2026 SIM500 COMPETITION RULES

These rules apply to all Sim500-sanctioned series and events for the 2026 season. They are designed to promote fairness, consistency, sportsmanship, and competitive integrity.

Starts & Restarts

The initial race start will occur on the green flag only.
On all restarts, the leader controls the start and may accelerate at their discretion within the Restart Zone.
The leader has lane choice (Top or Bottom) and must declare their lane prior to the “One to Go” under caution.
The Restart Zone is clearly marked on the track wall.
The leader must maintain a steady and consistent pace until choosing to accelerate within the Restart Zone.

Lane Usage & Passing on Restarts

Lane changes on restarts are governed by iRacing procedures and reinforced by a gentleman’s agreement.
Drivers may not change lanes until crossing the start/finish line.
Drivers may pass slower or damaged vehicles, however:
- Lying back to gain positions (“jumping the start”) is strictly prohibited.
Use of the apron at the start or restart is not permitted, unless actively avoiding an incident.
At drafting tracks (Daytona, Talladega, Atlanta):
- Drivers may not place left-side tires below the double yellow lines to gain an advantage.

Pit Road Procedures

Drivers must remain on the right side of pit lane until three stalls before their pit box.
After completing a pit stop, drivers may pass through only three stalls before returning to the right side of pit lane.

Black Flags & Admin Review

If a driver believes they have received an incorrect black flag, the Lead Admin may clear the penalty during the race.
All cleared penalties remain subject to post-race review.

Pit Road Violations – Clarification

If a driver receives a pit road violation due to:

Cars failing to catch up to the field, or
Missing an on-track incident,

The Lead Admin may clear the penalty.

However:

Drivers must follow iRacing’s lineup and restart instructions exactly.
Drivers are NOT permitted to manipulate the lineup in any way.
You must line up exactly where iRacing places you, regardless of a cleared penalty.
This is NOT a manual situation where drivers may hold position or request repeated clearings.

Failure to follow iRacing’s lineup procedures or any attempt to manipulate the system will result in disqualification from that event.

Last Lap – Pit Road Violations

If a driver or drivers crash on pit road on the final lap, resulting black flags will be cleared.
Finishing positions will be upheld as drivers cross the start/finish line.

Communication & Conduct

Chat must be enabled for all Sim500 events.
Drivers may use Race Chat only during events.
The top three finishers in any broadcasted race must be available on Discord post-race.
Flaming, harassment, or threats toward another driver may result in penalties, suspension, or removal from the league.

Intentional Actions & Manipulation

Any driver found to:

Intentionally wreck,
Intentionally trigger a caution, or
Manipulate the outcome of an event

will be subject to the following actions:

Suspension from the next scheduled race in the affected series.
Probation for a determined period or removal from the league, at the discretion of the Sim500 Admin Team.

Entry Fees & Refund Policy

Sim500 maintains a strict NO REFUND policy.

Once a participant registers and pays the season entry fee, no refunds will be issued, regardless of the reason.
Registration fees are used to support:
- Broadcasting
- iRacing-related expenses
- Prizes
- Operational costs required to run the season

We understand unforeseen circumstances may arise; however, no exceptions can be made.

Race Review & Penalty System

This policy applies to all Sim500 series and will remain in effect for the entire 2026 season.

Race Review Philosophy

There will be NO incident claims.
Claims from a driver’s perspective are often subjective and difficult to judge accurately.
All Sim500 events will utilize a Peer Review system, consistent with prior seasons.
Peer Review will operate in a controlled environment, led by the Sim500 Admin Team in the PEER RACE REVIEW channel.
The driver community is encouraged to participate, promoting transparency and accountability.

All data will be tracked consistently and addressed on a one-on-one basis when required.

One-on-One Driver Accountability

Sim500 does not operate under a blanket punishment system.

Each situation is evaluated individually, including:

Over-aggressive driving, or
Drivers struggling with decision-making

The Admin Team will determine the appropriate response based on context and driver history.

Last Lap Incident Policy

Last-lap incidents will not trigger a caution.
The final lap of every race will be reviewed.
If a driver is determined to have caused another driver to crash on the final lap, they will be assessed one incident point.

This preserves the integrity of race finishes while ensuring accountability.

Key Changes & Clarifications

NO claims for incidents.
ONLY cautions will be reviewed.
Netcode is netcode.
All other contact is considered racing.
Intentional actions that do not trigger a caution may still be reviewed.
Caution totals are tracked per driver, per series.
Caution totals do not reset or reduce due to clean races.
Totals accumulate throughout the season.
Protests are eliminated due to the lack of reliable replay follow-through.
All decisions are final following Peer Review.

Two-Caution Parking Policy

Drivers are not required to claim cautions; however, sportsmanship and accountability are expected.

If a driver causes two (2) at-fault cautions in a single race, they must park for the remainder of the event.
Drivers may self-park voluntarily after recognizing their second at-fault incident.
If review is required, the driver will be removed from scoring immediately once confirmed.
If a driver continues racing after causing two at-fault cautions:
- Any additional at-fault caution will carry over to the next scheduled race.
- This effectively results in the driver parking the following event.