SimRacing.org.uk

Division 1 - Round 2 - Spa

Round 2 of the Season 15 Div 1 championship is at Spa.  Remember it is PRO rules for Div 1 this season so please take care on lap 1, especially at L'Eau Rouge.  I know those Lotus and Eagle pit stop times are long but these chassis are so much faster than the Cooper at Spa.  With a good start from pole position an Eagle could make up a huge amount over a Cooper that started at the back of the grid before the end of the first lap!  Don't forget, incident reports should be entered on the SRou system following the link at the bottom of the results table when it appears.  Race details below.

Div 1 Season 15 Round 2 is this Sunday at 9:00 p.m. London UK time.
Please be in VROC UKGPL chatroom passworded Savage by 8:55 p.m.
VROC and Race passwords: see above

Server 1.ukgpl
IP address  194.105.176.22

Race date = 20-04-2008
Track = Spa 1967  (Papyrus Original)
Variant = 67F1
Damage Model = PRO
Qually time = 30 minutes.
Race length = 50 minutes (15 laps)

Password: see above (#post_event_password)
Driver lists can be found on the championship standings page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=73&theme=6)

Pit Stop Times

	Single Stop Time		Double Stop Time
Cooper	No Stop		N/A
BRM	2		N/A
Honda	18		N/A
Brabham	25		N/A
Ferrari	37		14
Lotus	59		25
Eagle	65		27

 First Pit Window is: 12 (to go) to 7 (to go)
 Second Pit Window is: 10 (to go) to 3 (to go)

I won't be able to make this ( :'( -  I like Spa, even though I'll get quite a serious thrashing in the Cooper....I could probably squeeze a 3:21 out of it...). Good luck to the Men of Cooper!

news page.

 (http://img15.imagevenue.com/loc1141/th_27490_news_122_1141lo.JPG) (http://img15.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=27490_news_122_1141lo.JPG)

 :o  lmao Syd!!   Anything that big and heavy just has to be built by Honda!! :laugh: :thumbup2:

why cant i write incident reports?, theres no link to it

It will show up once the mod uploads results, which I assume will be done today, as soon as the server replay is available.

You have to wait for the provisional results, otherwise it doesn't know who was in the race. ;)

Well my first D1 race is now under my belt and boy am I'm glad it's over. Started dead last and thought my day had ended at L'Eau Rouge but despite hitting Burt (NF), I was able to carry on. With the field miles ahead, I just aimed to keep the revs low and drive as smoothly as possible. Well that lasted about 3 laps where I had the save of all saves in Burnenville. Pulled off a classic 4 wheel drift and didn't hit anything. Pure luck it was. Then on lap 7, I just nipped the dirt out of Masta and spun pretty hard into the wire fence but miraculously was able to continue.  From then on, I just tried to get into the 21s, which I failed to do.  :'(

Tks for the fun.

Grats to the Podium.

Will


(http://i26.tinypic.com/1055vmt.jpg)



I Crashed 'N Burned but somehow managed to bring her home in 1 piece.

It was the usual suspects at the sharp end of the grid but there was a pretty tight cluster of Coopers just behind with me in amongst them after slightly improving my best time for this car.  I’d achieved a small personal milestone in preparation for this event by eventually getting the Coop negative at Spa after years of trying, albeit not that hard I have to say!

Anyway I got away well and followed Kruger closely through Eau Rouge. Brendan had been delayed by a squirmy Lorenzo and as we all fell in line on the run up to Les Combes I slotted in between them both. Over the first few laps I had a front row view of Lorenzo and Kruger having a right set to ahead of me. I was worried I might get involved with any incident they might have so hung back a little but Brendan was lurking with intent and so it was a bit of a dilemma. Eventually Lorenzo did make a pass and also Brendan went missing so it all got a bit more relaxed.

It was then a case of tracking Kruger and weighing up whether there was any chance of making a move on him. The gap between us ebbed and flowed. I had trouble with my front left mid race, it seemed to be over inflated and kept getting hot in the middle through Burneville, which then made negotiating Malmedy quite difficult. A combination of fuel load lightening and not pushing so hard through Burnenville seemed to cure this and as we started the last lap I was within striking distance. I got a nice run out of Masta but Kruger sensibly took the inside line approaching Stavelot. I got a slingshot but we were side by side going in. I was mindful of possible lag contact but it is so easy to slide wide there I didn’t want to stay too far to the left. The inevitable happened though and I was shunted in to the boards. Unbelievably the car was still driveable although I found when I got to La Carrier it didn’t like going round right handers!!

Syd was closing but thankfully I had enough in hand to limp home still fourth.

Grats to the podium, the race for me is always for third these days!!

A new PB (3.19.4) in qually was only enough for 4th on the grid a few tenths behind Kruger and Lorenzo.  Again I made a poor start and lost out to Ken into Eau Rouge.  This put me 5th with Art close behind.

I managed to keep with the clan of Coopers albeit with a few near misses on the grass and after 5 or so laps the gap between 3rd and 6th was only around 2 seconds.  That was until my camshaft made a brave bid for freedom and I was out.

So, an exhilarating race while it lasted and a big disappointment to bow out when I did.  But them's pro rules, eh?

Grats to the podium.

Canny complain about  my performance,  it was good enough for any circus clown .
I made a safe getaway off the grid,  mindful of dodging any l'eau rouge Lap 1 carnage only to see one optimistic individual (dunno who) shoot past me at warp speed right into the middle of the pack. 
I managed to avoid the mayhem and then settled down into the cockpit for a long 15 laps race .

I had decided to take things easy at first , and let the race settle down until my pit stop when my fuel load would be light and tyre temps at there optimum and then hopefully try to gain a few places .

Unfortunately all plans came to nought as my fuel gauge was soon showing empty and I was running on vapour only (the stupid mechanics had forgot to fill the tank up for 15 laps "again") so I found myself coasting into retirement on lap 7 or 8

In the true tradition of dear old jack brabham (he lost 2 grand Prix for the same reason ) spirit of things I slunk away to the transporter before kicking everything in sight ,although with hindsight  I doubt wether I would have gotton any higher than the top 6 even if i had carried to the finish , so nothing to complain about really .

I think these D1 races are going to be a big challenge to my personal stamina , not sure if I can do these "pro" distances without a coffee break at some point during the race .

autopilot anyone ?

The race was very exciting and finaly I made it to the end.

I managed to string together four good sectors to get me a 19.2 PB lap. Start wasn't too hecting from my angle and I made it through lap one without too much hussle. Had a fantastic battle with lorenzo for three laps changing position back and forth then, once he got his groove, he started pulling away leaving me at the mercy of Ken. I, much like Ken, hate being chase and would rather be the chaser but I had to play the rabbit role. Nothing I pulled allowed me to increase the gap. I was getting a goot exit from Malmedy, as I've now learnt due to his front left tire issue, so it was a status quo for entire race. No time to relax at all.

Last lap and Ken gets Malmedy spot on and backs that up with great Masta and soon, sucking up from behind, getting a slingshot for the outside of Stavelot. We go in side by side and we both go a bit too much towards the middle, a tire width between us perhaps. There was an unfortunate warp contact which shot Ken towards the barrier whilst I felt nothing at all. I'm sorry Ken that it happened and I'm thankful that you were able to resume and finish the race. I've looked at both, client and server replay and both show the same. Its a shame as it was poised to be a cracking battle to the finish line.

Grats to Hristo and Lorenzo.

Hi Phil,

Just wondering if I should receive any points for the C'n'B team here?

We need all we can get to catch them flying Coopermen.

Thanks,

Will

{edit} Never mind Phil...I see that the pts have been added. Thanks.

Cheers.

Sorry I had to miss this one.... I do love Spa! :)

Well done Will and Art excellent result for D1 :)

See you all soon for clubmans!

Bully.

Im bit disgusted of how bad div1 drivers are lately all this turn 1 mayhem, taking the biscuit, although i didnt submit a incident, whats the point when i was out of the race even before getting around the 1st corner :/

To be honest if all races are gonna be like this, perhaps they should see how the clubmans do it :/

Sorry you didn't get a chance to reset for an incident that wasn't your fault, it's one of the down sides of PRO rules Burt.  Wait for the moderator's report to find out if anyone is to blame, you might find there are mitigating factors.

You have a point with the Clubman's, there has been some exemplary driving in the lower division this so far this season :angel:

Rob, I haven't looked at the Spa replay to make any comment and I sympathise with your dissapointment, but we've only had two races and the minor T1 incident at Kyalami only involved me afaik. So I think it's a bit rash to say Div 1 has become a crash fest.

Not taking anything away from Clubmans who are doing an excellent job, it is unfair to statistically compare the incident rate with D1 due to different levels of speed and aggression. 

D1 races (and starts) much closer to the limit and at that level, an odd incident here and there is no surprise. However, I can't really see the point of your remark against D1 drivers who all went through start and the race without incidents.

If I'm not wrong, your particular incident did not involve any D1 driver, did it now? ;)

no it didnt, sorry perhaps i was bit too annoyed at the time, and made my point in a quick burst of anger. Just 1st in 4 races was getting to me i suppose  :P

Moderator's report is published.  Now it's official I can clear up the debate about the lap 1 turn 1 incident, it was caused by warp rather than rash driving by anyone in particular.

However it did prompt me to look a bit closer at some of the other occasions when warp may or may not have been a factor:

This is Kruger (defending inside) and Ken (attacking outside) just before warp contact.  Ken failed to get past on the outside.
(http://img40.imagevenue.com/loc891/th_86487_kruger_ken_122_891lo.JPG) (http://img40.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc891&image=86487_kruger_ken_122_891lo.JPG)

This is Kruger (attacking inside) and Lorenzo (defending outside) at the same place.  They got round side-by-side with no contact.  Kruger made a successful pass on the inside.
(http://img25.imagevenue.com/loc955/th_60149_kruger_lorenzo_122_955lo.JPG) (http://img25.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc955&image=60149_kruger_lorenzo_122_955lo.JPG)

As a comparison, this is Burt (attacking inside) and Phil (defending outside) in the Clubman's at the same spot.  They got round the whole bend side by side with no mishaps.  Burt tried to pass on the inside and only failed due to the extra power of the Ferrari on the exit. 
(http://img101.imagevenue.com/loc23/th_86492_phil_burt_122_23lo.JPG) (http://img101.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc23&image=86492_phil_burt_122_23lo.JPG)

Interesting to note Lorenzo, Kruger and Ken are drifting better and are generally closer together.  With closer more competitive racing warp contact is more likely.  It is worth emphasizing that it is the responsibility of the attacking driver to make a clean pass but the defending driver should know when they are beaten and yield the corner, especially when they are on the outside and at risk of warp (as Lorenzo did).

Oh well that prompts me to think about racing in div1 now, im wasnt so lucky, my race has to end due to a warp contact which they get 0 penalties for. Time to think my approach to racing in div1 and if its really worth it.

On could note nice to see image of me and Phil together!

Burt, if you quit before the season is over, you'll never know if it was worth it ;)

I don't know a person in UKGPL who never had a bad race or bad start but I've never seen someone quite because of that - yuou wouldn't want to make that kind of statistic, would you Burt :D

...but that can (and does) happen to ALL of us (Aliens included) with PRO rules. It comes with the territory old chap...please don't be disheartened - the Men of Cooper need you!

I am a lot closer to Kruger compared to the other examples it has to be said. It just reinforces the fact that when you are on the outside you are very susceptable and so you need to drive accordingly. In hindsight I should have left more space but in the heat of the battle we are making these decisions in split seconds and so it's easy to wise after.