DEFINITION
Proximity is one of the three core judged criteria in a tandem battle (alongside line and angle). It measures how close the chase car stays to the lead through entry, transitions, clipping points and exit.
Door-to-door, bumper-to-bumper, or rear-quarter-to-front-quarter — judges look for consistent closeness, not just a single moment of nearness.
HISTORY & ORIGIN
Proximity scoring came out of the D1GP rulebook in the early 2000s and is now the single biggest differentiator in close battles across every major series.
TECHNIQUE BREAKDOWN
The chase commits to entry within a car length of the lead and matches every transition. Proximity at clipping points carries the most weight; proximity through transitions shows skill.
PRO TIPS & COMMON MISTAKES
• Proximity at the entry sets the tone. If you back out at entry you spend the rest of the run trying to catch up.
• Common mistake: closing in only on straights. Judges want proximity in the parts that are hard, not the parts that are easy.
Her chase run had door-handle proximity from initiation all the way to the exit gate.