SimRacing.org.uk

All members welcome.

Practice: 20:15 (10 mins)
Qualifying: 20:25 (25 mins)
Race: 20:50 (30 laps = ~40 mins)

Track: Turagua v1.1 (download here (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54520#msg54520))
Cars allowed: Lotus Cortina, Mini Cooper
Time of Day Setting: 06:00
Start: STANDING

Server: UKGTL Classics Cup
Password: see above (#post_event_password)

Notes:
(1) It's best if all drivers can make sure they are connected before the Qualifying session as drivers on track during qualifying will not see cars that join after they are on track until they go back to the garage.
(2) Please make sure you are fully aware of the SimRacing.org.uk Rules (https://www.simracing.org.uk/index.php?pid=7).
(3) Driver lists can be found on the championship standings page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=65)
(4) The season will be run using the UKGTL Skin Pack 1.5 which will need to be installed prior to racing; please get it from the downloads page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#msg54518).

Next season. Bring it on!  :)

If my copy of GTL is here by then, I might join. I've had to cancel the order from Gameplay 'cause it wasn't going to be sent until the end of november! Ordered one from play for £3 less and it has already been sent!

Anywhere I can get some templates for GTL from?

 ;) I'll be in Cyprus sunning myself when this is on, shame......oh well!

I'll be racing this one in a Mini, it's the only car I can drive!

Is there any way to unlock the cars, tracks and money to be able to use the others?

See my link page 5 of the Hockenhium Short forum.

Bill

I posted that before you posted the link.

Thanks for the link by the way, I've installed the file and I'll test it later.

I've been reading the driver's guide for the Mini, perhaps some can tell me what trail-braking is?

Mini, or Lotus, Mini, or Lotus.....


I think I will go with a Mini, as it's future held it being a BMW!

http://virtualracersedge.com/trail_braking.htm (http://virtualracersedge.com/trail_braking.htm)

Thanks Gizmo. It seems like I'm learning all the racing techniques again, the last time I did was when i started playing Gran Turismo in '98!

Hi Tibernius, from what I am reading I get the impression that you might be new to GTL?

When I started out I found it a great help going through all the cup challenges in the game at pro level. You not only learn the basic circuits but more importantly you get to try out the different cars available. Sure there are cracks to unlock all the cars available but I found it pays to practise.
So wadya waiting for........ ;)

You could say I'm new to GTL, my copy of it arrived on Thursday!

I've used the unlock for the cars and tracks, it should be useful for practice for these races, I'll give some of the championships a try as well.

Are you going to be racing at Turagua?

Sure, see ya there. I'll be in the slow cortina at the back  ::)

:laugh: You'll finish ahead of me at least. I'll be driving a Mini, probably the black one that's standard with GTL.

I seemed to go a bit Paddy Hopkirk in the last race, spent most of the race on the grass!

I noticed ;)

Managed 5th out of 8 and the fastest lap at Turagua in an offline race earlier. Managed to stay on the track as well.

Looks like I might be able to earn some points.

Hmmm, I'll probably have a go offline tonight as theres no footy.
Perhaps we can practise online together one evening?
The practise password is here
https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2929

Sure, depends what time you race though. I normally race between 7:00 and 8:30.

Shame, to early for me. I don't get to practise until at least after 23:00.

See you on thurs then.

Hey maybe we could start our own team, just for us newbies?

Sounds like a good idea. Anyone else interested?

Team Noob? ;D
Just make sure you're cars aren't pink. ;) :angel:

I was thinking either Orange or Red and White.
Anyway, some team has to come in last!

Don't like the idea of orange much...but a mix of red and white sounds good. ;)

I am thinking more leopard skin, with little chinz curtains for the side windows.

Seriously tho, I cant do skins  :-\ but it would be cool to start Team Noob. But we need a quick advert and response to set up a team before Thursday (dam wish I'd thought of this before).

I think there's a more appropriate place for an ad. If I find I'll put a link here. OK so link is below, keep reading down

But If your reading this and you want in please reply here. Only qualification for entry to Team Noob is this must be your first full season championship. Let's see what response we get.

Going into hospital for an eye operation tomorrow. Should be out on Wednesday. If I can see anything at all I'll be there on Thursday, probably looking like this!  8)

Phil

Already done:

https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3780.msg61929#new

Don't worry, I can do the skins.

Isn't it too late for new skins? Skin pack 1.5 is already issued.

Hey Tibs looks like we almost got us a team! ;D

Too late for skins but we can race with standard. And we could get them ready for a mid-season update...

hhhmmm... sounds like a real threat to us regular backmarkers..

Well... I hope we can have a good fight for position 20 then  ;)

Super Aguri Vs Spyker was the best part of the F1 anyway!

Should be good. Gentleman Drivers and team noob fighting for last point!

For Us n ??? ??? bs Information:

There's a patch out for the 1.5 carpack:

https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3760.msg61871#msg61871

(ps. if this post is inappropriate I will remove it as once..)

I'm not sure if I need to sign up for season 4 somewhere. Anyway, I hope I can join you, team Racing for Serbia.

Its an open series, no sign up necessary, and you'd be welcome Davor. You'll need the skin pack (see above) and don't drive to fast please ;)

OK, thx. Nice to see you here, mate.

Nice to see you here too Davor.

Bill

There should be a good race over second-from-last place then!

Any times Anyone?

5:29pm  :P

Took you 30 sec to write that ;)

I think i got a 1:20 something in the mini. I'll have a look at the replay later.

I'm running 1:17s in the Mini right now, if I spend some more time by thursday, I should be able to fine tune that to some 1:19s on race day  :P

WHERE IS THE UKGTL SERVER?!?

I can't find it on the server list.
Is it being used for the race '07 race tonight?

Yes - we don't run practice servers when there's a league race on because they can interfere with each other a little.

Are start times GMT ??? (I am posting this at 08:55 Belgrade time).

Yep - GMT

not gonna be able ot make it, the old lady needs me at 3:30 my time, which means I have to leave 10 minutes into the race :(

Oh well, hopfully next week. I just hate missing the season opener :(

What times are people getting around here?
I've managed high 1:18:9xx so far and thats it...
I like this track - should be a good race and hopefully a great turnout too for the season opener..

I'm in the high 1:17s/mid 1:18s.

1.19.4 my best so far. :(

just seen this on nogrip, ive downloaded the stuff, what will the password be? i cant see it .. ???

never raced this track so i ll need to learn quick!! ;D

[edit]Check the first post.

Please DO NOT post the passwords in the text - just direct the person to the perfectly good text at the top of the page. I'd like to be able to allow guests to read our race reports and I can't do that if people post passwords in them for all and sundry (including search engines) to see.

Sorry about that, it won't happen again. I thought this section of the forum was members-only.

yeah guys , i seen the first post but wasnt 100% which word because there r alot after it says password then a link to another password.  i ll try them all.

also do u need the skin pack im at 68% so far its takin its time. i dunno if itll be finished for the start of qually.

Skin pack is required. Practice uses one password, qually and the race use the other.

ok thanks mate im at 76%  :o :o dunno, think its gonna be close :-\

Rats, just noticed the skin pack too!! 22% !!

No hope!?  >:(

Have fun guys !

It is at the moment but I'm trying to get away from that...

Well that was Garbage.

I'm sitting at the 30 second countdown on an empty field, get to the green flag at an empty grid. Escape out, and everyone is still racing.

I saw a message saying Blunder was booted, did anyone see if I got dropped before the race began?

Kind of cheezes me off, as I made some time to attend the race and I was having fun in the mini :( Oh well. Maybe next week.

You were laggy during qually and had the highest ping of everyone Mr BMW.

Absolutely no comment till after the replays.  >:(

Sorry for the tap, I think it was Parle I hit, it was definitely a legends cortina.

Last again, as always.

As I didn't practice my qually time was my PB  ;D.

Had a pretty good start, but hAMMER was right there with me. For around 10 minutes it was really close and he was actually a bit faster, so it looked like a rough night.
Unlucky for him he spun in the last corner which gave me a 6s lead. And with the difference being so small, I knew that if I didn't mess up I'd had a good chance to win.

Sorry for the slight tab MJ, I actually broke earlier but both front wheels locked up. But it felt like a very very small tab to me, but I don't know if that caused you to quit?

Very good laptime in race hAMMER, I can be very lucky that the gap was 6s, or else I don't think I'd made it.

Very good turnout and some new faces.

First of all,

Syd, my apologies for punting you off twice. That was really bad driving on my part  and I have no excuse.

If you want to file a complaint I would fully understand  :-[

On the other hand... I really liked the fight  ;D

Very wise decision Pseudo.

That was a good race - i had a terible incident on the start however, somehow managing to catch the back of madmacs Lotus when braking into T1, and somehow spinning the Mini across the full width of the track - i think two other Mini's skidded off trying to avoid me...sorry just ran out of talent... :'(
The rest of the race was pretty good though, and had some good battles, with Lee - swapping paint for a good few laps, and then Ossie and Mark Jonzo, although Marks car just halted to a stop in the middle of the track, and then disconnected.
I have to apologize to Pseudo as well, as i think i went a bit too aggressively down the inside of his Mini on the last turn after a few laps,  and grinded door handles as i passed - sorry again for that.
Good turnout, congrats to all podiums, and all who finished  8)

pff,
Tough race again , I really should practice a lot more before even thinking about moving a few places up :-\

Quite a lot of contact by the sound of it this evening, lets stop that right away!



On to my race - qually was good - though I cocked up, I was on for a 1:16.6.  Still, started 6th I think?  Got a nudge in the rear at the start which helped launch me down the outside of Psuedo, and then into T1 I saw a lovely looking mini alongside, so not wanting to scratch the paint I let Steve through without a fight  ;).  At that point we were 4th and 5th?  It took forever to get comfortable, and through a couple of little errors I slipped back.  Watching Steve's fight infront and another behind helped me relax a bit, but still not finding the pace I was hoping for.

I started speeding up, but with Baracus and Shark behind (no practice gents?) I was on the defensive.  4th through 7th got bunched up into T1, I had to take to the grass and that let Baracus by.  Shark closed me down and it was a proper fight to the finish.  I got a nudge (or two?) in the hairpins from a couple of people I think, but kept the car going forward, and didn't lose position.  Really hard last couple of laps and I was willing the flag to be waved.  Good fun again Shark.

I like the track, but I don't think it's all that good for racing - overtaking needs a mistake from someone really.

Finished 5th in the end - and well happy with it - a hard race, but a good one to break in the new look "Tina"!!

Unlucky on your disco MJ (tha's what it looked like to me anyway) - you seemed to be going alright from what I saw in my rear view.

And Steve .... DOH!  Should have been better.

No problem about the first corner Will. Stuff happens!

You didn't finish last...

Honestly, glad thats over ;D. Can't believe the season started with two of my least favourite cars.

Don't know what the hell happened at T1 ???. I had cars dissapearing, reappearing and it felt like the crimbo sales as I got rather squeezed off. Silly really. After that I basically had the whole track to myself, I didn't really see anyone from lap 3 to final lap.

Sure things will get more exciting and less reckless as things go on. Hope theres some American muscle soon :)

 

One of those was me, I was driving a dark green Mini.

Couple of notes to everyone...

Note 1
------
Changing cars during qualifying is a no no. It is not totally against the rules, but it is strongly discouraged because:
1) It's unfair to change car just cause you are slower.
2) It's dangerous for others and yourself because rejoining during qually means you won't be seen by most of the field.
3) It screws up the results so that the importer (me in this case) has to edit them manually to get them to work for duplicated entries.

Note 2
------
I noticed at the start a lot of cars appearing and disappearing during the first 1/4 of a lap after the standing start. This is obviously dangerous for everyone and if it happens again next race we'll go back to rolling starts as it's not fair for people's races to be ruined by a game that is still apparently synchronising. I can't believe it was just me that couldn't see all the cars once the start lights went out. I had to be VERY careful for the first 1/4 and very wary of cars appearing out of the blue.

Note 3
------
Although chat is currently allowed in UKGTL during qualifying, I think in future we should try and keep it to an absolute minimum. Practice 1 can have a free for all chat, but qualifying should be for really important messages only and admin or server messages.

Thanks.

Can SBG please remember to use the pit-out message next time, I almost hit him in qually.

Frankly thats absurd. I saw you coming and let you by. Is that not enough ???

You could say that. I did some laps when testing the track seems months ago now, but only a few and not in anger. I got about 2 or max 3 laps in during qually and that was the entirety of me basing a setup for the race. I managed a 1:17.7 in those 3 laps which put me 15th on the grid. I guessed I could go faster but I would find out in the race.

Well indeed I could, after I'd learnt the circuit properly I starting reducing that lap time eventually getting down to 1:16.7. Through the middle part of the race I seemed to lose a load of pace for no apparent reason, lapping a good second slower than I could do and then picked up nearer the end for the final battle with Adam. Extremely hard to pass and in the end I had to back off a number of times to avoid contact in pressing situations. Very tough stuff, but good fun. Picked up nearly all of my 10 places through other people going off.  :o

Great turnout for the first race. Taragua was something different and I was really surprised how fast the Mini was at full pelt down the straights. It had a disadvantage changing from 2nd to 3rd I think it was but other than the straight line speed was quite similar.

The main thing is I panicked when I saw the car, my line through that corner is an early apex, and you were right next to it.

You're probably right and it probably is nothing, I would just like a clarification of the rules for if this situation happens again.

Can someone explain what the M/= and D/= signs mean when you move the cursor over the finishing positions?

T  is finishing place/points for team scoring purposes
D is finishing place/points for you individually
M is finishing place/points for the manufacturers

The scoring is detailed on the standings page.

First off, sorry for changing cars during Q. I didnt realise it was already Q other I wouldn't have but I just couldn't hack that FWD mini - it kept just spitting me off random directions :D
I thought it would be safer for everyone involved if I stuck to RWD so changed to the Cortina!

Took me a while to get used to how oversteery it was but got into a groove from half way thru the race and it was cool. Had some great battles, mainly Adam and Si,  along the way and well happy with 4th at the end :)

B-ah had a power cut about lap 23 of 31?, whole street got knocked out  :(

Hope my discod car didnt cause any dramas.

Tough little track, hard work yanking the car around all those hairpins, was getting rather hot ! :P

Think a few abarths and corollas could have been thrown into the mix quite well here but seemed a close fight between the minis and cortinas.

Unofficial Lapchart (http://www.lapcharts.teamshark.org.uk/Lapcharts/GTL Turagua 22-11-2007/index.html)

I was looking forward to this race, first of the new season etc. etc.

I was on the pace...all through praccy doing mid 1:16's so was anticipating a good run.

Wasn't to be though, had a tough time qualifying, never seemed to get a clear lap but eventually managed one and took 4th on the grid.

That's about as good as it got, it all went downhill rapidly from there.

I fully expected to lose a couple of places at the start with the faster lotus's....but from 4th to 15th in half a lap...without falling off the track was a bit much to take.

Just watched the replay and I counted 9 separate incidents that cost me time and places....on the first lap alone.

I am NOT going to make any official reports. There are too many incidents and i wouldn't expect the overworked moderating team to have to put up with dealing with them all, especially considering there seemed to be some 'game' issues at the start. Instead, I would just like to remind folk of what this organisation is all about. Gentlemanly Conduct and fair play.

Late dashes and mad surges into corners ALWAYS end in incidents....I suffered 4 of them tonight.
On three occasions, cars overtaking me decided to cut back onto my (the racing) line whilst they were about half way past me  ??? How basic is that ?
Battling cars ahead ran onto the grass then barged their way back onto the racing line causing damage and mayhem behind them.
After incidents cars slowed to give the place taken back...comendable...BUT not on the racing line ::)

All in all, I feel the overall driving standards shown by some tonight were just well below what we have come to expect, admire and cherish from UKGTL/UKGTR races. There were some welcome new faces tonight that must have seen the very worse of us. To the Newbies, Welcome and don't be put off. Tonight was an exception here.

Please folks....lets clean it up eh.

Ok enough of that.  :D

After everything settled down a bit I quite enjoyed one or two good battles trying to get some places back. Never got to qually or praccy pace though and best I could do was 1:17:2xx.

No problem Will, I've said enough above... ;)...great battle at the end with you, good driving and well done for holding me off.

Grats to Jeff and podiums

The rules actually are quite clear already.


As an addition to my post above....I would strongly suggest all new drivers read the rules and guidelines. The link is on the blue menu bar towards the top of the screen and is marked 'Rules'

It may be worth while some established drivers re-aquaint themselves with them too.. :P :laugh:

Regarding pit out messages, I don't like 'em. When you approach the exit of the pitlane, while you are on the track, and somebody says "pit out" you move your attention to that messages as you'll read it. So instead of looking on the road, you look away, removing the whole purpose of the messages: making the exits safer.
It's better to drive with nametags on.

Pit In messages could be usefull when you are closely followed by someone and the pit entry means slowing down on the racing line. But then say pit it half a lap before on a safe place.

But this will distract other drivers  :-\

Hrmm good to know, I've been having some internet problems crop up the past few weeks, and I'm pretty sure it's comming from my router.

First of  all, I enjoyed racing with you last night for the first time, and I am sure I will spend many seasons here.
I started quite well, gained couple positions, but was punted off the track into the wall before final hairpin, and was dead last. It didn't help my concentration, so I was not at my best till the end of the race. I enjoyed battle with Tony in the Cortina for many laps, great fun.
I am still not sure why I decided to take Mini, as I really never got used to it's gearing on tracks with slow corners. I tried Cortina after the race and it felt so much more natural to me.
See you next week.

Btw, I want to be in Racing for Serbia team. What do I need to do?

I'm fairly sure a certain Baracus is pretty good in the Mini (win at Cadwell?).  ;)


You need to get Mgoran to invite you to the team. I'm guessing his administrator as the only member in the team at the moment. Team management is conducted here (https://www.simracing.org.uk/lm2/index.php?action=teams).

So pit out is not compulsory, I thought it was. Apologies to SBG, I should have remembered that the pit-out message isn't required.

Hmm, sounds like there was some unwanted action last night, must admit I didn't see anything other than Phil (Gilliland) and Mark (McLean) coming together at the last corner that gifted me a semi-respectable finish but was really bad luck for them both after they'd had been racing well (and quicker than me).

I messed up my setup, changed the diff at the end of qually and only ran an out lap with it.  The change left me with too much understeer so my exits from the slow corners were dire.  Only the mini's speed through the esses at the start allowed me to stay ahead of some faster cars for a while.  Then I got squirrely under braking for the last corner and lost the back end.  Finishing 7th was pretty good result with my ever-decreasing pace in the race, and the battle from 3rd to 9th/10th was pretty intense and great fun for almost the entire race. 

Mightily impressive pace at the front from Ruskus and Mike Hammer - when you two didn't pull away much from Phil and I for the first few laps I thought it might be close, but no chance!

S Holmes: From where I was it looked like you had your headlights on for a while. Do these rules also count for GTL?  ???


I honestly don't know about the headlights, i have to have every setting on it's lowest for GTL to run, which makes headlights difficult to see.

You can use your headlights (flash) when lapping to indicate when you're going to pass.  In a race where the cars performance is so similar (such as last night) it's not a bad idea.

Similarly, you'll often get a flash as people go by as a "thanks" for cooperating.

I shouldn't have, I certainly didn't turn them on intentionally, and I didn't notice any cone of light in front.  I didn't even use them once as I approached backmarkers or anything like that.  I suppose its possible I hit the button by mistake (I did spin and things always get a bit hairy then!) - anyone else see my headlights?!!

Yes. The rules and guidelines relate in exactly the same measure for ALL SimRacing.org events, Gtr2, GTL, Race 07 etc etc.

Thanks, I thought they did I just wasn't sure since it kept mentioning GTR.

I'm not 100% sure, but I thought I saw the headlights, and I did get a slight drop in FPS when your car was visible.

Maybe your system was just in awe of the beauty of the Legends Mini, I know I got distracted by it for a good few laps too ;).

The lights will show up on the replay...if in doubt

Hold on a minute...Legends MINI? Sorry Holmes that wasn't you, it was a Cortina. I wonder who it was then?

If my lights *were* on then they need upgrading it was darn dark out there, took a while to adjust to the low light!  Pass the halogen bulbs please.   :D

Since when are you a Legend racer Steve?

He's been a Legend for a few weeks now but the avatar production team needed poking with a pointy stick several times before they came up with the goods ;)

If it was Legends Cortina it was prolly me.  I flashed someone on the infield to indicate that I wanted to pass (I was lapping them so I'm quite within my rights to do that), but again, the lights were definately off for the rest of the race.

I'd check the replay though if I were you.





::)

Due to there only being a couple of Legends still keen/able to race GTL we snagged Steve for that purpose, the avatar would have been done ages ago but Steve had to find a suitable pic of a driver with a proper "porn-tashe" ;D.

Yeah, few weeks, time now to get Keke on y'all   ;D  (Except he actually WON a few races... ;))

I've checked the replay, it was Syd Drake, he was racing with his lights on for a decent amount of the race.

Gotta admit, on the first lap I was surprised by how dark it was, and I had the light on in my room, bit hard to see, and I did consider running lights but the fact that it was a daytime race stopped me.  Perhaps Syd thought it was dark enough to use lights?

You've got a point. I hardly ever use lights because it slows my pc down so much.

track wasnt dark for me  ??? ...well, until my whole house got plunged into blackout darkness  ::)

 :lol:

Are you sure it wasn't your Mrs taking an axe to the fuse box to put a stop to your racing?

In that case you can recognise her by her haircut  O0

LOL Jeff :)

The race was set to start at 6am, so using lights at the beginning wouldn't have been a complete no no due to lower light conditions, although not necessary. I thought the sun rising through the hills was a nice effect to use at this circuit.

Watch out for race start times in the upcoming events. I am using a upward spread starting at 6am, so expect to start races rougly 2 hours later than the last one (time of day setting not actual server start time!!!!).

My replays have stopped working for some reason. Only record first 30 seconds. Is there a server replay for download?

Check https://replay.simracing.org.uk/

Well, new season, new players, new tracks. Good to be racing with UKGTL again.

Last time I raced a mini I was doing good in practice but come race time and full fuel tanks I was spinning off every so often, usually before apex, so I thought it best to take the Cortina.

Now, there was a time I positively hated the Cortina, thanks to that damn singleplayer cup challenge where you have to use it for maaaany races in a row, and some of them are very hard to beat on Pro. Fortunately, I found Mr Groznis (Is he still racing at all?) Cortina setup for Spa, and found the car to be pretty driveable. Did a few practice laps a couple hours before the race, but should have done a lot more. Not so much in the hopes of improved speed but for improved consistency.

Contrary to his kind words, I felt like Ruskus had the upper hand here. I did my best to hang on to him, and succeded for a while too. But once a couple of lappers slowed him down enough for me to be right on his tail, I, as I so often have done before, got too excited and we all know how that ends, with me spinning off the track. If only I had had my precious Alfa, I'm sure I could have saved it, but alas, the evil Cortina still bears a grudge for all the curses I've put on her over the years.

Was pretty steady at 6-7 second gap for the remainder of the race. I just couldn't stay consistent, and for every good lap there was a bad one.

Hats off to Ruskus, you were fast and cleaner through T1-2 then I, you definitely deserved the win.

Thanks too all who were there, looking forward to great racing in Season 4.

PS.
I see I was using hAMMER by mistake. Next time I'll be Mike Hammer again.

Thanks Alex.

Hi all

Well after last Thursdays race last night was a bit of a shock. It was like a stock car race at some points! Had a great start but was hit from behind on the first bend and put back to 19th. Later I was hit and had my car damaged by somebody coming back onto the track at full speed without looking. I had somebody I was trying to lap racing me and holding me up and I had somebody overtake me by hitting me up the back and pushing me wide!

Had fun though and got 15th. A point on the board for Team Gentleman Drivers!

i had fun with this, i wasnt on the pace at all though. i had a few good battles with minis and done a few good passes, but after all the hard work i make stupid mistakes by missing my braking point and heading for the kitty litter.  too many mistakes by me, but i had a clean race as far as contact, since i had never raced with most people here i didnt know what to expect.

i ll be racing next thursday defo, and try and get a bit more practice in before.

Are you the same Lee who races on wednesdays at nogrip?

Yes Lee - had some good moments with you in the cortina - i was in the red & white Mini with the chequered roof - excellent stuff m8  :-*

yeah madmac the same. :angel:

Please take the time to report all incidents so that all drivers involved can learn. The "Submit an incident report" link can be found underneath the race results table.

Hi buddy!?
Blunder would have been me!
Sorry if I was the cause!?
I downloaded the skin pack way too late but as I finished I saw the server was still showing qualify!
So I joined but just before it finished loading all the drivers it threw me out!
obviously as it had changed to the race.!

Sorry!
 :-[

I don't think you caused my drop. I just recall seeing that you got booted, and thought the game messed up the message and meant to say my name.

If you don't see anyone on the grid, press + and -. (Plus and minus, possibly only on the keypad.) This will jump you into someone elses car and then back, and you should now see everyone. -+ works too :-)

Alternatively, though the other option is better, while the countdown is still going you can esc, click on the names of other drivers so the monitor switches to them, and then rejoin the grid.

Fair enough  :P
But in my defence, I came in late as I was stuck with some work to do, and didn't have time to make that Mini setup more drivable, it was just lunging me off the track under braking in a really unpredictable way - Whoopsters setup is good everywhere else I tried it but not here!. FWD is so against my instincts anyway that I thought I would be better off learning in the race in a RWD car :)

No Excuses Bara, your dynasty ends here!!!!!!!

A question for the moderators: What are the rules regarding post-race behavior? Ruskus was doing donuts as soon as the race finished.

Finish Procedure

    * Each driver should continue racing until the simulation tells them they have finished.
      If you are not the leader, it is possible to cross the line after the clock has reached 0, and still have a lap to complete.
    * Drivers should not drive the wrong way round the circuit after they finish, or engage in other activity likely to lead to an in-game DQ.
      Drivers should endeavour to remain connected to the host until it cycles to the next event.
      This results in better quality data in the results exports.

Basically don't interfere with people still actually finishing and try not to quit straight away, but other than that, the race is over so anything goes.