Over time there have been a few new adaptations of iRacing’s Sporting Code (the rules that tell us all how to conduct ourselves on the track!). Sporting codes are everywhere in Motorsport, as it happens – when we go racing at the weekend you’re expected to conform to the the rules set out in what we call The Blue Book. That’s a MSUK Issued set of rules from driver conduct to technical regulations. It’s all there to make sure we’re kept safe and have fun. Fair enough!
Anyway, like it or loath it, it really doesn’t hurt to at least have a quick skim through this stuff. It doesn’t hurt, and having done so you’re prepared for situations because you know exactly where you stand.
I’ve done my best to summarise the actual sporting regs but if you want the latest PDF, here it is. Read this stuff and you’ll be all the better for it. I’ve picked out the most important stuff and commented where I can.

- General Principles
iRacing.com serves as the sanctioning body for internet racing, striving to create the world’s most authentic motorsports racing simulation. The iRacing Official Sporting Code governs all internet racing events sanctioned by iRacing.com. It is the responsibility of all members to read, understand, and abide by this code.
RB: This is just setting the scene. iRacing are making it clear that if you’re driving on their platform, they decide the rules.
- Conduct
2.1. Principles
Members are expected to treat others with respect and courtesy on and off the track. Bullying, abusive language, and disrespectful behaviour are not tolerated. Real names must be used for registration to promote personal responsibility.
RB: Rightly so. The World is difficult enough without infighting happening in chat. Be kind, courteous and try to consider taking a few incidents on the chin, instead of running straight to the keyboard.
2.2. On-Track Conduct
While accidents are inevitable in close competition, iRacing places a high value on responsible driving. The service uses an automated system to calculate a driver’s safety record through each lap in every official session.
RB: It’s better to start slowly and safely than go sending it into every corner. This is simply the game: Safety Rating will dictae your licence grade, and licence grade dictates which categories you can enter. if you want to race the big names, you need to race clean.
2.3. Voice and Text Chat
Disrespectful communications, including foul language and insults, are not tolerated and may lead to suspension.
RB: Another principles based issue, communicate respectfully. It’s difficult when temperatures are running high, I know.
2.4. Forums
The iRacing.com Forum is the social backbone of the community. Posts that attempt to publicly confront, bait, or attack another member are forbidden.
RB: Yeah this isn’t good – I expect that you’ll be warned and lose your forum account. Play nice in the forum, most people are there to help one another.

- License Class
3.1. Principle
iRacing uses a tiered license class structure to group drivers of similar skill and experience.
RB: From licence class Rookie, D, C, B and then A. A good way to get your licence grade up quickly is to participate with a team in special events like the Daytona 24.
3.2. License Class Advancement
Advancement is based on completing a Minimum Participation Requirement (MPR) and achieving a minimum Safety Rating.
RB: Here’s a guide to MPR (minimum participation requirement) from iRacing.
3.3. License Classes
Classes range from Rookie (red stripe) to iRacing.com Pro & World Championship Series (black stripe).
RB: Check out the Pro licence:

3.4. Minimum Participation Requirements (MPR)
Rookie License holders must complete four Time Trials or two Official Races to be eligible for promotion. Non-Rookie License holders must complete four Time Trials or Official Races in their current class or higher.
RB: If you’re using iRacing at all, you’ll sail past this and barely noctice.
3.5. Incidents
The iRacing software monitors all official sessions and assigns incident points for various infractions. Incident point values differ between pavement and dirt racing.
RB: read iRacing 101: Incident Points for a primer on what incident points are, and how severe they can be.
3.6. Corner and Incident Multipliers
Multipliers are applied to incident points based on the type of session, with races carrying the highest weight.
RB: You can minimise the damage to your Safety Rating after a big incident by getting back on the circuit and completing as many clean laps as you can in the session. If you’ve had a few 4x’s though, I’m afraid you’re in for msome pain.
3.7. Safety Rating
Safety Rating (SR) is calculated based on the number of corners completed and incidents accumulated, averaged over a set number of laps.
RB: It’s not unusual for some drivers to decide to spend time “farming” safety rating. Competing in races to survive and stay as clean as possible will improve your SR very quickly.
3.8. Minimum Safety Requirements
Drivers must maintain a certain SR to advance to the next License Class.
RB: This is super clear – no SR, no licence upgrade!
3.9. Promotion
Drivers can be promoted at season’s end with an SR of 3.00 or higher, or immediately with an SR of 4.00.
3.10. Demotion
Drivers may be demoted at season’s end with an SR below 2.00, or immediately if their SR drops below 1.00.
- Driver Skill Rating
4.1. iRating
iRating measures racing skill and proficiency, ensuring competitive racing by matching similarly skilled drivers.
RB: Another good one from Paul the Sim Racer – “What is iRating?”
4.2. Time Trial Rating (ttRating)
Similar to iRating, ttRating measures a driver’s proficiency in Time Trials.
RB: Aside from getting practice in the car, if you run 10 good, clean, fast laps in a time trial (TT), you’ll gain rrRating and safety rating.

- Race Procedures
RB: This is just how a race procedure works in iRacing, I’d expect almost everyone to know this if you’re not new to iRacing.
6.1. Registration
Races are typically available for registration 30 minutes prior to the start time.
6.2. Field Size and Race Length
Minimum and maximum field sizes are determined for each series, and race lengths may be adjusted seasonally.
6.3. Race Splits
When more drivers register than a single race allows, multiple race splits are created based primarily on iRating.
6.4. Warm-Up and Gridding
A warm-up period precedes each race, followed by a gridding process where drivers must place their cars on the starting grid.
6.5. Starting
Races may use standing starts (typically for road courses) or rolling starts (typically for oval tracks).
6.6. Pit Procedures
Drivers must adhere to pit lane speed limits and proper entry/exit procedures.
6.7. Intentional, Retaliatory, and/or Malicious Wrecking
Such behaviour is strictly prohibited and subject to protest and penalty.
RB: Nothing worse than a driver who intentionally hits you becuase you’ve overtaken. Come on – that’s not racing! And you might find video of your behaviour on r/simRacingStewards

- Flag Signals
Various flags (green, white, checkered, blue, yellow, and black) are used to communicate race conditions and penalties.
RB: Review this all embracing guide to iRacing flags on Reddit.
- Penalties
Violations of the Sporting Code may result in penalties ranging from warnings to suspension or termination of membership.
- Protests
Members may file protests for perceived violations of the Sporting Code within seven days of the incident. Here’s where to file a protest.
- Appeals
Members may appeal certain penalties through a formal process, with decisions being final after the appeal.

- Hosted Sessions
While unofficial, hosted sessions are still subject to the Code of Conduct.
12-14. Sanctioned Series and World Championships
These sections cover specific rules for NASCAR series and World Championship events, which may have additional regulations and higher standards of conduct.
RB: That’s about all you need to know – good luck and keep it clean!
Topic: iRacing