SimRacing.org.uk

Password: see above (#post_event_password) (released 24hrs before the race)

Round 7 - Spa Francochamps Endurance Round

(http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y444/MJ_p911/A4_24HSPA_web_zpsh9jlbvgb.jpg) (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/MJ_p911/media/A4_24HSPA_web_zpsh9jlbvgb.jpg.html)

June 21st - Password entry (on day of race)

Practise: 19:30 (45 mins)
Qual: 20:15 (15 mins)
Race: 20:30 39 Laps (approx 90mins)

Cars allowed:
Gt3 class cars

Optional skin pack (if you have not already downloaded from round1)  https://mkurv989.stackstorage.com/s/bXprz5TFRBM9jhr (https://mkurv989.stackstorage.com/s/bXprz5TFRBM9jhr)  Courtesy of Maikel.

Track:  Spa GP 2010+ (osrw version - 40 pitboxes)
https://yadi.sk/d/Xr1xSESS3HWpd9 (https://yadi.sk/d/Xr1xSESS3HWpd9)

Live Timing: stracker.simracing.org.uk:50041/lapstat (http://stracker.simracing.org.uk:50041/lapstat)

Time of Day Setting: 15:30
Weather: Mid Clear
Start: Standing
Tyre wear: Normal
Fuel consumption: Normal
Pit-stops: Mandatory Minimum 1 stop required

Server track settings:
SESSION_START=100
RANDOMNESS=0
LAP_GAIN=0
SESSION_TRANSFER=N/a

Damage: 70%

Password: see above (#post_event_password)

PLP App - Not used in this series. Cutting will be monitored on replay and penalties issued for excessive cutting.

Notes:
(1) Please make sure you are fully aware of the UKGTR Rules[/quote]
(2) Driver lists can be found on the championship standings page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R;group=600)

Track Map:-
(http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y444/MJ_p911/Spa_map_zpswqxcyf5m.png) (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/MJ_p911/media/Spa_map_zpswqxcyf5m.png.html)

Provisional driver list:-

1) MJ    -   Porsche gt3-R   Gulf #9  https://www.dropbox.com/s/z5z6i0q044wwzb1/2017_Gulf_9.rar?dl=0
2) Nfsw -   Porsche gt3-R Manthey racing  http://www.mediafire.com/file/mii73wjbek20kzf/Manthey_Blancpain.rar
3) Maikel - Ferrari 488  http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/ferrari-488-gt3-vr-racing-team.11184/
4) Spanner - Ferrari 488 #48  https://www.dropbox.com/s/ohocag79k3tg08i/Rinaldi_Racing.rar?dl=0
5) Postal - Ferrari 488 jms#51  http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/jms-lm-corsa-488-gt300.11169/update?update=19433
6) Linus - McLaren 650S #10 https://www.dropbox.com/s/tl73fbx1xslefsv/GPRT_10.rar?dl=0
7) FMG - Nissan GTR  https://www.dropbox.com/s/78qy7tdhu7vrfdq/SUPER_GT300_48_DIJON_Racing.rar?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/78qy7tdhu7vrfdq/SUPER_GT300_48_DIJON_Racing.rar?dl=0)
8 ) Shark - AMG Mercedes - Racing_70  (stock skin)
9) Jeffrey - #69 Lambo (Racing Lime - stock skin)
10) Baikal - BMW Z4 xdrive_20_z  (stock skin)
11) Manteos - Lambo Huracan #61 (Stock)
12) Bob - Nissan GTR  https://www.dropbox.com/s/ps0qtog5kz6fhlj/2017_Gainer_10.rar?dl=0
13) Picnic - AMG Mercedes - Racing_69  (stock)  absent this round
14) SRW - BMW Z4 GT3 BMW motorsport 2013 white (stock skin)
15) Thomas Blackett - Porsche gt3-R #80 Flying Lizard  https://www.dropbox.com/s/lwita75dqr6yiz7/80_flying_lizard_ms_gt3.rar?dl=0 Removed
16) ChrisR - Bailed out
17) Sutol - Ferrari 488 #9 Pioneer http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/pioneer-ferrari-488-gt3.11211/ absent this round
18) Pag96 - Ferrari 488  #89  http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/ferrari-488-gt3-hubauto-super-taikyu-2017-season.14917/
19) Eck Simpson - AMG Merc #74 (stock)
20) Gavino Pintus - Lambo Huracan #36 (stock)
21) Massimo Bonni - Lambo Huracan #61 (stock
22) ApexUSA - BMW Z4 Fanatec  (stock)
23) Tim Schneider - Porsche GT3-R #83 http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/porsche-911-gt3r-seikel-motorsport-le-mans-d1-division-2005-83.13515/
24) Felix Simoes - AMG Merc #76 (stock skin)
25) Simone - Ferrari 488 #17 (stock)
26) Vlad Alex - Lambo Huracan Racing Cinnabar (stock)
27) Greg Daniel - Porsche - Seikel Motorsport #83  (stock)
28) Martin Rowe - BMW Z4 - marc_Vds (stock)
29) Daniele - Ferrari 488 - racing 500 (stock)
30) Pierluigi - Audi 2015_wrt1 (stock)

Let me know if you cannot make the race, it frees up a spot for new drivers.  :)

I am expecting to make it.

Will attend the next 3 rounds, after that  will be away for 2 months  :thumbdown:

Just tried to join the server and it says 'number of cars allowed exceeds maximum number of available pits' and wouldn't let me join (twice) so Pete can you reduce number of cars you have allowed?
We may end up having to use the osrw version for a Spa.

I've restarted the server with 24 cars. Not time to check until later if all cars are in the entry list so please someone shout if you can't select your chosen steed

mark, can you remove me from all future races please.

Okay, done.  :( thought you were returning for Spa? That's one less fast guy to take the fight to the rapid vda boys.

I don't know if this is the right way to do it but this is a link to the skin I wish to use, thanks

http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/pioneer-ferrari-488-gt3.11211/

 It's impossible due IMBALAMBA with built-in italians  ::)  ;D
If AC is detected an italian's pilots in lambo - it will give them +2,46 percents of track grip.  :D

here we come! ready to race!

- Daniele Rolfi - 488 "racing 500" - 76561198054124857

and

- Pierluigi Leli - R8 "2015 WRT 1" - 76561198080220946

Benvenuti amici  :) all I ask is you keep it clean and be aware our regulars are fighting for championship points.

Looks like we need to switch to the osrw version of this track with a provisional 30 car entry  :o. Is it as up to date as the proper kunos Spa track or does it just use the graphics track map etc from the kunos track? Only ask as know they heavily updated/improved most circuits since the osrw versions were made. :-\

And blinking 'Eck vda boys...2:16's?!! I was happy with my 2:20 on mediums until I saw that  :'(

They used the OSRW version at CORE last Sunday and it worked fine.

Over 5 secs off, and at least 15km/h down on topspeed. Are they running any wing on those cars at all??? yet still quicker than me in the corners ::)

I know there have been changes since our last race here but its still pretty painful to see i'm slower in the ferrari compared to my previous times inthe lambo.

Maybe i'm trying too hard but cant get the fronts to bite in the faster corners that i would like, a quicker change of direction would be nice.

 ;D just be like me.....get used to it!

You tried any Spa f488 setups from the setup supermarket spanner? Spa is counted as a medium downforce circuit but wouldn't surprise me if aliens are able to run Monza aero here. I managed a 1:20.0 on softs using my Monza setup but I couldn't use it for a race distance as it kept losing it at top of eau rouge if I even brushed a kerb. Might risk it for qually though  ;)

Medium tires and full tank, in 488 I can have a 2:19.700 avg on first laps

My Monza setup did come from there. I;ve tried my setups from Misano, Monza, Estoril. TBH I've been running 5 wing in all races except Monza which used 4 so no real low wing running. I have looked on there for spa but the setup i tried didnt feel like a step change. Yes some of the setup take a while before you can push through Eau Rouge, the number of times ive lost it over the top on the outlap..


Tried...

High/ low rideheight
High/ low rake
high/ low camber

Still not entirely sure over the fast dampers, running the fronts high did feel like it helped.

Will try and fit some more practise in later once Le mans calms down.. if it ever does!

Mid 22's seems  to be my average on mediums with fuel.

Good for you!!! I tried Gavinos setup at Misano and never went quicker than i'd done myself so its clearly how i drive, not so much the setup!

Need ot just accept i cant drive that quickly!

I cannot share my setup now, I'm out this week end, on Monday if anyone are interested on mine 488 setup i will do it

Height front 71 back 72
Spring 130/130
Wings 0-4
Back dampers extension 15/15

Thore are the biggest change
Just don't be aggressive ;)

That will be pole position for you then.

Thats why then!

Would be interested in seeing it though. Sounds a bit interesting! back damper extension??

Ha funny guy  :P might at least put me around 10th behind all you aliens  ;)
I'm also doing 20 on mediums and race fuel so it's not a good time on softs and low fuel. I was just using it as an example that a Monza setup can get you a 2:20 at least

Those setups on the market are completely rubbish. I don't know who even thought it a good idea to put them on there.

I'll put my setup for the 488 on ptracker sometime tomorrow aswell. Last sunday at the Spa race at Core I was doing between 2:18.5 - 2:19.5 with mediums. Eau de rouge and Pouhon are quite tricky with 488, but I managed to get a setup which keeps the rear somewhat planted through there.

Oooh 2:20's, thought you said 1:20 ;)

D'oh so I did  :-[ wishful thinking  ;D

I was quite surpised too by their laptimes. In CORE on the OSRW version with full tank and soft I was on 2.18.8 driving quite at my limit. It's true that I was driving (stupidly) with 120 litres, but Gavino and Massimo started with 90 litres fuel, there's not a great difference. I guess that a distance of 2.3 seconds by my best with full tank compared with Gavino could be due to the different version of the track... or at least... I hope so  ;D ;D

Gavino said that he was expecting to do a 2.15 quite easily. If you can leave this version for one more day I would be thankful, just to do 5/6 laps and see if my impressions were wrong. In that case, I would start to worry a bit, cause it means they'll fly away even this time ::)

My first sensation was that race with the soft tyres was possible. I've tried to simulate a stint with the tyre wear x3, but after 3 laps I'had a lot of difficulties to manage the tyres temperature.
In my opinion is possible to make a stint with the soft tyres but I need to work too much, and this bores me.

During the race I will use the mediums but the strategy for me is not clear. Change the tyres or not? Full tank or not?
With medium and full tank my pace was between 2.18.5 and 2.19.5 but I've performed too less laps. In the next days I hope to break the 2.18 wall.

My wings are 1 - 6, but as usual if you want my setup I'm totally available  ;)

Currently floating at a 2:20.
Not sure yet how to go lower. Will play with the settings further tomorrow...

Onboard lap track guide

https://youtu.be/5WErmqggr6E

Guys , why i am only staying in 17s? 1 sec cleared zone around me.  :o  Don't be affraid and Wellcome to 17s!  ;D

I just pounded round for another hour on mediums but just cannot break into the 19's yet  :'(

Had a weird occurrence this eve where I suddenly lost all steering input and wheel just locked at an angle on its own  ??? I had to quit as it wouldn't reset...doesn't bode well for a 1.5 hr race.

I had that before in Core's race @ SPA...  ???

Try to turn off all power saving futures in windows control panel\devices for usb HUBs.

WOMEN - SWMBO has gone and booked us in for a mid summer nights dinner ffs, so now regrettably I've got to bail for Wednesday. Sorry Mark :(

Sounds like just cause for a divorce  ;) unlucky mate and thanks for letting us know.

If this heat persists it will feel like a proper endurance  :sweatdrop:

Thanks for tip on controllers Baikal though not sure why it would suddenly start doing it  ??? I wondered if it was heat related as happened after an hour in 30 degrees yesterday.  :-\

As far as I can tell the osrw Spa version is only updated to kunos 1.13 release. Anyone know of implications? Can we update surfaces to suit kunos latest? Or anyone know of a later version?

For now , all OSRW tracks is containing addition pits only. It's all differencies to kunos original. surfaces.ini is not changing now. I don't have latest SPA ver.
Ask CORE champ version from pilots/ It will be ok iMHO

Like I said:


http://www.core-racing.co.uk/members/race.php?race_id=177

I'm quite sure CORE used what you want to use as well, and I didn't notice anything strange there.

Yeah I know that Jeff but doesn't stop me wanting a later updated version if there is one about rather than those 1.5yr old versions. I wanted the newer surface files if possible so we get correct grip levels etc. Especially as we have all been practising on the kunos version.

Haven't done a lap, so I won't feel the difference if that makes you feel better  ;D

Mark I just checked both actual kunos and OSRW 1.13 ver. Files surfaces.ini is identical . All grips, track zones are the same. You may download OSRW version from Kunos site and use it on server.
http://www.assettocorsa.net/forum/index.php?threads/kunos-tracks-with-extra-pit-boxes-1-7.28132/

Good work Baikal  :thumbup1: thanks for investigating  :)

Just a heads up but my win10 pro pc just had a massive update that took about 40 minutes to install  :o so you may want to fire up your pc before wedsnesday and let it do its thing  :P

Note: first post revised with track link to osrw version 1.13 (more pitboxes), this is newer than last time we used it so you will need to delete your old osrw folder under content/tracks/spa and extract this new one to your assetto corsa directory (it saves to the right place)  :)

https://yadi.sk/d/Xr1xSESS3HWpd9

Lap count put as 39 laps  :o

Its too hot for me in my flat let alone doing a 1.5 h race, so may not do the race. It did look like wednesday was going ot be cooler, but seems the forecast has moved that to thursday.

put a fan on and sit in your under-crackers  ;D  p'ah call yourself an endurance racer  ::)

Even here in Finland with 20 degrees need a fan, too hot far a long session :p

Server has been restarted using the OSRW track

Cheers Pete, hope to get on this eve for some much needed catch up!

I would be happy if it was 20degrees! Last night at 10pm it had reached 27deg in my flat.

Could you please post your setup ? I'm struggling to get a balanced low downforce setup for the 488 :/

Mark, I've had my wheel suddenly lock to one way before in AC. Not sure if its an AC bug or not.

If everyone is now thinking 1.5hrs is too long in the heat I can peg it back to an hour?

I still don't care which one  :P

Me neither, maybe we can wait and see what the weather is tomorrow? I didn't foresee 30+ degs heatwave when I planned this  :P

You should watch this video  ;D ;D

I remind you these 3 rules: shade, sun hat, and sunscreen  ;)

Help a Dane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbDZSV-AekE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbDZSV-AekE)

English subtitles at your disposal ;)

Maybe later, actually I'm running on 1-5 on downforce, is more forgive for a long race, still in the 19" and 268/269 top speed.

here my setup
number 2 is for the race
quali for qualify

let me know if can help ;)

http://www.mediafire.com/file/dhgv4ogycj9yfgq/spa.rar

Guys are you sure to try an italian setup that comes from finland?  ;D

Definitely more stable than mine, thanks!

Driver list:-

1) MJ    -   Porsche gt3-R   Gulf #9  https://www.dropbox.com/s/z5z6i0q044wwzb1/2017_Gulf_9.rar?dl=0
2) Nfsw -   Porsche gt3-R Manthey racing  http://www.mediafire.com/file/mii73wjbek20kzf/Manthey_Blancpain.rar
3) Maikel - Ferrari 488  http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/ferrari-488-gt3-vr-racing-team.11184/
4) Spanner - Ferrari 488 #48  https://www.dropbox.com/s/ohocag79k3tg08i/Rinaldi_Racing.rar?dl=0
5) Postal - Ferrari 488 jms#51  http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/jms-lm-corsa-488-gt300.11169/update?update=19433
6) Linus - McLaren 650S #10 https://www.dropbox.com/s/tl73fbx1xslefsv/GPRT_10.rar?dl=0
7) FMG - Nissan GTR  https://www.dropbox.com/s/78qy7tdhu7vrfdq/SUPER_GT300_48_DIJON_Racing.rar?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/78qy7tdhu7vrfdq/SUPER_GT300_48_DIJON_Racing.rar?dl=0)
8 ) Shark - AMG Mercedes - Racing_70  (stock skin)
9) Jeffrey - #69 Lambo (Racing Lime - stock skin)
10) Baikal - BMW Z4 xdrive_20_z  (stock skin)
11) Manteos - Lambo Huracan #61 (Stock)
12) Bob - Nissan GTR  https://www.dropbox.com/s/ps0qtog5kz6fhlj/2017_Gainer_10.rar?dl=0
13) Picnic - AMG Mercedes - Racing_69  (stock)  absent this round
14) SRW - BMW Z4 GT3 BMW motorsport 2013 white (stock skin)
15) Thomas Blackett - Porsche gt3-R #80 Flying Lizard  https://www.dropbox.com/s/lwita75dqr6yiz7/80_flying_lizard_ms_gt3.rar?dl=0 Removed
16) ChrisR - Bailed out
17) Sutol - Ferrari 488 #9 Pioneer http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/pioneer-ferrari-488-gt3.11211/ absent this round
18) Pag96 - Ferrari 488  #89  http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/ferrari-488-gt3-hubauto-super-taikyu-2017-season.14917/
19) Eck Simpson - AMG Merc #74 (stock)
20) Gavino Pintus - Lambo Huracan #36 (stock)
21) Massimo Bonni - Lambo Huracan #61 (stock
22) ApexUSA - BMW Z4 Fanatec  (stock)
23) Tim Schneider - Porsche GT3-R #83 http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/porsche-911-gt3r-seikel-motorsport-le-mans-d1-division-2005-83.13515/
24) Felix Simoes - AMG Merc #76 (stock skin)
25) Simone - Ferrari 488 #17 (stock)
26) Vlad Alex - Lambo Huracan Racing Cinnabar (stock)
27) Greg Daniel - Porsche - Seikel Motorsport #83  (stock)
28) Martin Rowe - BMW Z4 - marc_Vds (stock)
29) Daniele - Ferrari 488 - racing 500 (stock)
30) Pierluigi - Audi 2015_wrt1 (stock)

Please note Maikel and FMG have new car skins so grab them from the download links posted next to their name (Copy/paste into your browser)

Its unlikley I can make the race now as work calls. Shame as I was really looking forward to it. Will still try my best to make it though.

Normally I look forward to spa but of all the nights for a 90 min race, it is predicted to be the hottest June day since 1976 for this!!!! No practice this week for me, so i'all be as useless as I was at Paul Ricard

Ha yeah just saw the news and they reckon 34 tomorrow  :o will stick a big fan in front of me.

Remember you have to complete 50% of the race to earn points  :detective:

Luckily it'll be a bit colder here tomorrow then the last 2 days. Only 31 degrees predicted  ;D

Looks like i'll be home late tonight. Probably just about when qualy starts. Hoping i can atleast make it to the start.

Race day folks  8)

Make sure you have the osrw track 1.13 version installed as per the link on post1.  Grab any new skins that you might not have, from the drivers list. Top of my head, Sutol FMG and Maikel had new cars/skins. Shut blinds/curtains in your pc rooms all day to keep it cooler. Drag a fan in there and a pitcher of cold water, job done  :)
Weathers changing to storms later today/tomorrow anyway so good chance it will be cool this evening.

Looking forward to the race  :)

Any chance you could post your setup online Maikel? For interest only..

I actually used this one  ;D

I thought the gearing was abit weird at first but I seemed to be gaining quite a bit on the straights. I was only 0.1 of a second faster then my pb as my own setup was quicker in the corners. However, mine seems to put to much wear and strain on the tyres so it isnt possible to use the softs at any high temperature track.

Only thing I changed was the power diff to 10% and the coast diff to 40%. Somehow I always prefer this  ;D

We'll, after a rather got morning I now have the GTR upto speed. I haven't done any qualifying work yet but the race page is around 0.5 secs quicker than the Lambo setup I'd thrown together last week.
Couldn't imagine a more different drive though!

Nice work Fmg  :)

I don't get the Porsche, it's only getting about 165mph up the kemmel which seems too slow to me for a gt3 car  ??? (My own Cayman R does 176!) When I look at the trace of my lap against Gavinos on stracker the stand out gap is from eau rouge to end of the kemmel. I know the Lambos slippier than the Porsche but even so...
If I try low Monza wing the car is borderline suicidal  :P

Don't compare road Vs race. Your road car isn't generating half a tonne of downforce at those speeds  ;)
Fairly certain my Nissan could stay with the GTR on the straights (Once I actually hit boost). I'd end up in a car park if I tried to match cornering speeds though ;D

Yeah but surely gt3 cars are hitting 180 down that straight in the real events?  :-\

Can only get my Nisvan to hit 166mph, need a tailwind or a tow.

You need ot carry more speed through Eau Rouge Mark. That is whati realised seeing i was so slow at the end of the straight. Be more brave!

Ha I'm going as quick as the setup will allow it!

See I told you all it would cool down for the eve , it's down to 32.5 here at gone 6pm  :o :laugh:
Is a breeze slowly building up though  :)

just downloaded the track, by the time i have got the kids in bed I will be lucky to get 10 mins practice. what tyres are everyone using?

Mediums at very least, could even take a punt on hards  :-\ upto you if you want to take 1 or 2 stops.

The track link doesn't work so I can't join and besides I haven't had my dinner yet either so see you next time hopefully.

I installed the track a few minutes ago, then when I tried to join the server I got the following error while loading:

ERROR [CONTENT/TRACKS/SPA/SPA_OSRW.KN5] COULDNT SET TEXTURE : ASPH.DDS FOR MATERIAL :ASPH FOR SLOT : TXDIFFUSE

too late to do anything about it for todays race, but has anyone got any idea what the problem is?

Can we please have some consistency between track conditions during the week for practise and those in the race?????

Tyre pressure seemd higher, 25psi, but had less temperatur than i'd seen in anyu practise and balance had completely changed so was pretty annoyed to find that no, the car wasnt behaving as it had been through Eau Rouge, but was heading straight for the barriers on lap 4. The way the car was i didnt want to drive it for the next 80mins if it was fixed or not/

my apologies to have ruined the race to the amg and z4 behind me, on my last 2 laps, the pc start to micro freeze randomly and at the impact at the copenhague was longer. i did my best to avoid you, i'm so sorry, was a good battle :(

My race lasted...1  :censored: corner. In a 90 minute race, I get taken out after few hundred metres, are you absolutely kidding me? Car was a  lot more twitchy after that, but I guess it still seemed too easy to drive, as in 5 lap somebody else decided to redecorate my car. With a car that was horrible to drive at that point, and with nobody in sight I just couldn't be bothered anymore.

Same (...) at CORE last Sunday, now same dumb stuff here. Why waste my evening on this?

 :o I am certain I did not jump start, had to do a drive through after first lap, MJ could you please verify I was legal and re-emburse me the 5 minutes it cost me............please ;D

Stop panic, Jeff. Sorry for 1st corner BUT why are you done brake test on me when you had cleared space it sight?  ;)
So anyway  I returned position to you and lost my game too but... not exit  :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjrEF5KchNM

First off, nobody changed track conditions spanner as far as i know and i doubt whatever did change would so drastically change your car handling. Seemed an easy kop out to leave the race so early.

Jeff, don't know why you quit you were still running 6th or 7th with plenty of racing to go. Its unfortunate but you still only had half a spin at La Source and lost a few places. I've been knocked to the back of the grid in the last two races whilst in the top 10, with 1st lap rear contacts yet I carry on. You couldn't have had much damage from that T1 contact?

Rest of you no shows, thanks a lot, appreciate it after the efforts we make to get a bigger grid and track that can accommodate it.  ::) Twice i put a 27-30 man drivers list up yet still only 17 turn up. >:( pansies  :gun_bandana:

after that negative bit over with, a big thankyou to the 17 who did show up and made it a great race  :thumbup1:

That was a proper endurance race!  8)  Had some great tussles, enjoyed being part of the fast train up front for first 10 laps, enjoyed keeping tyres and fuel going for a stint and seeing different strategies at work, cars looked amazing.
Didn't enjoy so much my 'Le mans Toyota' moment of getting a disco on lap 34/35? whilst running a fine 7th place that I had only just lost 6th on to Alexey and his cunning late stop/soft tyres strategy  :fencing:
No idea where I finished as I had to quit and rejoin the server with a few laps remaining. :-\  i'll have to beg to the authorities to see if my 7th place sticks or I am demoted to the back of the field  :-\

Big congrats to all that finished and to the mighty Gavino and the podium finishers  :notworthy:

I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of Spa endurance whatever  :thumbup1:

Great endurance race and finally nice to be driving a proper GT3 car  ;D

Managed to split the Lambo's up front and get a 2nd spot in quali by driving a new pb. Start was pretty good though I had Matteo close behind from the beginning. I knew he had softs so he needed to pass as quickly as possible to bring the fight to Gavino. He managed to pass at Blanchimont and Massino got by at the busstop. Got a little bump in the rear at the first corner on the 2nd lap, didn't bother me to much but I think it might have costed me a few tenths a lap, as the 2nd stint I was alot faster overal. Saw Massino struggling the last laps and managed to get by, though 2 laps later I lose the 3rd spot again. With a 10 second gap and only a few laps I wasn't expecting much, but Massino didn't seem to have pitted for new tyres so I was gaining seconds a lap. Ended up 1 second behind him.. Just needed one more lap  ;D

The Fezza is definitely alot better to drive. Trickier though. And I was losing quite abit of time on the straights compared to the Lambo's. But the middle sector was really where the Ferrari could shine and I could get some much needed tenths back.

I noticed that people take this corner differently. Some ( like myself and by the looks of it Jeffrey aswell ) like to break hard, turn alot and aim the car straight and floor it as soon as possible. While others prefer to take more speed into the apex and running alot more wide on the exit ( which loses alot of much needed topspeed imo)

Gratz to the VDA top 3 guys again.

Next race the Hungaroring. Time to let that Fezza shine  8)

Spa is a fantastic track. One of my favourite tracks.
Today I came home just before the qualifying session after the work.

QUALIFY
Not a good qualifying. Only one lap but I was tired after work. Matteo and Massimo make a lot of mistakes and then I gain the pole position.

RACE
Good start and I maintain the pole position. But Matteo is faster than me. By checking the lap times I see that we're the fastest on the track. So I decide to avoid any fight against Matteo in order to gain seconds against the other drivers.

The tactic seems to be correct, but after the 14th lap the Matteo's tyres  starts to have problems. In the same time my wheel starts to have problems with the wheel paddles.
In this situation unfortunately for us, Massimo recover all the time lost in the first part of the race.

In the lap in which Matteo go to the pit, Massimo hit the wall and ruins his car.
I try to push but every lap my wheel paddles makes me crazy...
Fortunately Matteo make a mistake in the last laps and I win.

In this race I was very lucky.
I hope to be there in the next race because my G27 is died just after the race....
Congratulations to all the drivers, and the crew.

Stay off the Vodka if you actually think I brake test you there. I gently braked for turn 1, because, you know, cold tyres, long race. Car didn't steer in as you can see so I had to tap the brake again to get it to point into the corner. I wasn't even aware where you were, I was focussing on the people around me.

Well maybe if the track link worked some of us could have shown and if we hadn't been taking children to doctors at the last minute we might have shown!  :cursing:

I had OSRW Spa but apparently the wrong one and don't care to read 15 million replies to find out you've updated the version we're using only 2 days before hand. I have to say I'm fed up with the race details not being agreed a whole week in advance with all the things we need and not 2 days when people might not have time to even sit at their computers again after say the weekend before the race! Get more organised and more people will show, so don't blame everyone else!

I still get this message when trying to get the track...

I used the download link in the 1st post to get the track for the server and I've just tried it again now. Works fine for me...... However I agree it would be better to have details sorted out well in advance of the event. Makes it easier for me too as I don't have to panic and sort these things out in a hurry, best way to make a mistake.

Well Simon if you can do a better organised job step up and do the bloody thing. If you lot were more honest and communicative we wouldn't have had to change the poxy track version.  :( Twice I put up a driver list and asked people to tell me if they couldn't race. Only 3 were honest and did do yet 10-13 didn't show up on race night.
If you can't be arsed to read race threads that's your problem not ours. 17 of us managed to use the link that doesn't work  ::)
Trust me I'd rather be practising than wasting time reading other forum threads trying to find up to date versions of tracks to accommodate more drivers who then don't bother showing up.  >:(

I used the link on race night and it worked for me.
Apart from me being a slower driver, I think the Z4 is a particularly poor car for these fast tracks
I am sticking with it, because I don't want to mess things up, and I have not done any testing to
see if I can go any faster in anything else..... I get to have fun at the back with Stephen and Larry
so that's cool  :) 1.5 hrs was not as challenging as I expected, it was just a bit boring. 39 chances to
see if I could crew up the final chicane was 38 too many, but was cool to see how many others dropped out
gifting me some places  :lol: even MJ decided I needed one more place for my efforts :thumbup1:


(https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/phspok1/Untitled.jpg)

Why should I have to read through 6 pages?! You post a race announcement and it shouldn't change. I read the race annoucement I was ready, then I try to connect and it says you don't have the content. I then have to trawl through 6 pages finding out that the track has changed!

Well good for you, THAT DOESNT HELP ME! That link simply doesn't work. If we posted the tracks we are going to use on a reliable, not completely dodgy looking web site, or put them in someone's dropbox that works it would be better than relying on third party providers for these things.

The skins are annoying too. Some of those links don't work either and you have to go back and forth working out where the heck to put them all cause they dont have helpful things like, ooh i don't know a, car name in their name! I just give up with those and run with white skins cause it's too much effort.

If you want people to join, 1) make it easy to join, 2) dont keep chopping and changing stuff.

So by your reckoning I should have kept the stock version of Spa (which I wanted to do!) and then have 6 drivers raging that they had spent all week practising and now couldn't fit on the track  ::) because that's what I was led to believe by people not stating whether they were racing - even though I gave them several opportunities to do so.
Fine from now on unless you tell me in the race thread you will be attending,  your names will he left off the driver entry file for the race and you won't be able to get in on race night.

To Matt, regarding the Z4 not suiting fast race tracks - erm look where Alexey finished and his laptimes  ;)
People blaming their chosen car has been a common theme this season yet it's obviously solely down to us drivers. I tried several setups for Spa and did a lot of laps practise, but not once could I break into the sub 20's yet several other drivers could with same setup and car  :-[

Once a race is announced you could say to new drivers they can join in at the race afterwards and that way you can not change the existing announcement and then make sure the next race announcement fits in the number that you have registered.

I would like a system where you have to "check" your attendance for each race and it should be automated within the league system, not done manually with race thread replies. I'm sure Gizmo could implement this if he wanted to. That way you have a "signed" up list of drivers who have actively "said" they are going to race that round. I bet Gizmo could automate the generation of the files based on this list on the server if he really wanted to. He has plenty of spare time unlike the rest of us. :-*

@ MarkJ. I hope this post isn't seen as an unwanted intrusion; I'm trying to be helpful, honest.

In GTL land, if there are changes to the original race announcement I post the change but start the post with "IMPORTANT".

This allows the casual reader a chance to spot the really important stuff and skip all the not so important stuff.

I always blame me for lack of pace not the car. Alexy is an  :alien: to me. I have been in awe of his
times in the Z4 since this started. Just "for me" another car "might" be a better choice.
I haven't had time to test all the cars, and I am unlikely to, so I stick with what I sort of know.
Not an issue, merely an observation.

I had quite a different pace with the Fezza last night then I normally would with the Nissan. Kinda keeping up with the VDA until I had a spin or two. Eventhough the Ferrari is not suited for a fast track it was alot better I would've had with the Nissan. Still can't get over how much they ruined that car with the latest tyre model/physics update.

Such a system would be my preference too. Then if you have a pit space limitation it's first come first served. However if people book in and don't race they would be added to the list of drivers for the next race only if there is room. I'm very conscious that Gizmo never races here any more and I'm reluctant to put upon him. However this sort of thing could help out.

Some people want the announcement as early as possible to do plenty of practise, some people turn up on the night. Same with people reading the forums, some are on here every day, others give a quick look before they join on race night so have missed the post asking for attendance!


Some sort of booking system would get around this I guess, but you cant force people to visit the forum and post. Its always been a small minority who post up.

EDIT: just how many stops did people make? I was planning on two as 45mins a stint was going to be too slow.

Just did one stop as most people, mediums held out fine and only got a little slippery towards end of stint circa 20 laps for me

Re drivers, yes an auto sign up system like Core have is my preference too, but this site is a bit outdated compared to most. We have been a victim of our success in that upto 30 drivers appeared on the ranks but sadly it seems some just sign up for one race then don't bother showing up again. I will cull the drivers file for drivers who haven't shown up last few races. :devil:  don't see why me and Pete need to keep bending over backwards. I've been far too accommodating to the various whining this season for the sole reason of keeping the grid healthy and the racing fun but you lot still bitch anyway so sod it  ;)

You can remove me from the race list.
I'm gonna be missing (from races atleast) for a while. I'm hoping to be busy in the evenings, doing other things. I'll probably still be on the server (during the day), annoying the company, with my inabilty to go any faster..  :-[

 ;D The system seems good to me, not an IT expert but manage to download and install all the skins, then when realized could be a OSRW track file, downloaded it, installed it and the day before the race went on server to check all was OK. For me the organiser is between the devil and the deep blue, drivers say they will attend then for whatever reason don't show which is the cause of having to use the increased pit boxes when there would be no need to. Seem to remember races on a Wednesday night with only 4 or 5 turning up, it's popular now, please lets keep it like that. SROUK is a good place to be on a Wed evening. The race, screwed up my start and had to take a drive through, didn't let it phase me carried on to the end, finished dripping in sweat with a big black ring round my eyes due to the Oculus. Very nearly got in the way of the 2nd and 3rd place battle when being lapped apologies  to them. All in all another good outing. Thx all.

Sorry to hear that Eck we need more mortal drivers to compete against with our current two tier skill levels.  :P

Still can't believe I got a disconnect on lap 35 of 39 after all that time racing. That's just cruel considering that was 7th with a big gap to anyone behind me  :'(

I had the disconnect problems 3 times last champ if you remember. In trying to fix it i was begun to close unneeded apps from my win10 system using Task Manager in every race day. For example- i close:  adobe update service, Skype, windows defender notifycation and some other. And i stopped to get such kind "race middle disconnects". Hope it can help to you too in your practise  :)
Thanks Mark for organization. I see- you trying to do things better for pilots. Keep it up anyway ! :)
 

Yeah thankless task Alexey but thank you anyway, at least one satisfied customer for a volunteer organisation  ::)  ;)

Yes I thought the same today as I think my Dropbox folder downloaded a couple of files towards end of the race,  as I got the Disco then when I rejoined a big slowdown shudder at la source right in front of matteo - hope it didn't freak him as he wondered why I was taking a weird wide line off track  :o
I haven't had a disco in about a year so not sure why it happened. Will find some me kind of background app killer for race nights.

Do you set the car in 1st gear and then use the clutch ? ?

I just checked it in the replay and you can see your car moving forward an inch or 2 when the lights turn on. I'm guessing thats what caused the jump start penalty  :)

The person next to me on the grid looked like they jumped the start and at the time thought they had got a drive through. Assumed they had put it in gear accidently or something.

Had the clutch down and put the car in 1st on the third red light, never had a problem before, maybe just let the clutch up a fraction to cause it, wont happen next week will wait till all lights out the select 1st and then  go.

I got a jump start for the first few races because I was engaging gear and then dropping the clutch, which
works in every other sim , but in this i have to start by only putting in in gear when the lights change

About my race I can say that the second place was a bit unexpected, but some lucky episodes helped me during the race, and even in the 2 mins before.
After a good qualif. lap I was praying for low temperatures in race session, and when I saw 23° on track I simply decided that was the right moment to experiment a soft tyre strategy. Massimo did a huge mistake, changing his strategy before the start, but I will apprehend about this only at the end of the race in TS.

At the start I was a bit scared and I didn't forced too much the braking. Maikel was very good in keeping me behind during all the first lap, but I managed to have a better exit speed on the straight before the Blanchimont exploiting my powerful Lambo engine and overtaking him before the corner. Maikel was really fair and kind to lift the gas up a bit cause I probably left him only the space to avoid me. Maybe I was a bit hard in my manouvre but we clarified the episode after the race, I hope you won't mind  ;D

After some laps with my fresh tyres and some Gavino's G27 issue I passed him and could finally start to put in motion my strategy with free road in front of me. I knew the soft will have lasted only 12/13 lap if I was good enough in my driving but after that I would have had six or seven laps of pure terror  ;D
In fact I managed to create only a small gap of about 2.3 seconds on Gavino, who suddently disapperaed in a lap or so when my tyres wanted to test my drifting skill for the first time. Massimo and Maikel were closing on me lap after lap, and I thought that Massimo went for full tank and no tyre change strategy, but I was wrong  ;D Massimo started with 70 litres and his car spun just before the pit entry and hit the wall, so he decided to refill only other 70 litres to save not more than five or six seconds on Maikel, that changed his tyres.

After the pit I found myself surprisingly in second place and at that point I knew that I could only have lost it by myself. Anyway I tried to make a chase on that damned fast Sardinian, but even this time my hunt ended up with a spin just in front of Felix, so I gave up and I was happy with a good second place.

Grats to the finishers, with this heat wave was quite an hard work :punk:

I'll let you know asap the VDA drivers that you can remove from the list for the next one. See you :)

Hey people! Looking at live timing session ( Race) i see that nfsw55 have not done a mandatory pit!  :o. For now i am not see the replay to check this but if it is true - this "bad" guy needs a penalty...  ;) nfsw55, man, what are you have to say this moment? . I am not your enemy but i respecting rules and in hope that the others is too :)
PS. Jeffrey- why are you not reporting an acident in 1st turn? I am ready for any referee verdict  :) And man.. Don't use "Vodka argument" to me. I am not using this product last 3 years  ;)

Because it's useless. I already stated I wasn't doing the incident reports because I particapate in the championship, but nobody stepped up to do them for me, so I know they aren't being looked at and you don't want me to do it.

Not that nfsw55 needs my help, but his lap times on lap 19 and 20 indicates that he might have pitted, although the pit time is absent.

Nfsw doesn't seem to have ptracker installed so it doens't record everything ( like pitstops and tyre choice ).
I'm pretty sure I saw him driving on softs the 2nd stint so I don't think you can drive those for 1,5 hours without pitting  ;D

If so- i am in calm as always ) Thanks. May be it's a stracker bug. )
Thanks guys for reporting)

If you are not satisfied- just do report and investigate) All is must be easy to solve all problems)
BTW Tomorrow i will do prequaly checks in 60+ OSRW pilots ( two servers+) to run in 2 hours(!!!) in GT3 cars in crazy Zandvoort track. ))) I want to joyng to 1st server as always. I hope i jump in here for race )

Sorry for the late response, only checked the Hungaroring thread lately.

I did my pitstop on lap 19. Like Maikel said I don't have the ptracker app installed (had it once but had some problems with it), so that's why stracker shows no pit lane time for me.



I would be very happy if the softs would at least last one qualify lap on my Porsche ;D ;D Not sure what I'm doing wrong but I had to do every qualifying on mediums so far.

That's, as far as I know, a common problem to all people who uses the Porsche and not just you. Maybe there's a secret setup combination that allows the Porsche to run softs like all others, but so far I couldn't find it out.  :)

Try the Monza 'carkie' setup from the setup supermarket, that is the only Porsche setup I have tried that you can use softs for a few laps without it cooking the rears. Think he tweaked toe and camber.

J, with respect, what was it you said about the contact we had when you hit me at Road America?

Thanks for the info. I probably already downloaded it at some point but will definitely try it again ;)

Really? I did a whole race on 2 sets of softs at core in the porsche last week. They were no more worn than mediums and were grippy unlike the mediums. Just don't have a spin cause it'll take a very slow next lap to cool them down.  ;D

I did use the softs for a race stint recently (forgotten what race think I was Paul Ricard where I used them for my first stint) so they can be made to last for about 20mins or so but any kind of hard cornering or spin/slide the rears turn orange then red very rapidly.

I've had a word with gizmo and he says that should t be too difficult and he may do that soon. Probably in the form of a poll that shows who has votes to attend and then generate the file you need on he server. He may ask you about what u need on the server side picnic.