UKGTL Season 12 Real GTL - Vallelunga (International) - Jan 30

[Wiltshire Tony]

Replay and Results now posted.

[phspok]

Had trouble with internet,(local prob, not server) only got around to instaling the mod just before qual
Took mustang but was the wrong car really for this track. Had some great times
chasing and passing Mark in the R8 1100, at least twice as I kept spinning under braking.
Cars look odd as the wheels run under the tarmac...

My failed joins were because the cars had been installed into a GTL subdirectory not into
the gamedata folder.

[BillThomas]

I guess trying to get in a quick short post on highlight of the evening, I used the wrong expression.  What I was really trying to convey was the track and use of Real GTL. which, in my view, is more satisfying to drive and as my grandson said, the cars sound is awesome.  

Went for Stang as I though on that track it would be competitive - it was the fastest of the cars I tried, bearing in mind the need to keep some cars back for particular tracks. Practice went well, except for pulsating bright screen when I think it was Matt tried to join.   Then I was sat twiddling thumbs waiting for Qualifying to start - quick chat and on my own.    So I quit and took two attempts before I joined, losing 4 mins of qual.  As it happened it was OK, got a new PB and had time to have a quick go on race fuel.   The start went well and made up a number of places which I more or less held for 2  to 3 laps, until I over cooked it out of the last turn running onto grass losing a some places.   A couple of laps later I over cooked in the other way (in offline practice I hit the pit entrance wall a couple of times) and had to lift to avoid a repeat. Got into a tank slapper and went off allowing more cars by.    After that I drove a reasonably consistent race, which resulted in my epic battle with Special KS.    

[Wiltshire Tony]

I was right behing you Bill when you looked like you were about to have a very messy encounter with the pit wall. God only knows how you missed it.

Most of my race was spent wondering how Mark was managing to get such great pace out of the Renault BOXster. The smaller one is marginally nicer to drive than it's larger brother but TBH I'm glad to be shot of the pair of them.

Next ones at Lime Rock Park, great, time to choose a decent car 

[SpecialKS]

Quali was ok - had similar problems like Bill when Matt tried to join but I used the break for another very quick dinner cause I was still hungry  

After two laps racing I was thinking about quitting because I found myself frustrated in last place about 30 seconds behind Tony after a contact with Syd - who seemed to have some handling problem with the Tina (which for me is absolutely undriveable in Real-GTL up to now) and then discoed   - and one own mistake by missing the right line in the first fast right and leaving the track.

Fortunately I did not quit because it still turned to be a nice race as after some more laps I was able to close in on Tony again (who - I think - made a mistake on his own) but was unable to overtake him due to two totally different characters and racing lines of the cars
(the R8Gordini is another car I'm still unable to handle - chapeau Tony and Mark!). So I had to wait for a mistake to pass Tony without shooting both of us off the track.
Some laps later I closed in on Bill but was absolutely powerless against the strength and acceleration of the Stang on the straights but considerably faster and often very, very close through the corners - sometimes side by side. Bill fought like a lion   and in the end won this battle well-deserved after I could not avoid at least two contacts during the combat because it really was a tight one.
Thank you Bill for the great and fair fight!

When Jack Dummer had to left the race with no fuel after lap 14 I realized that I probably would get out of fuel too and kept an eye on it during the remaining laps (had filled for 24 laps only   ). Fortunately it appeared to work for good when leading Hristo lapped me for the second time and I would have been able to see the finish line after 22 laps already. But then - oh my god - Hristo left to pit right in front of me and I had to do another lap because Navin still was far behind   And exactly at the beginning of lap 23 the red light began  flickering   . So I had to finish the race in highest gear with very low pace which fortunately succeeded  

Thanks to all involved for organizing another great event and for great racing.

See you next time.  

[BillThomas]

I was right behing you Bill when you looked like you were about to have a very messy encounter with the pit wall. God only knows how you missed it.

I think the force was with me.    Good job the G25 has such a good clamping system - I'd have wrenched my old Microsoft Sidewinder wheel off the desk in that maneuver.    Anything was better than hitting that wall. 

[BillThomas]

Thanks Special KS  .  That's a big pity and explains why I didn't get that expected last lap tooth and nail fight for each corner.

[M Cinderby]

Qualified P9 in the 1100 Renault.
I was pleasantly surprised to find I could mix it up with the more powerfull cars and managed to stay with Jack & Bill in the opening laps.  





Bill exited stage left which gave me P7  



I then had a Yeehaa moment!!



Then passed Phspok when he spun his truck  



Phspok caught me and the the battle commenced.  



Almost got him!  



Renault Power Hee Hee.  



A drift to far.......but not a spin!!  



Phspok spins again.  .......Now that's gotta hurt?  



Lap 23ish and Phspok finally makes it stick.  



I finished P5 but very happy with my evenings entertainment....Congrat's to the podi guys well done.

[Navin R Johnson]

Great pics!!
Qualy went as well as I could of hoped for a track that I've never seen and better yet was somehow just a tick quicker than the Cortina Master Ade. The start from 3rd went great as well getting a better start than the front row I was able to gain the lead. Knowing Hristo was a fair bit quicker I just settled in at a pace I was comfortable with. Hristo was able to run me down and I got past me on the last turn. Ade then quickly chased me down as well and at that point I was going as fast as I thought I could get away with and still have some car towards the end of the race. Sometimes I fight a bit more for second because hey you never know what will happen with the leader. They might run out of fuel But I had no idea how much extra speed Ade might have for Hristo so I didn't fight that spot too much and let Ade go for it. Plus if it was me in 3rd at that point and maybe I had something for the leader there's nothing worse than being held up for many seconds before getting past only to lose the race by possibly less time than you were held up earlier . That said, after Ade did past I was able to match his pace and we were in lock step for many laps after that. During this time Jack was reeling us in and did catch us. We had some nice side by side racing before I dropped a wheel and he got past clean. A couple of corners later Jack looked like he trail braked(or maybe too much rear brake bias) a bit too much putting him into a lazy slide and I was able to get back by. I then focused back to Ade who was still running well but after some time did give me flash to past and I was back into second. Right after that I think maybe Ade had some connection lagging because in the replay he seemed to go off for no reason and his car was very flashy and flickering during the off moment. I had several seconds in hand after Ade's problem so I just drove her home for second place. Or so I thought that was how it would go down only to have the race handed to me after Hristo when into the pits for a splash and go. Great fun racing as usual Ade Congrats to you and Kenn as well for another 3rd place. Sorry to Hristo who had it in the bag again. Cheers to all who participated

[Hristo Itchov]

Splash and go which didn't refuel me at all and lost me 34 seconds for nothing lol. I should really practice pitstops to learn how it works in GTL, as I obviously have no idea.

Grats, Navin!