I had a quick search but couldnt find anything like this.

I joined a server as everyone was on their first or second lap lap, I came out of the pits and as I was at the back I waited until there was enough room and pulled out and got upto the pace. Then I got the blue flag (Cold tyres so had to slow down a bit more than everyone else) and let the guy past.

The I found I was faster than him. So I overtook on the straight and still had the blue flag warning for a bit, Until I lost him and caught upto the next one.

Was I right in overtaking them because I technically (If fast enough) could of overtaken them all and got my lap back eventually (if in a long enough race) and therefore possibly finish on the podium.

I say I was right, But wanted to know what more experienced racers thought on the issue.

If you're faster the choice is yours: Leave the race or overtake. Staying behind a slower driver doesn't make sense.

Must've been lap 2 atleast for you to get blue flag. IMHO if you just join a server and join when the race is going you should never comprimise them in anyway, IE overtaking them, best to wait untill you have a good 10 seconds gap to the guy infront.

BTW, there is a huge blue flag thread with loads of opinions, but basicly in a long race where you started the race and someone comes to overtake you, it's your choice to whether you slow down but the blue flag is only to aware you that a leader is approaching and will probarly be overtaking.

yeah, it's OK to unlap yourself, imo... just be very, very careful

I think a better policy is to find some clean air if possible, and warm up before the next race by yourself. If you come across someone a lap up, back off and give them and yourself some room.

yeah, you can try to over take. i only do in situations like this if i am signifigantly faster and only if it is a very easy, low risk passing opportunity

This is where I have a small quibble with the map system in LFS. Theres no way of knowing at a glance (as far as I know) if the guy catching up behind you is for position or a backmarker trying to unlap himself. If it's the latter I'd ease off a bit and let him pass. It's not worth risking my race. If, by some miracle, he makes it all the way through the field and ends up behind me again, I'll fight him then.

Same arguement goes for not being able to tell if the car in front is a leader or for position. Becky Rose's LFS Companion goes some way in giving you this information, but I'd still like to see it conveyed on the track map.

If I'm a backmarker with significantly better pace than a leader, I just hope I'll be let through. If the leader puts up a fight I just back off.

I think if your faster than them, overtake them but do it very carefully.

If you are much quicker, so you could vanish from his view soon, and you're 100% sure it's safe to pass, then go ahead

But you shouldn't pass if you're not much quicker or aren't confident with the track/car -combo, so you don't distract his/her race.

Unless your dealing with the elitest type drivers then they belive you should bail your race to let them by.

Im not naming names but they know who they are!


IMO, you should hold your line untill its safe for you to let them pass.

Tick

Quote from thisnameistaken :

I agree with Bawbag - if you're joining in the middle of a race you should leave them to it. There'll be a new race for you to join soon enough.

Most definitely. If you don't make the race start, you are not in the race, you are only practicing. You should wait until there is a large clear area in the pack and enter then.

If you do make the race start and are involved in the current race and get yourself behind a lap for some reason, you have every right to make the attempt at getting that lap back. You can try to stay ahead of the blue flag behind you, but if he is directly behind and you are not pulling away, then you should let him by. Lapped cars are a part of racing and being a lap car wanting to get it back is a part of racing.

It is kind of silly in 5 lap public races though. A new race will be starting in 5 minutes. 10 lap races with the stupid forced pit, then it's very possible to be the fastest on the track, but being blue flagged or a lap down after pit. You have the right to race, so just race.