Modified 13-13 Rule    

I. Introduction

The GTS Challenge racing series is intended to be a fun, safe and competitive race series where driver skill is the most important ingredient for being successful. Good sportsmanship will be valued more than where you place during the race.

Basically this means clean, well-executed passing will be the trademark of the series. Punting one's competition off the racetrack or leaning against them to gain position is unacceptable. Everyone competing in the series must understand that a well thought out and safely executed pass is acceptable while a kamikaze pass which jeopardizes both drivers and cars is not, regardless of whether the position in contention is 10th place or 1st.

Metal to metal contact, including bump drafting will result in an investigation and possible sanctions. While a format for administering a 13/13 rule is described below, the focus here should not be on the literal interpretation of the rules, but rather the spirit.

In addition to the normal discretion of NASA stewards to deal with inappropriate and unsafe conduct during all practice and race sessions, this series will employ a "Modified 13/13 Rule." This rule means any driver involved in car-to-car contact will likely be placed on probation from anywhere between 4 races to 13 months. Should this driver be involved in another incident resulting in car-to-car contact during the probation, he or she will be suspended for 13 months and will forfeit any points accumulated for the year-end championship.

Accidents do happen in automobile racing, as this is a dangerous sport. The hope is that our Modified 13/13 Rule will set the tone for sportsmanship and camaraderie within the series and minimize the danger and expense involved in racing on track.

II. The Modified 13/13 Process

Challenge Conduct Stewards

Each race in the GTS Challenge will have a Challenge conduct steward. The role of the conduct steward is to oversee driver behavior throughout the weekend. This includes, and is not limited to monitoring and/or stopping over-aggressive driving in practice, qualifying and race sessions. If a driver is viewed as a threat to the safety of other drivers on track, it is within the rights of the conduct steward to remove said driver from the track for the day.

A. Car-to-Car Contact

In the event of car-to-car contact, the conduct stewards are responsible for the following:

a. Collection of information from all drivers involved, including videos,

b. Collection of information from corner workers where applicable,

c. Mediation of post-incident interviews,

d. Reporting of findings to the series director and NASA Race Director

B. Car Damage

Under the Modified 13/13 Rule, any incident that results in car damage will cause the following events to take place. All drivers involved will be required to meet with the conduct steward(s). Based on the data available, the steward(s) will make a decision on any probationary actions to be taken against the driver(s) involved. Any driver involved in car-to-car conduct must meet with the steward before returning to the track that day or during the weekend, otherwise the driver shall be presumed to be at fault.

C. Contact caused by the mechanical failure of one or more cars

Typically there will be no fault found with any driver involved, and no probation will be filed against any driver.

D. Racing incidents where no drivers involved feel anyone was at fault.

In wheel to wheel racing, it is inevitable that incidental contact will take place. In these cases, where no drivers involved in the incident feel anyone is at fault, no probation will be filed against any of the involved drivers.

E. One or more drivers find fault.

After review by the safety steward(s), a driver that is found at fault will be placed on 13 months probation. Drivers placed under probation may appeal to the series directors. If one or more drivers think there is fault but the investigation determines otherwise, then no probation if so determined by the steward(s).

III. Driver Probation

In the event of car-to-car contact, all drivers involved may be subject to probation. When a driver is placed on probation following an on-track incident, he/she will be under strict monitoring by the conduct stewards, the series directors, and the NASA race director. The series directors will maintain a record of each driver that is on probation including his/her behavior at subsequent races. Probation lasts for a period not shorter than 4 races but no longer than 13 months from the date of the incident forward. During this period, any probationary driver involved in another incident, and found at fault (partially or completely) will be suspended for the duration of the next race in the series. Subsequently, any driver found at fault of a third incident (second while on probation) will be suspended from the GTS Challenge for 13 months. Any driver completing the probationary period with no further incidents will return to full non-probationary status. Series directors will notify a driver when their probation has been lifted.

Forfeiture of Points / Finishing Position

Any driver found at fault in an incident will be disqualified and forfeit his/her finishing position for that race, and that race only, provided the driver is not already on probation. If the incident occurs during practice, the driver will be required to start the qualifying race from the back of the field, and only after meeting with the Challenge steward. If the incident occurs during a qualifying race, the driver will start at the back of the field for the ensuing feature race, and only after meeting with the Challenge steward. Any driver that is removed from the series due to being found at fault for two incidents within the designated probation period will forfeit all series points accumulated for the year.

III. The Appeals Process