[section last updated 09.09.08]
Section VIII.
Here are more specific descriptions of certain qualifying elements. These points should be part of the qualifying process and how qualifying is judged.
A. Qualifying points earned at a scoring zone/clipping point are per lap; meaning, drivers have a chance to score qualifying points at each pass at a zone. In other words, if the driver makes an error at the first scoring zone, they will still have the opportunity to score at the following zones during the same lap.
B. Apex jumping: an apex jump (where the vehicle touches the corner marker in a corner apex scoring point) is considered an error, and the driver will receive 0-points for that scoring zone, for that lap.
C. Outside wall contact: For clarity, if during qualifying a driver attempts an outside line drift and ends up making contact with the outside wall, maximum points may be awarded if the vehicle “skims” the wall (scrape, not hit), the driver remains in control of the car, the car doesn’t abruptly change direction, and the vehicle maintains a drift.
D. For qualifying, a “driver error” is defined as:
1. Loss of control - car is visibly out of control and not on the intended line or direction.
2. Stalling - car comes to a complete stop before, during, or after a drift or slows down to a point that the vehicle is no longer “in a drift” on a section of the course that is normally drifted when following the correct line.
3. Abrupt change of direction due to impact - situations of contact when car touches the corner dot or outer wall, and the drift direction, angle, and/or speed are abruptly altered.
4. Spin - car “overdrifts” at an angle so deep that the rear end of the car is leading the front.
5. Understeer - car’s front end goes away from the corner apex (or towards the wall during an outside line), lessening the overall drift angle of the car and causing the vehicle to drift wide.
E. Minor situations may arise during qualifying:
1. Spacing on the course: drivers are encouraged to leave some room” between themselves and the driver in front of them. Since scoring zones will only be on a certain segment of the course, the rest of the course (non-scored corners) should be used by the drivers to adjust the spacing. This gives each driver less chance of catching up to the driver in front of them, a better opportunity to drive a good line, and an unimpeded approach to the scoring zones.
2. General passing during qualifying: Passing should not be performed during qualifying, as drivers do not get any extra points or rewards for making a pass. Passing also disrupts the qualifying order, and a driver may not be scored correctly if they change the qualifying order by passing.
3. Passing due to a DNF during qualifying: If a vehicle requires an emergency repair or attention during the course of qualifying, it must be pulled off the track; in situations like this, the event staff will announce that the vehicle in question is being repaired, and the other drivers in the qualifying group are allowed to “pass” the vehicle being tended to.
4. Incidents of contact during qualifying: there should be no incidents of contact during qualifying is the drivers follow the spacing rule. However, if an incident of contact occurs in the segment of the course where points are being scored, the event staff will decide if only one, both, or neither drivers involved in the incident may or may not repeat the scored lap with no penalties.
5. Tire/Battery swapping: once a driver begins their qualifying run, tire or battery swapping is not allowed.
F. In the event that a vehicle requires emergency repair or attention during qualifying:
1. Any repair that can be done without tools will be allowed. This includes popping on tie rods, fixing a loose battery strap, etc.
2. Any and all emergency repairs are to be done OFF the track. Pull the car away from the driving line, and remove the car from the track.
3. Qualifying will continue with the other drivers in the group.
4. The driver who needs the emergency repair must get their vehicle back on the course before their group is finished.
5. If the driver is back on the track and their group is still qualifying, then the driver will be allowed to complete their qualifying laps.
6. If the emergency situation occurs in the middle of qualifying, and the driver cannot repair their vehicle in time before their qualifying group is finished, the driver will only receive any qualifying points earned up until the time at which they had to remove their vehicle from the track.
7. If the driver is not on the track when their qualifying group is finished, the driver will receive 0-points for qualifying.
8. A discharged battery is NOT considered an emergency situation, because a driver should have a charged pack ready to go before their qualifying run begins. Unfinished qualifying laps will not be repeated, and the driver will only receive any qualifying points earned up until the time at which they had to remove their vehicle from the track.
9. Tire swapping is NOT considered an emergency situation, because a driver should have selected their tires for the course during the morning practice session.
G. Qualifying points ties: There may be situations where multiple drivers may score the same amount of qualifying points. In the event that there is a tie in qualifying points between two or more drivers, the following applies:
1. Tied drivers will be compared by individual zone scores, starting from the highest score per zone. Therefore, the driver with the most “3’s” (scored 3 points at any scoring zone) will be seeded higher.
2. If there’s still a tie after comparing “3’s”, then the driver with the most “2’s” (2 points at any scoring zone) will be seeded higher.
3. If there’s still a tie after comparing “2’s”, then the driver with the most “1’s” (1 points at any scoring zone) will be seeded higher.
4. If there is still a tie after comparing down to the “1’s then the event staff will contact the tied drivers, and the tied drivers by virtue of volunteering, will decide who gets seeded higher. This should be done ‘blind” - without the tied drivers knowing the rest of the tandem bracket order, so that the tied drivers cannot willfully select who they battle first in the tandem bracket.