GERMANRACERS RULEBOOK
COMMUNITY, PLATFORM & RACING RULES
GermanRacers brings independent racing teams and drivers together on a shared platform. For this shared competition to work, the following rules apply in GermanRacers’ public and official areas.
1. General community rules
1.1 Respectful conduct
Treat other members, drivers, racing teams, organisers and guests with respect and fairness.
1.2 No insults or personal attacks
Insults, deliberate provocation, bullying, harassment or personal attacks will not be tolerated.
1.3 No discrimination
Racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or otherwise discriminatory statements and content are prohibited.
1.4 No inhuman or extremist content
Inhuman or extremist content, symbols and their glorification have no place at GermanRacers.
1.5 No threats or intimidation
Threats, attempts at intimidation or deliberately aggressive behaviour towards others are prohibited.
1.6 No spam
Repeated messages, unnecessary mentions, mass advertising or other disruptive spam content must be avoided.
1.7 No inappropriate content
Pornographic, violence-glorifying or otherwise clearly inappropriate content does not belong in GermanRacers’ public and official areas.
1.8 Respect privacy
Private messages, personal data, images or other non-public information about others must not be published or shared without their consent.
1.9 Resolve conflicts constructively
Disagreements should be resolved constructively. Personal disputes do not belong in the community’s public areas.
1.10 Instructions from the GR team
Moderative and organisational instructions from the GermanRacers team must be respected. If anything is unclear or disputed, contact the GR team.
2. Membership & accounts
2.1 Voluntary membership
Membership at GermanRacers is voluntary. Any member may leave the community at any time. However, leaving also ends the rights and benefits tied to active membership at GermanRacers.
2.2 GR tag
When leaving the GermanRacers community, the right to wear or use the GR tag expires. The GR tag must be removed after leaving and must not continue to be used to suggest ongoing affiliation with GermanRacers.
2.3 GermanRacers library
When leaving the community, the right to use the GermanRacers library expires. Further use of or driving with the GR library is no longer permitted after leaving.
2.4 Priority entry and reserved server slots
When leaving the community, the priority entry rights associated with membership on GermanRacers servers cease. A previously reserved server slot for the member no longer applies after leaving.
2.5 User accounts
A GermanRacers user account is generally assigned to one person. Sharing an account or using someone else’s account is not permitted. Multiple accounts must not be used in particular to:
- circumvent bans or restrictions,
- influence results or statistics,
- receive GR Coins or other benefits more than once, or
- otherwise gain an unfair advantage.
3. Race operations & fair play
3.1 Principle of fair driving
On GermanRacers servers and at shared events, fair, controlled and predictable behaviour is expected. Mistakes can happen to anyone. What matters is the difference between a normal driving error and reckless or intentional behaviour.
3.2 No dive bombs
Uncontrolled or clearly late braking manoeuvres where a driver brakes into a corner from an unrealistic distance, forcing others to take evasive action or causing a collision, must be avoided. Overtaking must be controlled and performed with a realistic chance of completing the corner cleanly.
3.3 No unnecessary weaving
Repeated or unnecessary lane changes to defend a position are not permitted. Defending one’s position is allowed, but must be done in a controlled and predictable manner.
3.4 No unnecessary braking
Intentional or unnecessary heavy braking without a plausible reason is prohibited when it endangers or provokes following drivers. Normal braking within a battle or when defending a position is unaffected.
3.5 Incidents, spins & unsafe rejoins
Anyone who loses control, spins or is involved in an incident must apply the brakes and bring the car to a controlled stop. After a spin in particular, the car must not roll uncontrolled across the track, endangering others or causing further incidents. After an incident or spin, driving may only resume or the track re-entered when it is safe to do so. Anyone who has left the track is responsible for a safe rejoin. No other car may be endangered, impeded or forced into evasive or emergency braking. Uncontrolled rolling after a spin or incident and an unsafe rejoin may be treated as a rule violation.
3.6 Start and opening lap
Extra caution is required especially at the start and on the opening lap. Cold tyres, a dense field and different braking points increase the risk of incidents. Positions may be fought for, but unnecessary risks at others’ expense must be avoided.
3.7 Qualifying
Drivers on a fast lap must not be deliberately or unnecessarily impeded. Anyone not on a fast lap must watch for traffic from behind and should let faster cars pass at a suitable and predictable point.
3.8 Pit entry and exit
Particular caution is required when entering and leaving the pit lane. Designated entry and exit lines and in-game rules must be observed. When leaving the pits, live traffic must not be endangered by a reckless return to the track.
3.9 Lapping and blue flags
During lapping, all parties must behave predictably and considerately. The driver being lapped must not deliberately block the faster driver or unnecessarily hinder the process. The lapping driver also bears responsibility for a safe overtake.
3.10 Intentional collisions and revenge wrecking
Deliberate squeezing, intentionally caused collisions, revenge wrecking or comparable unsporting behaviour will not be accepted.
3.11 Cheating and exploits
Cheating and the use of unauthorised aids are prohibited. The following are also forbidden:
- deliberate exploitation of bugs or exploits,
- manipulation of results or standings,
- manipulation of statistics,
- manipulation of telemetry data,
- manipulation of GR Coins, and
- other manipulation of GermanRacers systems.
3.12 Manipulation of races and results
Agreements or actions aimed at manipulating a race or its result in an unsporting manner are prohibited. This includes in particular deliberately caused collisions, deliberately impeding other drivers to benefit a team mate, and agreements to artificially influence results or standings. Normal team strategy and sporting cooperation within a racing team remain generally permitted.
Respect, fair play and reasonable conduct with one another — both off and on track.
4. Events & community participation
4.1 Event participation
GermanRacers thrives on active participation by its members and racing teams. Members are therefore expected to take part in offered events where possible. Of course there are personal, professional or other reasons why participation may not be possible; attending every event is therefore not a general obligation. Where time and circumstances allow, we still hope for participation even when a track, car or conditions are not a personal favourite. Not every event will suit every driver equally — but a functioning community only exists when we share the track together.
4.2 Event registration
Anyone registering for a GermanRacers event should treat that registration as binding. If a registered driver cannot attend, they should unregister in good time where possible — especially for events with limited grid slots. Short-notice personal, professional or technical reasons can of course arise; the aim is not to punish unexpected absence, but to avoid avoidable unused grid slots.
5. Racing teams & team areas
5.1 Independence of racing teams
Racing teams represented at GermanRacers remain independent communities. GermanRacers does not generally dictate how teams organise themselves internally.
5.2 Own team rules
Each racing team may set additional rules for its own community, Discord, internal areas and servers. An own team rulebook is not a prerequisite for participation at GermanRacers.
5.3 Self-managed areas on GermanRacers
Racing teams may receive their own areas within GermanRacers for self-organisation. These may include in particular:
- own forum sections,
- own download areas,
- team servers,
- practice servers, and
- other areas assigned to the team.
Even where these areas are technically provided by GermanRacers, their internal organisation remains with the respective team. GermanRacers does not generally provide ongoing moderation of internal processes or disputes there.
5.4 Internal matters of a racing team
The respective racing team is generally responsible for internal decisions, disputes and organisation of a self-managed team area. Complaints or disagreements that concern exclusively internal matters of a team should first be clarified directly with that team’s leadership. GermanRacers is not intended to take over or moderate internal decisions or disputes between members of a racing team.
5.5 Public content from a racing team
If a racing team chooses to make content from its team area publicly accessible, the general GermanRacers rules additionally apply to those publications. This concerns in particular:
- publicly visible posts and topics,
- downloads and files,
- images and videos,
- links, and
- other publicly accessible content.
5.6 Public and official GermanRacers areas
On GermanRacers public servers, at official GR events, in public GR community areas and other official areas, the GermanRacers rulebook applies equally to all participants — regardless of which racing team they belong to or what differing rules apply within that team.
5.7 Conduct between racing teams
Sporting rivalry between racing teams is explicitly part of the GermanRacers concept. That rivalry ends where it becomes personal attacks, deliberate provocation, public disparagement of other teams or comparable unsporting behaviour.
6. Content, downloads & lawful use
6.1 Responsibility for own content
Every user is responsible for content they post, upload, publish or distribute via GermanRacers — including posts, comments, images, videos, files, downloads, links and other content. Users may only provide content whose publication, use and distribution is lawful and does not infringe third-party rights. This applies to all users of the GermanRacers platform, in particular members, drivers, team operators, team members and others who provide content via GermanRacers.
6.2 Rights to uploaded content and downloads
Anyone uploading, publishing or offering files for download via GermanRacers is responsible for having the necessary rights and permissions — in particular copyright, usage rights, trademark rights, personality rights and other third-party rights. Content or files that may not lawfully be published or distributed must not be offered or shared via GermanRacers. In case of doubt, the user or team must ensure that use is permitted.
6.3 Prohibition of unlawful content
Using GermanRacers to publish, store or distribute unlawful content is prohibited. GermanRacers applies a zero-tolerance policy to obviously or clearly unlawful content — regardless of whether content is public, within a team area or in any other area provided via GermanRacers. Self-management of a team area does not permit storing or distributing unlawful content.
6.4 Reporting unlawful content
GermanRacers provides an electronic and easily accessible reporting channel for allegedly unlawful content. A report should in particular include:
- a comprehensible explanation of why the content is considered unlawful,
- as precise an electronic location of the content as possible,
- name and email address of the reporting person where legally required,
- a statement that the report is made in good faith to the best of the reporter’s knowledge and that the information is correct and complete.
Where required by law, GermanRacers confirms receipt of a report and informs the reporter of the decision taken. Reports are processed promptly, carefully, objectively and without arbitrariness. A report alone does not automatically mean the content is unlawful or that the user has violated the GermanRacers rulebook.
6.5 Measures for unlawful content
If GermanRacers becomes aware of unlawful content or facts from which unlawfulness follows, GermanRacers will promptly review and take required and appropriate measures within the legal framework — including removal of content or blocking access. Obviously or clearly unlawful content may be removed or access blocked immediately. Depending on the nature, severity, frequency and circumstances of the violation, appropriate measures may also be taken against the responsible user or team, including in particular:
- restriction of upload, download or publication rights,
- temporary or permanent account suspension,
- withdrawal of certain access or usage rights,
- blocking of individual team, forum or download areas, and
- in serious cases, exclusion of a user or team from GermanRacers.
For serious or obviously unlawful violations, no prior warning is required. Where legally required, GermanRacers informs the affected user of restrictions on their content, account or use of the service, the reasons and available complaint or legal remedies.
6.6 Procedure where legal position is unclear
If the unlawfulness of reported content is not readily established, GermanRacers reviews the matter based on available information. Where necessary, appropriate and proportionate for review, content or an area may be temporarily blocked or its public availability restricted. GermanRacers may request further information from the reporter or the user responsible for the content. Temporary restriction during review is not yet a final finding of a legal or rule violation.
6.7 Content moderation
GermanRacers may moderate content and its use under the GermanRacers rulebook, applicable terms of use and legal requirements. Moderation may include restricting visibility, blocking or removing content and restricting user accounts or individual platform functions. Decisions are taken carefully, objectively and proportionately with regard to each individual case. Where GermanRacers uses automated systems to detect, sort or moderate content, applicable legal information obligations are observed.
6.8 Contact options
GermanRacers provides legally required electronic contact options for users and for competent authorities and bodies. Contact information is published publicly, kept easily accessible and up to date. Users are provided with a direct, fast and user-friendly means of electronic communication with GermanRacers; communication is not exclusively via automated systems.
6.9 Authorities, court orders and serious criminal suspicion
GermanRacers complies with legally binding orders from competent authorities and courts regarding unlawful content and the disclosure of information required by law. Where information available to GermanRacers gives rise to a legally relevant suspicion of an offence posing a danger to life or personal safety, GermanRacers will fulfil applicable reporting and information duties to law enforcement or judicial authorities. GermanRacers also reserves the right to take legal action within the legally permissible scope in cases of serious legal violations.
6.10 Suspension, deletion and retention of data
After account suspension, exclusion or removal of a racing team, associated content and data may be deleted where further processing is no longer required. Immediate and complete deletion of all data is not guaranteed. Data may continue to be stored temporarily or processing restricted where required or permitted by law, retention obligations, ongoing reviews or for asserting, exercising or defending legal claims. Processing of personal data is additionally governed by GermanRacers’ privacy policy and applicable law.
6.11 Self-managed racing team areas
Technical provision of a forum, download area, server or other team area by GermanRacers does not mean GermanRacers adopts statements, content or decisions published there by users or teams. The respective team is generally responsible for internal organisation of a self-managed team area. GermanRacers does not generally carry out preventive monitoring of all user content published or stored in such areas. Self-management does not release GermanRacers from its legal obligations as platform operator; GermanRacers may therefore also block or remove content and take further necessary measures within self-managed areas when aware of a possible legal violation or where intervention is required by law or authority or court order.
6.12 Relationship to the GermanRacers rulebook
Content need not be unlawful to violate GermanRacers rules. Content may therefore also be restricted or removed and users sanctioned where content or conduct violates the published GermanRacers rulebook or applicable terms of use. Measures are taken with regard to each individual case and the nature and severity of the violation.
7. Rule violations, sanctions & house rules
7.1 Consequences of rule violations
Violations of the GermanRacers rulebook may be sanctioned depending on nature, severity and frequency. Possible measures include in particular:
- notice or warning,
- sporting penalties,
- stripping of results or standings,
- temporary exclusion from events,
- temporary server or platform ban,
- withdrawal of certain permissions,
- permanent account suspension,
- exclusion from GermanRacers.
These measures need not follow this order.
7.2 Serious and repeated violations
For serious, intentional or repeated violations, individual escalation steps may be skipped and stricter measures imposed immediately. For particularly serious violations, no prior warning is required.
7.3 Assessment of racing incidents
Not every driving error or contact automatically constitutes a rule violation. When assessing an incident, the specific situation, severity, possible fault, consequences and previous violations may be considered. Decisions should be made as objectively as possible based on available information.
7.4 Circumventing sanctions
Attempting to circumvent an imposed ban or other sanction is prohibited — in particular using additional or foreign accounts or other means aimed at bypassing existing restrictions. Circumventing a sanction may lead to further measures up to permanent exclusion from GermanRacers.
7.5 House rules
GermanRacers exercises house rules on its own public and official platform areas, servers, events and other areas managed by GermanRacers. GermanRacers may deny access to individual areas or the entire GermanRacers platform to persons who commit significant or repeated rule violations or whose behaviour substantially impairs operation, safety or community peace.
Principle
GermanRacers is meant to bring different racing teams and drivers together. We do not expect everyone to share the same opinion, drive the same pace or take every race equally seriously. What we do expect is respect, fair play and reasonable conduct with one another — both off and on track. Individual teams keep their identity and their own communities. When we share GermanRacers together, however, the same shared ground rules apply to everyone.
BECOME PART OF THE COMMUNITY
Visit us on Discord for dates, setups and direct exchange with other drivers.