The 7th Annual Oppositelock Forza 7 2.4 Hours Of Le Mans, Part 1: Sign Up Post

The real Le Mans may be postponed, but we’re not. And this year we’re doubling down. Starting with the greatest hits from the 1990's. This is part one of the 7th Annual Oppositelock 2.4 Hours of Le Mans. In this post, I have all of the specifics, including time and eligible cars, for this race. You can also begin to sign up for the race in this post.

As with past races and series, this race is certainly not a place for overly competitive racing or extremely aggressive racing. If you’re spending hours tuning your car weeks before a race you’re doing it wrong. If you’re racing purely to win you’re doing it wrong. Just have fun with it. People race in cars sponsored by Doug Dimmadome, finish the race in reverse, and do impromptu Le Mans starts. We’re pretty chill and just talk about cars and banter a lot of the time. That doesn’t stop us from having some great racing, though.

It is open to anyone and everyone. It doesn’t matter how good or bad you are at the game. We have people of all skill levels regularly race with us. It results in some great racing, too. These whole series, especially the endurance races, are some of the most fun I’ve ever had in Forza.

THE RACE

This race will mimic the races at Le Mans from 1994 to 1998. Cars were selected from those events that actually raced, or as close of a substitution as I could get. Here’s a quick refresher if you need. The race will be 2.4 hours in length. Beforehand, there will be a ten minute qualifying session to set the grid. At the start of the actual race, there will be a formation lap. Yellow flag and caution rules will also be in effect.

And yes you read the title right. This is only part one of Oppo Le Mans this year. Normally we run the day after the real race. Because of Covid-19, the real Le Mans was pushed back though. Instead of postponing this too, I’ve decided to run two races with two different car lists. The second race will be held the day after the real race, which at the moment is in September. Further info on the second event will be available closer to that time.

They will be handled the same way as any of our other races. Drive like you are in an actual race, and not an online public matchmaking lobby, and you will be fine. If you are new to racing with us or need a refresher, take a look at SVTyler’s post on driving etiquette. This will give you a general idea of what to expect. I also have my own rules outlined later in this post.

Also, instead of using parties or gamechat, we are going to be using an app called Discord to communicate during the races. It is available for free on any desktop or mobile OS. Please join the Discord server even if you don’t have a mic, that way you can still hear everyone else. Or just join it for the dank shitposting. If for some reason we are not using the app or it fails, we will be using gamechat to communicate, and hoping for the best.

HERE IS THE INFO AND SERVER ACCESS LINK FOR THE DISCORD SERVER.

THE TRACK AND SCHEDULE

Here is the current schedule for the race. As with previous years, the race will be held in mid June. This has worked well in the past so it should work this year as well. In addition, since Daytona has a night/weather option, there will also be a poll to determine which weather condition will be raced. WHATEVER WEATHER CONDITION IS PICKED WILL NOT BE AN OPTION FOR PART 2.

June 13th, 8:00 PM EDT: Le Mans Full (TBD); 2.4 Hours (Endurance)

THE RULES

General

• We will be racing 1990's Prototype and GT race cars for this race broken into 3 classes: LMP, GT1, and GT2
• DRIVER COUNT WILL BE LIMITED TO 24 UNLESS THERE IS UNPRECEDENTED INTEREST (36+)
• In the event that there are more than 24 racers, people may volunteer to opt out, or the drivers will be chosen based on sign up order and/or how often they race with Oppo
• There will be a set build for each car that you must match
• Races will use a lap counter, but the race end will be determined by time elapsed and not laps completed
• Damage will be set to simulation
• Collisions will be set to always on
• All assists (minus friction and collision assist) are allowed
• ALL DRIVERS MUST BE ON DISCORD FOR THE RACE. You do not need to talk, but you need to hear what is being said.
• Pit lane is always open no matter what.
• Forza Race Regs will be used in order to get rid of tire walls.

Pre-Race

• The race lobby will be opened 10-20 minutes before the race
• The earlier you are online the better
• Once in the lobby, please do not leave if you intend to race

Qualifying

• Qualifying will begin promptly at the posted race time or as soon as possible after that time
• Damage will be set to fuel and tires and collisions set to always off
• The session will last ten minutes
• Once flying laps start, radio silence will be enforced if desired
• Results from this will be used to set the grid for the race.
• Qualifying is not required
• Clean laps are not required, but track limits must be followed
• Not participating will immediately move you to last place for the race start

Race Start

• After the grid is set and all players have readied up, the race will be loaded
• There will be a formation lap, with cars single file at 80 mph until the Ford Chicanes (last few turns) at which point the field will slow to 60 mph
• If there is a disconnect or a game glitch during the formation lap, a lobby restart may occur if the disconnected driver(s) request it. This may only be done a maximum of two times unless there are extreme circumstances.
• If a driver leaves the controller but does not disconnect during the formation lap, the formation lap will continue without them. If they are parked at a dangerous point on track, the formation lap will continue until they return. Note that deliberately parking in a bad spot will result in a penalty.
• Once cars reach the final turns, they will form up two by two
• Class leaders have pick over which side of the track they get
• The race start is for each individual car when they reach the start/finish line
  
  

In Race Etiquette

• Lower class cars have the absolute right to hold and use the racing line when a higher class is approaching/passing, if they decide to do so
• Lower class cars should hold the inside line on the oval when a higher class is passing. If all 3 classes are passing each other, god help you be mindful and cautious and try to give way to the higher class as much as possible
• It is VERY HIGHLY ENCOURAGED that drivers communicate during passes
• If you are in a higher class and stuck behind lower class traffic, be patient and do not force your way through, and DO NOT DIVE BOMB GT CARS. 
• The only thing that will happen if you try and weave through several side by side cars is a crash. Just in general, do not try a high risk maneuver. Be patient and let passing opportunities create themselves.
• Refer to cautions as “be carefuls” unless a caution actually needs to be called
• If the phrase “race control” is called, all drivers will be silent apart from the person who said it. This is to be used for serious questions or concerns
• Do not discuss the events of a caution or race incident until after the race unless told otherwise
• There are no blue flag rules, but excessively holding up cars while a lap down is frowned upon.
• Be careful when exiting pit road as to avoid oncoming traffic, fast or slow moving. USE THE BLEND LINES WHEN POSSIBLE.
• It is expected that all drivers will follow and obey track limits.
• General rule is 2 wheels on track at all time. Curbs are considered part of the track in the race
• .Driving backwards on the track is not permitted at any point.
• Due to game breaking glitches, NO DRIVER IS PERMITTED TO CHANGE DRIVER ASSISTS AT ANY TIME ONCE THE EVENT HAS STARTED
• TL/DR: Don’t be a dick

Cautions

• Credit for the original rules goes to r/redditracing, as I’ve only made minor changes.
• For a caution to be called, a TWO CAR wreck must have occurred with at least one car HAVING SUFFERED DAMAGE in which cars either spin, flip, take significant damage, or lose serious time off track.
• One of the involved drivers and/or a witnessing driver must call the caution. 
• When a caution is called, the race leader should slow to 60 mph IMMEDIATELY to allow the field to catch up 
• The race leader will also assume the role of pace car unless there is a pace car present in the race.
• ABUSE OF THE CAUTION CALL WILL RESULT IN SEVERE PENALTY.
• There is no passing under caution with one exception. Any and all cars that are not on the lead lap may make ONE lap up under yellow. However, they may not pit to repair damage if they take the free pass, and they may not pass for position while doing this.
• There is also no guarantee that a free pass car(s) will catch the tail end of the field before green.
• The pits will remain open for the full duration of the caution.
• Restarts will be single file at the start finish line unless otherwise specified.
• There is a 5 minute cool down period after a caution where another caution cannot be called. If there is an incident involving a large amount of vehicles during this time, this can be overruled.
• Once there are less than 10 minutes left in the race, no cautions can be called.

Grip Handicap Failure

• In the event grip handicaps fail for one or multiple people, a lobby restart will occur
• All cars will stop on track once a red flag is officially called
• Current positions will be recorded, and everyone will back out to the lobby
• The lobby will be reloaded, the grid will be set to the recorded positions, and lap count will be reduced according to elapsed time
• The race will restart as cars go one by one under the Dunlop bridge in the first sector of the track
• This procedure can only happen twice. If a third restart is required, the grip handicaps will be replaced with more extensive power handicaps on affected cars. Drivers of affected cars will be permitted 2 minutes for necessary tune changes
• Any driver who is found to have intentionally broken the grip handicaps will be disqualified from the race and banned from Oppo events for unsportsmanlike conduct until after the conclusion of this year’s second Le Mans race

Race End

• All drivers will continue racing until the total race time is completed (2.4 hours)
• Once the the total race time is reached, the overall leader will call white flag (final lap)
• All cars will continue racing and completing laps during this time
• Once the overall leader crosses the line after white flag is called, they will call checkered flag, the race will be over, and they will park in turn 1
• After checkered flag is called, all cars will finish the lap they are on and also park in turn 1
• Cars cannot be in pit lane when they take the checkered flag.
• Once parked, all cars will remain stationary while results are collected.
• Once results are collected, the remaining laps will be completed. Drivers may choose to leave at this point

Post Race

• Any in race cautions or incidents can be discussed
• If you feel an incident needs investigated, DM me what happened with relevant clips and I will address it
• Replays will be uploaded by myself and/or others
• Any drivers may stick around for more racing if they desire

CAR LIST AND BUILD RULES

Listed below are the cars that are eligible for both classes as well as their respective build rules. If it is not listed, it is not eligible for the race. However, if you think I forgot a car or want to plead a car’s case, leave a comment on this post on why you think that car should be included. I’m pretty sure every possible car was included, but if you have an idea of something to add I’m all ears.

To make the field more diverse and for better pictures, custom made or storefront paint jobs, and unique numbers for each driver are highly encouraged. You can select a race number on the sign up post, and said race number must be clearly visible on your car. Also, if you paint your car as something that it is not, like painting the Ferrari 333SP as a Riley and Scott Mk III, and want it recognized as such, please let me know or make it obvious in the design so I can name it as such in the post races. Otherwise, it will be denoted as whatever it is in the game.

Some Other Important Notes

• I have tested and will be testing all of the cars extensively to make sure they are as even as possible. In addition, I will keep testing them up until race day to make sure there weren’t any inconsistencies in my original testing.
• The build rules for any and every car are not 100% set in stone and may be changed at any point for re-balancing of the field. Do not expect changes the week of the race unless there is a major issue.
• Custom rims are allowed on all cars so long as some rules are followed. Due to the build rules, the rims cannot change the PI of the car. For example, if the PI is P913, the PI must stay that way after the rims are added.
• While LMP and GT1 are separate classes, they are equal in pace, just as they were in real life. Both classes have the potential to get the overall win.
• Grip handicaps are in use on some cars. If you were not aware, there is a glitch where they are removed if any tuning or assist changing happens after the race starts. Therefore, and I know I keep reiterating this, it is imperative that you DO NOT change your assists once the race starts. This glitch also happens in single player, so keep that in mind while testing.
• Team liveries are allowed and encouraged, though try to keep a consistent car manufacture. A max of 3 matching liveries per “team” are allowed.
• I am legally required to say don’t break Xbox Terms of Service with your livery. However, my general rule is anything goes that is not sexually explicit or overly offensive. Therefore, tobacco and alcohol sponsorship are allowed. Though if you get banned by Xbox, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
• Special thanks to everyone who has helped test cars for this series.

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT BUILD RULES

SIGN UP

If you are participating in this race, please click the link below to complete a very brief survey so I can keep track of who signs up and their gamertags (the only information required is your gamertag and Oppo and/or Reddit username). Also, if you sign up and for whatever reason are not sent a friend request by me, feel free to send me one as well as a message indicating that you intend to join the series. My gamertag is Corey CC97. In addition, you can get in contact with SVTyler (GT: mackleroy45) or anyone on the Discord if you do not hear from me, and they will get you set up. If you do not complete the survey or get in contact with me or the other people racing somehow, there is a very good chance you will not be sent an invite to the race on race day.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

I will be posting reminders for the race frequently with links to this post. If you have questions, please leave a comment on this post or one of the reminder posts.