Race & Protest Rules

OFFICIAL SPORTING REGULATIONS (Rev 04 • 07/08/2026)

As Sausage Dodgers Racing continues to expand, this document serves as a living framework made by us all for us all.

What is new in Rev 04?

Due to backend limitation constraints within SimGrid regarding penalty allocation, we have adjusted the denominator for in-race time penalties. The previous 3s / 5s / 10s escalation ladder has been officially increased to 5s / 10s / 20s. We have also heavily elaborated on our Race Start procedures to address recent issues with jumped starts and class spacing. Ignorance of updates is not a valid defence.

(Part 1 of 3)

Section 1🚦RACING RULES & ETIQUETTE

RACE START PROCEDURE & PACING (UPDATED)

• Multiclass Spacing: Maintain a minimum 10-second gap between classes on the formation lap. The lead car of the trailing class is entirely responsible for this. You must not aggressively close this gap before the green flag drops; the spacing must be maintained all the way to the start line.
• Pacing: Maintain a steady Safety Car pace. Maintain a gap to the car ahead of no greater than 1.5 seconds. The Lead Car behind the safety car must not exceed 50mph (80kph).
• Jump Starts: Early acceleration, pulling out of line, or overlapping the car ahead before the green flag is strictly prohibited. React to the Green Flag, not the car in front of you. Anticipating the start causes massive chain reactions and turn 1 pileups. Any car deemed to have accelerated or pulled out of line prior to the green flag will be penalized.

⚔️ OVERTAKING & DEFENDING

• The Overlap Rule: Attacking drivers must have their front axle fully in line with the defending driver’s rear axle before the initial turn-in point of the corner to be deemed alongside and entitled to space.
• Racing Room: If an overlap is established, both the outside AND inside drivers must leave a minimum of one car width of space through the entire corner.
• Prohibited Moves: Unsafe dive-bombing ("barge passing") from too far back is illegal.
• Defense: Defending means making ONE clear move off the racing line, and ONE move to return to it. This must happen well before the braking zone begins. Weaving or moving under braking is strictly prohibited.
• Track Limits: Using tactical off-tracks to execute or complete an overtake is illegal. Position must be returned.
• Mistakes: If a car ahead makes a significant error, a pass may be attempted with caution.

🟦 LAPPING & BLUE FLAGS

• Blue Flags: Indicates a faster-class or lead-lap car is approaching. The slower car is expected to facilitate the pass as soon as it is safe to do so.
• Defending: Defending under blue flag conditions is strictly prohibited. Do not block, brake check, or make unpredictable changes of direction.
• Lapping Drivers: Execute the pass cleanly; do not force lapped cars off track or dive-bomb them from unreasonable distances.
• Lapped Drivers: Stick to your predictable racing line. Move aside only when safe, and lift slightly on straights if necessary.

Section 2⚠️INCIDENT MANAGEMENT

💥 CONTACT

• Accountability: If you cause an incident or gain an unfair advantage via contact, give the position back immediately.
• Damage: If you cause a crash and suffer damage, you cannot claim compensation.
• Rear-Ending: The following driver is 100% responsible for avoiding the car ahead in braking zones.
• Brake Checking: Intentionally brake checking another driver is strictly forbidden and will result in harsh penalties.

🟨 YELLOW FLAGS & OBVIOUS INCIDENTS

• Caution: A yellow flag (whether shown in-car or trackside) OR an obvious incident visible on track dictates that drivers MUST reduce speed and be prepared to stop or take evasive action.
• Overtaking: Passing another car under yellow flag conditions or through an active incident scene is strictly prohibited.
• Enforcement & Policing: We recognize that in-game yellow flags do not render in iRacing replays. Judgements regarding failure to slow will be made entirely at the Stewards' discretion based on telemetry (lifting/braking inputs), relative speed, and visual evidence of the incident ahead.
• Penalty: Failing to slow for an obvious incident or yellow flag will result in a penalty of up to 2 License Points per infraction.

🔄 AFTER AN INCIDENT (THE REJOIN)

• Priority: On-track, live traffic has absolute right of way.
• Stopped?: HOLD YOUR BRAKES. Do not let your car roll backwards or forwards across the track. Keep the brake pedal fully depressed until you are ready to safely move.
• Rejoining: Use your relative black box and mirrors. Rejoin ONLY when all traffic has passed. Make all attempts to re-join the track at a shallow angle parallel to the circuit (max 10-15 degrees).
• Damage: Severely damaged cars must tow to the pits. You have no right of way while recovering a broken car.

Section 3⚖️PROTEST PROCEDURE

Drivers have the right to submit a protest if they believe a competitor breached the rules.

HOW TO RAISE A TICKET

1. Go to the channel.

2. Click the button to create a ticket.

3. MANDATORY:

Include Session Info, Lap Number, Video Evidence (clear replay angles), and a brief Description. Each incident must be its own separate ticket. Max 5 open tickets per user at one time.

4. DEADLINE:

Protests must be submitted within 24 hours of race start.

(Decisions are made by majority agreement among reviewing stewards to ensure impartiality).

(Part 2 of 3)

Section 4⏱️QUALIFYING PROCEDURES

QUALIFYING FORMATS

The specific qualifying format for each series will be confirmed on the respective SimGrid event page. If not explicitly stated as Open Qualifying, the standard Closed Qualifying procedure will ensue.

CLOSED QUALIFYING (STANDARD)

Drivers will have a private session to complete their outlap and flying laps without interference from other cars on track.

OPEN QUALIFYING

If a series utilizes Open Qualifying, we have elected to use this system to better replicate real life racing. You can drive tactically or do your own thing - however, you must not impede or obstruct another driver's lap in any way. If you are ‘on a lap’ you are not required to yield for another driver if they catch you. We recommend using your outlap to find yourself some clean air to complete laps without being compromised.

MULTI-CLASS OPEN QUALIFYING (IF APPLICABLE)

If an Open Qualifying session is split by class, the session will be divided into specific time blocks for each class (e.g., slower classes first, faster classes second).

• You must adhere strictly to your class's designated track time.
• Any laps started after your class's time expires must be aborted, or you will face a pitlane start.
• Drivers waiting for their class session must not leave the pits until their designated time begins.
• Be aware on outlaps that other classes may be on their final attempts; you must not obstruct them, and passing should be done safely on straights.

Section 5📋PENALTY GUIDELINES

⏱️ LICENSE POINTS & SUGGESTED TIME PENALTIES (UPDATED)

Time penalties have been increased due to SimGrid constraints.

1 License Point:

• Poor overtake forcing evasive action (No time penalty, unless pos gained)
• Weaving/Blocking (No time penalty)

2 License Points:

• Reactionary blocking (No time penalty, 10s if causes collision)
• Moving under braking causing contact (5s, 10s if pos gained)
• Defending under blue flags (5s if affects lapping car)
• Failure to hold brakes (5s if another driver collected)
• Failure to slow for yellow (5s, or more if collision results)

3 License Points:

• Reckless overtake / Avoidable collision (5s minimum)
• Unsafe rejoin (5s if contact occurs)
• Brake checking (10s minimum)
• Driving damaged car dangerously (5s if incident caused)
• Wrong car/class (No time penalty)
• Collision under yellow (10s minimum)

Section 6🚫BANS, SUSPENSIONS & REHABILITATION

CROSS-SERIES LICENSE POINTS

License points are now globally attached to your driver profile, not the individual series. Points accumulated in one championship will transfer and apply across all SDR series. You cannot dodge a penalty by sitting out one league to race in another.

ACCUMULATION OF 6 LICENSE POINTS

• Qualifying Ban: Driver must skip qualifying at their next scheduled SDR event.
• Championship Penalty: -10 Points deducted from season total.

SERVING THE BAN

• If you have 6+ License Points, you must stay in the pit lane during qualifying.
• Setting a lap: Immediate Disqualification from the session.
• Starting from pits: Penalty considered served (-6 License Points removed from active tally).

LICENSE POINT REDUCTION (GOOD BEHAVIOR)

• Rehabilitation: Drivers who demonstrate consistent, clean racing over a sustained period are eligible to have active License Points progressively removed from their profile.
• Evaluation: Point reduction is issued entirely at the Stewards' discretion. The War Room will continuously review cumulative driver records, specifically looking for a sustained absence of protests or valid stewarding tickets raised against a driver over multiple consecutive rounds. Prove you can race closely and safely, and your record will reflect that rehabilitation.

SEVERE OFFENSES & RETALIATION

• Retaliation: Intentionally causing harm/damage as revenge (intentional crashing, threats, verbal abuse, harassment).
• Penalty: Unacceptable. Penalties start at an immediate Race Ban, with full community/Discord bans considered.

(Part 3 of 3)

Section 7🤝GRID PHILOSOPHY & RESPECT

THE REALITY OF THE GRID

• Skill Variance: Our grid features everyone from "aliens" to rookies. Speed differences are a fact of life here.
• Expectation: Do not expect every driver to brake at your exact reference point. Adaptability and spatial awareness are the marks of a good driver.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• The Faster Driver: You have the pace, now have the patience. Do not bully slower cars. Execute a clean, decisive pass.
• The Slower Driver: Be predictable. Stick to the racing line. Do not drive in your mirrors or make sudden, erratic moves to "get out of the way."

CONDUCT

• The Golden Rule: We are here to race, not scream. Abuse in Voice Chat or text is strictly prohibited.
• Courtesy: A wave or a "sorry" in the chat goes a long way. Community first, grid second.

Pulled live from the SDR Discord #🏁-race-rules channel. Open the source message →