So you’re looking at the title of this article and you’re probably thinking, has Jeff gone crazy? Well, yes I have, but that happened long before I wrote this.
As you may know, you can lose your iRacing license through demotion if you let your safety rating fall too low. If your safety rating happens to be lower than 2.0 at the end of the racing season, you will be demoted to the next lower license. If your safety rating ever drops below 1.0 at any time during the racing season, you will be demoted instantly. I don’t think iRacing refers to it this way, but I call this fast track demotion.
But what if an iRacer wanted to drop down to a lower license? Now again you’re probably wondering if I’ve lost my mind. I already covered that above, but read on if you’re interested.
There is absolutely no benefit and nothing to gain by moving up in license level unless there is a car that you want to drive that is only available to the license level to which you are trying to advance. In fact, there is a negative effect by moving up to the next license, and you will see that effect in terms of your safety rating. With higher licenses, it becomes much more difficult to gain safety rating and much easier to lose safety rating.
I currently own an iRacing B license. I was happy to achieve level B, but I quickly found that if I decide to go have fun in the iRacing Advanced Legends Series, I stand to lose a lot of safety rating if I have any minor incident and gain very little safety rating if my race is incident free.
I got my B license by competing in the iRacing Street Stock Series (Class C). I really don’t need a B license to compete in this series. I don’t need a B license because I don’t like big race tracks. I’m a short track guy. I like racing Late Models and Street Stocks. After looking at the iRacing 2013 season 3 schedule, I don’t think I’ll be running any street stock races next season. (It’s a good thing iRacing is just a racing simulator because the street stock tour bears no resemblance to reality). Again, after looking at that Late Model schedule, I’m pretty sure I’m going to be running a Late Model all season long. I’ll also run a few Legends races when I’m bored for fun.
So I’m going to run Legends (Rookie License) and Late Models (D License). Why in the heck do I need a B license? It can only negatively affect my safety rating. That’s all it’s good for since I don’t plan to run any B class cars. Now do you see why I might want to be demoted to a D or C license? But how do I get demoted?
The way to get demoted, of course, is to lose safety rating. As you probably know, I can only do that by having incidents occur during official time trial, qualifying, or race sessions. Here’s the rub: If I make incidents occur during these official sessions, I stand to lose other ratings. If I go spin out and run off course during a time trial, I’ll lose ttRating. I don’t want that. If I have a lot of incidents during official qualifying or race sessions, I can say good-bye to my iRating. I surely don’t want to do that. So what is the answer?
The answer is unofficial races. I mentioned that I’ve been running a lot of Street Stock races this season. There is no shortage of unofficial races in the iRacing Street Stock Series – Class C. The same could be said of some of this season’s Late Model races.
Last week I took my Late Model ride to the Charlotte Legends oval for an unofficial race session, of which there were plenty. I spent most of the time in the grass, spinning out and running off course. I did the same at Langley in an unofficial Street Stock race. I lost almost 2 points off my safety rating. It had no impact on my iRating at all. I did get my safety rating down below 2.0 in preparation for my week 13 demotion, but I have somehow managed to get it well above 2.o again. I guess I’ll have to enter an unofficial Street Stock race at Stafford Motor Speedway towards the end of this racing week.
So if you see me with a very low safety rating, never fear. I’m not on a wrecking rampage. When I actually race I’m still careful as I try to be competitive. I just don’t want this B license any more. I’d prefer a D license but I know I’ll just bounce back to a C license as I run the iRacing 2013 season 3 Late Model Series.
Honestly, I think your the only person I know that could write an article of this nature and still have fun with it. Was a good read and a good laugh. I do agree that as you move up your SR takes a beating.
It becomes very difficult to increase safety rating and very easy to lose safety rating. Safety rating and license are tied together. I think that iRating is a better gauge. If you race hard and race clean, all of the ratings will take care of themselves, but if you have a bad week and you’re running a license that is really higher than what you need, your safety rating will fall like a rock. As far as the official races are concerned, I’m racing to finish well. That means I have to be safe. If I’m successful, my iRating will increase, and so will my season points.
Jeff a question if possible (I know this article is older). I’m currently an A on the road side and don’t really want it at all. i have no desire to run the McClaren F1 car. If I use your method to drop below 1.0 to lose my A and go down to a B, will my safety rating come back up or will I stay at below 1 for my B Rating? For example, I’m currently at 2.20 for my A license, if I drop it below 1, will it revert to a B 3.0 or will it be a B 1.0? Thanks for any reply
If I remember correctly, you will gain 1.0 SR when you drop down a license. For example, let’s say you drop your SR and get it down to 0.9 (you can’t tell where you’re going to end up until you finish your wreck fest session 😀 ). You will drop from A 0.9 to B 1.9. If you stayed at 0.9, you would just drop again and keep dropping until you got to Rookie! 😀
I don’t think license class should be forced in either way, it will take care of itself. Just have fun!
I am now doing the same thing with my iRating.
I joined iRacing two months ago, 11/9/2019.
5 weeks later, after some see saw iRating I found myself at 1000.
This would be around 12/15/2019.
This was right at Season change to 2020.
I had bounced all around (Oval) and settled primarily on the Tour Modified and the SK.
I LOVE the SK and it likes me too.
Over the next three weeks my iRating sky rocked to 1750.
I should note that my current work schedule allowed me to race 3-5 times a DAY.
Most would be ecstatic!
Me?
Not so much.
With the participation level in the Modified Series, many times there is one split or two.
Occasionally, three splits.
I suddenly jumped from lower split to high split.
With limited setup knowledge (I’m learning) I’m now racing with 2500/5000 IR folks and NO CHANCE of podium finishes let alone an occasional win.
But I am doing well enough to frequently finish mid pack and gain more iRating.
So, as an experiment, I’m tanking my iRating.
As I noted, many times there is only one split for the mods, and therefore all are lumped together.
But if I can get my iRating down to 1500 or a little less, then I will be racing those more closely in line with my skill level.
Yeah, there are more crashers down there, but in the mods, it doesn’t seem as bad as Legends or Street Stock.
If the Mods were much more popular and had regular splits of 4 or more like some other series; I have no doubt that I would in a split level more to my actual skill level and my iRating would be more of a smooth line vs a steep up swing.
One of the issues, I believe, that is effecting me is the ‘new’ Modified cars.
When I can find a set up that works I can tweak it to my liking.
Problem is, there are not that many setups out there.
That will rectify itself over time.
(THANKS to all that share!!!)
So my next concern: I tank my iRating, get into splits that are more my actual skill level, then I do well and win a few…I’m back UP in iRating again!!!!
Here we go again!
I will see how this works out.
Thanks!
Dave
You touched on a problem with iRacing matchmaking system. iRacing attempts to split the fields based on iRating in order to match racers with similar skill levels. This is what I mean by matchmaking system. The problem is, there aren’t very many series in which this system works because there is not enough participation.
The only real reason to run official races on iRacing is to be matched to drivers with whom you can compete. If that is not happening, you’re spitting in the wind. That’s why I essentially quit running in official races a long time ago. Matchmaking doesn’t work and you get wrecked a lot. It’s a complete waste of time.
Right,
For example the Class C Street Stock Fixed series has regularly 7- 9 splits.
Much more fine tuning of match making.
The SK mod has 3 splits at most and that is rare.
It is about participation numbers, but there are obvious fixes that could be made.
I would much rather race 4 or 5 others with my skill level vs 15 where 6 of them are sitting on 4000 – 5000 IR Class A’s.
And those A guys…once at that level you should be throttled to a or B level series only.
Let’s be honest…they come down to the C class SK for an easy win in SR and IR to pad their ratings to help in the top series.
For them it is a TT with full benefits.
Thanks for the info! I was just promoted and lost the ability to drive my favorite vehicle and series so I may go down this road.