SimRacing.org.uk

THIS POST IS FOR THE LIGHT & HEAVY RACES

The eighth race of the Formula 2 championship will be at Bikernieki Racing circuit, near Riga in Latvia. I suspect it will be new territory for most GPL drivers. A relatively short track with mainly fast corners & lots of trees if you get it wrong. The attached video clip is a good introduction http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHEE5gedo_I

Both Heavy & Lights division will run as a mixed grid. The Championship Table can be found here F2 Trophy  (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=405&theme=6).  
Last time out at Vallelunga we were joined by Roberto & Piero who were  very quick. As the top of the table is now quite competitive there will be no handicap & a free choice of chassis for all drivers in both the Light & Heavy division.

A maximum of one reset is allowed per race & must be followed by a compulsory Stop & Go in the pit lane within two laps of the Reset. If you Reset on the last lap & cannot take a Stop & Go a 15 second time penalty will be awarded.
Incidents should be reported in the usual way.
In line with other divisions the races will be subject to full moderation in the red zone which will be up to the exit of the  “Hospital” turn. The Moderator may chose to investigate any other incident, in addition to reported incidents & red zone incidents.

Please note that for UKGPL has introduced a system of penalties within each series for drivers accumulating yellow cards – see here
Penalty Points (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=10879.0). Drivers incurring these penalties will receive a PM advising when a penalty has been applied & what race it should served.

Race List = IGOR
Server = UKGPL7  
Race date = Sunday 01-12-2013
Time = 21:00 UK time (21:00 GMT)
Track = Bikerneiki (http://srmz.net/index.php?showtopic=6146)
Race length = 28 laps
Variant = 1967 Formula 2
Damage Model = Intermediate
Qualifying time = minimum of 30 minutes

T7 server is set for 28 laps Long race and listening on Igor in Consolle session with OpenGL_V2.
Ciao

Many thanks Fulvio.

Bloody hell, what happened there? I had a dodgy connection, so came out of GPL/Igor with 13 minutes to go in qually. Checked all my settings, and all was normal. So naturally, I tried to rejoin the race....I got in once or twice just to be told that there was a network device error. I didn't know what one of them was, so to be safe I rebooted my PC. It came back to me with about 5 mins to go, but I couldn't join the server. Evenbtually I got in, and saw the flag go down for the end of qually. When the screen flashed I assumed that was us going to the grid, but it had chucked me out, and that was my night over. Grrrr....

Yeah like I say I don't bother with incident reports. Great driving guys ::) ::) ::) ::)

That was a manic race, it will be a nightmare to moderate; sorry Bill ::)

I don't think I was involved in any incidents but with the number of people crashing there must have been some.  I was doing OK until I selected the wrong gear at the little kink and I crashed.  Tried to reset but got a screen freeze.  Never mind, enjoyed the track but it was very hard to pass on.

I don't think I've driven such a cack-handed race in a very long time. I was late coming into the session and didn't manage any practice prior to the event. That proved to be a disaster at a track I've never driven at. Never really got into the groove of this track, though found it to be very enjoyable to drive all the same. Qualified a lowly 8th and that left me vulnerable to the usual first lap shenanigans. True enough, I had a collision on the first lap and from then on it was a recovery game. Despite my best efforts of pointing the Matra the wrong way around the circuit  ::) I somehow finished 6th. Great fun though, with battles aplenty.

Hopefully I'll be able to manage some practice at the next race. Congrats to the the podium finishers. See you all at the next one.

When Ronnie predicted mayhem at this track before the race I knew he was probably going to be right. :-\

I find this track to be one of those that requires precise braking and lines through corners so that you carry as much speed as you can onto those short straights afterwards. Because of that, it is essential to be right on the edge of adhesion and use all the tarmac, which is fine if you are alone but in a pack of cars......??? not likely to end well.

Incidentally was I alone in finding that I did not need 5th gear anywhere???

This is one of those tracks where it might be better to start from the pitlane and avoid the inevitable Lap 1 congestion and contact. But overtaking any car around here that is even half "hooked up" is almost impossible, so the only option was to try and get on the front row and hope that I could avoid any incidents.
As usual I started qually with race fuel and built up the speed slowly, creeping my way up the grid with each lap. Robert and the 2 Mercaldo brothers had set the pace early and Ronnie was in the mix too, it all looked a bit quick. At one point I was 2nd on the grid, but soon slipped to 5th or 6th and that was too far back for a safe start I felt .  So I resorted to desperate tactics and dumped half the fuel...I needed to find about 0.6secs to hit the front row.
A couple of laps to warm the tyres and adjust my braking points and it was "banzai time". Twice I was on a hot lap and caught another car...not a complaint guys, that is just the lottery of qualifying  ;) and lost time. But eventually I found a clear lap and it was almost a perfect lap, maybe there were a couple of tenths lost when the car inexplicably went slightly sideways....cannot understand why that should have happened  ::).
So, to the start.
It would not be wrong to say I was nervous at the start. At least 4 guys right behind who were going to be quick, and behind them a whole bunch of guys who were going to be eager into T1............
Fortunately pole position was on the inside for T1 so I hugged the grass and took a tight defensive line .......just waiting for that tap on my gearbox...., but I survived untouched ..phew!!!
Then it was  case of nailing the first 3 laps and building a gap, which also worked well.
Everything was going well....my lead was increasing lap on lap and I did not need to push too hard. Then I got distracted by some activity on Prib and missed my braking point. A half spin onto the grass and a slow recovery allowed P Mercaldo to sweep through and take the lead.
The next 10 laps were great fun hunting down PM and looking for a way past. Although I felt I had more pace I could not find an opening. Apologies for the tap at T1  :(, (but I waited for you to regain the track and the lead which was only fair. ;) )

I pressed and pressed waiting for a mistake but PM defended his line fairly and prevented me getting a run on him until he went sideways on the run into T1 and I was able to slip through on the inside. After that I eased away and I think a mistake for PM dropped him a long way back so that I was able to cruise to the flag.

Quite satisfying to nail a great qually time and take the win, but the F2's are a very competitive class with not much daylight between the main contenders...looking good for the last few rounds  ;D

Grats to the other podium places and to all those who finished. Good luck to the moderator...looks like he has some work to do ::)

No, Clive...  I, too, found that four gears were quite adequate to do the job even with the peaky BMW power plant.  Grats on a fine win!

I hadn't done much in the way of pre-race trials but of the few laps I ran, I quite liked the layout.  No quams about returning here anytime for another shootout.  Sadly, on-going problems with spasms in my lower-left back forced an early pull-off.  Must get a new chair soon.

With the Pro race out of the way tonight I got round to looking at the replay for this race. The server replay goes a little weird when our incident occurs Dean. But to me it was ambitious, dare I say desperate on my part in an attempt to get back up to Clive. My fault and I'm sorry I ruined your race/chance of win or podium. As for the move on me by Roberto at the start after turn 1, which effectively scuppered my race and championship lead........what can I say that I have not already expressed to the moderators after the Vallelunga race.

Grats to Clive, Piero and Dave R.

It may have cost me a podium (Dave R. would have had something to say about it...) but win? No way. E and PM were just too fast for me to catch. You disappeared, but you had been heading up my inside, so I tried to stay as far left as I could.


IMO that was a move YOU were making on him (and hadn't completed before moving over), but it's a red zone thing so the mods will deal.

Sam: sorry for contact right after the start. I saw the incident developing ahead, tried to keep to the verge but got totally sideways (right in your path :( ). Expect I'll face a "sloppy rejoin" or some such.

Sorry but I have no idea about what you wrote  ??? 

Mod report published.
1/ I know it is out of sequence - the others will follow soon.
2/ Bikerneiki is not showing in the championship table - will get that sorted out.

Thx Billy

Sorry to Marco for the shunt!  :notworthy:

Seems these F2's are not my class, or I am doing too much series...
For S26 I will reduce my activities significantly ::)

 :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I have to say on this one I disagree totally. There simply was no pass. I was ahead and Roberto goes for a gap which does not exist. At no point do I move over as I don't need to, I am just driving on the racing line when I get hit.

While I respect the decision of the moderator, I give in, the F2 series is all yours this season. Good luck Clive, Sam and Dean.

Ronnie,
Have you looked at the replay from the overhead view?  You have to be fully past your opponent before you can resume the racing line.

These screenshots show what I mean.

Overhead view before contact(https://googledrive.com/host/0B4Y5yeIvfzZvd1l1LW9DVDN5Mzg/Ronnie_Overhead_approach.jpg)
Roberto view before contact(https://googledrive.com/host/0B4Y5yeIvfzZvd1l1LW9DVDN5Mzg/Roberto_Cockpit_approach.jpg)
Ronnie view before contact(https://googledrive.com/host/0B4Y5yeIvfzZvd1l1LW9DVDN5Mzg/Ronnie_Cockpit_approach.jpg)
Overhead view at contact(https://googledrive.com/host/0B4Y5yeIvfzZvd1l1LW9DVDN5Mzg/Ronnie_Roberto_overhead_contact.jpg)

In order to cut back in after an overtake you have to be able to see your opponent in your mirrors.  These shots show the same thing but from the perspective of a driver being overtaken.  However the first screenshot illustrates the point.  In order to be far enough ahead to be able to move across without risking hitting your opponent's nose you must be able to see him in your mirrors.

Car Behind - No Overlap
(https://googledrive.com/host/0B4Y5yeIvfzZvY3RHYURYMWl3R1k/car_behind_plan_view.jpg)
(https://googledrive.com/host/0B4Y5yeIvfzZvY3RHYURYMWl3R1k/car_behind_driver_view.jpg)

0% Overlap
(https://googledrive.com/host/0B4Y5yeIvfzZvY3RHYURYMWl3R1k/zero_overlap_plan_view.jpg)
(https://googledrive.com/host/0B4Y5yeIvfzZvY3RHYURYMWl3R1k/zero_overlap_driver_view.jpg)

50% Overlap
(https://googledrive.com/host/0B4Y5yeIvfzZvY3RHYURYMWl3R1k/fifty_percent_overlap_plan_view.jpg)
(https://googledrive.com/host/0B4Y5yeIvfzZvY3RHYURYMWl3R1k/fifty_percent_overlap_driver_view.jpg)

100% Overlap
(https://googledrive.com/host/0B4Y5yeIvfzZvY3RHYURYMWl3R1k/hundred_percent_overlap_plan_view.jpg)
(https://googledrive.com/host/0B4Y5yeIvfzZvY3RHYURYMWl3R1k/hundred_percent_overlap_driver_view.jpg)

Over 100% Overlap.  Cars starting to turn in (see orientation of white line).
(https://googledrive.com/host/0B4Y5yeIvfzZvY3RHYURYMWl3R1k/over_hundred_percent_overlap_plan_view.jpg)
(https://googledrive.com/host/0B4Y5yeIvfzZvY3RHYURYMWl3R1k/over_hundred_percent_overlap_driver_view.jpg)

No overtake, no move over. I'm just on the racing line four wheels ahead????

No, you're not. If you were really ahead, there would have been no contact. Ergo...

Hey guys chill. Its just my opinion. I did not hit Roberto he hit me in my view. I respect and accept the moderators verdict. I'm not appealing or anything. Move on I have.

We have but please remember the moderators are very consistent in their decision making.  Any similar incidents in the future are likely to be viewed in the same way.

Message understood the mods verdict is the only one that counts and I agree that's how it should be.

However, it still does not change my opinion that on this occasion Roberto screws up the first corner big time (too fast, too deep, off-line) while I got it spot on (perfect speed, braking, entry and exit) all on the racing line never to leave it until he hits me (nice overhead shot of that moment by the way). I find GPLRA invaluable to review the difference between getting it right and getting it wrong.

But to repeat, message understood the mods verdict is the only one that counts and I agree that's how it should be.

Signing off for this season but I will be back next time.