2019 AARO Ratings System (WIP)

Starting in the 2019 season, the AARO will adopt a new ratings system that will span across all four of the league’s series’. With the empasis on lower-tier development that we have established (70% of the AERS field competed in lower tiers before being moved up), I wanted to kind of put a more linear trajectory to each driver, depending on their potential and development as a young driver.

The ratings system specifically has not been worked out yet, but the basis for this I have essentially completed. The max of each tier of ranks will be roughly the same, differing by a few points each, with the min of those differing more drastically depending on rank. This allows drivers who are maybe not doing the greatest to still find ways to be competitive. I do like the system we have in place right now, but I also feel like some drivers are maxed out in what they can do in a race. I want all drivers to be competitive, but still have the top guys be the top guys.

The driver system will have 3/4 ranks per series. Tier 1 will be Ranks A-C, consisting of mostly established AERS drivers and hotshot rookies. Tier 2 will be Ranks D-G, consisting of top prospects and on the bubble AERS drivers (Rank D) to longshot prospects (Rank G). Tier 3 will be home to Ranks H-K, which will be career minor leaguers (Rank H) to guys with little talent and shot to make a career for themselves (Rank K).

Ranks will be applicable to all 4 series, meaning there is no restrictions on ranks in any series. The best future talents will still be Rank A-C even if competing in lower divisions. As I said before, though, this will largely only affect the min part of the ratings.

For team ratings, there will be 5 ranks, A-E, with established AERS teams being in the top of that group, and their development teams in the C range, with new and/or underfunded teams occupying the lower ranks. Team ratings will be much tighter throughout the 4 leagues than ever before.

Each year, depending on driver progress/regress, the ratings will be reworked for each driver/team. The basic ratings set prior will be largely unchanged, meaning a driver who is aggressive will not have his rating changed to be non-aggressive. The base ratings may dip or rise slightly, but if it is their best or worst category it will stay that way for the most part. Depending on how a driver does at each track, the rating will move the next season based on results and driver performance.

Team ratings will change much more in terms of category. Teams who decide to invest or get better at certain aspects and neglect other aspects will have their ratings change, obviously. These are 100% user choice and will not change based on performance, only user preference. If a team decides to upgrade one area, they will not be able to upgrade another, they will have to conform to their rank.

Speaking of which, rank for both team and driver will be largely dependent upon three things: potential, performance, and, for teams, funding. I’ll get to what the ranks currently stand at right now, but as I’ve done in the past couple seasons, I and other AARO administrators will determine ranks. As i’ve stated multiple times, though, it will only really be a huge difference in the min side of rating.

Current ranks/drivers/teams will be listed below at a further time, and actual rating system is TBD.