The 2008 SimHQ Le Mans Series

The SimHQ Le Mans Series will use rFactor to feature multi-class Le Mans style racing at four of the world's best-known endurance racing venues. Races range in length from 1 to 6 hours and will take place under various lighting conditions.

Vehicles
Prototype: Audi R8 LMP1 from the Série Internationale Du Mans v2.20 mod (International Le Mans Series, or ILMS, in english)
GT: DBR9 GT1 from the DBR9 Challenge 1.00 mod

Schedule
November 16th
carerra.4 Spa-Francorchamps '88 1.1 (included in '88 F1 track pack)
GT Qualifying: noon EST (1300 in-game time)
Prototype Qualifying: 1215 EST (1315 in-game time)
Race Start: 1240 EST (1500 in-game time)
Race Length: 1 hour
rFactor settings: 100% damage, 1x time compression, Normal mechanical failures

November 23rd
VLM Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (no chicane)
GT Qualifying: noon EST (0900 in-game time)
Prototype Qualifying: 1215 EST (0915 in-game time)
Race Start: 1240 EST (1630 in-game time, dusk race turns to night)
Race Length: 4 hours
rFactor settings: 25% damage, 1x time compression, Time-scaled mechanical failures

November 30th
iDT Long Beach 2007 v1.00
GT Qualifying: noon EST (1200 in-game time)
Prototype Qualifying: 1215 EST (1215 in-game time)
Race Start: 1240 EST (1400 in-game time)
Race Length: 1.5 hours (90 minutes)
rFactor settings: 50% damage, 1x time compression, Normal mechanical failures

December 7th
VLM Le Mans 1979 v1.1
GT Qualifying: 1200 EST (2200 in-game time)
Prototype Qualifying: 1215 EST (2215 in-game time)
Race Start: 1240 EST (1600 in-game time)
Race Length: 2.4 hours (2 hours, 24 minutes)
rFactor settings: 50% damage, 10x time compression, Normal mechanical failures

Server
This series will be run on the rFactor server SimHQ Motorsports 2
The password is Motorsports

Series Rules

• The Audi R8 LMP1 and the DBR9 are the only cars permitted for this series
• Flag Rules: Black Only
• Blue Flags: Information Only, no penalties
• Available Driving Aids: Auto clutch, Auto shifting, Spin Recovery, Traction control (low/medium/high; the DBR9 and the R8 have traction control in real life)
• No smoking radiators are permitted during qualifying. Adjust your boost settings, radiator opening, and engine revs to avoid this.
• Driver swaps: hotswaps permitted, not mandatory for race
• Vehicle setups: open setups that will transfer with vehicle during a driver swap (meaning teammates will drive same setup with the exception of steering lock and brake pressure)
• Maximum # of drivers per car in a single race: 2
• Driver swap rules: see below
• Points will be awarded 15-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 for each class
• Each driver to complete a lap in his car is credited with the points for the car's finishing position. Just like in real endurance racing, if your car records a DNF before a second driver can turn a lap, that second driver fails to score points for that event.
• Please set your rFactor connection speed to ISDN 64 up/down
• Starts: standing start with a manual formation lap (see below)

An Important Note on Engines
In the Audi R8 "Upgrades" options, a "Sprint" engine and a "4-Hour" engine can be selected. The Sprint engine has an average lifetime of about 2 hours, while the 4-Hour engine has an average lifetime of about 4 hours and 15 minutes (with reduced horsepower). The DBR8 has a fixed engine lifetime of 3 hours.

For races shorter than 3 hours (i.e. Spa, Long Beach, and Le Mans), the server will be set to "Normal" mechanical failures. This means that the engine endurance will be 3 hours for the DBR9 and either 2 or 4 hours for the R8, depending on the "upgrade" selection. Assuming the engine is treated normally for these races, there should be an acceptable safety margin for engine lifetime.

For the race longer than 3 hours (i.e. Mid-Ohio), the server will be set to "Time-scaled" mechanical failures. This means that the average engine lifetime for both vehicle engines is normalized to the race length (i.e engines would be expected to last 4 hours at Mid-Ohio). This is the appropriate server-side option to put in place so that no file editing is needed for any of the downloads required for the series.

Since the Sprint and 4-Hour R8 engines have different horsepower outputs, it is recommended that all LMP drivers carefully select the engine upgrade option for each race so that they are not at a disadvantage.

Race Starts / Formation Laps
The server will be set for a standing start. After the 30-second clock ticks down, the red lights will come on one-by-one. When the lights go green, do NOT take off like the race has begun. The clock will start at this point, but we will run a formation lap. Do not leave your grid position until the car in front of you moves. Once you leave the grid, the pole-sitter for each class will lead the field around the circuit in single file. Leave enough room to safely avoid the car in front of you. Tire- and brake-warming are permitted. the speed limit during any part of the formation lap is 100 mph (150 mph at Le Mans). Prior to the final turn, the pole-sitter will slow in order to allow the field to bunch up. In the final turn, the GREEN FLAG message will be given via TeamSpeak and rFactor chat, and the race will start. Overtaking prior to the Start/Finish line is permitted. Running into anyone or anything at the start of an endurance race is not a wise move.

Race lengths will be adjusted as best as possible so that the length of the formation lap has minimal effect on the intended race length.

Driver Swap Procedures and Rules
The SimHQ Le Mans Series will use rFactor's hotswap capability for driver swaps. In addition, all drivers of a car will be required to use the same setup (with the exception of steering lock and brake pressure). The US Pits rFactor Driver Swap Guide describes the driver swap procedure in detail.

It has been demonstrated that the hotswap method of rFactor driver changes is much more reliable than the pit swapping method that is also available. However, even using hotswaps drivers still occasionally are disconnected from the server right as they take over the car. Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done if this happens; if you disconnect from the server for any reason during a race you and/or your team will record a DNF. If you do not complete a lap you will not score points for the race.

Driver Swap Procedures Prior to the race
A. Clean-install rFactor and the mod and track for the race. I keep a separate install just for races where driver swaps are used. Jonesoft Generic Mod Enabler is very handy for this.
B. Do not use any third-party plugins such as the spotter plugin, RealFeel, etc.
C. Re-assign the "passenger select" command from the p key to another key or controller button; most drivers use the e key.
D. If desired, re-assign the "driver hotswap" command from the w key to another key or controller button; I map this to a button on my wheel so that I can access it easily while driving.
E. If you are the starting driver, load your race setup and assign it as default.
F. If you are a joining driver, create a setup with your desired steering lock and brake pressure, and assign it as default.

Driver Swap Procedures During the Race (First Driver)
1. Notify the 2nd driver that you plan to pit.
2. Confirm message "_____ is now riding with you"
3. Slow to pit lane speed limit.
4. Enter pitlane.
5. Stop in pitbox.
6. Leave pitbox.
7. Press the [driver hotswap] keystroke.
8. Wait for 2nd driver to gain control (this takes 3 seconds).
9. Press [passenger select] keystroke to exit the vehicle.
10. Press ESC to return to the monitor.

Driver Swap Procedures During the Race (Second Driver)
1. Join the server as a spectator.
2. Select the team car in the monitor.
3. Press the [passenger select] keystroke; you will see the message "You are now riding with _____"
4. Click the "Race" button.
5. Wait for the 1st driver to complete the pit stop.
6. You will gain control of the car 3 seconds after the 1st driver presses the [driver hotswap] keystroke

When you do a driver swap, the second driver will get the setup of the first driver, with the exception of steering lock and brake pressure. The second driver's steering lock and brake pressure are the values used in whatever setup is Assigned in rFactor, so make sure that you have a setup assigned. The steering lock and brake pressure exceptions are permitted by rFactor in order to accommodate different driving controllers.

In order to enter a server as a spectator, click on "Online Settings" in the main rFactor GUI, the change the "Spectate" option from OFF to ON.

Driver Swap RULES
Driver Swap RULES for SimHQ Le Mans Series
1. You are only to perform a driver swap in the pitlane while on the pitlane speed limiter.
2. You are not to perform a driver swap until after a pitstop has been completed and the car has left the pit box.
3. If a car is entering pitlane only for purposes of doing a driver swap (i.e. there is no planned service on pitlane), then the driver swap may be performed at any point in pitlane.

The reason for these rules it two-fold. First, it is unrealistic to magically change drivers in the middle of a circuit; in real life cars need to pit in order to do a driver change and the series rules enforce this aspect of the simulation. The reason cars must perform their driver hotswap after the true pitstop is completed is that a hotswap during a pitstop drastically and unrealistically reduces pitstop time.

There will most likely be little if any monitoring of the above three rules during the race, due to the difficulty of policing the procedure in real-time with a limited admin staff. However, all driver swaps are logged in the race results, and if we feel anything should be reviewed it will be. I doubt this will be necessary.


Teamspeak
Teamspeak connections are mandatory for LMS races. If you have no microphone you must at least monitor the channel in order to hear comments from Race Control. A single Teamspeak channel will be used for these races. If you wish to communicate privately with your driving teammate, use Teamspeak's "whisper" function.

Teamspeak connection details can be found here.


Vehicle Signups
Audi R8 LMP1
1. LazyCrust: #753 (Black)
2. DBR9: #757 John Player Special
3. Vikz: #787 FedEx Racing
4. Paladin: #750 (Red & Silver)
5. Papa_K: #755 (Red)
6. D Nichols: #752 (Green)
7. Chipwich: #788 FedEx Racing
8. JonC: #680 Monster Energy Racing.
9. Poker: #681 Monster Energy Racing
10. Striker7: #758 Samuel Adams Racing
11. Weasel Keeper: #757 Samuel Adams Racing

Aston Martin DBR9 GT1
1. Joe: #007 Aston Martin Racing LeMans 2006
2. Coutie: #33 Race Alliance FIA GT 2006
3. andrew1988: #17 Russian Age Racing FIA GT 2005
4. Chipwich: #62 Cirtek Motorsport LeMans 2006
5. guod: #24 BMS Scuderia Italia 2006
6. EnvyODB: car TBD
7. DJCarney: #71 Edog Development
8. SteV8: #5 Phoenix Racing FIA GT 2006
9. Ian S: #7 Cirtek Motorsport FIA GT 2006
10. Ktel: #32 Race Alliance FIA GT 2006
11. goon: #75 Aston Martin Racing ALMS Sebring 2005
12. AMK: #23 BMS Scuderia Italia
13. adlabs6: #36 Jet Alliance FIA GT 2007
14. SpyDoc: #70 Edog Development
15. Chunx: #009 Aston Martin Racing LeMans 2006

Please sign up for your vehicle here. Realize that each skin has numerous car numbers available.

I'll start: #007 Le Mans 2005 Aston Martin.

The SimHQ Motorsports 2 server is now running with both cars and all four tracks. There are 6 AIs set at 105%. Damage is currently at 50%. If you want to practice another track, advance the server.

Please post in here with any server problems.

i´ll take the #753 ILMS AudiR8
The only problem I have found on the server is that sometimes tthe shiftlight´s go to a very dim red, but reentering solves it.
On a different note I´d recommend that people not use the boost 5, atleast not by using all of the available revrange. I made it halfway down the straight before the engine blew up

#757 ILMS John Player Special R8

I had the same stuttering issues as AMK today

Yes, the ILMS P1s certainly have a lot more revs than they can actually use. I maxed out the rev limit at Le Mans and the engine died halfway through the Dunlop Curve.

It also seems that the "rev limit" setting is not really a limit at all - the value only governs where the shift lights illuminate. Even with a rev limit set in the 9,000 range the car can rev all the way up to 11,000+ in any gear.

I experienced the problem with the dim shift lights as well, and reverted to using the rFactor tachometer (toggled using the '5' key by default). With numerous mods there is a discrepancy between the in-wheel shift lights and the rFactor tachometer blinking from yellow to red, but in this mod the two seem to match up well. I prefer to drive with the rFactor tachometer off is possible, but don't mind using it when necessary.

#787 ILMS Fedex Racing Audi R8 for me please Joe

That I don´t get. When I set my revlimit in the garage I can only rev to those revs. Are you sure you don´t have boost at 5, ´cause that will allow you to rev to the 11200 mark.
Alsp I just tried to set the revlimit to 11200 in garage and the car survived 3 laps at Spa, obviously using all the revs in every gear.
It didn´t make me any faster though

Ah, I guess I was on boost 5. I was comparing the all-out speed of the R8 to the DBR9 to make sure there was enough speed difference between the two classes.

#33 Race Alliance DBR9 for me please.