Stewards via in-game chat. During these two caution periods, all drivers will come to a full stop on the grass after the pit exit (see image above), and in the order each car crossed the S/F line. You may pit coming to the caution, but may not exit pit lane (stay at pit exit until Steward instructs you to exit). Each caution period will last exactly 10 minutes, with the countdown timer starting once the last car has come to a full-stop.

Since there will be groups of sim racers together in one location, take this unique opportunity to have a BBQ or something of that nature. Take pictures. This is an all-day excuse for bringing together like-minded fellows for a good time. Enjoy!

NOTE: As we exceed a 40-car field, multi-driver teams will get priority over solo-drivers. Solo-drivers will be sorted by membership level just as in a normal R2P event.

Find drivers local to you. Make a post and get your team organized.

Some changes:

- This event is now open to Guest members. In fact, we are allowing guest members to sign up now (instead of waiting for the 7-day sign up period to open). All members may join the event now, no waiting...

- If you are co-driving with a team, make sure to enter the event under that team. Guest members do not have their own team so they will either have to team up with an established team or drive solo. Guests MUST still have a guest-membership at Race2Play and sign up on the event page.

- Teams... All drivers listed under your team will be scored as your driver. If you are wishing to run two separate cars, do so by forming another unique team. Scoring will be based on teams, not individual drivers.

- If you are solo-driving, do NOT enter the race under a team. This will avoid confusion on my part.

- There will be two (2) mandatory "manual cautions" during the race. Details are posted in the notes above. This to to help in two ways; 1) solo driver bathroom breaks, and 2) avoid a hectic race pace. Since you all know a caution will be coming anyway there is no need to do anything more then stay on the lead lap for the first 4 hours.

- Race distance will stay at 1000km (161 laps)

After we gather up, is the caution period a "yellow flag/safety car" procession or a "red flag" stop?

Full-stop = (red flag) for 10 minutes.

Partial "manual formation lap" to re-start

"no need to do anything more then stay on the lead lap for the first 4 hours."

What happens if I got a lap down before 4 hours has elapsed?

Tom, if you fall a lap down then you will continue the race after the cautions 1 lap down.

Basically, my original statement of "no need to do anything more then stay on the lead lap for the first 4 hours" is saying that you do not need to worry about keeping pace with the leader. A smart racer will let the hot-lappers go ahead and be concerned only with staying on the same lap as the leader. We all know that at the 2 hour mark there will be a caution that will bunch all cars back up. Then, at the 4 hour mark another caution that will bunch the cars back up.

So 1 hour and 59 minutes in to the race you could be 90 seconds behind the leader, but once that caution period is completed you will be within just seconds of him... "no need to do anything more then stay on the lead lap for the first 4 hours"

This also means that the leader has no reason to try to build a gap by hot lapping early on as that gap will magically disappear at the 2 and 4 hour marks, so slow down and enjoy the scenery.

Doing a little math here...

If the race pace with be in the 2:12 per lap, then there will be a caution ever 52-54 laps (factoring in pit stops and formation laps).

In theory, you can lap at 2.4 seconds off the leaders pace and still be on the lead lap at the end of each 2 hour green flag period.

I would suspect that most of the faster drivers would be happy to let some lappers regain a lap if we are coming to the caution flag with the lappers close in our rear-view mirror. With that in mind, I will make sure the Stewards announce the caution lap at least a half-lap ahead of time, and probably more.

I suggest everyone maps a button or a key for ignition and starter if the cars are going to be parked for 10 minutes to avoid overheating

Thanks Tim! I am looking forward to this event!