Welcome to the 2024 VSCA SportsCar Championship “State of the Series”. The following is a letter from the VSCA Organizes to all Competitors to touch base on key points/changes for next year and comment on some common feedback from Competitors.

Table of Contents

2024 Season Lookback

The third year of the VSCA SportsCar Championship was overall a successful year in the eyes of the Organizers and a continued improvement from 2023. On average, we have 50 Entries per race through round 7 of the 2024 season, 2 Entries higher (average of 48) than the same point in 2023, and 7 Entries higher (average of 43) than all of 2023.

The experience of three seasons has led to fewer significant in-season changes and more consistency in the regulations over the course of the season, something both the Organizers and Competitors wanted in previous years. Going into 2025, we are reflecting on what we have learned in the first three years, and we have a solid understanding of what does and doesn’t work, and what pain points/issues arise from different areas of VSCA.

As we reevaluate where we currently are, what our goals have been, what Competitors want, and where we want to move VSCA towards, we look into plans for the 2025 season.

2025 Organizer’s Season Goals

Our primary goals for the 2025 season are as follows:

• Continue to grow the series and increase the retention of the grid size.
• Continue to improve the on track racing and “cleanliness” of the racing.
• Add a new level of immersion for Teams into VSCA.
• Put VSCA in a place at the end of 2025 to be able to add an additional series for 2026
• Expanding our Organizer Team and improving efficiency of internal processes.

Sponsorship

We are currently actively looking for sponsorship for the series for both the championship as a whole and/or for individual races. If you know of someone or a company who are looking to become a sponsor, please have them reach out via email to [email protected].

Additional Series Delay

We had a goal of expanding VSCA in 2025 to include an additional series, however looking into the schedule of the SportsCar Championship and the schedule of the Organizer’s personal lives for the upcoming year, it was not feasible to expand and add an additional series for 2025. However we will revisit for 2026 in hopes that VSCA will be in a position to expand and add an additional series.

Finances

A breakdown for the 2024 season finances, with all prices in USD and the amounts as of July 14, 2024 is available in the PDF version of the "State of the Series" announcement in the VSCA Paddock.

2025 Season Registration

Similar to 2024, registration will open at three separate dates depending on specific criteria.

Returning Entries, Early Registration will open on November 16, 2024 at 1600 GMT. An Entry must meet the following requirements to be eligible for early registration:

• Must have competed in a minimum of 7 races during the 2024 season or
• Must have competed in each remaining race in 2024 from the moment of Registration.
• Must compete in the same class as 2024 and use the same car number. However, may change iRacing Team ID and car manufacturer/model.

Changing Entries, Early Registration will open on November 20, 2024 at 1600 GMT. An Entry must meet the following requirements to be eligible for early registration:

• Must have competed in a minimum of 7 races during the 2024 season or
• Must have competed in each remaining race in 2024 from the moment of Registration.
• Is not competing in the same class as 2024 and/or changing car number. Similar to Same Class Early Registration, these Entries may change iRacing Team ID and car manufacturer/model.

New Entries, Public Registration is for any Team and/or Entry that does not meet either of the above requirements and will open on November 23, 2024 at 1600 GMT.

2025 Season Schedule

The schedule will be increased to a 12 race schedule utilizing every round of the real life IMSA WeatherTech Championship. Each class will compete in 10 of the 12 rounds, of which 9 will be championship point scoring rounds. Of the 12 total races, 5 of the rounds will not have all classes participating. If a class is not racing at a given race, they will not be racing at that given race at all, just like real life, and will not have their own race later on the same day or the following day of the same weekend. In order to give all classes an equal amount of races to participate in, the classes running at specific tracks might differ from real life.

In a change from the inception of VSCA, the 2025 races will run on a different day as the corresponding iRacing Special Event (if applicable). To the best of our ability, the schedule has been created to avoid any conflict with real life IMSA races and iRacing Special Events whenever possible and keep the highly positive summer break. As a result of these changes, the weekends available to us have become limited.

Here is the schedule for 2025. Please note, dates are tentative and will either be confirmed or changed depending on the iRacing 2025 Special Event Schedule and when the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be held in iRacing.

Date	Event	Duration	Championships
Nov 16, 2024	Returning Entries, Early Registration
Nov 20, 2024	Changing Entries, Early Registration
Nov 23, 2024	New Entries, Public Registration
Dec 14, 2024	EX | Daytona (Test Day 1) Classes:	8h
Dec 15, 2024	EX | Daytona (Test Day 2) Classes:	8h
Jan 4, 2025	EX | Daytona (Roar) Classes:	1h40min
Jan 11, 2025	R1 | Daytona Classes:	24h
Feb 8, 2025	R2 | Long Beach Classes:	1h40min
Mar 1, 2025	R3 | Sebring Classes:	12h
Apr 5, 2025	R4 | Laguna Seca Classes:	2h40min
Apr 26, 2025	R5 | VIR Classes:	2h40min
May 31, 2025	R6 | CTMP Classes:	2h40min
Jun 28, 2025	R7 | Detroit Classes:	1h40min
Jul 12, 2025	R8 | Watkins Glen Classes:	6h
Summer Break
Aug 30, 2025	R9 | Indianapolis Classes:	6h
Sep 27, 2025	R10 | Road America Classes:	2h40min
Oct 4, 2025	R11 | Road Atlanta Classes:	10h

EX = denotes non-points/exhibition event

Classes & Cars

The classes and cars that will be used for 2025 (shown below) are subject to change pending the release of any new cars in the 2025 Season 1 iRacing build. Additionally, any new car that is added to iRacing during the 2025 season and would be eligible to run in any of the classes below will be assessed by Organizers to be added mid season:

• GTP
  • Acura ARX-06 GTP
  • BMW M Hybrid V8
  • Cadillac V-Series.R GTP
  • Porsche 963 GTP
• LMP2
  • Dallara P217
• GT PRO
  • Audi R8 LMS EVO II GT3
  • BMW M4 GT3
  • Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R
  • Ferrari 296 GT3
  • Ford Mustang GT3
  • Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO
  • McLaren 720S GT3 EVO
  • Mercedes-AMG GT3 2020
  • Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)
• GT AM
  • Audi R8 LMS EVO II GT3
  • BMW M4 GT3
  • Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R<
  • Ferrari 296 GT3
  • Ford Mustang GT3
  • Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO
  • McLaren 720S GT3 EVO
  • Mercedes-AMG GT3 2020
  • Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)

It is important to note that in order to allow both GT PRO and GT AM freedom to choose any GT3 car, it is required that both classes will be one class within the iRacing sim. However, VSCA and Race Control will treat these classes separately just like 2024. There will be no unique identifier in sim with car numbers (such as GT PRO being in the 300s and GT AM being in the 400s), iRacing Team Names including “GT PRO” or “GT AM”, Drivers having a “P” or “A” next to their name, etc. The only unique identifier for these cars will be the class specific markings on the design (sides of the window banner, mirrors, wing end plates, and class decal). It is up to the Drivers and Teams to ensure they understand this.

Entry Fee

The entry fee for 2025 will increase to $60 per entry for a full season. The breakdown of the entry fee is as follows (all prices are USD). Please note, the amount shown for each Event is the amount required if an entry registers before the respective Event:

Event
R1 | Daytona (incl. Roar)	$60	$60	$60	$60
R2 | Long Beach	$37		$37
R3 | Sebring	$36	$37	$36	$37
R4 | Laguna Seca	$26	$27		$27
R5 | VIR			$26	$25
R6 | CTMP	$24	$25	$24
R7 | Detroit		$23		$23
R8 | Watkins Glen	$22	$22	$22	$22
R9 | Indianapolis	$17	$17	$17	$17
R10 | Road America	$12	$12	$12	$12
R11 | Road Atlanta	$10	$10	$10	$10

Driver Restrictions

The Driver pairing restrictions for GTP and GT PRO will remain the same as in 2024 with no more than 50% of the driver lineup be “S” drivers and no “B” drivers are allowed. However, a slight change for LMP2 and GT AM will be implemented for 2025 in that no “P” drivers are allowed. Additionally for LMP2 and GT AM, the same rules in 2024 of no more than 50% of the driver lineup can be “G” drivers and at least 50% of the drive time must be completed by either “B” and/or “S” drivers will continue for 2025.

Team Manager Minimum Age Requirement

Starting in 2025, any Team Manager or Assistant Team Manager will be required to be 21 years old. Any current Team Manager or Assistant Team Manager under the age of 21 will still be allowed to remain as the Team Manager or Assistant Team Manager for their current Team.

Broadcast

GreenFlag TV was a great addition to the 2024 season and did an amazing job in their broadcasts of VSCA. The 2024 broadcasts were provided mostly by the series main sponsor of Twin Busch USA, with the Organizers donating funds to cover The Roar, approximately ⅓ of the 24 Hours of Daytona, Long Beach, Laguna Seca, and Road America. However there are no plans for broadcasting the 2025 season or races currently. We have reached out to GreenFlag TV to receive pricing for the 2025 races and received the following estimate:

If you would like to broadcast any of the race(s) for the 2025 season, please reach out to [email protected]. Again, the prices shown above are estimates only, the final pricing is determined by GreenFlag TV.

Race Control

We looked into all possible ways to bring back live Race Control for 2025, including any and all feedback/suggestions brought up by Competitors over the course of the 2024 season and in the 2024 Survey. After reviewing the impact of live Race Control on the quality of racing from the 2022 and 2023 seasons, comparing it to the 2024 season with no live Race Control, the 2024 method of incidents and penalties being issued post race will remain for 2025.

Also after discussion on the application of post race penalties and taking into consideration the feedback from the 2024 Survey, the majority of Competitors prefer the post race penalty application the way it currently is, and has been since the start of 2024. As such, the 2024 method will remain for 2025.

To clarify for anyone who is unaware, in a situation where P1 and P2 in a slower class are separated by 5 seconds and the checkered comes out when the overall leader is between P1 and P2 in the slower class would result in P1 "gaining" a lap on P2 simply because P2 could not go any longer. When a similar situation happens when a FCY comes out, we do the first 1st wave-by to remove the lap P1 artificially gained from the rest of the cars in the class. If P1 has a 30 second penalty that is required to be applied post race, a majority of Competitors and Organizers alike, agree that the penalty should be applied based on the gap between P1 and P2 when P2 took the checkered flag. As the gap was 5 seconds, P1 would be relegated to P2 and finish 25 seconds behind the old P2 which would now be P1. In the eyes of the Organizers, this is the most fair application of the penalty to all involved and this would give results that would be as close as possible to the actual results had the penalty been issued during the race before the checkered flag.

Virtual Money System

New for 2025 will be the introduction of a Virtual Money System. The Virtual Money System will use Virtual VSCA Credits (vCredits/vCr) where Drivers and Teams alike will be able to experience a new level of immersion for VSCA and both Team Managers and Drivers will need to ensure their Team and their personal Driver account, stays “in the black” (i.e. have a positive balance).

Teams will start off with a set amount of vCredits upon the Team’s first race with VSCA and will need to use the vCredits to purchase their car(s) they want to use during the season. The cost of the cars will vary depending on the class and the age of the car, just like real life. Each month, Team’s will have a “monthly shop expense” that simulates covering the normal shop costs such as shop mortgage/rent, electricity, salaries of the employees, etc. that would be used over the course of the month. The more Entries a Team has in the championship, the bigger the shop would be in real life and the higher the monthly shop costs.

During a race weekend, Teams can generate “Promototer’s Income” by participating in official free practice sessions which simulates real life Promoter test days. The longer a Team’s Entry(s) participate in these practice sessions, the more Promoter’s Income a Team generates. Additionally, Teams will receive a Race Purse based on their finishing position for a race.

However, running in races also brings expenses. Each Event will have an Entry Fee that is required to be paid similar to real life which varies depending on the class of the Team’s Entry(s). Additionally, Team’s will need to pay the salary of the Drivers that participate for a Team in the Event. The higher the classification of the Driver, the more the salary that needs to be paid. Team’s will have to pay for fuel and tires based on real life costs, and will have “normal wear and tear” that teams will pay to simulate engine, transmission, and suspension rebuilds that would occur over the course of a season. There will also be miscellaneous expenses that Team’s will incur related to travel costs, hotels, food, etc. for the crew members.

Finally, Teams will have “Repair Expenses” for any required repairs their Entry(s) need to complete during the race. The longer the required repairs, the higher the repair cost and just like real life, it doesn’t matter if the damage was your Team’s fault or not, the repair bill ultimately falls on your Team to pay for it. If an Entry wrecks the car to the point of not being able to finish a race or decides to retire because of the required repairs, it is seen as the chassis was totaled and the Team has to purchase a new chassis for that Entry.

At the end of the season, any balance that a Team has in their bank account carries over to the next year. If a Team wants to change cars between seasons, they will “sell” their current car(s) and will have to purchase a new car.

The Driver side of the system also has income and expenses. Drivers earn income every race they participate in through their Driver Salary that the Team pays. Additionally, Drivers get Promotor’s Income for their participation in official practice sessions. “Bonuses” will be given depending on how Driver’s do during a race for completing certain goals such as getting a win, podium, fastest lap, clean driving, etc.

However the expenses that a Driver incurs includes “fines” for any penalty the Driver gets from Race Control, and for incidents gained in sim during a race (i.e. off tracks, loss of control, contact, car contact). An optional “expense” that Drivers will be able to voluntarily elect is to become a “paid Driver”. Just like real life, a paid Driver gives a certain amount of their money to the Team to help offset the costs a Team incurs.

Don’t worry, all of these calculations and bookkeeping will be done automatically by VSCA so no calculations will be required by any Competitor and “income statements” for each Team will be provided after each Event for Teams to see where they are gaining and losing vCredits. All Competitors need to do is to keep track of where they currently are.

This new system we have been working on since the start of 2024 and adjusting the variables throughout the 2024 season using it as a “test” and we are very excited about the level of immersion this will bring to VSCA.

License Penalty Point (LPP) System

The 2024 Penalty Point System will return in 2025 however is being rebranded to the License Penalty Points (LPP) and reconfigured. As in 2024, each VSCA Member can accrue LPP that will stay on their record for a certain amount of time. New for 2025, Entries (i.e. cars) can also accrue LPP that will stay on the Entry’s record for a certain amount of time.

At the end of 2024, any Penalty Points that a VSCA Member has will carry over to 2025 and any Member without Penalty Points and Entries will start 2025 with zero LPP. The LPP for Members will carry over each season however LPP for Entries will reset each season.

The LPP can hold up to 12 LPP before suspensions are incurred. If a penalty is issued by Race Control for an in-race infraction, the following table will be used to determine the LPP issued. Please note, all LPP are cumulative:

*Careless Driving is defined as Race Control determining that an on track move has been attempted with little chance of success or without consideration for the affected Driver(s) and/or fellow competitors (i.e. dive bombs, unsafe rejoins, contact under FCY, etc.)

**The different levels of the Personal Conduct Policy is determined by Race Control/Organizers

LPP will remain on a Member’s record for 6 months before being removed, similar to 2024. All LPPs issued are final and not subject to appeal.

Incident Limit

The incident limit will remain for 2025 however instead of a hard disqualification, it will be replaced with a rolling incident limit. As an example, initial drive through at 20 incidents with a drive through every 10 incidents afterwards. The actual incident limits are to be confirmed however will be similar to those used in 2024, and will vary from track to track.

Full Course Yellow Updates

From the start of VSCA in 2022 through 2024, we have tried three different methods of Full Course Yellows (FCY); staging areas (2022-2023), rolling FCYs without the iRacing Safety Car (2023), and FCYs with the iRacing Safety Car (2024). All of these methods have positives and negatives associated with them however after discussion and feedback over multiple seasons on the FCYs, taking into consideration the positives and negatives of all, we have decided to go back to the staging areas for 2025 and we plan on remaining with the staging areas until iRacing release the new in-sim Race Control that takes into consideration multiclass with FCYs.

For those unaware of what the staging areas are, instead of pacing when a FCY is called, Drivers will pull into a designated “staging area” on the track and come to a stop at which point all the wave-by procedures happen. While a negative is that it is unrealistic, this is significantly faster since cars doing their wave by are catching a stationary “pacing line” in the staging area rather than a moving “pacing line”. Additionally this reduces, not completely removes, the chances of stack ups and car contacts under FCYs often seen while pacing in 2024.

The basic procedures are below. Please note, these are not finalized and are subject to change before the 2025 season:

Race Control throws the FCY. Cars finish their current lap and pull into their designated staging area. All GTP and LMP2s will be in one staging area (a.k.a. the Prototype staging area), and all GT PRO and GT AM will be in another staging area (a.k.a. the GT staging area). The Prototype staging area will always be ahead of the GT staging area.

Race Control will determine and issue the 1st wave-by for all eligible GTs followed by all eligible Prototypes.

Pit road opens for all cars. Cars leave the staging area and decide if they want to pit, those who do not pit will return to the staging area while those who do pit, will return to the staging area after their pit stop.

Race Control will determine and issue the 2nd wave-by for all eligible GTs followed by all eligible Prototypes

Cars will leave their staging area and the race will resume either at the end of the current lap, or the end of the following lap (track dependent) for shorter tracks

This will also allow for a limited class sort by putting all of the GTP and LMP2 cars in front of all of the GT PRO and GT AM cars at the restart, which has been common feedback both in the 2024 Survey and over the course of the 2024 season.

Please note, Teams and Drivers are still required to pay attention and follow the procedures correctly. A common issue we have seen with staging areas is Drivers not leaving enough space to the car in front of them when coming to a stop which causes issues when pulling out of the staging area to take wave-bys, and cars not pulling away in an orderly fashion or when they are supposed to when leaving the staging areas for the pit stop cycle or the restart. Penalties will be assessed for those who do these improperly.

Entry Declaration System

For all Events in 2025 (excluding test days), the Team Manager or Assistant Team Manager will have to “declare” or assign Team Members to a specific Entry for each Event. This includes, Drivers, Spotters, Crew Chiefs, etc. The Entry Declaration deadline will be the same as the iRacing League join request deadline of 23:59 GMT, Friday before the Race for a given Event. This declaration can be completed as far in advance as the Team Manager or Assistant Team Manager chooses. As an example, a Team Manager can declare all members for Petit Le Mans before the Daytona 24 Hours if they choose. This Entry Declaration does not remove the ability for Team Members to move between Entries over the course of a season.

iRacing League Functionality

We will continue using the iRacing League functionality however as always intended, we will be creating a new iRacing League for each season and when applicable each series within VSCA. This means the current iRacing League used in 2024 with a name of “2024 VSCA SportsCar Championship” will no longer be used after the 2024 Petit Le Mans. All Drivers, Team Managers, Crew Chiefs, Spotters, etc. will be required to join the new iRacing League prior to being able to participate in an Event for 2025.

Confirmation of Regulations and Sporting Code

All Drivers, Team Managers, Crew Chiefs, Spotters, etc. will be required to confirm the 2025 Sporting Code and Series Regulations again prior to being accepted into the 2025 iRacing League. The Confirmation of the Regulations and Sporting Code will be required for each season and each series in VSCA.