SimRacing.org.uk

Season 26 Privateers Trophy, Race 2 Snetterton

Welcome back to round two of the Privateers trophy for Season 26.

Back home to Blighty (at least for some of us). We visit the flat ground of Norfolk. Our racetrack is Snetterton. Snetterton is a 1967 Formula Two rank track built, like Silverstone, on a former airfield with long flat straights & relatively quick corners including the brilliantly named “Bomb Hole”.

We will run Intermediate Damage with the allowance of ONE shift-R reset. No Shift-Rs are allowed in practice unless authorized by the moderator. A Shift-R (fault or not) MUST be followed by a Stop & Go. A Shift-R for tyres/fuel is not allowed. Any driver taking more then ONE Shift-R OR failing to take a Stop & Go will be disqualified from the race result.

For season 26, all drivers must complete at least 50% of race distance to be classified.

Race List = IGOR
Server = UKGPL_T7_2
IP address = 62.149.202.168
Race date = 26-01-2014
Race Time = race starts at 21:30 UK time
Qualifying Time = Between 30 and 60 minutes, starting no later than 21:00 UK time
Track = Snetterton (ftp://ukgpl3.dyndns.org/tracks/Snetterton)
Variant = 67F1
Damage Model = INT
Race length = 50 minutes (laps 35)
Password: see above (#post_event_password)

Replays Available here (http://ukgpl3.dyndns.org/inc_replaysS26_js.aspx)

Driver lists and token rules can be found on the championship standings page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=426&theme=6)

The full time drivers can start to practice as soon as the server is available.  Reserve drivers can also join as soon as the server becomes available but must leave the server with 35 minutes of qualifying left, for a total of 5 minutes; this will allow any remaining full timers to join.  If there is enough space on the grid, the reserve drivers will be able to rejoin when there are 30 mins of qualifying left.  

Moderating The red zone will be fully moderated for lap 1 only. For this event the red zone will be from the start to the exit of the Bombhole bend. Other moderation will be on reported incidents only.  However any incidents that occur in the red zone that are not reported by the drivers will be reported by the moderator.  This will allow all affected drivers the opportunity to present their case before the incident is moderated.  This should ensure there are no surprises when the moderator's report is published and hence appeals will be less likely.  If you haven't received a PM about an incident before the link below the results table is removed, you can be sure that you will not appear in the moderator's report.

The chassis token system is explained on the Privateers (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=426&theme=6) standings page. Please ensure you choose a chassis that is within your budget, which can be seen by hovering the mouse over your points total in the standings.

Please restrict chat to pit messages including at the end of the race until ALL drivers still racing have crossed the line.

I can see the passwords of Privateers AND Works ...

But I will only race with Privateers tonight  ;)

You can't any more!

  Sorry Cookie!....  unable to divert enough. :-[

Really enjoyed that. Made some good early progress with eyes closed... (Bill! - saved my bacon - see below!) and then just tried to keep it steady. Found somebody on their roof and span avoiding them. Dave C rudely (NOT REALLY - see below!) used the opportunity to pass me (I am hoping for a two place penalty for naked ambition!). George kept me hopeful by spinning once or twice and Fabio and Martin deserved better but I am very pleased with how it went. No big mistakes despite a half spin under pressure from George. Keeping it steady REALLY paid dividends.

Thanks also to Pierre for making it easy for me to get past when I caught him late on. Good awareness.

See you in round 3.

An interesting & surprising race!
I had managed to confuse myself & got track names mixed up.  I knew I'd been here before,  but had been thinking about the track layout at Aaintree...   Lack of practice didn't help,   And it took a few corners to realise when I was in the qually session...! 

Still, was't too bad in the end,  although had a couple of lengthy excursions.

Also found after the race that I had not selected the setup that I thought I had/finally settled on in qually.   In fact was the original qually setup that I had ditched after 1 lap (Mosport,  with too much fuel).

Was probably lucky with the competition having more problems than me!




Of course,  I had to go back to check that out!  What you failed to mention, is that you had parked up on the grass for a picnic,  watching as the stricken car was removed :)



Cheers all,
Dave.

I just looked at the replay and could see: it's not all your fault! IMO a 50:50 ;)

I could hardly mention my faux pas Dave. Might make it look like you passed me fair and square ;) and that I was a bit hopeless  ;D

Re-reading it, it sounds like I am criticising you - it was meant to be jokey but doesn't actually sound like that. It was actually good car control. Re-reading again makes it sound like I was drunk when I posted it - wasn't but I WAS tired. (I've edited the original)

Same applies to Bill behind me when I had a moment at the bridge.... good car control from him saved my bacon.

To be honest, you were SO much quicker it was only a matter of time, as it was with George. My only hope was that the pair of you would go cross-country - which you did, but not enough.

Well driven and an excellent podium. This track took a lot of concentration. Thank goodness Round 3 only has five laps - won't need to concentrate at all <ahem>.

I had a tidy lap early on in qualy for pole and a good getaway at the start. There was some close attention behind for a few laps and then we settled down with Hendy about 3 seconds back. On lap 11 I missed my braking, almost recovered, but hit the banking under the bridge and went onto the grass bank. I found an invisible wall to stop me getting back to the track and had to reverse and look for another way. Altogether I lost about 20 seconds, but the car was ok. Hendy was far away, but maybe he had some little mistakes and trouble with backmarkers. With a few laps to go he was only 4 seconds ahead. Then we both had some clear track to the finish and he pulled away. Grats on a fine win.

Looking at my other 2 UKGPL races at Snetterton, this was my slowest, but only 5 seconds away from my quickest for 35 laps.
I will have to save up some tokens now in slower cars before I can take the Ferrari again.

Snetterton is a fine track. I had a decent race and a good time.  :) I didn't practice as much for this race. I had decided on a car and a set-up during the week. Then I spent the weekend watching the 24 hours of Daytona race. My lap time in Qually was over a second quicker than in my practice. I attribute it to the spirit of competition.

At the start of the race, I actually pulled over a bit to let other drivers past because I was worried about the braking zone for the hairpin. The race was quite fun trying to keep up with Bill and Philippe. Then I went wide in the hairpin to let Hendy lap me, and I went nose first into the hay bail.  :'( My car does not have reverse, so I had to use the Shift-R and S&G. I actually did not even loose a position.  Fabio was a few hundred yards behind me and closing fast. I only had to hold him off for 5 laps.  I made a small mistake at the Russell Bend corner that gave him the position. I tried to stay with him, but I overdrove the car and lost more ground. Good race everyone, and I am happy to have finished the race.

I made a really stupid error on the grid : I pushed the button ESC instead of F4 (for Pribluda setup) and then could not rejoin the track  :(

I am very disappointed because I hoped to finish on a correct position on a track that I really appreciate !

I will have to do a great race on the N'ring to keep some chances for the championship.  


I don't know if I will lost my 15 tokens (for Ferrari)  ???

That's an unfortunate addiction, David . . . . For those who've not noticed, there's some tough competition showing up, for the new F1 Season.  Expectations were not high in such lofty company.

My start was spoilt by moving cars, blocking the road ahead, so I settled down for a good scrap, with the new, improved version of Fabio.  Managed to pull alongside him one time.  Not easy in the slower Cooper, and on the main straight.  Might've been better if I'd tried for the inside, but this green stuff all looks alike, you know. :P

Finaly forged ahead, and discovered I was in 3rd!  Seemed unlikely. "What Planet was this?"  The torment of some, is the good fortune of others.  Either an ancient hallowed proverb, or read off the back of a packet of Cornflakes.  Decided not to ponder.

Looking good at two thirds distance, when I caught a slower car, looking in his mirrors, and rotating to admire the infield scenery.  So I decided, t'was interesting to investigate some nearby straw, nose first!  Racing incident, as car placement is tough when being hounded by faster machinery. :-\

With tyres critical, the remaining laps were a precarious affair, and a spin late on, brought me back down to Earth with a bump.  My fate was sealed, and the Coop. was 2nd hand.  But some great racing, with some highly skilled opposition along the way.   

No. Because you did not make the start line. You don't get your ten tokens only but it is as if you did not race. You currently have 5 tokens so you can take the Fezza at the 'ring if you wish.

Snetterton does seem to produce some great racing & quite a high attrition rate so you don’t have to be the fastest to score points.
My first few laps were quite ragged. Just getting to the point where the tyres were up to pressure when my son lifted up my ear-phones to tell me about something highly important (in his world). I lost about 3 or 4 places getting the earphones back to normal.
That must have been about lap 5 & the start of a very long battle with Phillipe. Our laps times were very close & whilst I could get close, not close enough for a pass. The 67 mod doesn’t have the draft factor that the F2’s have.
Phillipe kept in front for just about the whole race until he lost it just a few corners before then end. I didn’t really deserve that place & benefited from several other retirements & accidents along the way.
Nurburg will be a different proposition – more likely to achieve one of my ambitions – not to get lapped. The other ambition is not to end up in a ditch – I have less hope for that.

Competition is just getting harder in this division but I’d rather have it that way with a big grid.

Never mind the Division Bill. My championship is just to finish ahead of you and there is a pint on it ;)

One thing for people to come back about. I couldn't get any heat in my tyres, despite setting a substantial PB. Presumably I am braking too early/too light and taking off too much speed at entry but if I try higher speeds I spin. Any tips for getting those nice green temps?

very fun track.  ;)
I was in sixth position, with billy just behind me, and unfortunately the last corner accident!
shit!  :censored:
proverb: we must remain vigilant until the end ... :whistling: :whistling: :whistling:

Thanks, that's the only good news from Snett'n !

Apart from the things you said, driving harder, you can put more temps in the front tires by putting brakebias a bit more to the front or the other way around for rear tires. Same for enter the turns harder, and exiting harder. Sliding more. But as you said if you do that you can lose control earlier and not feeling comfortable.

Setup wise you could try also softer ARB's keeping the same ratio (balance), softer tirepressures, or softer wheelrates keeping the same ratio (if the car doesn't bottom out). Might give you more grip and better laptimes, and even better control...

BTW congrats Hendy, Andy and Dave. Pretty good pace, especially Hendy and Andy, very respectable laptimes as well.  You guys would have finished 6th/7th in Works. ;)

Thanks Rob

the quickest way to get more temperature into the tyre is to add air , also in most mods you will end up running with more air than in 67 .

Thanks JR

No worries - it was read the first time in the manner in which it was intended :)

With higher pressures the temps will built up sooner for sure (in quali most run slightly higher tirepressures), but when they are at working temps after a few laps, in my experience lower tirepressures will get you higher tiretemps overall, even though it takes longer to build up...

In Paul's case adding air might be the right solution, don't know. From my own POV and driving, I would lower my tirepressures ;)

I am really searching for something I can use with the Brabby at the 'ring.

Paul says he can't get the any heat into his tyres , do you really think less air in them will help him ?

You're right, I should have watched it from Paul's point of view, not my own driving ;) Again, it's true tiretemps will built up sooner with higher tirepressures...I guess it depends on the driver on how hard you push/cornering, to find one's own best pressures...

We'll, I'm (obviously) not qualified to answer in any capacity really;  but when I got the front left in the red round the glen;  I just let out a couple of psi.  Then tried not to bash that corner in quite so much.  
The combination seemed to help.

This is how they do it in real life racing and I use it as a guide for myself ;)

http://www.elephantracing.com/techtopic/tiretemp.htm

On the tyre temp issue I found the tyres were heating up at Snetterton by braking slightly later into the fast 3rd gear corners & letting the car drift against the steering - Turn 1, the first of the Esses & the last couple of corners onto the pit straight. With a different set up they might be 2nd gear corners. Of course this is a bit of a high risk strategy, if you get the drift wrong you'll end up in the banking. (I saw this happen to more than on car last night).

My general experience is the higher the tyre pressure the hotter they get - but that's my experience which is not the fastest way around any given race track.

Snetterton is always a "survival" race...
I'm happy about my drive, less about my finish position.
Anyway, is not that easy to race with a barking mad dog over your shoulder  ;)
See you at the Green Hell: another survival one I guess.
Cheers

fL

Was about 1 second off PB in qually, but I had just woken up so decided to leave it so I could get some tea. Not too surprisingly I had moved from 3rd to 5th by the time the race started.

Relatively clean race for me, only off-track a few times but nothing major. Avoided the close call when Cookie & Johnny collided in front of me and Andy's one slip-up managed to get me in first.
Snetterton is fun in 67s, I think the last time I raced here was Novices. T2 is the only turn I found really hard to consistently get right; the apex seems a bit further back than it looks. Also learned in practice to avoid the death trap at the outside of the last S curve (where the fence comes together in a 'V'). Looks like Johnny had his own unfortunate run-in with the pit wall :(

See you all at the ring!

Thanks for the advice chaps. Took the Brabby for a spin at Nurby (literally) and managed a 9.09 which might sound pretty slow but is an all time PB by 7 secs and is a PB in that chassis by 2 minutes! I don't think I have driven it for a while  ;D

I enjoyed last Sunday's race but I was far too erratic for my liking with 7 off road excursions. Lucky to have finished in the points. I really struggled for grip for some reason, I could barely keep the line at Riches and the Esses was a real pain until much much later on, if I tried any sort of late braking, the back-end swapped around abruptly so I was having to brake gently and for longer so as not to upset the beast. I tell ya, how you come OFF the brakes in the BRM (at least with the really stiff way I prefer mine set up) is just as important as how you get ON the brakes. Gently does it!

...and you STILL beat me handily!

I think I may have made 3rd had I kept it on the road but I suspect I may not have been able to hang on to it to the end on sheer pace alone. I almost passed a Brabham at the line, we were almost side by side and their engine let go but I'm not sure whether it was the 3rd placed car or not. I'll haveta check the finish times closely to see what the gap to 3rd was.

That was Michael Turner you passed, George - fourth (provisionally) ;)

Mod published