UKGPL Season 19 (2010) Spec Challenge - Spa (1967) - Jul 18

[G Jonsson]

This was fun, well, at least for a while. I was very surprised to find myself in second on the grid with the Lotus in the first race. Although Tim got in front at the start I was holding on to 3rd. I was not really able to follow Clive and Tim but had no problem holding on to my 3rd position when I saw a lot of dust flying around in front of me and managed to pass Tim for second. But the joy would not last more than one lap or so when the DFV tried to make my race a DNF. Luckily I fixed the DFV (thanks shift-R) and avoided the DNF but I lost some positions while getting back to the pits and making my stop and go.

The second race in the Eagle was a whole different matter as I was involved in the start tangle and had quite some problems during the rest of the race too.

Grats to Clive, who as usually had talked down his chances before the race, for the racewin in the first race, Tim for the second race win and H for FL.

Göran

[EvilClive]

I talked down my chances because I did not expect to be anywhere near the front!! What little practice i had done was not encouraging...a best of 3:18 in the Eagle and slightly slower in the Lotus.

I knew Hristo would be sub 3:15's but was stunned when he clocked a 3:13!!! and thought that Tim would be almost as quick as Hristo. Goran and Al are always fast and I was expecting to be tagging on behind them hoping for some casualties in front.
The difference between the Honda ( which I usually drive) and the Eagle and Lotus, was a shock ::)It took me a while to adjust as I had not driven either chassis for quite a while and certainly not at Spa which is a bit of a "special case" circuit.

The second race exposed my lack of preparation when I got the Lotus sideways at Stavelot and the rear tyres went into meltdown. It showed that my setup was marginal, because until then the tyre temps were under control with good pace, but once they got hot , no amount of precise driving would cool them. The only way would have been to back off ( against the Waza code!!  ) so i struggled as Tim got past and pulled away.

Great fun driving green and blue things for a change, but it just confirms how soft some of you guys have it compared to the Samurai driving spirit of the Wazas 

[Hristo Itchov]

Great fun driving green and blue things for a change, but it just confirms how soft some of you guys have it compared to the Samurai driving spirit of the Wazas  

Yeah, they really are craving for tenderness those cars, quite the opposite of what we're taught for taming the Wazamobile.

[Billy Nobrakes]

The battle of the fastest 67 cars on the fastest Papyrus track is settled (courtesy of the Statmeister's stat machine) the Lotus edged out the Eagle by an average of 0.3 seconds. (Comparing fastest race laps of all drivers who completed more than 50% race distance).

Bit of an upset in the form book with the Light Brigade - Hristo's first Spec Challenge night without a win. He did however make amends by setting UKGPL record laps in both cars. First & second places went to FMG & Evil.
In the Heavies Steve Bird seems to have sewn up the championship with a win, honours in the secons race going to Phil Thornton. Good result from Nigel Smith by claiming second in both races.

[b_1_rd]

In the Heavies Steve Bird seems to have sewn up the championship ...

Not yet I don't think, still a fare few points on the table  

[Phil Thornton]

In the Heavies Steve Bird seems to have sewn up the championship ...

Not yet I don't think, still a fare few points on the table  

Yes but the worst 4 scores are dropped.  So even if I win the remaining 4 races I can only increase my championship points by (50 + 50 + 50 + 50) - (4 + 20 + 33 + 33) = 110 to give a max possible of 688 which is less than what you have already .  So even if you don't score anything at all in the last 4 races you are still the champ (moderating pending of course).

So many congratulations Steve you are the champ (provisionally).  Well deserved too, you've driven brilliantly all season.

[Hristo Itchov]

Bit of an upset in the form book with the Light Brigade - Hristo's first Spec Challenge night without a win. He did however make amends by setting UKGPL record laps in both cars. First & second places went to FMG & Evil.

Nope, Mike Prickett holds the records still and he's probably going to for a very long time.

[vosblod]

Well done Steve

[b_1_rd]

In the Heavies Steve Bird seems to have sewn up the championship ...

Not yet I don't think, still a fare few points on the table  

Yes but the worst 4 scores are dropped.  So even if I win the remaining 4 races I can only increase my championship points by (50 + 50 + 50 + 50) - (4 + 20 + 33 + 33) = 110 to give a max possible of 688 which is less than what you have already .  So even if you don't score anything at all in the last 4 races you are still the champ (moderating pending of course).

So many congratulations Steve you are the champ (provisionally).  Well deserved too, you've driven brilliantly all season.

Thanks Phil. Ah yes of course, I was working it out on removing my 4 worst as of now and then not scoring well in the next 4 races too!

Well, thanks very much - I'm (provisionally) well chuffed.  It's likely going to be the only champ I'll get a serious shot at! There's some rapidly improving drivers coming up through Heavies and don't think things will be so clear cut next season.  

[EvilClive]

Grats Steve, well driven for the season.

Steady driving and a string of good results is better than a few spectacular wins.......hmmm??!!  maybe there is a lesson there for me?

[Hristo Itchov]

Grats, Steve, and don't play down your worth as a Champion! It's not all about raw speed...

Steady driving and a string of good results is better than a few spectacular wins.......hmmm??!!  maybe there is a lesson there for me?

SHE would only tolerate spectacular wins though.

[Statmeister]

Updated Stat tables after rounds 15 & 16:

Phil Thornton & Steve Bird took the consistency awards in Heavies while over in Lights it was FMG & Evil Clive.

Heavy:


Light:


* (P) in the Climber-Meister table denotes adjustment due to Moderator Penalty
** 0.00 in Consistency table denotes average laptime deviation > 5 secs cutoff
*** 4 worst scores to be dropped
**** Drivers must complete at least 50% of the season to qualify for Climber-meister final table
***** What's this about? http://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=7653.msg135854#msg135854

[b_1_rd]

(Provisional) Cheers guys