Well, from my point of view you didn't miss much. I eventually got in after I don't know how many attempts only to find I had no set up only default available. Cobbled something together to the best of my memory and qualified 5th (I think). 1st few laps were ok, then I clipped the right hand curb on the run down to T1 while alongside Andreas and ended up hitting the fence spinning up the bank before managing to rejoin but it was apparent something was seriously wrong with my already dubious setup. Couldn't get it to turn right anymore and hit the same fence a lap or so later and went up the same bit of banking. I was already hitting esc to end my misery while sailing through the air. Eventually landed back on track and stopped. Tried to esc again but didn't manage it before being hit by someone. (Sorry).

Kinda glad to have ended early, I don't like this circuit at all. Not really a race track more a scary drive through the woods with little chance of any proper racing. A challenge yes but race track I don't think so.

TTFN
John.
 

I just tried the one from Frans post and got in at 4th attempt. (Hopefully it will let me back in when I go back.).

TTFN
JOhn.

Hi Guys, I can't see a race list in GEM.

Can someone tell me the IP?

TIA

TTFN
John.

 , Yes, I knew that. Fran even said he couldn't make the race. Senior moment, sorry Fulvio.

TTFN
John.

Really enjoyed that one, Qualified in 6th about where I expected looking at the opposition.

Was gifted 4th at the start when Cookie put 2 wheels on the grass and Dean hesitated. I didn't need anymore of an invitation and dived past on the inside down to Etalakaare persued by Arf. Arf got the inside line so tracked him around the outside and was able to outbrake him down into Varikkokaarre. A lap or so later I could see Cookie had also jumped Arf and was making his desire to take his spot back very obvious He got me with a copybook pass into Varikkokaarre on lap 4 and then promptly spun at VW-Mutka to gift me the place back.

He didn't lose any spots though and was back on my tail within the lap and tried the same move again on Lap 5. Unfortunately we tangled on the exit. I've checked the replay and I'm happy I didn't stray onto his line but his speed caused him to drift across so for me it was a racing incident. We both spun, but I was able to recover and found myself on the inside of Arf at VW-Mutka and was able to maintain my position. Shortly afterwards Dean appeared in my mirrors and we had a battle similar to Solitude where he was obviously faster but I was able to defend. Problem was both our lap times were suffering and the Clive/Fran battle was getting away from us so I let him through past the pits on Lap 17 as he was obviously faster than me and I figured he might drag us both up to the battle ahead. Unfortunately he blew it into Etalakaare a few laps later and I was back into 4th. Even in clear air I couldn't make much headway into Clive or Fran. I did close the gap when Clive had a small spin putting me within a few 100yds but that was as close as I got.

Cookie disappeared, Dean had engine problems and I ended up quite lonely for the latter part of the race. Then a bit of excitement as I cross the SF line with 2 to go, My engine began to splutter and a quick check showed 0.5g left. WTF! I had done several full race runs and was sure I had enough fuel..

So dropped into the pits for a splash and dash. Still coming back out in 4th where I remained until the flag.

A tough track with not much time apart from the main straight to rest. Another new one for me reminded me a lot of Surfers Paradise, seemed to have a similar track surface (Slippery).

Congrats to Tris, Fran and Clive for the podium. Commiserations to the retirees.

It was a blast as always.

Thanks guys.

TTFN
John.

Possibly different but. . .
I have had this and was able to replicate it. For me the issue is if you shift-r or Esc back to the pits with your foot on the brake. It seems to remember your last "Brake State" for some reason.

TTFN
John.

Waaaaay to much information.

Really chuffed with that one. Even though I threw all the teams cash at a Lotus I was still pleased to grab 3rd on the grid and had found a nice forgiving set up which still allowed me to kick the rear out if needed but was super stable under braking.

Start went well, I could see Cookie having a cheeky look on the run off the line but held my position and followed Tom and Trist through the 1st few laps. Along with Cookie we were slowly gapping the field and it was beginning to look like Tom and Trist would be battling for the top spot and I was going to spend the next 32 laps trying to fend off Cookie. Then after a few laps Cookie lost it and disappeared off Prib leaving me with a healthy lead over Dean and hanging onto Trist with everything I had. Then Trist lost the rear at Tosa and I was through to 2nd. I was still getting the odd glimpse of Tom ahead but he just drove away from me with embarrassingly little effort. Meanwhile Trist had fell back behind Dean and I could see from Prib they were having a bit of a scrap, Eventually Trist broke free and began to eat into the gap. I could see at his current rate of closure I was going to be a few laps short of keeping any sort of gap at all but fortunately for me he made a few mistakes and then suddenly began to drop back at a very fast rate. (Engine trouble)?? This left Dean to grab the 3rd spot but he was too far back to worry me by this time.

No worries Clive but yes, scared the cr*p outta me. At 1st I thought it was Tom and all my Christmas's had arrived at once but once I realised what was happening I dived for the inside and breathed in as I went past.

Thanks All it was a blast as always.

TTFN
John.

That's it I'm done, I officially retire from this series. Blew the engine on the start line, I've not managed more than a few laps in this series other than at 1 round due to discos, screen freezes etc. I really like them but can't be bothered with them any longer.

TTFN
John.

Well I went through every emotion in that one.. Managed to top qualifying for a while and feeling quite smug until Trist joined and blew my time out of the water by almost a full second.

So to the grid. WTF is this.. I had done so many practice starts on the pits side of the oval, set my 1st gear to minimize wheel spin on the camber off the line. Now I find myself on the back straight. And it got worse, I couldn't see any starter. (Found out looking at the replay he was off to the right but out of my field of view). So I had to wait for Trist to go and by the time we hit the banking for the 1st time I think I was in 6th.

Flustered and wondering what else I wasn't aware of I managed to grab a place back but as we entered the banking near the end of lap 1 I lost the rear. (Must have made Dean who was following close behind jump) Corrected, ran wide and caught my rear on one of the cones flicking me into the wall. So waited for the expected impact from the following group, nothing came so spun around and rejoined last. Spitting feathers set off after Francesco and Billy.  Caught Francesco coming off the banking but was caught out by the slipstream and again hit the wall trying to avoid running into the back of him. It didn't seem to slow my progress much though and the car still felt fine, drove around the outside of him into T1 and we exited the corner side by side and it was a drag down to T2 behind Billy. I braked for the turn, Billy braked for the turn and Fran didn't. both cars sent spinning across the track and I somehow came through unscathed and set off after Andreas. Caught Andreas at the end of lap 2 and it was an easy task to use the Eagle power to pass into T1 and set off after Bob and Clive. Caught both entering the banking and was able to outdrag both down towards T1. At this point I was surprised to find Prib was telling me I was in P4 and noticed Both Bastian and Cookie had disappeared so I was now chasing Deans Ferrari, but several hundered yds adrift.

Oh so Slowly began to make ground and I began to think what I was to do should I catch him. Fortunately (For me) he took any decisions out of my hands by running wide into T2 and I was through. I could see Fulvio way off in the distance ahead but we were less than half distance to I figured Eagle verses Repco, no problem. As it was it took until lap 19 before I was finally within striking distance. The Logical Angel on my right shoulder was saying follow closely and use the Eagle's power to pass him on banking the final lap. The racing Angel on my left shoulder said "Go for it". (Should have listened to my "Logical Angel"). Went for a pass into T1, Arrived a lot more quickly than I expected and lost the rear trying to tighten my line for a late apex for the run down to T2 and ended up on the grass. I'm sure I heard Fulvio laughing as he retook the position and disappeared off into the distance.

So the last 2 laps were a bit of an anti climax, Set off after Fulvio again with no hope of catching him unless he made a monumental mistake. (Which of course he didn't). So 3rd. I would have biiten someone's arm off if offered that before the race but kinda disappointed to have had 2nd staring me in the face only to blow the opportunity through my own ambition outweighing Talent. Shame only 12 on the grid. I really like this track, I love T1 and hate the final turn onto the banking in equal measure, I don't think I got that one right once. .

Thanks for the race guys, loved it as always.

TTFN
John.

Perfect, Thanks Dean

Forgot to save my replay.

Does anyone have a full race replay they could attach until the replay server is back on-line?

Thanks in advance

TTFN
John.

Well, I can't seem to buy a result in this series. Same as in the practice session earlier, screen freeze heading down to the Parabolica. I've done countless laps around here both alone and against a field full of AI and never had this happen before. That's twice in 2 attempts to race online.

Shame, it was looking like it was going to be a good battle at the front.

TTFN
John.

Just had a nice practice session with Axel and Phil. Decided to run a few laps together and I got a screen freeze (Lap 2 I think) braking for the Parabolica.

Never had a freeze on this track before, hopefully it was a one off..

TTFN
John..

Well, Probably a terrible thing to admit in GPL world with it being such an iconic track, but until Sunday I had never driven Solitude in anger, It's been on my hard drive for years but I don't have time for hot lapping and usually only drive on tracks where I'm actually racing. I was also supposed to be off on holiday this week but due to a family illness I found myself with Sunday night available. Grabbed the Cooper as I figured I would do the least damage to me and others and spent 2 hours leading up to the race practicing. Times went from over 4 minutes until I was finally down in the mid 3:35's. Even by the end of the race I found myself on the wrong line in the wrong gear during the later part of the lap when I simply got lost and couldn't remember what corner was next.

Race went great, I really enjoyed the middle part of the race driving my very wide Cooper and trying to make Deans life a misery. He was obviously so much faster than me and I kept my elbows out as much as possible hopefully without crossing the line. Each time I made a mistake he wasn't close enough to capitalise but finally I had to concede and he was through. finished 6s behind him in the end but a few seconds of that was due to me getting lost in the various combinations of corners near the end of the lap, My own lap times dropped by 2s per lap once he was through as I wasn't spending 50% of the lap looking in my mirrors.

So a definite result as far as I am concerned and I hope Dean's frustration at me holding him up was eclipsed by the fun of some very close racing. Especially as Andreas was good enough to crash later in the race. At the entry to Wildparkeck? (I passed several wheels which looked like the were looking for a Lotus bouncing down the track).

Thanks all, it was a blast as always.

TTFN
John.

 

Hi Phil, Track shows turin55