2023 Gold Star - Rules

The 2023 HSO Gold Star series of races will be run exclusively with the 1954 Endurance Sports Cars mod by woochoo and Mantas Isganaitis for rFactor 2.

The race server will be provided by Pascal Mikula via his Classic Motorsport Hub concern. Check out Pascal’s league plans for some very cool rFactor 1 action in 2023 !

We would also like to thank Jim from JustRace for providing us with the great Just Race Sim Manager software, and for his tremendous help and support in getting the server up and ready.

We couldn’t decently forget to give a big shoutout to Jake “GPLaps” Desmarais as well, for having created the fantastic HRRC series in 2022 which gave us the impetus to organize more online action with this great mod for 2023. If you don’t already know Jake’s YouTube GPLaps channel you don’t know what you are missing and have no more excuses now !

Finally, a big thank you and all our gratitude also goes to Darren Andrews, Toby Johnson and Aurélien Hamart who have helped immensely behind the scenes to get the show running.


Technical Regulations

Mod

• The mod comes in a modified version thanks to our resident engineer Jukka Nähri. All cars have had some adjustements made to both their specs and physics, with some cars seeing more changes than others.
  
  
• --> DOWNLOAD MOD V1.55
  
  
• To install the mod, just to put the .rfcmp file in the "packages" folder of your install (for instance : C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\rFactor 2\Packages) and install it manually in the content management interface in-game.
  
  
• One new model was added to the field, the glorious Lancia D24. The car was created using modified elements from both the Ferrari (chassis) and Jaguar (engine) cars.
  
  
• The objective of these modifications was to make the field closer to what it was in real life in terms of specs and performances. The hierarchy of cars inside a given class is thus more realistic, and the gap between classes is also more accurate. The awesome driving feeling of the original mod has not been altered though, so those already familiar with it will feel right at home still.
  
  
• Modifications and changes brought to the mod are detailed in the addendum to the Gold Star Spotter’s Guide.
  

Cars

• The field is made of 63 entries, all based on some of the teams having used the mod’s cars in period races.
  
  
• Each car comes with a custom skin made by our talented painters, Toby Johnson (cars 1-54) and Aurélien Hamart (cars 55-64). All the skins are based on the real historical ones used by the teams in those days. Many thanks to Toby and Aurélien for their amazing work !
  
  
• Four displacement classes are retained : 1,500cc, 2,000cc, 3,000cc and +3,000cc (the latter class combining cars of the “5L” and “8L” classes of the mod).
  
  
• Some entries get two different cars from two different classes to use, with its driver free to pick any of the two to drive at any given race for which they are eligible.
  
  
• Car choice is free, although it is always appreciated if the faster drivers (looking at you aliens, you know who you are) are classy enough to not necessarily go for the best cars but pick a more challenging one.
  
  
• A driver’s choice is fixed for a Gold Cup : you run the entire series with the entry you booked. Changing of entry during the course of the series will be tolerated under exceptional (as defined by the admins) circumstances only.
  
  
• As a general rule, in the event of a driver announcing their absence to a given race their car will not be made available for someone else to drive.
  
  
• A driver missing two races in a row without having mentioned their absence in the relevant race threads will lose their entry which would then be made available for someone else to drive.
  
  
• At the end of a series drivers will be allowed to book a different entry for the next series.
  
  
• Booking will open on Friday, December 23 at 8pm (CET).
  

Training Server

• A training server running on the next scheduled track will be online permanently.
  
• Server name : HSO Gold Star
  
• Password : hsogs23
  
  
• The training server will use a static real road setting.
  
  
• --> Hotlap and Live Timing <--
  

Sporting Regulations

Prequalifying

• If the number of entries for a race was to exceed the number of cars the track can host a prequalifying system will be enforced.
  
  
• Prequalifying standings will be determined by the times set on the training server. As a general rule the training server for a given round will be launched right after the completion of the previous round.
  
  
• Prequalifying rules will vary from one race to another in respects to how many cars from each class will make the cut. For example, in the instance of a race allowing 30 cars for the race the rule will be : the fastest five cars of each class (=20 cars) plus the ten following fastest cars regardless of class will be allowed to race.
  
  
• Drivers having booked an entry comprising two cars can use both in prequalifying sessions. However only the car in which he made their fastest time will be retained for prequalifying classification purposes.
  

Championship Points

• There will be four successive Gold Star series of six races each, comprising events from 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1956, respectively.
  
  
• At each race, Gold Star points will be given to the first five (5) classified overall on the following scale : 5-4-3-2-1, and to the first six (6) classified of each class on the following scale : 10-8-6-4-2-1.
  
  
• Only drivers having covered at least 75% of the laps covered by the overall race winner will be classified and eligible for Gold Star and Silver Star points.
  
  
• Whenever 75% of the total number of laps result in a number with decimals, the decimals will be disregarded. For instance for a 45-lap race the 75% mark is 33.75 laps, truncated to 33 laps.
  
  
• Next to the Gold Star, each class will have its own Silver Star, based on the points earned by the drivers in their respective classes.
  
  
• In both the Gold Star and the Silver Stars only the best five (5) out of six (6) possible results will count at the end of the championship. Two drivers tied in final points will be split by the quality of their race finishing positions.
  

The races

Planning

• All times given are Central European Time. Drivers living in other time zones can use the World Clock service to convert HSO time to their local one.
  
  
• All events will be held on Sunday evenings, with the races immediately preceded by a qualifying session determining the starting grid.
  
  
• Each event will follow either one of the three different types of formats we will use : Grand Prix, Short or Sprint. Each format has its own specific rules as regards to the number of races held on race day and the time table for the evening.
  
  
• Grand Prix is the default format with most events along the year held along its lines. It consists of a single race in which all four classes will run concurrently and of a duration of around 2 hours. A typical GP event will be run with the following time table :  
  
  8:00pm – Qualifying (unlimited number of laps)
  9:00pm – Warm-up and drivers’ briefing
  9:05pm – Race start
  
  
• The Short format consists of two short races of around 45 minutes each run in succession. The first race will feature the smaller cars (2000 and 1500), and the second one the bigger cars (+3000 and 3000). A typical Short event will be run with the following time table :
  
  8:00pm – Free Practice (all classes allowed)
  8:30pm – Race 1 Qualifying (2000 & 1500 only, private session, unlimited number of laps)
  8:45pm – Race 1 Start
  9:30pm – Race 2 Qualifying (+3000 & 3000 only, private session, unlimited number of laps)
  9:45pm – Race 2 Start
  
  
• The Sprint format consists of four sprint races of around 10/15 minutes run in succession. Each of the four races will be restricted to one of the four classes of cars. A typical Sprint event will be run with the following time table :
  
  8:00pm – Free Practice (all classes allowed)
  8:30pm – Race 1 Qualifying (2000 only, private session, unlimited number of laps)
  8:45pm – Race 1 Start
  9:00pm – Race 2 Qualifying (3000 only, private session, unlimited number of laps)
  9:15pm – Race 2 Start
  9:30pm – Race 3 Qualifying (1500 only, private session, unlimited number of laps)
  9:45pm – Race 3 Start
  10:00pm – Race 4 Qualifying (+3000 only, private session, unlimited number of laps)
  10:15pm – Race 4 Start
  
  
• Of the 24 scheduled events, 14 will use the Grand Prix format, 6 the Short format and the remaining 4 the Sprint one.
  
  
• In both Short and Sprint events, drivers having booked an entry comprising two cars can race both their cars in the two races for which they are eligible.
  
  
• In the event of a driver having scored Gold Star points in two races of a given event, only the best of their two results with be retained for the Gold Star championship standings.
  
• In the event of a driver having scored Silver Star points in two races of a given event, both results will be retained for the corresponding Silver Star championship standings.
  
  
• Race server name and password will be mentionned in each race’s dedicated forum thread.
  
  
• All race starts will be given standing, without a formation lap.
  

Server Settings

• Time scale : x1 (except when otherwise mentionned in the rules of an event)
  
• Fuel usage : normal (except when otherwise mentionned in the rules of an event)
  
• Tyre wear : normal (except when otherwise mentionned in the rules of an event)
  
• Damage mod : 100%
  
• Flag Rules : Off
  
• Automated management of illegal shortcuts disabled
  
  
• All driving aids are off except auto-clutch.
  
  
• As real road settings might vary from one track to another, this information will be made available in the dedicated forum thread of each event.
  
  
• Weather : as a general rule Gold Star events will be run under sunny conditions, but the door is left open to have one or more races with a more unpredictable weather setting allowing for changing conditions including the possibility of rain.
  

Behavior on Track

• Chatting is stricktly forbidden in race session. It is allowed in qualifying sessions for technical issues only.
  
  
• Shortcuts : a driver gaining a position after shortcutting a turn is required to give it back as soon as possible. In the case where a driver would not do it rapidly, a 30-second penalty will be added to their final race time. In the event of abusive and intentional shortcutting, severe sanctions will be applied (up to definitive a ban from the league). To make sure you never shortcut a turn, try to always keep two wheels on the track. For those who would ignore it, the definition of "the track" is the black strip of tarmac making the circuit layout .
  
  
• In the event of a collision with another driver, if you are not sure about your responsability in the accident, the fairest way to act is to simply wait for the other driver if you are in a position to do so, and resume your battle as it went before said collision. Do it wisely, slowing down can also be dangerous, most notably during the first laps of a race.
  This is not a mandatory rule, but consistantly ignoring this elemtary bit of gentleman driving will result in a penalty of some sorts.
  
  
• The series admins will not review the race replays in every detail to analyze every last overtaking manoeuvre and eventual contentious episodes. However if you feel you were the victim of a dangerous behaviour that we would have not picked up on, please contact the admins via private message about it (please mention the lap of the accident if possible).
  

Application and Interpretation of the Regulations

The admins alone are qualified to solve any problems raised by the application and the interpretation of the present regulations.

This thread is now open to posting.

The version of the mod we will use will be made available tomorrow Monday, but don't hesitate if you have any questions regarding the rules in the meantime.

Okay people, the mod is now available !

--> DOWNLOAD <--

You just need to put the .rfcmp file in the "packages" folder of your install (for instance : C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\rFactor 2\Packages) and install it manually in the content management interface in-game.

We have launched a practice server on Monza, named HSO Winter Testing#JR, password hsogs23.
You can use it to test various cars before booking opens for the Gold Star on Friday, December 23 at 8pm (CET).

--> LIVE TIMING <--

Frank Verplanken wrote:

- Prequalifying rules will vary from one race to another in respects to how many cars from each class will make the cut. For example, in the instance of a race allowing 30 cars for the race the rule will be : A the fastest five cars of each class (=20 cars) plus B the ten following fastest cars regardless of class will be allowed to race.

- Drivers having booked an entry comprising two cars can use both in prequalifying sessions. However only the car in which he made his fastest time will be retained for prequalifying classification purposes.

So, let's assume a theoretical scenario where I'm driving #55, which has a 3+ entry and a 1.5 entry.

1. My time with the OSCA is a 2:12.024, enough for top 5 in class, satisfying A.
   
2. I struggle with the Talbot and get 1:56.143, well behind many 3+, 3 and possibly 2 liter cars.
   
3. My Talbot time therefore satisfies neither A nor B.
   
4. I get to race with neither car because the car with the fastest time did not qualify.
   

Is this correct?

Yes indeed. Although to be honest even if there is room for 63 drivers I think we'll already be happy with 40 regular entrants so I don't think prequalifying will be too much of a challenge.

But if we do get 50 or 60 entrants and prequalifying becomes more competitive, I guess people with a Talbot/OSCA combo will do better to evaluate their times with those cars on a given track offline before posting prequalifying times on the official server. A bit of strategy will be involved, but really it all depends on what combo and how many entrants we have.

Also some races like those run to the Sprint format won't require any prequalifying as every class will have a race of its own and there should be room for all of them in those races.

Forgot to mention the main reason we went this way is because if we had not, then a driver having posted, say, two top 5 times in two different classes with his two cars would then theoretically have qualified them both. It would then have required us to ask him which one he wanted to pick for the race, moving up the 6th fastest of the class he doesn't want to race in up in the qualified ranks - complicates things a lot.

Granted it is a bit of a downside for people with two cars, but on the other hand having two cars at your disposal can be an advantage for a title chase as you can chose to race in the class you have more chances of getting big points in, as opposed to being stuck to one whatever the event. So I guess it evens it out a bit in this respect.

We'll see how it all goes when we get there, but there is also room for adjustments if this rule proves too unfair.

Frank Verplanken wrote:

Forgot to mention the main reason we went this way is because if we had not, then a driver having posted, say, two top 5 times in two different classes with his two cars would then theoretically have qualified them both. It would then have required us to ask him which one he wanted to pick for the race, moving up the 6th fastest of the class he doesn't want to race in up in the qualified ranks - complicates things a lot.

But why not simply pick the faster one in that case, instead of letting the driver choose? Also, that exact same scenario can happen with the rules as they are written right now - literally nothing changes, right? A driver can still do a top 5 time in both classes, and you have to remove one.

Lari Salminen wrote:

But why not simply pick the faster one in that case, instead of letting the driver choose? Also, that exact same scenario can happen with the rules as they are written right now - literally nothing changes, right? A driver can still do a top 5 time in both classes, and you have to remove one.

No because the hotlap will only show the best time a driver has posted on the server, not his two times. So in your example only the Talbot time will be shown, while your OSCA time, although worthy of a top 5 in class, won't even appear.

See the hotlap page : people have tried many different cars but only their best time his showing.

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.

No problemo .

Frank it's great to see HSO up and running again! I ran some laps on the server just to prove I'm still an old hack but it sure was fun. I think I may have some time to play here again and am looking forward to racing again!!!

Hey Paul, so nice to see you man ! Happy to hear you enjoy the mod and looking forward to seeing you on HSO tracks again !

So glad HSO is back and with its founder!
When will the car choice post open?

Quote :

- Booking will open on Friday, December 23 at 8pm (CET).

Cheers Bruno, glad to see you ! Have fun testing the cars !

Bonjour HSO,Frank.

Salut Gérard ! Je me demande bien quelle voiture tu vas prendre pour ce championnat (cf avatar ).

Par contre je pense que ta signature en bas de post est cassée, sûrement par ce qu'elle est toujours configurée pour afficher les signatures customs que Gui nous avait concocté (avec nos stats persos de pilote HSO) et qui ne fonctionnent plus depuis que le site HSO est down. Tu doit pouvoir éditer ça dans ton profil si tu veux .

A bientôt sur les pistes !

Je ne vois pas le fichier 54_HSOGS_1423.rfcmp dans le manage content.Il est bien dans le rfactor2/Packages.
C'est bon,il s'installe via le serveur.

Ah ben c'est bizarre ça A part si c'est pas dans le bon dossier je vois pas trop d'où ça pourrait venir. Peut-être quelque chose qui a foiré lors de ton téléchargement et qui fait que le jeu ne reconnaît pas le fichier comme un rfcmp ?

Gérard Ryon wrote:

C'est bon,il s'installe via le serveur.

Ah ouf tant mieux

Frank Verplanken wrote:

Lari Salminen wrote:

But why not simply pick the faster one in that case, instead of letting the driver choose? Also, that exact same scenario can happen with the rules as they are written right now - literally nothing changes, right? A driver can still do a top 5 time in both classes, and you have to remove one.

No because the hotlap will only show the best time a driver has posted on the server, not his two times. So in your example only the Talbot time will be shown, while your OSCA time, although worthy of a top 5 in class, won't even appear.

See the hotlap page : people have tried many different cars but only their best time his showing.

Hi Frank, I'm not sure the hotlap page is working correctly? I've (hopefully) attached an image, the time that shows for me here I beat several times yesterday in other cars?

The thing is that if you change cars during one same session rF2 (and the log file it generates) will only record the time you set with the last car you drove in that session, regardless if it was your fastest time of the session or not. So my guess is that is what happened for you here ?

Also your image shows your best 2000 time because it was set in a different session than your 1:50.0 with the +3000 car. That is because I don't think the hotlap can do automatically what we'd like him to do for our prequalifying system, i.e. only display the fastest time of a driver on a track and not all the times he set with different cars. So it takes me deleting manually your 2000 time in order for us to have the correct display.

Oh and also I forgot to mention that the "Records" page is generated with times taken from the log files of sessions on the server, and the file for a session is created by rF2 once the session finishes. So the times cannot appear on "Records" page before session is over, file created and browsed and processed by r2la .

ça m'a l'air bien intéressant tout ça...

That sounds very interesting

Frank Verplanken wrote:

The thing is that if you change cars during one same session rF2, and the log file it generates will only record the time you set with the last car you drove in that session, regardless if it was your fastest time of the session or not. So my guess is that is what happened for you here ?

Also your image shows your best 2000 time because it was set in a different session than your 1:50.0 with the +3000 car. That is because I don't think the hotlap can do automatically what we'd like him to do for our prequalifying system, i.e. only display the fastest time of a driver on a track and not all the times he set with different cars. So it takes me deleting manually your 2000 time in order for us to have the correct display.

Much of this becomes a non-issue once we are in our car of choice Thanks Frank!