Round Booking In:
The arrival of LFS Pro Series also introduces a new idea to LFS, the Booking In system.
The booking in system is used to confirm your participation before each round.
Most people are familiar with Airport check-in, where you are required to check in within a certain timeframe in order to confirm you are flying, and any seats not checked in by the time check-in closes would be available to any passengers hoping to board the flight due to earlier cancellations or missed flights etc.
LFS Pro Series takes a similar approach, where the 32 people entered into the series are given a wide window in which to confirm they'll be racing, before any unclaimed places become available to people on a reserves list.
Heres a basic example of the timetable:
Example race date = Jan 10th
Stage 1: 00UTC on Jan 3rd - Booking in opens
All 32 drivers competing receive an automated email letting them know booking in is now open, it tells them all the round details including date, time, combo, what sessions are being held and how long (min/laps), a rough timetable for the round, and some information about what to do.
Drivers can now secure their place on the grid during a 5 day window.
Stage 2: 00UTC on Jan 7th - Booking in closing soon
The same drivers receive another automated email, this time reminding them that booking in will close in just 24hrs. They will be reminded of their current status (ie confirmed, unable to attend, unspecified) to hopefully ensure anyone yet to confirm does so while they have chance, and also incase any drivers situation has changed, hopefully they will then correct this.
Stage 3: 00UTC on Jan 8th - Booking in closed
Any drivers which havent confirmed will be moved into the reserves list for the round. Drivers who have confirmed are assured their place on the grid.
At the same time, drivers on the reserves list will have 24hrs to apply for one of the available places in the round.
Stage 4: 00UTC on Jan 9th - Reserve bump-ups announced
Nearly 48hrs before the race starts, the available places on the starting grid will be filled by the reserves list drivers.
The drivers 'bumped up' will be selected based on:
• Points/results from the current season
• Season race finishes & starts
• Ability/Suitability
We hope this will ensure that people who've already entered an earlier round receive priority over drivers who havent, allowing them as close to a full season as possible, without newcomers taking their place.
Stage 5: 19UTC on Jan 10th - Race time!
It might seem fairly complicated to begin with, however the whole system from a drivers view is extremely simple to carry out. The automated emails help ensure you know when you're required to book in, and just incase you forget theres a reminder in place.
Informing us of your availability for the round couldnt be easier either, you just need to log-in on the site, head to the booking in area, and you'll see the deadlines for the entire season, with the next round highlighted for you. From there, you only need to select your status (confirm, unable to attend, unknown) and submit it, and then double check that your status is displayed correct.
The whole booking in approach is something i've personally felt has been required for some time, but it needed to be done in a manner which was easy for the user, effective for the leagues admins, and had the backup measures to ensure as much effort as is reasonable to ensure people who could race would be (ie people dont get excluded because they forgot).
The aim is to make sure we try to have full grids every round, and if people are unable to attend then were aware of this and can do the next best thing, bring in replacements.
The arrival of LFS Pro Series also introduces a new idea to LFS, the Booking In system.
The booking in system is used to confirm your participation before each round.
Most people are familiar with Airport check-in, where you are required to check in within a certain timeframe in order to confirm you are flying, and any seats not checked in by the time check-in closes would be available to any passengers hoping to board the flight due to earlier cancellations or missed flights etc.
LFS Pro Series takes a similar approach, where the 32 people entered into the series are given a wide window in which to confirm they'll be racing, before any unclaimed places become available to people on a reserves list.
Heres a basic example of the timetable:
Example race date = Jan 10th
Stage 1: 00UTC on Jan 3rd - Booking in opens
All 32 drivers competing receive an automated email letting them know booking in is now open, it tells them all the round details including date, time, combo, what sessions are being held and how long (min/laps), a rough timetable for the round, and some information about what to do.
Drivers can now secure their place on the grid during a 5 day window.
Stage 2: 00UTC on Jan 7th - Booking in closing soon
The same drivers receive another automated email, this time reminding them that booking in will close in just 24hrs. They will be reminded of their current status (ie confirmed, unable to attend, unspecified) to hopefully ensure anyone yet to confirm does so while they have chance, and also incase any drivers situation has changed, hopefully they will then correct this.
Stage 3: 00UTC on Jan 8th - Booking in closed
Any drivers which havent confirmed will be moved into the reserves list for the round. Drivers who have confirmed are assured their place on the grid.
At the same time, drivers on the reserves list will have 24hrs to apply for one of the available places in the round.
Stage 4: 00UTC on Jan 9th - Reserve bump-ups announced
Nearly 48hrs before the race starts, the available places on the starting grid will be filled by the reserves list drivers.
The drivers 'bumped up' will be selected based on:
• Points/results from the current season
• Season race finishes & starts
• Ability/Suitability
We hope this will ensure that people who've already entered an earlier round receive priority over drivers who havent, allowing them as close to a full season as possible, without newcomers taking their place.
Stage 5: 19UTC on Jan 10th - Race time!
It might seem fairly complicated to begin with, however the whole system from a drivers view is extremely simple to carry out. The automated emails help ensure you know when you're required to book in, and just incase you forget theres a reminder in place.
Informing us of your availability for the round couldnt be easier either, you just need to log-in on the site, head to the booking in area, and you'll see the deadlines for the entire season, with the next round highlighted for you. From there, you only need to select your status (confirm, unable to attend, unknown) and submit it, and then double check that your status is displayed correct.
The whole booking in approach is something i've personally felt has been required for some time, but it needed to be done in a manner which was easy for the user, effective for the leagues admins, and had the backup measures to ensure as much effort as is reasonable to ensure people who could race would be (ie people dont get excluded because they forgot).
The aim is to make sure we try to have full grids every round, and if people are unable to attend then were aware of this and can do the next best thing, bring in replacements.