SimRacing.org.uk

Round 6 - Paul Ricard (Blancpain Circuit) - Endurance Round

(http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y444/MJ_p911/BP_Paul%20Ricard_1_zpsapzfpena.jpg) (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/MJ_p911/media/BP_Paul%20Ricard_1_zpsapzfpena.jpg.html)

Booking: 18.15 (for drivers not in the entry list)
Practice: 19:15 (60 mins)
Qual: 20:15 (15 mins)
Race: 20:30 30 Laps (approx 60 mins)

Cars allowed:
All GT3 class cars
Bentley add-on car:- link from my dropbox:-
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mya0htvomf12umf/bentley_continental_gt3.zip?dl=0
Install to :- C:Program Files (x86)SteamSteamAppscommonassettocorsacontentcars
(Only if not already installed from Round 1)

Track: Paul Ricard v0.9.7 (Blancpain configuration)
http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/paul-ricard.6115/ (http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/paul-ricard.6115/)

Optional skins:-
nsfw Nissan GTR:- https://www.dropbox.com/s/c77ewqkl6gdkb8n/Schulze_Motorsport_Blancpain.rar?dl=0
Mark Ekins Lambo Huracan Konrad Motorsports car  https://www.dropbox.com/s/btf51n59rdu95nh/Konrad_Motorsport-BES2016_29.rar?dl=0
Lukas LDG Bmw Z4:-  https://www.dropbox.com/s/a2xk88qp5z791jp/LDG_Z4GT3Livery.rar?dl=0
Linus' Nissan GTR:-  https://www.dropbox.com/s/v2blhbzbxeqk00q/gt3_09-nr3.rar?dl=0
(only if not already installed from previous rounds)
New!  Georg Sieberts McLaren 650S skin - livery: Gulf Racing Mclaren #36
http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/ks-mclaren-650s-gt3-gulf-racing.8986/
install to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\assettocorsa\content\cars\ks_mclaren_650_gt3\skins

Time of Day Setting: 18:00 (near dusk)
Weather: Clear
Start: Standing
Tyre wear: Normal
Fuel consumption: Normal
Pit-stops: 1 mandatory stop

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

Damage: 80%

All drivers not in the Entry list must be booked in to race before booking closes at 19.15 U.K.

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
(2) Driver lists can be found on the championship standings page
(3) Please use the Driver Details page to ensure that the league management software has your correct name

(http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y444/MJ_p911/Paul_Ricard_zpsbiroprj5.jpg) (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/MJ_p911/media/Paul_Ricard_zpsbiroprj5.jpg.html)

 8)

Splitter and wing for sale, I won't be using them this round. Special price for you my friend.

What a great track. It is so easy to get lost in sector 1, with all the alternative routes and the hypnotizing blue strips, but a track with a great flow.

Very tricky to get a balance between the right amount of aero, but also the tyre pressures fluctuated a lot during the lap. Will be a proper endurance test  ;D

Its the 'no chicanes' version is it? As they ran that earlier in the year, surprisingly.

I think so, it has the looooong straight.

Yes, its actually called the Blancpain version in game I believe. The straight must be second only to the Mulsanne in GT racing  :o

Live timing  :)

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

 8) :o
(http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y444/MJ_p911/bes-paul-ricard-2015-the-sun-sets-on-the-race-action_zps5nkhe0bz.jpg) (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/MJ_p911/media/bes-paul-ricard-2015-the-sun-sets-on-the-race-action_zps5nkhe0bz.jpg.html)

Latest driver list: (Preliminary)

Mark J  - Bentley #7
Simon Gymer - AMG Merc #70
Pete (Picnic) - Lamborghini Huracan - Racing_Blue
Maikel Kuivers - AMG Merc #71
Michael Boylan (Linus) - Nissan GTR GT3 #9 Nismo Advan
Jeffrey Ruskus - McLaren 650s #65
Stephen Wenham - AMG Merc #75
Chris R - AMG Merc AMG Merc #74
Stefan Lagodin - Bentley Continental #z85
Richard Thompson - McLaren 650s #58
Eck Simpson - Audi R8Lms - Audi-sport
Mark Ekins (Spanner) - Lamborghini Huracan - Konrad Motorsport #29.
Gary Paterson - AMG Merc #1
Chris Thorpe - McLaren Mp4-12c - 2012UnitedAutosports
Bob Kendall - Nissan GTR #93
Nsfw - Nissan GTR - Schulze Motorsport skin.
Gp20 - Mercedes SLS #37
Luka Peklaj - BMW Z4 - LDG skin.
Malveen - BMW Z4 skin #17
Kaifos - BMW Z4 - #19
Name: Georg Siebert - Mclaren 650s GT3 #36 (Guid required)

Can Malveen, GP20 and ChrisR confirm if they will be racing or have deserted us?  ;) As you haven't raced for several rounds now or stated you may disappear. I have two other potential drivers who may race and I may need a couple of pre-entry driving slots if so.

Unfortunately I won't be available until the first week of Sept so my
spot will be vacant.  Following the series have some good racing.

I'll leave you in Bob as you intend to continue when back from your hols: Samb has left the arena  :'(

Looking forward to this, having not done the Monza one this will be my first 'Endurance' race - I barely hold it together for half an hour  :D

So mandatory stop, is there a pit window we have to stick to or is it up to us? And any tyres, or do we have to use different compounds? Also refueling, I haven't actually checked if you can do 60 laps on one tank, if so I wonder what is quicker - short pit stop but heavier car or quicker laps longer stop.

Will be exciting, and I supposed its time to make of for the inevitable spins/mistakes that I always make  :laugh:

Window up to you, compound is free, 1 tank should be possible,  but refueling is twice as fast as tyre change, so no use starting full, as 1 set of tyres is probably not recommended.  :)

It'll be only my second ever endurance in AC and last one was a long time ago so I'd best practise some pit stops this eve

The pitconfig app is highly recommended:

http://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/pitconfig.8032/

Thanks Jeff - someone mentioned it to me after the last round and I downloaded it straight away. See it's 2 versions newer now! Still not tried it  ::)

Very sorry, but I won't be able to make it for this race.
That's officially it for this season now. See you all on track again late December  :o

Hi everybody,

pending Mark's approval, I'm new to this forum and will be participating with you in this series beginning Wednesday at Paul Ricard with the McLaren 650s GT3 in a custom livery.
Have a bit of experience in driving and AC and I'm looking forward to racing with all of you.

Cheers

Real sorry to see you leave the series FMG,  :'( good luck with the move abroad and hope to see you back racing with us in the winter.  :)

Hi Georg, welcome onboard, glad to have you with us and can see your going to be right in the mix up front with our fastest guys from your times on stracker live timing  :)  I'll get you added to the pre-entry list.

Very tasty skin by the way!  :o 8)   (Link added to first post in race thread - guys please download for your visual pleasure in the race)

Driver list (Latest)

Mark J  - Bentley #7
Simon Gymer - AMG Merc #70
Pete (Picnic) - Lamborghini Huracan - Racing_Blue
Maikel Kuivers - AMG Merc #71
Michael Boylan (Linus) - Nissan GTR GT3 #9 Nismo Advan
Jeffrey Ruskus - McLaren 650s #65
Stephen Wenham - AMG Merc #75
Chris R - AMG Merc AMG Merc #74
Stefan Lagodin - Bentley Continental #z85
Richard Thompson - McLaren 650s #58
Eck Simpson - Audi R8Lms - Audi-sport
Mark Ekins (Spanner) - Lamborghini Huracan - Konrad Motorsport #29.
Gary Paterson - AMG Merc #1
Chris Thorpe - McLaren Mp4-12c - 2012UnitedAutosports
Bob Kendall - Nissan GTR #93
Nsfw - Nissan GTR - Schulze Motorsport skin.
Gp20 - Mercedes SLS #37
Luka Peklaj - BMW Z4 - LDG skin.
Malveen - BMW Z4 skin #17
Kaifos - BMW Z4 - #19
 Georg Siebert - Mclaren 650s GT3 #36
Paul Mcloud - BMW Z4 - skin X-Drive #20

Your onboard track guide with commentary  :)

https://youtu.be/18dHErwGPoY

 8)

Welcome onboard too to Paul Mcloud joining us in the series in his Z4  :)

Good to see a few faces on the server earlier and we all seemed to be setting new pb's  :)

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

Just a couple of notes about tomorrows race:-

Pit entry - its after the final tight right hander and is quite a tight entry so make sure your aware of it before your stop and try not to slam into the wall  ;D or your stop will be longer!

Pit exit - further down the s/f straight and blends onto the track from the right. Be aware both exiting the pit and those steaming down it to the braking zone for turn 1.

Track limits - tempting though it is with all that stripey run off, I want track limits respected. I'll allow some discretion for those in close combat or outbraking yourself but corners like the fast right at the end of the long main straight are to be kept tight as possible. I'll allow 4 wheels on the outer kerbing maximum but if I see cars repeatedly running very wide there for full speed turn in then you will pick up a 30 second penalty at the end. Likewise no extreme cutting of the Turn1 left/right - two wheels on the track please. The replay will be watched and penalties awarded if needed.
 :smartass:

Pitstop - One mandatory stop required for fuel or tyres or both.

Keep it clean and enjoy   :)

Hi guys. I'm new here. Used to drive lower formula cars, but how can I resist to Blancpain? Great job in running the championship, see you on track.

Welcome to our little bit of the sim racing world. Are you on MJ entry list? If not if you can PM (personal message) MJ or myself your car choice and Steam GUID we can get you added to the entry list. I think there is 1 free space which is yours if you're quick :)

Thanks for your welcome. Yes I just sent him a message with all my details  :)

Excellent - see you on track tonight :)

Can't make tonight, sorry!

Wow, that car looks horrible to drive, good driver though

Looks very oversteery, anyone would think he's running very low wing  :shifty:

Race day gents, hope your all excited  :)

Ps totally optional but under 'video' in your effects presets there's should be an option called 'Paul Ricard A' (or B). On my rig it makes the sunset/sunlight even better. Think it gets installed with the track. Try it out or Otherwise stick with default.  8)

Tonights Driver list (as far as I know!) - 3 new drivers welcomed onboard  :)

Mark J  - Bentley #7
Simon Gymer - AMG Merc #70
Pete (Picnic) - Lamborghini Huracan - Racing_Blue
Maikel Kuivers - AMG Merc #71
Michael Boylan (Linus) - Nissan GTR GT3 #9 Nismo Advan
Jeffrey Ruskus - McLaren 650s #65
Stephen Wenham - AMG Merc #75
Chris R - AMG Merc AMG Merc #74
Stefan Lagodin - Bentley Continental #z85
Richard Thompson - McLaren 650s #58
Eck Simpson - Audi R8Lms - Audi-sport
Mark Ekins (Spanner) - Lamborghini Huracan - Konrad Motorsport #29.
Gary Paterson - AMG Merc #1
Bob Kendall - Nissan GTR #93
Nsfw - Nissan GTR - Schulze Motorsport skin.
Gp20 - Mercedes SLS #37
Luka Peklaj - BMW Z4 - LDG skin.
Malveen - BMW Z4 skin #17
Kaifos - BMW Z4 - #19
Georg Siebert - Mclaren 650s GT3 #36
Paul Mcloud - BMW Z4 - skin X-Drive #20
Andrea Giache - Audi R8Lms - 2015 C Abt Racing 3

All of you guys are in the pre-entry list so no need to use the booking mode early on.

Tonights race password should be visible to you in a banner above this thread, pm me if you cannot see it !

Server's been launched

Session: Race - Race (30 laps)

Pos Move Driver Car Best Lap Time Best Lap Num

1 ▲ 3 Jeffrey Ruskus  1:56:465 7 6.37 0.000 0.000

2 ▲ 3 Mark Jonzo   1:56:946 18 4.83 8.754 8.754
 
3 ▼ 2 Maikel Kurvers  1:55:905 17 11.55 8.825 0.071
 
4 ▼ 1 Georg Siebert  1:56:447 11 7.60 -3.098  

5 ▼ 3 nfsw55  1:56:042 2 8.18 32.237 35.335
 
6 ▲ 1 Kai Syvertsen  1:58:318 6 3.52 32.608 0.371
 
7 ▲ 1 Michael Boylan  1:58:587 23 7.94 69.917 37.309
 
8 ▲ 2 Mark Ekins  1:59:057 7 6.28 73.823 3.906
    
9 ▬   Pete 'Picnic' Allnutt [Team Shark]  1:58:682 3 6.43 78.229 4.406
 
10 ▲ 3 Simon Gymer [Team Shark]  1:56:877 29 17.31 133.340 55.111
 
11 ▲ 3 Paul Mcloud  2:00:224 27 8.95 157.665 24.325

12 ▼ 1 GaryJpaterson  1:58:408 21 20.89 168.677 11.012
 
13 ▼ 1 Eck Simpson  2:00:311 20 18.51 178.978 10.301
 
14 ▲ 1 Stephen Wenham  2:00:754 14 9.91 -1L 24.741
 
15 ▼ 9 Andrea Giache  1:57:398

Most consistent lap times: Kai Syvertsen (68% of their laps within 3.52 secs of their average)

Hunter: Jeffrey Ruskus (avg gap to car in front 1.68 secs)

Hunted: nfsw55 (avg gap to car behind 2.01 secs)

Busiest: Mark Jonzo [ Legends Racing] (avg total gap in front and behind 13.09 secs)

Loneliest: Simon Gymer [Team Shark] (avg total gap in front and behind 41.67 secs)

Another great race. Ended 3rd, slightly dissappointed though  8)

Went from pole, start went well, managed to keep nfsw behind for a bit. Unfortanely I had some minor lag in T3- 5 ( no idea why)  Took me off guard the first couple of laps until I adjusted to it. Had some battles with Nfsw ( who was very slightly jittering due to his ping ) until at the last turn he had a bit of a slide, only way I could go was on his inside and we had  a slight bump. No worries I thought, only a little paint and my side mirror missing, shouldn't bother me too much....  10 km/h on the straight!! For some minor side panel damage  :o

Luckily the laptimes of Jeffrey, Georg, Nfsw and me were somewhat the same, so we still had some battles. Until I pitted and for some reason the fix car body was on. So my recently hired pitcrew took 30 valuable seconds to install a new side mirror.. I need a new pitcrew ( again  ;D )

Still, the car was back on speed and in the end I was lucky Georg and Mark were duking it out so I managed to creep back to them. Got pas Georg and after a slight mistake from Mark we went side by side over the finish with him 2nd and me 3rd.  8)

Great and clean racing all around.

Really looking forward now to Spa next week

One of those lovely races for me tonight. Made an OK start and got along side Kal who was one spot ahead but Mark went screaming past me in his snott green Lambo as if I was standing still so I guess he made a better start than us all :)

Had great battle with Mark and Picnic right up to the pitstops where I was ahead. However, being my first ever pitstop in an endurance race  ::) I was a little rusty and couldn't find the ok button once selecting my tyre change. This lost me about 4 seconds so exited just behind Mark and Picnic again. I then resumed my battle with them and get past and ended up finishing 7th.

Great fun and many thanks.

By the way, did anyone get the replay? I only managed to get about 20 laps :(

Replay: https://www.dropbox.com/s/avn7uszv7eiepzb/ks_mercedes_amg_gt3%40paul_ricard-blancpain_20160810223851?dl=0

Now that was one heck of an endurance race  :o. The pitstops really helped to mix up the grid and bring a lot of guys into action against others  :thumbup1:

How the hell did I finish 2nd?  :laugh:  And only by A bonnet length over Maikel  :o  how's that for a close finish after an hour of racing?!  8)

Qually had been pretty intense with lots of close lap times but I struggled to get a clear lap from traffic and could only bag 5th, which is pretty much where I expected anyway.

Race start went well slotting in behind the fast 4 ahead and staying there for several laps before getting a tank slapper through the turn 1 complex trying to stay with the mclarens  :( this dropped me to 10th.
I then had to set chase and pick off the next 5 cars, usually along the main straight where I could put the Bentleys strength to good use.
By mid race I was back up to 5th or 6th and time to pit on lap 16 with fumes of fuel left. After joking about it, guess who had the pit garage right in front of the entrance?! ::) I just about stopped in time!
When I re-emerged the whole top 6 had changed about and I was only 8 secs behind 4th or 5th with fresh tyres  :)
The new race leader pitted late and I was chasing Georg for 3rd in his McLaren.  :o It was a great chase and he was quicker in the twisties whilst I closed each lap on the straights. It went on for quite a few laps until he made an error in the final corner. This allowed me to close right up and he was a sitting target on the main straight.
Now in 3rd briefly, I suddenly became 2nd  ??? - think I saw a car way off track rejoining? And I also had a hard charging Maikel breathing down my neck! Somehow despite his faster speed, I was able to defend him off on the final 2 laps and after a defensive exit, I only just outgunned him to the finish line by the bonnet length!
Spectacular finish to the race  :thumbup2:

Congrats to Jeff on the win, and Maikel in 3rd....and yay for me  ;D :clap:

Can't wait to see a replay!

Was struggling to keep the tyres alive during qually, so my best lap was messed up as I couldn't make the last hairpin on two dark red left tyres  ;D.

Had a good start and was able to challenge nfsw, but the grunt of the Nissan helped him stay ahead.

Spent the first quarter of the race chasing Georg. Same cars, so hard to benefit in areas. I think I overtook him in the end due to a small mistake.
Was surpsised to see the gap forward to be as little as it was. They drove off so fast in the first few laps, I thought it was going to be embarassing finishing over a minute behind at that rate.

Got close to nfsw, which was exactly the place I didn't want to be. His ping was fluctuating and very high most of the race. Jittering and rubber banding all the time. Desperatly wanted to get past, as it was getting on my nerves.
When I finally got past, I was slowly gaining on Maikel. With hindsight, because he had new airbrakes mounted to his car. But because we were battling, nfsw gained on us again. And my nerves wouldn't take all that lagging, so I decided to pit 1 lap earlier  :P. Georg followed behind me in the pits, and he got out closer than when he came in, but I think he rejoined the track and ended up in a battle for position, which gave me some breathing space.

When Maikel did his stop, I was looking to see where he rejoined, but I didn't see him. So I thought my stop must have really sucked. But it looks like he is wearing his crew out  ;D.

Few laps later nfsw had his stop and came out of the pits 5 seconds ahead. My tyres were already up to temp and I was able to close the gap. At that point his ping was fine, <50ms,s o I thought, this should be fun. And we had some fun laps, power vs handling...until a few laps later when his ping went back to 200+. It was so hard to try and overtake and battle with the rubber banding. At one point I was behind him on the straight, and his car slowed down like he lifted off, only to rocket forward again and to be 50m infront of me.

With 2 laps to go, the same thing happened, car slowed down on the straight, I pull to the right to overtake...and his car just disappeared. When it reappeared, I saw that it crashed. I have no idea how it looked like from his end, but I saved my replay, and it looked like a large lag spike.

Had some fun battles, just a bit of mixed feelings about the end.

EDIT: Thanks for the replay Maikel and great result MJ. When you were behind me you were hard to get rid off  :D. Shame you spun it, as I think you would have been able to stay with us.

Good race everybody, of course a more civilized race than online - that's the point.

Was heavily leaning on the tyres and had to catch a few slides.
Cheers to Maikel, Mark and Jeffrey for the fights for position. I think we gave each other sufficient racing room to keep it clean.
Due to different lines and braking points from the drivers here on Paul Ricard, one had to adapt to turn-in's and avoid hitting somebody from behind.

Looking forward to Spa, expecting a more consistant performance there.

Cheers for the replay Maikel  :)

This was the race I looked forward the most, Didn't have much time to practice, but nevertheless I was quite confident. Qualifying was ok, race start also. After that I destroyed my own race and at least Maikel's race also. In lap three I was able to went past Maikel for the lead, but at the last turn I had a huge slide and unfortunately our cars collided, but it was only a very slight side impact. Neverthless I lost nealy 10 km/h on the straight and one second per lap after that. Maybe this amount of damage is realistic on open wheelers and formula 1 cars, but on GT cars? very weird damage model :(  
So my biggest advantage over the McLarens was gone and soon Jeff appeared in my mirrors and went by. When the pit stops came up I was still not too far behind the two in front, because they also fought for positions.
I did my stop two or three laps later than the guys in front and somehow I managed to exit the pit lane in the lead.  But Jeffrey was soon on my back again. We had a very close race for about 10 or 12 laps, I knew that he was much quicker than me but I tried everything to keep him behind. He once got past me but on the straight I was able to overtook him again due to the slipstream. In lap 28 Jeffrey suddenly stormed past me on the straight and I was very confused. Only seconds later I realised that my ping went up to something around 1000, I got a big hit and crashed several times into the barriers. After I watched my own replay I assume that I collided with the lapped BMW.
During the race I didn't notice my lags (except the very big one at the end) and my replay also looks smooth as always, so I thought everything was ok, I'm very sorry to everyone I  blocked, annoyed or irritated during the race with my lags (especially Jeffrey) :no: . I can't explain why this happened. Normally my ping is around 34 on the simracing.org.uk server but obviously today something went totally wrong on my side.

I limped around the track for the last 1 1/2 laps with everything on my car damaged (I was quite surprised that my engine didnt blow up) and finished on P5.
Very disappointed..by myself this time

The positives :

I made a great start
I didn't get lapped

The negatives :

About everything else, too many stupid spins cost me several places. Really fed up after that  :-[

Everything seemed to go down hill after the start! Got a brilliant start but then realised I was on the outside and had no grip. I tried to make an effort to make sure I got round the corner marker tho but probably would have been better to just straightline it as I then got in the way of everyone else. Sorry for the Z4 I bumped into the tight RH corner before the 'slower than you think' RHer before the straight. In fact that corner caught me out a few times. At times it was noticeable the difference in the tyres and would spin the tyres up which then hurt me down the straight. After feeling like i'd dropped back mamanged to get up to Picnic and Linus ok, but couldn't do anything more. Seemed to have a lot more speed dow nthe astragith than Picnic so could breeze by easily but never managed to get try anything with Linus. But we were running together so decided to pit slightly earlier as I was suffering and felt I was holding Pete up but never managed to test the pitlane out! Just managed to get in the pit box with little warning of it!

Second half didn't go as well as the first as my times were nowhere initially and an off or two helped Linus back in front. It seemed us 3 were on our own pace wise which was good in some respects.

Yeah, any chance of a break with these Enduros! Good fun tho they are, consecutive weeks is bit much! Oh what was the choice, Budapest? lol not much easier then!

Had a very enjoyable race, had a very scary moment two laps from the end when getting lapped by NFSW and Jeffrey, NFSW's car just disappeared then appeared sideways in front of me, it all happened so quickly I wasn't sure if I'd caused it or not. Checked the replay and looks like very bad lagging, so peace of mind for me at least :)

I'd left my replay on "ultra" so only caught the last 17 laps, could someone be kind enough to post the replay if they have it please, would like to see the first few laps again.

Congrats to the podium guys, nice racing fellas. :)  

Just seen Maikels post with the replay link, cheers ;D

Maikel has hid fidelity on medium and his replays are good, I can't tell the difference between medium and a higher setting. Had mine still on way too high, so it only caught 10 laps with 500 mb  :P.

Main thing I noticed during the race was that too many cars had too much rear wing and/or bad gearing for that massive long straight  :o  I expected to gazump Mclarens or Z4's on it but even most of the Nissans I met couldn't compete this time. That's where you guys who don't go on the practise server suffer. I thought I had the ideal wing and gearing until Maikels AMG breezed past me during one practise session! so I knew I had to test more options and in the end I think I had the ideal setup for that long straight and was able to overtake a lot of cars during the race.  :)  Admittedly Paul Ricard is probably the Bentleys strongest circuit due to the straights (and maybe the Kemmel at Spa) but do think some of you had the gearing/wing wrong. I struggled in the twisties a bit more with the heavy car but more than made up for over a lap with the low wing config.  :)

I thought the sunset lighting looked great too  8)

Still well chuffed with 2nd place  ;D

You were certainly a rocket ship on that back straight Mark :)

I found that two corners back (right handed) played such a big part on that back straight. It was a fine line in maintaining enough speed through it to carry on to the back straight and going in too fast, washing out wide and losing all momentum.

A Fast train of GT exotica early on:-

(http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y444/MJ_p911/Screenshot_ks_mercedes_amg_gt3_paul_ricard_11-8-116-22-53-9_zpslwcsodwe.jpg) (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/MJ_p911/media/Screenshot_ks_mercedes_amg_gt3_paul_ricard_11-8-116-22-53-9_zpslwcsodwe.jpg.html)

the photofinish between myself and Maikel for 2nd and 3rd, with Georg just behind us in 4th...after 1 hour of racing and 1 pitstop  :o

(http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y444/MJ_p911/Photofinish_paul_ricard_10-8-16_zpswvchb1wu.jpg) (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/MJ_p911/media/Photofinish_paul_ricard_10-8-16_zpswvchb1wu.jpg.html)

Enjoyed watching lots of action from the replay  :) there were some good groups of cars competing closely(throughout the race, great to see.  :)
NSFW was unlucky with the lag warp. You clearly see it down the main straight as one moment your ahead of Jeff then you car appears further behind him then next you see your car smash into the concrete wall  :o I am amazed it could continue, it looked pretty destroyed and Paul? Was desperately unlucky to get collected in it.
The driving standards were pretty good all round with lots of good clean battles  8)
Shame we are still a few drivers down from no-shows, hopefully some return from their holidays now.  :)