- Digital Nürburgring Endurance Series powered by VCO held according to its own circuit race regulations provided by the German Motor Sport Federation
- Separate regulations for each race series
- DMSB rulebook combines classic motorsport elements with specific requirements of Esports racing
Munich – When round three of the Digital Nürburgring Endurance Series powered by VCO (DNLS) season takes place this Saturday, the 60 teams taking part will do so based on an official rulebook. The German Motor Sport Federation (DMSB) has taken the boom in Esports racing into account and drawn up a circuit race rulebook that goes into the particulars of this motorsport discipline in detail for the first time for the 2020 season. The result is an exciting combination of real-life and virtual motorsport worlds.
Over twelve pages, the circuit race rulebook, published by the DMSB in December 2019, forms a uniform basis for Esports racing in its jurisdiction. Before the current global crisis brought about a massive increase in interest in virtual racing, the DMSB founded Sim-Racing AG, and the association members sat down with numerous representatives of the Esports racing community. Their objective was to professionalise virtual races under uniform rules, and in doing so align it with real-life motorsport.
“This rulebook came into being in close collaboration with the biggest sim racing communities in Germany. Naturally, it is available for free to all Esports racing leagues and race series who are interested in hosting events based on uniform rules,” says Marc Hennerici, racing driver, Esports racer and counsellor of DMSB Sim-Racing AG.
With its circuit race rulebook, the DMSB is also a pioneer in the professionalisation of virtual racing on an international level. Hennerici represents and explains the national federation’s ideas as a member of the Digital Motorsport Working Group of the FIA, the international automobile association.
In terms of content, the DMSB circuit race rulebook offers a mix of traditional motorsport elements, such as rules of conduct on the track, track limits and flag signals, as well as topics specific to Esports racing – from technical requirements through approved simulations to the use of the ESC button during qualifying. In practice, this means that anyone who violates a yellow or red flag can be awarded a penalty by race control, as can anyone who uses the ESC button to leave their car during qualifying when they aren’t in their own pit.
The DMSB currently provides a race director and a race official for the ADAC Digital Cup, the German sim racing championship, the ADAC SimRacing Expo events and the DNLS powered by VCO. This race control will once again be making sure that the rules are adhered to at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife this Saturday. Where, in addition to the basic circuit race rulebook, the 17 pages of detailed regulations that outline the rules specific to DNLS races also apply. This includes the definitions of the individual classes, the conditions of participation, scoring, prize money and penalty systems. Additional bulletins also regulate parameters that change from race to race, for example the “Balance of Performance” of the cars.
The regulations make it almost exactly like in real-life motorsport you might say. Both pro racing drivers and some of the best Esports racers in the world appreciate that in the DNLS. “Everyone taking part knows what’s at stake in these races. None of the drivers do stupid things just because it is a sim race,” said Hennerici. “They have a great deal of respect for each other.”
About VCO
Virtual Competition Organisation (VCO) brings together different stakeholders in Esports, from simulation or gaming platforms and interested partners to active teams, drivers and the community. In a rapidly growing sector, VCO stands for professionalism, focus and a broad media presence. With its international network, VCO provides solutions for the best possible conception and implementation of Esports projects of all kinds.
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Alexander Mey
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mey@vco-motorsports.com
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