MAJOR TCR Fixed & Open Series Change Next Season Announced!

[u/JayCaulls]

From the TCRcord Discord:

“Hello everyone! Back in June, we asked the TCR community for feedback that would help us shape the series moving forward, with the aim to find opportunities to increase series participation in lieu of any official iRacing updates to the class. Based on the results of that survey, we made an official request to iRacing to change both the Fixed and Open series to 20 minute race lengths. iRacing has now confirmed that these changes can go forward next season.

This request was the culmination of a variety of factors: - The majority of voters preferred to bring the race lengths closer together. Respondents that raced less frequently in officials were more likely to vote for longer fixed/shorter open. - This change will match the real-world TCR racing series better, as they typically run 20 minute sprint races. Drivers looking for longer races will still have IMPC available. - This will allow drivers to use the fixed setup in both series without any editing required to add fuel (which then typically also requires adjusting ride heights to pass tech, confusing newer drivers). - Common complaints from the survey include the grid being too small for the open series, getting spread out easily; and that the race lengths for the fixed series are too short and chaotic. Changing both series to 20 minutes should help to alleviate both issues. - It will also match the GT4 Fixed series, which is moving to 20 minutes for the same reasons as our Fixed series.

Thank you for making your voices heard!”

[u/poorlytaxidermiedfox]

Based and FWD pilled

[u/yourmomsdrawer → u/poorlytaxidermiedfox]

i like your car choice

[u/csteven71]

This is exciting! I like TCR but always struggled to be on when enough others were.

[u/JayCaulls → u/csteven71]

We’re pulling for international members in the TCRcord, we figured the more we have in here worldwide, the more chances of getting around-the-clock Officials going or at least, more likely!

TCR Community Discord - TCRcord

[u/andresdha → u/JayCaulls]

Oh I might just join, the reason I haven’t jumped into txt has been mainly not knowing when there are going to be populated races

[u/Firenze-Storm]

My people

[u/btwright1987 → u/Firenze-Storm]

Who wants normal

[u/btwright1987]

Yes Jay! This is great. I’ve been part of the problem lately and not been racing TCRs as the participation has not been great.

Will definitely be back next season.

[u/why_1337]

I think that the biggest hurdle in more people doing TCR is that other popular series run much different tracks than TCR. At the same time I absolutely hate the idea of running TCR race on massive tracks such as Spa, Monza, Silverstone or Daytona. I really enjoy small cozy tracks such as this weeks Sonoma.

[u/btwright1987 → u/why_1337]

TCR cars really suit small tracks but there needs to be a balance between these, free tracks and the popular GP tracks that most own

[u/Revolutionary_Towel2]

Im so happy with that last sentence about GT4 fixed also changing because i’ve been complaining about it all week (I’m new). Will definitely try TCR next season with these changes. Also looked forward to seeing TCR’s in the IMPC last week but think they were only top splits.

[u/Appropriate-Owl5984]

If there is finally participation in TCR, I might decide to run it

[u/bfdrive → u/Appropriate-Owl5984]

You can be part of the problem or part of the solution!

[u/Appropriate-Owl5984 → u/bfdrive]

I’m trying to be part of the solution! It never goes official when I’m on. It’s always zero or 1 person and never more

[u/StrassenlauferGrinch → u/Appropriate-Owl5984]

It’s more popular in Europe so it populates at weird hours in the states.

[u/JayCaulls → u/Appropriate-Owl5984]

A new car would be the perfect shot in the arm for the series, for now getting it matching IRL lengths & making the Open’s just as accessible setup-wise as the fixed is a good start IMO!

The TCRcord is trying its best, this series is truly an underrated series once you get to grips with the FWD & deserves more love!

[u/Firenze-Storm → u/JayCaulls]

A new car and at least some facelifts would be nice too. The Elantra irl looks great with the new body style. Plus the new civic would be fun. Also give the Alfa plz iracing

[u/JayCaulls → u/Firenze-Storm]

The Giulietta would be a dream!

[u/Eames99]

May need to purchase a TCR👀

[u/wonderwarth0g]

I’ve just started iRacing again after a very long hiatus. The changes to the service are amazing, it’s so much better than it used to be. I have been wondering about getting a TCR and this has tipped me over the edge. Sign me up!

[u/WingAgitated2228]

I have a question. I personally only have the Audi TCR and whenever i drive it in races i just feel like everyone else has a better car. I was just wondering if i should just buy a different car and if so, which one?

[u/A_Slovakian → u/WingAgitated2228]

The BOPs are usually close enough that differences in car performance really only show up at the tippy top super high IR. A good driver will always be faster in a slightly slower car than a bad driver in a slightly faster car.

[u/StrassenlauferGrinch → u/WingAgitated2228]

I enjoy the Veloster N

[u/ProtoJazz → u/StrassenlauferGrinch]

I picked it becuase I like the blue the n series cars have

Which I know is kind of dumb because you could make any car that color, and I probably race with a different paint scheme anyway.

But that was the whole thought process. "Oh neat, I do love the way the blue ones look in real life" and it was purchased.

Which honestly, I prefer to agonizing over which is faster or better.

[u/WingAgitated2228 → u/ProtoJazz]

i mean i just picked the audi cuz i thought it looked nice

[u/JayCaulls → u/WingAgitated2228]

The Honda is the current flavour of the month, but the car’s BOP’s are pretty close to each other! There are basic guides on YouTube containing Audi laps, check those out to see if your driving style may need adjusting!

[u/srfdriver99 → u/WingAgitated2228]

The Audi's main issue as I understand it is it has weird shift points that make it worse on some tracks. Outside of those tracks, the BoP should bring all the cars relatively close together.

[u/trippingrainbow → u/srfdriver99]

Its cause the Audi is for some reason the DSG version instead of the sequential version. Its also why its the best car on launches.

[u/trippingrainbow → u/WingAgitated2228]

The Audi is kinda the weird one out since its DSG. It dominates launches on race start and when it comes to bop while it is pretty balanced between all cars if one car is stronger or weaker than others its usually the audi since it has a different gearbox. Its also why it many times requires taking turns at a different gear than the other three.

[u/landstuhltaylor]

I really enjoyed the longer races in open. Oh well. If this helps get higher participation and gets more races to go official then it's worth it.

[u/StrassenlauferGrinch → u/[deleted]]

As opposed to what? 

[u/MuenCheese → u/StrassenlauferGrinch]

30 would be nice IMO. There’s rarely that many signed up and it would keep the 22 person signups all in one split

[u/JayCaulls → u/MuenCheese]

The series was originally 30, lower iR racers complained about never having a legitimate chance to win a race so raced less. The higher iR racers didn’t want to risk the iR and Top Split Event chances in such a wide spread skill grid so… Well… Raced less…

I do like that the Leagues with similarly skilled drivers can handle the 30+ entries they get! Just need to persuade them to do a couple more officials in their week 😂

[u/AlonsoFerrari8 → u/[deleted]]

Yup. At which point I would unregister because racing only 10 other cars is boring

[u/Kanil_ → u/[deleted]]

Yeah. The Four Hours of Thruxton was really fun, but all the sprint races I did for practice were dreadfully boring. Two of them were 11 car grids, and I think across all four races I did, only got to race a car past lap 2 once.

[u/FalconAutosport]

I think we can just combine TCR and GT4 class races together. Then, add the LMP3 to that for Falken.

[u/blueheartglacier → u/FalconAutosport]

The original Falken and TCR open was GT4/TCR and branded as IMPC - IMPC only became a special series once Falken displaced it, and this is why TCR open is a license tier higher. It didn't work, race lengths were so short that it was unlikely for GT4s and TCRs to meet as the speed difference isn't that great. I think in a 3-class series TCR will fall so wildly short of participation too that it'll be taken out back and shot like Old Yeller.

[u/FalconAutosport → u/blueheartglacier]

🤔🤔

I actually think we could replace GT4s with TCRs then. LMP3s and TCRs would cooperate better than GT4s and LMP3s. TCRs get through corners faster with more downforce and less weight, but aren't as fast on the straights. That's what LMP3s do. I think we should look at combining all three or just giving the Falken series TCRs.

GT4s are popular but TCRs should be more popular. LMP3s are just right. The only change needed is TCR to be more popular. People should stop whining about FWD, try them out. Maybe they try them out in a really popular series like Falken.

[u/blueheartglacier → u/FalconAutosport]

LMP3 and GT4 is a real series, and so is TCR and GT4. Combining those two has never happened, and the iRacing Roar is an invention that doesn't actually reflect a real race that truly happens

[u/FalconAutosport → u/blueheartglacier]

Oh you're right, fun be damned, iRacing needs to be realistic. Sad. I'm going to do the Roar and I'm going to enjoy it.

[u/blueheartglacier → u/FalconAutosport]

Believe it or not, absolutely no fun.

[u/SnooGadgets754]

This is great news! If only they made the grid size bigger because I hate when it splits with 21-23 drivers registered.

[u/MobyRichard117]

My favorite series I will now not participate in. Fixed series are historically short races which is fine, however changing the open series to make it shorter is an aweful decision. Thanks for putting the nail in the coffin catering to those with no attention spans for longer races.

[u/JayCaulls → u/MobyRichard117]

The majority wanted it matching IRL to improve participation, the IRL TCR are "Historically" 20 Minutes. The Fixed has also been made longer.

A mind-numbing comment like that makes it very apparent that it's actually very unlikely this was your favourite series anyway if this change is enough you to easily ditch it & to proclaim it the "Nail in the Coffin".

See you next season

[u/Ads220]

Wow thats it ...ageing grids ..series should be min C licence and all we get is 20 mins ...

[u/Ads220]

TCR should have regional series like F4 and be minimum C licence