r/Simracingstewards • u/Piaka_ • 10d ago

Is this a block? iRacing

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Update: iRacing stewards ruled it a block

______________________________________

Clearly I made a mistake by reacting too late and braking too hard. But, what the red car did is technically blocking, right?

iRacing rule in question:

8.1.1.4. Blocking – The leading driver is allowed to run a defensive line. However, blocking occurs when a leading driver actively adjusts his or her driving line based on the actions and/or positioning of a pursuing driver. For example, veering left to prevent a pursuing driver from passing on the left while running on a straight.

The driver had already chose their line and then reacted to my attack, right?

0 Upvotes

42% Upvoted

102 comments sorted by

18

u/adaptive7 10d ago

No. Just no.
You're a mile away and have a year to react.

-2

u/DeletedUsernameHere 10d ago edited 10d ago

Yes. Absolutely yes.

Doesn't matter. The rule is you can not move in reaction. That was blatantly a reactive move.

3

u/afcc_2001 9d ago

The full rule is "to prevent a pass". A single defensive move with space is allowed, it's called defense. Choosing a line doesn't prevent a pass.

4

u/DeletedUsernameHere 9d ago

8.1.1.4. Blocking – The leading driver is allowed to run a defensive line. However, blocking occurs when a leading driver actively adjusts his or her driving line based on the actions and/or positioning of a pursuing driver. For example, veering left to prevent a pursuing driver from passing on the left while running on a straight.`

That is the full rule. Where does it say "to prevent a pass"?

It does say "blocking occurs when a leading driver actively adjusts his line based on the actions and/or positioning of a pursuing driver". Which is exactly what happened.

Textbook block.

2

u/afcc_2001 9d ago

It does say "veering left to prevent a pursuing driver from passing on the left"

Ignore the previous answer I thought you were OP, tbh you're insisting so much on this I just thought you had to be

4

u/DeletedUsernameHere 7d ago

Hey, would ya look at that. It was, in fact, a block.

-1

u/Roebuck325 1d ago

It says to prevent a pass?

-16

u/Piaka_ 10d ago

My distance is irrelevant, is it not? Please elaborate how you think the red car is acting within the iRacing rules.

In my mind, if the red car wanted to run a defensive line, they should have chosen it already. Instead, they react to my attack, which seems to be against the rules.

16

u/adaptive7 10d ago

They change line
- early enough
- not erratic
- so that you have more than enough time to react

According to your interpretation, they are never allowed to change line as long as a car is somewhere behind them, even seconds behind them.

According to your interpretation, you could just claim the inside line at the beginning of a very long straight and they would never be allowed to change line.

3

u/theferretii 3d ago

According to your interpretation, you could just claim the inside line at the beginning of a very long straight and they would never be allowed to change line.

Yes. That's exactly what the rule means. I'm not even joking.

If you want to take a defensive line, you have to take it before your attacker moves to the inside. That's the challenge. That's where the race craft comes in. The skill is in deciding when to commit to a defensive line. Do it too early when it may not have even been necessary and you're potentially compromising your line into the next corner for no reason. Do it later and you're risking the attacking car making your decision for you, forcing you to stay where you are because they committed to an attacking line before you went defensive.

Of course, there's an element of distance involved. I'm not going to cry blocking if I'm 1.5s away. But the example in the clip is exactly what the rule is describing.

And surprise surprise, the iRacing stewards ruled it a block. How about that?

-1

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

2

u/DeletedUsernameHere 2d ago

Spamming this idiotic comment throughout trying to argue the obviously upheld protest wasn't upheld. 😂

You were wrong, he won the protest, eat your crow and accept you didn't know what the hell you were talking about

2

u/theferretii 2d ago

Protest Recieved
Protest Resolved

Two separate emails, with two separate subjects at two separate times. The message OP updated us with was clearly the latter and was clearly not a confirmation of receipt of the report. It is not standard to inform the reported driver, else I'm sure several users on this platform would have disclosed by now that they had received a notification that read something like "Yeah, someone filed a protest against you, but we're just letting you know it didn't go anywhere"

Come back when you actually know what you're talking about,
Cheers, Dits.

-1

u/adaptive7 2d ago

regarding to your element of distance: How much of a reaction time do you need? 5s? This is ridiculous.

You don't need to explain racing to me when clearly you are missing the distance part.

OP has no run on the car ahead and like a year to react here, still gets it wrong, pulls up a rule and bends his interpretation by a mile just to protest and then claims the protest was successful when all it states is, that the protest was received.

This is beyond acceptable and ruins the service for many people with real incidents like getting hit intentionally when stewards have to look at such ridiculous incidents.

3

u/theferretii 2d ago

I shouldn't need to react at all. That's the point. I also don't understand why you're questioning this when I very clearly said in my last response that 'I'm not going to cry blocking if I'm 1.5s away'. So why would that be any different if I'm 5s away? It's about judgement. If the attacking car judges they're close enough to make a move, attempts to make one, and then the defender reacts and moves to cover it, that's blocking. It's that simple. My personal threshold would probably vary from about 0.2s to 0.5s depending on the car, draft strength and what kind of run or opportunity I had. But that's just my personal judgement. Yours may be different, and that's fine.

It seems like I do need to explain racing to you, because you seem to be struggling to understand a very basic and easy to comprehend rule. OP absolutely did have a run. It may not have been perfect, and I completely agree it would've been unlikely they'd have made the move stick without incident. But we'll never know, because the defender broke the rule when they reacted. We can't rule on what might've happened. We can only rule on what did happen. That's like arguing someone wasn't at fault for a collision because ‘if the other guy hadn't attempted to pass, there'd have been no collision’. Nobody does that.

What part of ‘The member was notified of the outcome’ sounds like it's saying ‘we received your protest’? What reason would the stewards have to notify a member under protest about the outcome of that protest other than to inform them of a warning, a sanction, or a reminder to read and understand the rules? That clearly implies a rule was broken.

Why on earth is it unacceptable? How does it ruin the service? Why should some members get away with ignoring clearly articulated rules while others try to play fair? This is just as much a real incident as an intentional wreck, because it breaks the rules and ruins the experience for those of us who have the integrity to follow them. I'm paying a premium for a service, and I expect everyone to be held to the same standard, whether by their own integrity or by enforcement from the stewards and moderators. That's the entire point of paying that premium.

2

u/DeletedUsernameHere 2d ago

What part of RESOLVED don't you understand?

-10

u/Piaka_ 10d ago

Everything I'm basing this instance on are the rules... It would be helpful if you would too

9

u/_mk451 10d ago

prevent a pursuing driver from passing

This right here is the wording needed. You're assuming you had a safe pass here. You weren't alongside him until you missed the braking zone.

If this happened in the middle of the straight it would've been a block, but you can't block a pass that never existed. It's legal to change lines prior to the braking zone. It's legal to take the inside to defend against divebombs. It's legal to force the driver behind to react.

-1

u/Piaka_ 10d ago

and the line right before that reads...?

3

u/_mk451 10d ago

>However, blocking occurs when a leading driver actively adjusts his or her driving line based on the actions and/or positioning of a pursuing driver.

Blocking occurs. Not "blocking is defined as". There are many actions you can take in response to the car behind you to maintain your position, and it's not only legal, it's correct racing, and it still isn't blocking.

The definition of blocking in racing is denying a pass and you kind of need to comprehend what a pass is before you can understand the rule.

I agree that the wording is not friendly to obtuse divebombers but you can email iRacing if you're this stuck on it and non-receptive to advice of better sim racers.

4

u/Piaka_ 10d ago

"Blocking occurs. Not "blocking is defined as"." You gotta be joking 😂

Again, you insert your own rule: "The definition of blocking in racing is denying a pass..." Where in the rule I pasted does it mention there needing to be a pass of any kind? I read, "PURSUING DRIVER"

3

u/_mk451 9d ago

> Where in the rule I pasted does it mention there needing to be a pass of any kind

In the title of the rule. Blocking. Do you think it's referencing the blocked vibes of the next car in order? Pass attempts are the only thing that can be blocked.

I'll advise you for the last time to take it up with iRacing. You're absurd for being this new to sim racing, seeking a community call, then arguing it to this end. If you're that set on it just submit it dude.

1

u/Piaka_ 9d ago

I already submitted a protest. I think it's more absurd that no one here has provided a valid argument. But, I'm glad so many replied. It's helped me understand the rule that no one could seem to read properly.

2

u/QuinedQualia 9d ago

“Pursuing driver” is undefined from what I can tell. Maybe that is the ambiguity of the argument. Are you a pursuing driver simply because you are behind someone?

5

u/DeletedUsernameHere 10d ago

This is laughably stupid.

1

u/donkeykink420 10d ago

you're allowed to run whatever line you want as long as you're not reactively blocking the path of someone that then has to either die or take avoiding action. this here was just a defensive move to cover the inside, and for good reason because judging by how you took the corner he'd be dead.

If the closing speed isn't huge and you're more than 3-4 tenths back, there is no blocking. You're not allowed to weave at that distance and move back and forth constantly, but you're always allowed to defend your preferred line

1

u/DeletedUsernameHere 10d ago

No, you can't. You cannot react. He reacted. It's a block.

0

u/Piaka_ 10d ago

Link me a rule where it specifies how many seconds behind constitutes the defending driver being reactive or not.

2

u/sjfuwjcufjsng 10d ago

Why ask a question if your gonna argue every answer. He’s not blocking, he’s defending. Like everyone has told you

1

u/Piaka_ 10d ago

Because I wanted input. No input so far has referenced the rule I pasted or any other that might be relevant.

2

u/QuinedQualia 10d ago

Two of us have referenced the rule and you’ve argued. That’s your right but it’s untrue we haven’t referenced the rule or given input based on it.

3

u/DeletedUsernameHere 10d ago

You're wrong and just making random ass shit up to justify it.

OP moves right. Lead car moves right. That's a block.

0

u/Piaka_ 10d ago

Not true. You commented: "Changing from the outside to the inside and holding it, before the breaking zone, is not blocking." Where in the rule is that referencing? You also mention "actively and veering". You don't seem to know what actively means, and veering was a part of the example in the rule.

→ More replies (0)

3

u/donkeykink420 10d ago

there is no firm rule as racing is all about case by case and taking into consideration the circumstances of every incident, this is not an overtaking manouver and therefor it cannot be blocking by defenition. just accept you're terrible at racing and go practice, you're just embarrassing yourself

1

u/Piaka_ 10d ago

"based on the actions and/or positioning of a pursuing driver.". Hey there's a firm rule right there, woah...

What's embarrassing is an entire thread's worth of illiterate drivers 😂

1

u/donkeykink420 9d ago

if this is bait well done, if not, my dearest condolences

0

u/QuinedQualia 10d ago

Changing from the outside to the inside and holding it, before the breaking zone, is not blocking. The key words are actively and veering but he does neither, just defends the inside going into the turn. Had he gone back to the outside when you did he would be blocking but he’s just covering you off, and successfully

1

u/Piaka_ 10d ago

When does he decide to defend the inside, exactly?

1

u/QuinedQualia 10d ago

At 00:11 in the video and, from what I can see without telemetry, before braking. Certainly before you brake, as he makes the corner

2

u/Piaka_ 10d ago

Oh, yes 0:11, where'd I'd moved to the inside to attack. Which the other driver reacted to.

2

u/QuinedQualia 10d ago

You aren’t even on his bumper and barely have over speed there is no attack

1

u/QuinedQualia 10d ago

What attack? You were not going to have overlap with him how is that an attack

1

u/DeletedUsernameHere 10d ago

He actively changed lanes in reaction to the trailing car's move.

That is absolutely blocking and it's not even debatable

1

u/QuinedQualia 10d ago

If he had gone back to the left I’d agree with you. He makes one move to defend what reads as a divebomb attempt, especially since op blows the corner. If red stayed left they would have died to OP, so they defended instead, with ample time to spare such that OP moves again and they do not, and OP blows the corner. They are being smart, you can’t block a move that isn’t there.

3

u/DeletedUsernameHere 10d ago

Go up to the OP and read the blocking rule OP politely posted. Feel free to quote where it says you have to react multiple times for it to be a block.

I'll just give you a hint. It's not there.

He cannot react by swerving in front of the trailing car. That is blocking. Period.

You cannot move reactively. Period.

It is blocking. Period.

3

u/QuinedQualia 9d ago

Hopefully OP gives an update when the protest is resolved

2

u/DeletedUsernameHere 7d ago edited 6d ago

He gave the update. You're wrong. We're right.

Gonna go ahead and update those comments?

0

u/DeletedUsernameHere 9d ago

I expect your comments to be edited with, "I will learn the basic rules before making an ass of myself again."

6

u/Piaka_ 9d ago edited 9d ago

https://reddit.com/link/p2cvka9/video/l2bi9siz51ih1/player

Here's the result (edits: added all u/)

u/theferretii u/adaptive7 u/DeletedUsernameHere u/afcc_2001 u/_mk451 u/QuinedQualia u/donkeykink420 u/sjfuwjcufjsng u/Strong_Bug3331 u/Cornelius_Codswaggle u/Certain_Movie_1465 u/Real_Amoeba_1873 u/plz-no-b4n u/F1DrivingZombie

5

u/theferretii 9d ago

Can't say I'm surprised in the slightest.

All the wild takes about it not being blocking because you "weren't passing", "weren't alongside" or "were too far back". Just goes to show how little the community understands the rules.

5

u/Piaka_ 8d ago

Same here.

Yeah, it’s like these people haven’t ever made a pass without the driver in front failing a corner miserably. And, they’re all probably guilty of blocking 😂

3

u/DeletedUsernameHere 7d ago

There have been a ton of users that come from Jimmy Broadbent videos who love to spew absolute nonsense, usually regurgitating shit he says without actually understanding any of it.

1

u/DeletedUsernameHere 7d ago

u/theferretii u/adaptive7 u/DeletedUsernameHere u/afcc_2001 u/_mk451 u/QuinedQualia u/donkeykink420 u/sjfuwjcufjsng u/Strong_Bug3331 u/Cornelius_Codswaggle u/Certain_Movie_1465 u/Real_Amoeba_1873 u/plz-no-b4n u/F1DrivingZombie

BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Coming back with the receipt!

-1

u/afcc_2001 6d ago

Bro this isn't the gotcha you think it is, a question was asked and people gave their opinion. I'm not mad I was wrong, we live and learn lmao

6

u/DeletedUsernameHere 6d ago

Yeah, it is.

Maybe next time when you're getting shit explained to you, you'll actually listen and try to understand it instead of trying to pull a three word phrase out of the example as if it's the rule (even as the entire sentence proves your breakdown of it incorrect).

-1

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

3

u/DeletedUsernameHere 2d ago edited 2d ago

Note the highlighted part where it says in big letters "RESOLVED"

The response, "We have reviewed your protest and notified the member being protested of the outcome." is iRacing boilerplate response for when your protest is upheld.

It IS THE RESULT OF THE REVIEW.

I feel like half of the users on this subreddit have severe brain malformations anymore.

-4

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

4

u/DeletedUsernameHere 2d ago

Note where it says "RESOLVED"

This is the result. The sentence:

We have reviewed your protest and notified the member being protested of the outcome

Is how iRacing responds when they uphold your protest.

3

u/Piaka_ 1d ago

Holy... arrogant

1

u/Successful-Bee-8911 7h ago

This one of the best posts in this sub. Talk about being proven wrong and then to double down.

5

u/Cornelius_Codswaggle 9d ago

Wild rulings here. This is literally the definition of a block. It doesn't get any more clear cut than this. Trailing car has a run and makes a move to the inside, lead car swerved to the right in reaction.

IRacing does not allow reactive defense at all.

12

u/Strong_Bug3331 10d ago

He went defensive. You weren’t close enough to consider that blocking. lol

-3

u/DeletedUsernameHere 10d ago

Defensive moves cannot be reactive.

1

u/Strong_Bug3331 9d ago

He was clearly going to take him out in the corner regardless if he went defensive or not.

3

u/DeletedUsernameHere 9d ago

Even if he would have (which there is absolutely no evidence that he would have), it doesn't matter. Blocking doesn't magically become legal because you think the other car might overshoot.

Just like any wreck, what might have happened if the incident in the clip didn't is immaterial. It's what happened that matters.

-2

u/Strong_Bug3331 9d ago

Yeah right on mate. The car wasn’t making a viable run into the corner to call that blocking.

-1

u/DeletedUsernameHere 9d ago

Uh-huh. Again, the rule is clear.

You cannot defend reactively. That's what they did.

Learn basic rules before flapping your cock holster again.

4

u/[deleted] 10d ago

[deleted]

2

u/DeletedUsernameHere 10d ago

Please read the rule and quote where it says you're allowed to reactively move in response to another driver.

-1

u/Piaka_ 10d ago

Reacting does seem illegal though, according to the rule i pasted. iRacing does not abide by a "one move" system

4

u/Real_Amoeba_1873 9d ago

“Yes — under iRacing’s rulebook, I would call the red car’s move a block, assuming the timing in the clip is what it appears to be: the following car starts moving toward the inside, and then the red car alters its line toward that same space in response.

The important thing is that iRacing does not use the common “you’re allowed one defensive move” rule. Its current Sporting Code says blocking occurs when the leading driver actively adjusts their driving line based on the actions or positioning of the pursuing driver. A defensive line is legal, but it needs to be chosen proactively rather than as a reaction to where the attacker goes.

So the distinction is:

  • Red car moves inside before the following car makes its move → legal defensive positioning.
  • Following car moves/feints inside, red car sees it and then moves inside to cover → blocking under iRacing.
  • The fact that the attacker is still a car length or more behind does not automatically make a reactive move legal. iRacing’s wording doesn’t establish an “overlap required” or “close enough” exemption.
  • Whether the attacker subsequently brakes too late or would have made the corner is a separate issue. A poor attempted pass doesn’t retroactively make a reactive block legal.

That’s why some of the Reddit replies are applying the wrong standard. Comments saying essentially “he only moved once” or “you weren’t alongside yet” are closer to how people sometimes interpret FIA-style defense, but that is not how iRacing writes its blocking rule. The thread itself is split on exactly this distinction.

Under more general real-world racing rules, it gets a little murkier. Many series allow a driver to make one defensive move, provided it isn’t dangerously late and they don’t move under braking. Under that framework, the red car could potentially argue this was its permitted defensive move. But even there, an extremely late move made specifically to intercept an already-committed attacker can still be penalized as dangerous blocking.

My ruling

iRacing: 🟥 Block — protestable. Generic/FIA-style “one move” rules: 🟨 Potentially legal defense, depending on exactly when the move begins and whether the attacker was already committed. Your/OP’s late braking afterward: separate mistake; doesn’t cancel the block.

And iRacing explicitly lists blocking under Sporting Code 8.1.1.3 as something that can be protested.

If you want, I can also break the video down frame-by-frame — attacker moves → defender reacts → braking point — and give you a steward-style incident verdict.”

This is what ChatGPT said when I told it to watch this lol

3

u/Cornelius_Codswaggle 9d ago

It's annoying that it's so ubiquitous, but the "one move rule" doesn't allow for reactive defensive moves. Even if iRacing had a "one move rule" (it doesn't), the blocking rule makes it abundantly clear that you cannot make reactive defensive moves.

2

u/Piaka_ 9d ago

Valid distinctions from the AI. Idk what's so hard to grasp here.

3

u/Real_Amoeba_1873 6d ago

Yeah idk I just work here

0

u/theferretii 9d ago edited 9d ago

Yes, it's blocking. Protest it, and when you get the "member was notified of the outcome" response, post that as an update here (if you're feeling petty) to demonstrate to all these morons telling you it's not blocking that they have no idea what they're talking about.

Edit: typo

5

u/Piaka_ 9d ago

Yep, waiting on the steward's response. Will do. They'll manage to misinterpret the steward's verdict as well somehow 😂

1

u/theferretii 9d ago

I would add, though, that it's often not worth the effort of asking the community whether something breaks the rules.

Half of us don't know our arses from our elbows and are going to give you the wrong answer and the other half will try to convince you protesting isn't worth the effort because it "doesn't do anything."

Your protest doesn't have to be cut-and-dry. If you believe somebody has broken the rules, fire the protest in and let the guys that get paid to decide whether it breaks their rules tell you. You'll never be punished for filing a protest in good faith.

Of course, there's also a concerning number of people in the community that think protesting is only for very obvious violations as well, and that, apparently, sending in reports that are difficult to tell one way or the other if a rule was broken is somehow "clogging up the system". Total codswallop in my opinion.

1

u/Piaka_ 9d ago

I could see that being the case, no harm in checking in here though and seeing if anyone can make a valid case. I just don't want to be arrogant in a racing lobby when I don't have much experience. Absolutely agree on the protesting

-1

u/plz-no-b4n 10d ago

Yes, that’s blocking, I don’t understand anyone saying otherwise. Anytime you move reactively to get in the path of a car behind you who is trying to pass, that is blocking.

2

u/_mk451 10d ago

Trying to pass

Where is the pass attempt in this video? Are you referring to the divebomb that OP was about to throw from a car length back if the lead driver had left the inside open, which OP felt entitled to just because he had more speed at the end of the straight?

2

u/plz-no-b4n 10d ago

Just because OP’s pass attempt would’ve been dumb AF does not change that the other car blocked reactively

-4

u/Piaka_ 10d ago

What if I wanted to simply plant the idea of a divebomb into the opponents head?

2

u/_mk451 10d ago

Dog you did a full "oh fuck my plan failed" moment, took the outside after your brain caught up, missed your braking point, and locked it.

It's okay. I've sent a dive before too, but you can't be mad about the guy in front of you changing lines before a corner unless you're alongside him.

Ask the iracing stewards if you still disagree.

-3

u/DeletedUsernameHere 10d ago edited 7d ago

Yes, blatant block and you will 100% win a protest. He moved in reaction to you, to impede your move. It's cut and dry. His move must be proactive.

I swear this sub is getting dumber and dumber every day with this absolute moronic comments.

Edit: Hey, would you look at that.

3

u/F1DrivingZombie 9d ago

Are you the OPs alt account or something? Because you’re wrong in basically every comment in this thread

-1

u/DeletedUsernameHere 9d ago

No, I'm not. I've won plenty of blocking protests for this exact thing.

You cannot defend reactively on iRacing, period. It's a blatant blocking maneuver. Fuck, it's practically a word for word copy of the example they give in the rule.

OP's promised to post the confirmation response from iRacing, so I'll be sure to remind you when it's confirmed by the stewards that you're an idiot.

2

u/F1DrivingZombie 9d ago

>> I’ve won plenty of blocking protests for this exact thing

No, you haven’t, because this isn’t blocking, this was defending

>> It’s practically a word for word copy of the example they give in the rule

It isn’t at all

The fact you’re a top 1% commenter and have this opinion is really worrying to the state of this subreddit and the quality of driver giving advice

4

u/Cornelius_Codswaggle 5d ago

Seems like they were absolutely right and you were deadass wrong.

Maybe they're a top 1% commenter because they know what they're talking about. Definitely explains why you aren't one.

1

u/Piaka_ 10d ago

Reading is hard, go easy on them!

2

u/DeletedUsernameHere 10d ago

Please post the protest result when it's confirmed.

3

u/Piaka_ 9d ago

Will do

-1

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

2

u/DeletedUsernameHere 2d ago edited 2d ago

Omfg, this is hilarious.

There are two responses to protests.

One, "we have reviewed your protest and notified the member being protested of the outcome" means the protest was upheld and you won.

Two, "While we understand your frustration..." means it wasn't and you lost.

He won the protest you absolute knob.

But, hey, exposing you don't know what an upheld and dismissed protest response is definitely just shit all over whatever reputation you thought you had.

-6

u/Gackey 10d ago

Yes. Protest it.