[4:15:11] NCRC Introduces the Chrono Series

With Chrono, NCRC is re-formatting its Time Trial Series, providing a separate run group for a more exciting driving series much closer to a race format, and a "framework" for marque-specific time trial/challenge groups. Drivers race against the clock to set their best lap time (Chrono being Greek for "time") for the day, within the boundaries of key safety rules.

The series will be run at the Thunderhill, Laguna Seca and Buttonwillow racetracks.

Season winners will be determined by selecting the best five Chrono finishes for each driver for the season. Drivers who participate in more than five Chrono events will have an opportunity to improve their scores, drivers who participate in fewer than five events will have fewer opportunities for season points.

2012 Schedule

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The inaugural Chrono event was July 10, 2011 at Thunderhill, and we used three events in the second half of the 2011 track season to shake out and make adjustments to the process. The 2012 calendar has a full season of events as follows:

Logistics

Chrono Series events take place on a single track day, some on weekends and some on weekdays, at tracks in California. The Chrono Series has its own run group exclusive to entrants in the series, and will not be combined with other Open Track or Race drivers. It is open to any Point-By, Open or Race qualified driver, as defined by NCRC rungroup guidelines, and will be run in an open passing format.

Chrono drivers will have a separate driver's meeting from the open track drivers, and do not need to attend the regular driver's meeting.

Registration for the Chrono series is through the NCRC web site registration process. Note that we expect high attendance for Chrono events, and it is your responsibility to be registered and paid early enough to guarantee a spot in the event.

Chrono Event Format

The Chrono daily format will consist of five track sessions including:

A Practice Session to warm up and get your car set up for the track conditions.

A Qualifying Session in which all drivers will drive for their best lap time, to determine the grid order for the first Chrono heat.

Chrono Heat 1 in which all cars will be gridded in order of the qualifying session, with fast car being at pole position and released first from the pits. The grid will be marked with car numbers so drivers can find their position. Cars will be released approximately one second apart from the pits. Each driver's best lap time from any of the three heats will count as his best time of the day, and used for the series score.

Chrono Heat 2 where all cars are again gridded, this time in the order of best lap times from Heat 1. Again cars are released one per second, looking to set their best lap time.

Chrono Heat 3 where all cars are again gridded, this time in the order of best current lap times of the day (i.e. Heat 1 or Heat 2). Again cars are released one per second, and this is the last chance for each driver to set their best lap time of the day.

A typical Chrono schedule will be 15-minute sessions for practice and qualifying, followed by three 20-minute heats, all in one day.

Scoring

Points are earned at each series event and are accumulated for the year-end championship. Points are awarded to the top 8 finishers for each class as follows:
1st = 10 pts, 2nd = 8 pts, 3rd = 6 pts, 4th = 5 pts, 5th = 4 pts, 6th = 3 pts, 7th = 2 pts, 8th = 1 pt

Penalty points are subtracted from the day's score for each spin or major "off" (2/4 wheels on turn exit). Two wheels off at an apex is not a penalty. NCRC Management will reserve the right to assign a penalty for dangerous or overly aggressive driving. For one penalty, one point; two penalties = 3 points; 3 penalties= 6 points; four penalties and you're out of the event for the day.