Moderator's Report
As regards the full lap one review similar comments to the Works race apply ie we don't penalise for a straight forward loss of control but all drivers should remember to be extra cautious on lap one due to the amount of traffic and the fact they have cold tyres. There were three major pile-ups on the first lap, two of which can be put down to a loss of control.
There were, unsurprisingly, quite a few resets in this race but pleased to report everyone complied with the stop and go / one reset only rules.
One general comment. Time and again, where a rear end collision is involved, we see the explanation being "the driver in front braked earlier then I expected". To quote the GPL Recommended Driver Behaviour; "If you are behind then you have the responsibility to drive in a manner that will not lead to you running into a car ahead. It is your responsibility not to run into the car in front of you. Even if their braking zones occur earlier than yours would normally, then tough luck. You have to anticipate these possibilities and drive accordingly." That is not to say we allow a carte blanche of erratic or dangerous driving but the only time this excuse could apply is if the car in front really does do something that could not be expected. If you haven't followed them for a lap or two how do you know where their normal brake point is? You can't assume it's the same as your own. Common sense applies but the onus is very much on the following driver and our rules reflect this.
Finally, an incident below highlights the dangers of not exiting a race immediately when you cannot continue. It is highly dangerous for others to sit sprawled across the track so please exit in a timely fashion.
Server replay time: 0h00m49s
Mike T loses control off the line. A good opportunity to quote our etiquette; "When starting, each driver must make sure they keep their car straight and fully in control."
The swerving causes an unavoidable touch from Fabio which compounds Mike's predicament. Mike did the right thing and waited for the field to pass, no one had to reset.
Server replay time: 0h01m21s
Fabio loses control. He does the right thing and waits for the track to clear.
As a knock-on effect Sky hits Nigel, normally a Rear End Shunt but it was primarily due to the field suddenly slowing and the drivers vision of the incident being obscure.
Server replay time: 0h01m33s
Al B hits Mike in the rear, simples. It can't be said Mike braked unexpectedly as it was the first lap and you have to expect the unexpected. In the consequent furore Billy can't avoid hitting Al.
Accordingly the rules have this;
Blatant Rear End Shunt: Penalty 2 Places
The victim made no mistakes and was driving their normal line at normal speed. The shunter made no allowance for the victim whatsoever. The shunter was in full control.
Server replay time: 0h01m43s
Bernie loses control and consequently Steve has to slow but no other ill effects and no contact.
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As a consequence of the above incident Mike (miner) takes a Shift/R. Unfortunately he respawns directly into traffic with a consequent pile-up involving Mike T, Fabio and Al B.
This falls under Bad Shift R territory. Factors to consider as regards a penalty are;
Did the driver manoeuvre his damaged car to a place where he knew his car would respawn off the racing line?
Did the driver wait until he was sure there were no approaching cars before he took a shift R?
Yes he did wait but no he couldn't actually avoid respawning onto the line. There are two options here;
Simple Bad Shift R: Penalty 2 Places
The resetting driver DID consider where his car would respawn but was unaware of any other cars (couldn't see or hear, or expect another car to be near). Contact was made because other drivers had no chance of avoiding the respawned car.
Unfortunate Bad Shift R: Racing Incident
The resetting driver had no choice. The most likely scenario for this incident is a mass crash at turn 1 on lap 1 where respawned cars are likely to be hit.
It raises the question as to whether a driver should consider retirement as an option when there is no choice but to reset on the line. I think that would be slightly harsh. Mike did all he could under the circumstances by waiting and GPL let him respawn into traffic. It would seem highly unfair to penalise someone for actually doing the right thing under the circumstances, what he did was neither deliberate or careless and the result was just unfortunate. Accordingly 'Unfortunate Bad Shift R' is the only appropriate option, Mike did all he could to make sure it was safe and we can't ask for more then that.
Server replay time: 0h02m59s
Sky hits Hannah in the rear. Again pretty clear cut, from checking others at that point Hannah wasn't particularly slow, if anything Sky was going a lot faster then other drivers normally did here.
Accordingly the rules have this;
Blatant Rear End Shunt: Penalty 2 Places
The victim made no mistakes and was driving their normal line at normal speed. The shunter made no allowance for the victim whatsoever. The shunter was in full control.
Server replay time: 0h13m59s
Martin hits Hannah whilst attempting to lap.
This is a classic scenario; Hannah moves to let Martin through at the same time as Martin goes to overtake expecting Hannah to stay on the racing line.
The problem here is there was a lack of understanding and it was primarily on Hannah's side. Going towards the corner H did not make it clear what he was doing. Of a lesser evil Martin could see Hannah was wavering and was not directly under pressure so perhaps could have held back.
This is swings and roundabouts so, under the circumstances, it will fall under a racing incident.
Server replay time: 0h20m27s
Hannah loses control and Billy cannot avoid a collision.
This is a racing incident however, of more concern, is the fact that Hannah sat on track upturned in a dangerous position for approximately 30 seconds.
Having taken a reset already there were no other options but to leave the race and he should of immediately exited rather then causing a potential danger to other drivers still racing.
I do not know the exact circumstances and it may be Hannah was having difficulties hitting 'esc' as sometimes happens.