SimRacing.org.uk

Practice 1:	20:00	(10 mins)
Qual 2:	20:10	(25 mins)
Race:	20:35	(80 mins)	note: no warmup!

Cars allowed: any GT3 from the UKGTR Skin Pack v2.8.5.0 (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3356.msg54519#msg54519)
Weather: changeable, based on real-world conditions at the start of the event.
Track: Suzuka v2.9.0.2 - download from here (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3356.msg54521#post_suzuka).
Race Start Time: 14:00
Pit Stops: You must make a minimum of one pit stops during which you must take on at least 1 litre of fuel and/or change at least two tyres. You cannot take a mandatory stop at the end of the pace lap, or with less than 1 lap to go.

Server: UKGTR Lower Endurance
Password: see above (#post_event_password)

Notes:
(1) Please make sure you are fully aware of the UKGTR Rules (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3349.0) - especially the speed limiter starting procedure and the rules about in-game chat messages.
(2) Championship standings can be found on the series page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=183&theme=3).
(3) You will not be able to join the server without the skin and ballast pack and track (see links above).
(4) Drivers may only change car once in the season without penalty.
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(6) Please use the Driver Details (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=profile;sa=driver_info) page to ensure that the league management software has your correct GTR2 'Driving Name' (not necessarily the same as your lobby name).

Two pit stops in an 80 mins race! I better start work on my pit strategy now!!! :laugh:

D'oh! Now fixed. :laugh:

Really struggling for front end grip. Massive understeer especially at the 2nd half of the track. The track seems really narrow after the last few tracks. Should be an interesting race.

Oh and praying from rain as per usual :)

There's something strange with me and this circuit, I'm always 2-3 seconds slower than I should be compared to the same guys I race with in other tracks. Let's see what I can do this time in the Gillet, it should do ok specially in the snake :)

GT3...uhm, let me see...ah yes...VIPERRRRRRRRRRRRRR ;D

I expect this will be a struggle in the Zed thanks to all the long corners.

Still, just 6 weeks until my next car (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/370Z/) is revealed at the Tokyo Motorshow (http://www.tokyo-motorshow.com/eng/). ;)

I think my Lotus will be good at Suzuka. Unfortunatly, I don't think he driver will use it to its potential :)

Any Alien like times in the Viper yet Jeff?

I've managed 2:05's in the Gillet on race trim, I hope I can try challenge Jeff

High 2:03's low 2:04's, but that's without ever being able to use 6th gear ;D. Bit worried about tyrewear, whuch is more than 2 a lap on softs ;D

Not too bad then...I can do 1:59's.........better go and get the OTHER Viper now though  :(

Oh do put your willy's away, children  :-*

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I have sacked my pitcrew after their 'efforts' in China so will be sitting this one out.

I'm having a hard time with the beamer here. I can only manage high 2:08's on a good lap. I hope its just not me being crap!  ;D

Reign Man

I am around that in the Lotus. I can go faster but my rear tyre temps go shooting up into the red at up to about 135 degrees. Tyres are going to be a major factor here.

lOOSE IT IN THOSE SWEEPING CURVES :o and your in a world of hurt........very techinical track 8)

Suzuka is perhaps my all time favorite track, if it's possible to pick such a thing. No practice and a serious hangover rule me out though.  :'(

Such a shame, would have loved to do this track, especially in the slower cars. But in my current state I'd only hit someone or spin out.
(I'm no alky btw, I only do this once a year anymore)

Not Very happy  >:(....all that time practicing wasted and a nights enjoyment ruined.

Managed a pb in quali, but wasn't looking forward to race as the 911 murders its tyres.....and true enough the last 5 laps it was virtually undriveable, after trying to get back on terms with Dan and Dave they were cooked and the 911's habit of throwing the back end out meant I spun...a lot.

A real shame tbh as for a long time it was great to drive, but as this track had...corners and lots of them with minimal downforce it was destroyed in the new Verti... I mean GT3 class  :( , it may be time to retire the 'ol girl.  :'(

Was content with my 4th place in qually, behind some low powered cars.

That gave me hope for the start. Timed my limiter perfectly and could attack Joss at T1 and keep ahead. That was the worst time for him to be behind a Viper, 105L and cold tyres :P.
I had to keep him behind me for the whole 1st stint, and we pitted in the same lap. But the Viper lost a lot of time there.
Had some good battles in my 2nd stint and some nice moves. Also a 3rd fastest racepace, even faster than the winner  :o
I think I had the record of most time worn messages....8 ;D.

Busi had a very quick stop, so I finished where I started ;D.

I see some problems with the current ballasting.

IIRC the power of the Viper has been dumped down. Good for the balance, but with the fixed gearing, the car is dead. The straight at Suzuka is very long, but still I was never close to using 6th gear. The car lacks the power, or has too much drag. So maybe for the next pack give it a changeable gearbox, as giving a car only 5 usefull gears is a huge penalty.

Increasing the fueltank is good for the pits, however, there is a 35L difference between a Vertigo/350Z and Viper. That's almost 30kg difference, so they always start very light, whereas the Viper is heavier than normal.

Grats FreQ, guess I didn't slow you down enough.
And good to see Jon racing again :).

Really enjoyed that race. First time at Suzuka and it's a great track compliments to the creators. I had a good race overall but overdrove too much, need to get back into a more relaxed style of racing. Spun off or went into the sand about 5 times for trying to hard or not concentrating enough(forgot how much of that you need to do). The car handled great throughout the race and the pitstop went well so I'm very pleased to finish 3rd. Grats to Freq and unlucky to busi. Sorry to Reign Man who I made contact with while racing for postion, was just glad you didn't spin :)
Cya next time

well if fiddling with the Viper is ok, how about giving the Cup an adjustable front splitter and diff? its almost redundant in this class now.

Enjoyable racing tonight at the back of the field  :D

I struggled to get my rhythm at the beginning and quickly fell down the field. Then managed to find some consistency and kept up an enjoyable (if rather wayward at times) chase with DG. I eventually went for a pass with some late braking at the hairpin, but made side by side contact and pushed him out wide, so gave the place back.

He promptly pitted and then after my own pit stop a few laps later there followed some further enjoyable chases at the back with Michael and a great tussle with Mark. Great stuff  ;D

See you for the next one...

Dead last on the grid was about what I expected at one of the Zed's worst tracks. Race started okay and I eeked past the odd Vertigo but knew it was going to be hard on tyres, especially towards the end of the stint.

One of the Vertigo's ran into the back of me at the hairpin near half distance; he let me through again but the time was right for an early stop so very late in the lap I made a snap decision to do an unscheduled stop and repair any damage rather than risk struggling on for a few more laps; my crew deserve a medal for getting me back out after just 41.8 seconds.

On fresh rubber I was able to put some good laps in and made up positions on people who were pitting later. Eventually I caught Dan up and got past, but the tyres were going away again and after holding him up for a few laps I tweaked the  brake balance back one notch hoping to reduce the understeer in the sweepers - but bizarrely it had the opposite effect (in fact I tried less rear wing and more open diff settings in quually and they also increased understeer ???) and I ran wide and off letting him straight past.

With two to go I realised I'd be tight on fuel, and got flashed by in the braking zone for the chicane by JPS - needed a tad more warning really, and ran across the chicane getting my only cut warning of the race. That actually closed me up behind Dan but I had no tyres left with wear over 20 and stood no chance of getting close enough to power past him on the last lap.

Quite satisfied with 12th from dead last on the grid but hopefully Imola will suit the car a bit better.

Got pole for less than a tenth I think, my PB and a perfect lap for me. Start was Ok, but Jon was so fast and I couldn't keep him behind after 3 laps. Then behind him I went wide in T1 and lost a lot. Pitted early for a good balance at the end of the race (only change fronts) and leapfrogged everybody.

From then on I tried to save tyres a bit until I saw FreQ 3 seconds behind me! I started to pushed hard, then it happened. I've checked the replay and I don't know if it was the wheel (most possible), a bit too much speed or a bit late turn in (also possible, not sure), but I ran very very wide in 130R and FreQ just passed me. I was furious lol but it is impossible to pass him! When I came close to him at the snake it was too late. Only in the last lap I was close enough, but he is amazing covering the lines and I couldn't make it. Sorry for the two taps (I think) lol but looks like you're getting used to them, maybe because you like them? :P

Anyway I had done some mistakes so I think a 2nd place is good for me, didn't really deserve victory ::)

ps. Save all your car tweak suggestions for next season - that's assuming we're still using these cars and not the FIA GT 2006 ones of course!

Replay and provisional results posted

LapChart (http://www.granum.plus.com/20080914%20U8LE/index.html)

WOW ;D

Qualified well and managed to keep my position for the whole of the first stint. Even gaining a position or two due to mistakes :)
Took a few people in the pits but got munched by some Sharks in the second stint ;D

Lots of fun, some great battles. Ruskus and John both putting very nice overtakes on me and Gazza was threatening for most of the race. Also had a very nice battle with RM. He defended his position extremely well and I could only overtake when he made a slight mistake.

Went round 130R side by side with Ruskus but lost allot of time and John came from nowhere and took my place instantly.

Another superb GT3 race :)

I have to say tho, that this seems to be the closest class of them all at the moment :).


Thank God I had the power of the Viper to save me there ;D. Was great heading towards the last chicane with a 3 car triangle :P.

Matter of Interest Jeff. What wing did you run?

I was on a 3 rear btw.

I was on 6 for qually, but 5 on race. I didn't practice, so I just kept the wing at what I loaded in the setup ;D. Car wasn't oversteery, so I should have lowered the wing really :).

Really enjoyed the race despite not having a very good one. Had a problem early on with a car that kept warping everywhere making it near on impossible to pass. Plus I kept missing my braking zone into turn and had a couple of trips to the gravel trap. No harm done and then near the end of the race had some great battles with Ted and stnasky.

Superb track and really enjoyable.

I expected a better result, even before seeing I had the second best race laptime. I felt fast, but I guess it was on the expence of an unstable setup. I made a few mistakes, most of them were mine. But not all.  :(  After one of the latter ones I fell on 18th place and had a hard time clawing back up. 6th should be good enough after this eventfull  :(  race but I had podium pace (when I wasn't in the sand) and it feels incomplete and not enough.  :-\ 

TT

Things have settled a bit since arrival of baby so I thought it was about time I had a race.

First time at Suzuka so quickly threw together a setup and had a quick practice.

Had a pretty unspectacular race but I did enjoy the track. I wasn't very competitive, which wasn't helped by far too much wing (7) - the other drivers were passing me with gay abandon on the straights!!

My broken sleep patterns finally caught up with me with 20mins to go and I couldn't keep my eyes open. So I blew my engine up and went to bed :)

 ;D ;D

Qually went OK (I was watching the MotoGP!) but was gutted to miss out on RM's 3rd place by half a tenth...I knew what was coming.... :-X

Yup. Jeff's Viper. Straight past at the start despite me taking a tight line. Man I needed 0.05 more on my qually lap to be safe! Sat behind his fat arse AGAIN for half the race, once making a big horliks of a sort of overtake at the final chicane. Got a great run through the 130r and thought this would be the only time I'd be going faster than him on a straight all race, so he defended and I tried to go round the outside......oops. Skidded, lost control and was very lucky to lose it where the track goes straight, so I could rejoin, let Jeff past and carried on with only a cut warning. I lost a few seconds though so no Hamilton penalties please!  :angel:

For most of the early laps I was saving the engine and tyres, thinking the Viper would chew it's rubber up and knowing that pushing I would kill the engine slowly, so saved it for later on. Both pitted on the same frickin lap (he wasn't even on TS....what the hell!) but thank poop I needed less booze than the Viper. God help me if I'd have come out behind you, you SLAG!

RM made a mistake when in front of me and then I was surprised to pass Jon in the pits....what happened?! I thought you were miles in front! Was running 2nd and was waiting for them to pit, only to be told that it's Busi leading. Whaaat?! He went off!! Nooooo!!

So started to push and took a little time out, but when Busi pushed back it looked to be too tough, with laptimes very similar, give or take a couple of tenths. Then he went off at 130r for weird reasons (my G25 did the same thing at Silverstone GT Enduro - only had half lock until I unplugged my wheel..then lost FFB!). I went into the chicane too hot desperate to lead on the way in, and only just held the line. Then I thought I had a big enough gap to just hold on, until Madd went off on the penultimate lap at Spoon and rejoined right in front of me - soooo nearly clipped him and lost a few tenths, and Busi was right with me. With the precious second gap gone, I defended through the first sector at a couple of corners and just plain held him up with my fat 350z for the others. Took the inside line through the hairpin where Busi planned to attack and couldn't quite back out of it.

Very lucky win though. On pace I was 3rd, so very happy with the win, especially after Jeff tried so hard to **** my race up  :angel: :laugh:

Cheers peeps