Rally Championship 20th Anniversary Invitational [OFFICIAL PROGRESS THREAD]

[Ephemeral]

Welcome!

Hello and welcome everyone to the Rally Championship 20th Anniversary Invitational - or RCXX in short; a second entry in the Magnetic Fields Memorial series. As the title suggests, we're celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first Rally Championship 2000 release! This thread will keep everyone updated on the contest as it progresses.

Contest overview

As this is another entry in the same series as last year's Magnetic Fields 30 Year Anniversary Invitational, it's based around the same thing. Again, it's going to be an A8 Championship playthrough with the participants fighting to score the best times amongst each other. Except, there's a twist...

Manufacturers Championship

This year's edition of the Magnetic Fields Memorial differs from the maiden one in that, most of all, it's a manufacturers championship It means that the participants are split into teams of two, each team representing a different manufacturer. The teams have been put together in a very balanced way and, realistically, any of them can win! Of course - and again - individual rivalries will also count, but the team battles are the focal point of this event.

Championship schedule

Same as last year, the contest will follow an identical strict schedule presented below and, once again, in case of an emergency which makes a competitor unable to complete a certain day, they may inform me of that and we will think of a workaround.
The contest will last for 18 consecutive days (July 8 - July 25) and each day will begin from the service area and end upon reaching the next service area (so that the game can be saved):

Vauxhall Rally of Wales (July 8 - July 10)
Day 1: Clocaenog Mid & Penmachno South
Day 2: Myherin & Hafren
Day 3: Dyfi & Gartheiniog

Pirelli International Rally (July 11 - July 15)
Day 4: Chirdonhead
Day 5: Falstone
Day 6: Kershope
Day 7: Pundershaw
Day 8: Riccarton & Newcastleton

RSAC Scottish Rally (July 16 - July 18)
Day 9: Twiglees, Yair & Cardrona
Day 10: Black Loch & Glentrool
Day 11: Ae

Seat Jim Clark Memorial Rally (July 19 - July 20)
Day 12: Moon and Star, Bothwell & Whitchester
Day 13: Eccles, Langton & Fogo

Stena Line Ulster Rally (July 21 - July 23)
Day 14: Hamilton's Folly & Tyrones Ditches
Day 15: Feeney & Parkanaur
Day 16: Lisnamuck & Tardree

Sony Manx International Rally (July 24 - July 25)
Day 17: Port Soderick, Ballagyr & Curraghs
Day 18: Tholt-Y-Will, Injerbreck & Cringle

Ranking system

No change in respect to last year, this contest will follow the same simple ranking system, with points being awarded after each rally. All participants' total rally times will be compared and serve as the ranking measure. Points for each place are as follows:
1st: 12 points
2nd: 11 points
3rd: 10 points
4th: 9 points
5th: 8 points
6th: 7 points
7th: 6 points
8th: 5 points
9th: 4 points
10th: 3 points
11th: 2 points
12th: 1 point

As it pertains to the manufacturers rivalry, the teams' members' individual points will be added together and they will serve as the "team points" (as opposed to ranking based on their joint times). Everything else will work just like the abovementioned individual ranking system.

Validation process

Each driver must take two screenshots after each stage: a screenshot that shows the stage time and a screenshot that shows the overall rally time (both screens can be accessed after completing a stage, just take a screenshot of them). Additionally, it's important to record your runs, so the Championship Manager(s) can ensure no rule was broken. It's highly recommended to use a recording software, but if that's impossible, a participant must at least save the in-game replay of the run and send it over.
The screenshots and the recordings must be sent to the Championship Manager(s) (Linotrix and/or I) no longer than 24h after a day's end. They can be sent via our Discord server (recommended), or anywhere on this forum (posts will be removed after reviewing to keep the forum clean).

Progress update / Day summary

Results and standings after each day will be posted in this thread every weekend and daily on the following spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Gu-S1g4Se_RCK2HED5nZIFb09-eC1c0x7YS7zPUt7Ng/edit?usp=drivesdk

Rules

• No cheats or modifications affecting the gameplay mechanics are allowed. In case you don't have the A8 Championship unlocked, you may use the world class cheat, but nothing else.
  
• Each day has to be completed without any retries, even if you don't finish the rally (in which case you're ranked last in the final ranking of the rally you didn't finish and you must wait for the next rally).
  
• Making major cuts which grant a significant time advantage is prohibited and will be punished (i.e., please drive as cleanly as possible)
  
• Players must stick with their respective cars and teams until the very end.
  
• UI, camera view and other game settings may be freely changed by all competitors.
  
• Service area car setups and the transmission mode are up to you to decide.
  
• Most importantly, have fun and take it easy. It's all about friendly competition!
  

Participants/Teams

• CroLand Rally (Linotrix & Migger) - Subaru Impreza WRC
  
• Haas Rally Racing (Erwto & SpartaRemixer) - SEAT Córdoba WRC
  
• The Protontype (SpartaX18 & XsaraTorrada) - Proton Wira/Persona
  
• Group Z (Lewsys & Twajlot) - Peugeot 206 WRC
  
• One Man Band (Redchili385) - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V
  

To cap it all off...

I think I'm even more excited than last year, though maybe it's because I'm finally taking part myself! Or, because the competition is absolutely stacked! It could also be the breath of fresh air in the form of the manufacturs championship! I feel like it's going to be an utter blast!
If you have any questions, feel free to ask them, and I suggest you check out previous year's thread, if you're new to this, right here: https://rc2000.forumotion.com/t31-results-magnetic-fields-30-year-anniversary-invitational-official-progress-thread

[Ephemeral]

Update

Due to multiple difficulties met along the way, the contest will be restarted on Monday, July 15. This time the no-cutting policy will be lifted; only a select few shortcut will be banned - we will explain which ones they are soon.
Stay tuned!

[Ephemeral]

List of banned cuts/shortcuts

Stage: Clocaenog Mid
Spot: The fallen tree shortcut at the first square right junction


Stage: Clocaenog Mid
Spot: The shortcut among the trees at the muddy part near the end of the stage


Stage: Gartheiniog
Spot: Square left turn into a closed road near the start of the stage


Stage: Chirdonhead
Spot: Closed road shortcut in the north-eastern part of the stage


Stage: Chirdonhead
Spot: Square right cut behind the logs around the midpoint of the stage


Stage: Chirdonhead
Spot: Closed road shortcut on a hairpin left junction near the finish.

Aside from the above-mentioned, all shortcuts involving resetting the car are strictly prohibited.

Using any of the banned cuts/shortcuts will be punished in the form of an automatic disqualification from the current rally.

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