SimRacing.org.uk

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Car: Riley MKXX Daytona Prototype or Ford Mustang FR500S
Track: Spa-Francorchamps Endurance
Practice: 18:15 (80 mins)
Qualifying: 19:35 (25 mins)
Race: 20:00 - 22:00 (120 mins)

Start: Standard iRacing double file rolling start

Password: >>>> see above <<<< (#post_event_password)

The mid-season 120 minute race is upon us once again!  After a really anticlimatic race for me here at the end of last season I'm really looking forward to a good fight here.  I'm aware that the Grand Am Premier race is happening on the 22nd as well though ... but seriously ... would you rather race round Spa for 120 mins or Lime Rock Park for 90 mins?  It's a no brainer for me I'm afraid!

Race three was competeting with the Grand Am Premier race at VIR Full, there was a tonne of motorsport on the TV, and apparently some nancy boys kicking an inflated pigs bladder round a field was a much watch event for some too.  Miami Homestead is a roval, so less often used, and likely less widely owned .... it all conspired again a packed field, but you guys missed the chance of a really good race.


David Ward has taken a commanding lead in the DP standings, whilst Legends Racing extends it's lead in the team title.  In the Mustang field, Shark being absent allowed Jasper Groeneweg to take the lead with another solid race, but the Sharks still lead the team champ, but the Legends and Prodigy Racing have both narrowed the gap.

The second half of the season sees visits to Brands Hatch, Infineon Raceway with the flatout Watkins Glen and Silverstone to round the season off - there should be some cracking racing on offer, and a fitting close to the DP/Mustang chapter, before we kick off season seven in the LMP2 and GT2 (all being well!).




I hope to see a packed field here this race - see you all there.

What do you mean "or"? :P

I did both yesterday too...

Clearly, if you don't have kids both is an option - but even you might struggle to do them both at the same time!! :D

We've got a few new signups for the champ - if we can get a good turnout to the Saturday practice server it would be good to give them a welcome.  It's set to run for 4 hours, 1800-2200 UK time (GMT+1).

I'll try and make this one.  Lost my interest just lately, this could be the kickstart I need.

Its Spa Brendan, how could you miss it?

Regards
Gary

look forward to seeing you all there wow 120 Min's sounds really good :)

Cool - glad you should be able to make it.

All being well we'll have a bumper grid, Spa does seem to bring people in :).

Looking forward to this one as always - apologies I've missed a couple Adam, been on me hols but raring to go again now!

I have no idea how I got things mixed up? I completly missed last weekends race, I was sure it was this weekend. So while checking the status just now, I learned that I was one week late. Sorry about that  :-[
I will attend the coming weekends race on Spa though.. in the Mustang.

Don't worry ... so did everyone else :(

The Stang's a lot of fun at Spa, easy to pick up a load of 1x though.

Guys. I just started iRaping a couple weeks ago. I figured it was time I gave them my money.

I hold a class D license with an SR of 3.38. Is it possible for me to join driving the Mustang or do I need to attain a minimum license?

You can join our events just by having the content, no license restrictions here :)

Great! Forgive me for possibly asking a stupid question, but I saw the word "sign-up" somewhere in this thread. Where and how do I sign-up if needed?

I have another question regarding pit stops. I've never done one in IR. Is there a way to practice a pit stop? How to request/deny tire change and fuel amount?

Good stuff Mike.

Sign up thread is here:  https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=9149.0

Regarding the pit stops - you can pre-select what you want to take on at the stop.  If you cycle through the black boxes there's one for fuel, and another for tyres. By default tyres are changed, but you might need to check the amount of fuel they'll put in - it's easy to change on the fly though.

As far as practcing - just drive into the pits, stay under the speed limit and stop in your slot ... and that's that.

By 'Black Boxes' he means using the function keys  - F4 is fuel by default.

mmmm tough in the DP  got my work cut out for me to be ready for Sunday :-\ talk about a twitchy little bugger :o

what you guys turning?  I know I'm slow with 2:17's  I'm assuming going of a practice session I tried for the official races I would need 5 or 6 seconds killing of that time to be mid pack maybe ??? :-\

trying Dave's set-up from shark site  but would be interested to see what others are using if your willing to share ::) ???

TiA Ian

Race trim i'm running high / mid 13's and low fuel i'm in the mid 12's

I'll upload my setup here when i get home, I'm not very good at spa i find it hard to keep a good pace going.

How was it - sorry been a while - will there be a practise server tonight, or was that last week?

not sure if there will be a practice server sorted as the Grand Am Sports Car Series MC is running the track this week so plenty practice sessions already up ;) ;) ;)

I've got a wedding party to attend Sunday afternoon so i'm not sure i'll make it to the race in time. I'll try though.

Sorry guys, there is now a very slim chance of me making this.

As I feared Sundays just don't work well for me.

Regards
Gary

Gutted!!!!! :'(

If you knew how fast Gary is around here you wouldn't be saying that...  :angel:

Having said that, Gary will be missed on the track.  It's always sad when a fellow racer misses a race especially when we are already struggling for numbers. :(

I've so far done zero practise for this and I'm busy this afternoon.  I'll do my best to make the race and hope my existing setup is good enough to keep you busy for 2 hours David.  :)

Having had a day out I wasn't back in time for last nights practice session - I was expecting a few more DP's to have shown up though...  With the Mustang race at Spa this week I didn't think we'd see too many Mustangs, but last night was a waste of money - at this rate the practice sessions will be shelved, there's no point having them with the sort of numbers we've seen for the last couple of weeks.

Tonights race is make or break for the season in my oppinion, if 120mins at Spa can't get a decent grid, then we might as well forget the second half of the season.

Ah Adam you're going to love me then! Currently running a race against my progress bars as I reload Win 7 after some PC woes.

Going to be touch and go but if I can get sorted in time I'll be there for sure.

I'm out too I'm afraid guys.  :(

Really hope you get a decent grid.

I have to be honest, I really struggle to find my motivation atm. Been jumping around different cars to try and find something, but nothing really catches me, because there are no series to race in as such. I do enjoy the different cars, but with the prospect of empty grids - cause its not like the iRacing series feature large grids either - my motivation disappears fast.

I dont think I can find it in me, to race 2 hours against probably like 7 Mustangs. Im really sorry.
A 90 min race is very hard on me already, so I really need motivation to do those races, and 2 hours+ is insanely hard on me. I have a muscular disease which causes me to fatigue fast.

I too want to see large grids, and have what we had throughout most of last season, but I just dont have it in me any more, to spent 90-120 min (+ practise and qual) as a grid filler. I could barely get myself to do a 15 min race against 7-8 opponents, I think. I used to be that kinda guy, always on the grid no matter the field size, but nowadays Im just looking for some sanctuary where I can enjoy my hobby, served on a silver platter basicly. That is the honest truth.

I have another noob question for anyone willing to listen. How to join the server when it is available? Will it be listed in the Dashboard?

If you go HOSTED -> 'Join a Race' you'll be presented with a list of hosted sessions.  After 18:15 a SROUK Enduro event will be listed...  Click on it and enter the password listed above to join...

Got it. Thanks Darren.

Not as gutted as I am David. I've put the practice in for this and was running in low to mid 12's on full tanks but an over running family event has left me with too many things to get done. :'(

Darren thanks for the kind words.

Adam, sorry

Regards
Gary

Unbelievable.  :censored: :cursing:

Another carp turnout .... fun race though.

Without Picnic being in the race I'd have seen no-one, and raced no-one, as it was it was a great race.  We were running nose to tail for a good few laps until I got a great run on him out of Eau Rouge and did the biz at the next corner.  After that the lapping DP's allowed me to stretch a bit of a lead, and I was a few seconds ahead until my stop.

After that I was just trying to stay consistent and when Picnic came out of the pits I had a healthy lead.  The Shark pit crew must have put some "special juice" in the tank, as Pete proceded to reel me in bit by bit, and with a few laps to go it was clear it was going to go to the wire.

With 2 to go, I got the call that I had about 2 laps of fuel left ... it wasn't looking good.  Worn tyres, defending like a madman ... it all took its toll, and I finally ran out of fuel just before the bus-stop, and that was that.  I managed to get round to the finish, for 4th place - courtesy of the low turnout and discos.

Great race Pete - that was ace :)

Cheers to all that participated ... lets try and drag everyone back for the next one eh!

thanks guys for a good evenings running  surprised myself by finishing this one

 :-\ my apologies for the double figures incidents  :-\ :-\ was struggling the whole race {sore arm long story hence surprised I even finished}

anyway again thanks for a clean race don't think I touched anybody during the race .oh apologies to the mustang driver on the last lap i expected you to go to left coming to the last chicane took me by surprise when ya didn't so took to the grass so as not to touch ya ...then had no brakes on the grass  ::) ::)


Ian

Double figures incidents are very easy to rack up - I don't think you've anything to worry about.

was having a great night racing with you all :) thank you.
really upset i was just about to make my first pit stop when failed unacceptable level came up.
i guess i am still really up set look very much forward to racing with you all again.
i hope my driving is up to standard.
thanks Ade

Meh, that was pretty frustrating. I was constantly fighting the Mustang and not really having fun driving it. Managed to keep up with the top 3 which was nice for a while until I spun it coming out of the bus stop. That got me so angry I quit the session :cursing: The low turnout I have to say is really killing my motivation to keep running the series, but I'm still frustrated so maybe that viewpoint will change...

Ah that's where you went I was wondering where you would be after the pit-stop wasn't expecting to get by ya but was hoping to be a bit close with a chance to try and beat ya by the end of the race but ya was gone  :(

nothing wrong with your driving standards as far as I could tell Adrian  ;) i was enjoying the race with ya in that first half  ;) ;)

Ian

That was a real shame - though you did the job I wanted you to and held up Darren a tiny bit after his stop. :laugh:

Really didn't expect pole - must be something in the water at Spa, I always seem to be able to drag that one magic lap out of the car here where others struggle to do a legal lap.

For once I didn't muck the start up and hand the lead over, but I knew Darren had more basic speed and it wasn't a surprise when he found a way by. It was more of a surprise that I could just about stay with him, but I didn't know how hard he was actually pushing, and it became apparent after a quarter distance that I was a tiny bit short on fuel and would have to take two clicks more at the stop than I had planned for.

As usual I had a great stop (we pay our crews an extra herring each for every second gained on a Legends car ;) Pete's crew will go hungry tonight!) and gained 5 of the 7 seconds gap back, but with hindsight I needed to stop two laps earlier and try one of David Coulthard's "undercuts" to get track position on him. After that it was just a matter of keeping focused and maintaining the gap to Mike behind - I was having to drive at full military power to stay ahead, but luckily not having to use the qualifying afterburners.

Well done to Mike for fighting back past David Ward after his late splash and dash to make it two Sharks on the podium in DP. 8)

Like the ORO race last night the turnout was low but thanks to being in close proximity to closely matched cars for most of the race it was worth every penny - so much more fun than the Grand Am Premiere race I did this morning where my Mustang finished ahead of all the DPs but two laps down from the three leading cars.

Very disappointed in myself, in 30mins i couldn't get a clean lap in qualifying kept getting 1x when ever i went for a flying lap so i had to start from the back.

The race was a completely joke, smashed it into a wall to avoid a Mustang that moved across in front of me, crawled back to the pits and got a "magic repair" so fuelled it up and went back out to see if i could gain any places, managed to battle my way back to 3rd but i had over worked the tyres and they was completely shot then spun out and Mike got ahead.

I hate Spa.

Well done to all the podiums very well deserved

My first iRacing event for over a month, and it went well.  Which was nice.  ;D

My setup was OK, but did become a little unstable once the tyres wore down.  At least it was getting round the track and had grip for a change.  Qualifying 3rd was a surprise, and I found I could hold onto Dave and Darren in the opening laps.  They began to ease away though and I focussed more on the gap back to Oily.

All of a sudden, I found myself with a large gap behind and a much smaller one in front and it was all looking pretty good.  I was going to run the full tank through and see how far I would get, figured it should be a 1 stop race.  But it was not going to be so easy!  On lap 21 my engine broke and I dragged it into the pits smoking heavilly.  I was half expecting the crew to tell me it was terminal, but no, they repaired it!

All was looking good after that until I got close to the end and realised I would be slightly short of fuel to make the end, even trying to save it I would still run dry, so into the pits for a splash of fuel. No Herring for my pit crew tonight as despite me telling them not to change the tyres, they did it anyway.  As a result I charged out of the pits right ahead of David , who promptly passed me on the straight.  ::)

No way was I going to give that up without a fight and set about trying to get the place back, smashing my previous fastest lap in the process.  David spun in the last chicane and that was that.

It's good to be back racing :)

Spa is my favorite track and I have been driving it all week :)

Did a 1 lap quali with low fuel and was surprised to see a 2.44 lap.
Race start was ok.  But Mike had a nice timed start and got the lead into Eau Rouge. Good close battle and nice driving. Managed to get a run on him and make a pass. First lappings from DP's went well until a Dp wanted to fight for the apex out onto the long backstraight up to the chicane. By share luck I managed to throw my car off line and out of the track. This made Mike go by again :)
After catching him up, we had another good battle for position and I saw Simon catching us lap after lap. After a cut penalty for Mike at Eau Rouge I got by him, and I saw Simon 1-2 sec behind us. I was pushing hard after I saw Simon had picked up his pace, but was surprised to not see him behind when I came around for another lap. With the whole week driving on this track, I had no problems staying consistent and safe for the rest of the race and bring it home after 2 hours of sweating.

Raimo



Well I guess I have to thank you for not making a joke out of my race also then. I thought you knew this corner is an entry onto a very long straight and we Mustangs have to commit to the corner long before you are even there.

Great race Adam, I tried hard to keep you behind at the start as I fully expected you to be much quicker. After you got passed I held on for a couple of laps before getting a slow down, Then it was watching the gap slowly increase. Lapping cars making it yo yo a bit. Just before your pitstop I felt I had slightly better pace and hoped that with you taking a slightly early stop your tyres might be suffering come the end of the race. I kept the faith and kept chasing. The battle we had just before you ran out of fuel when we went side by side through Pouhon, down the straight and half way though the chicane was awesome.

I must say sorry to a bunch of DPs. A lap after my pitsop I found myself entering Eau Rouge with 3 of you bearing down on me. With my still coldish tyres and trying to keep the speed up to hinder you guys as little as possible I got well out of shape. Somehow held it but I think you guys all had to take avoiding action :(

Embarrassed by the number of incident points I picked up too :(

As ever guys - please try not to discuss incidents on the forum, that's what the reporting system is for.

Yep - I was having to defend like crazy there, I'm guessing it'll look good on the replay.  I was hopeful I'd keep you behind, but I knew I was running on fumes.

Was a really fun race, just wish I'd had a bit more time with iRacing this week to let me set the car up properly.  I was really struggling through a few of the turns, moreso at the end of the stints.

Has anyone got a replay of the race, or the first 1/4 of it at least?  ;)

I can chuck it on dropbox when I get home.

Ta.

Maiden outing for me here. I'm still getting used to iR. I've run a handful of events and it is quite different than GTR2.

As Raimo said, he and I had a good tussle going for a number of laps early on. We probably would have been better served with him leading and me following because we were breaking away from the other Mustangs that way. Raimo was quicker and I was able to match his pace if he led. Once I got back in front, our pace fell.

At one point, I got loose Eau Rouge and ended up cutting the inside of Radillon. The stewards looked down on that and gave me a black flag and a "Slow Down". I experienced this once before in practice when going too deep in a brake zone and went over the grass and finally back onto the track. I had lost a lot of time and the system still wanted me to essentially stop to clear the black flag. I thought it was odd that it thought I was cutting the track when in fact I lost a lot of time for what I had down. Back to the race, I didn't know how long I had to clear the black flag nor did I really know the speed. I figured I just needed to slow down a bit to give back any theoretical advantage I may have gained. I pulled drivers right in the brake zone at the end of the Kemel straight to let Raimo by me feeling that would appease the stewards, but now. They continued to ask me to slow down. So I did, but by now, I'm getting close to the racing line and that incredibly tiny dot in my rear view is getting a little bigger. I thought I still have time to slow and then get going again, but the tiny dot got big really quick. The images in the rear view are very different than GTR2. They seem as if I were looking through a fish eye lense. Personnaly I do not like this. It is difficult to judge how close someone is to you. Can this be changed or is it fixed? By the way, I have a mirror in my real race car that has a much wider view, but does not create this fish eye view.

Simon drove right into the back of me because I was moving very slowly on the racing line. It was totally my fault. I later learned from Dave that the penalty can be served later. I'm not sure how late. Within 1 lap? Within 2 laps?

From there, I lost a ton of time to Raimo and no longer had my rabbit. I tried a desperate move by putting a bit less fuel than needed and hoping to stretch it, but that didn't work. I had to really coast into the turns and run around in 5th gear most of the last 2 laps just to make it home.

Yes, you can change the mirror FOV in the game menus. I have mine on 70 degrees cause like you I hate the horrible fish eye thing. I'd rather see less at the side than see it all distorted because it's easier to judge then.

I think it's 30 seconds or so. You do have to pretty much stop to serve it - if you don't you get a stop and go instead, which is obviously more costly, but generally still better than coming to a grinding halt on the racing line. ;)

Frustration will hopefully wear off soon enough ;D

But I have to agree with you on the low turnout viewpoint. I would rather race with a bunch off ppl for 10th place than 5 ppl for the win.
Let's hope Brands will bring the ppl back for racing :)