The only anomoly that I can see is when I select the Lola I offline I get a picture of a Cobra 427, but if I go to the "showroom" I get the proper Lola graphics. I don't think that is relevant because all of the other cars in the "Extra Cars" folder show correctly, and I cannot get any of those online either???
The Lola shows as Cobra for me too Clive, so it shouldn't be connected to your problems.
Shame we didn't succeed in getting you into the race yesterday. Glad though to see that Bill is finally back, after all his trouble. Big thanks to Matt for scrambling a server substitute at such short notice.
Tough race. In offline practice just before, with 2 laps worth of fuel, I managed to get my pb down to 8:03.6. Hoped to match it in race qualify, but alas, never got to set a time. After some position swapping early on 1st lap, I found myself in 3rd, behind the Fezzas of Postal & Goldtop. Puzzled that I had no trouble keeping up with Goldtop, in a faster car no less, but the penny dropped when I briefly turned on my IFF and realised it was in fact Postal. Out of sight, Goldtop had passed him. Could lap faster than Postal, but couldn't get past. Bleedin' impossible to overtake a more powerful car on this track, as long as its driver doesn't stray too far from the racing line. On the straighter sections, Postal would extend the gap, meaning I was too far away to try an outbraking manouvre at the next curve, and through the curves it just wasn't possible to get past - an attempt to force the matter would have ended badly.
Thus remained stuck behind for several laps, giving Mark the opportunity to sneak up on us in his 908. Just at that moment, Postal and I both entered the carrusel wrongly, and shed speed very quickly. That caught Mark out, and he slammed into my back, spinning me round. Got going again, now with some air down to Mark. Very surprised to catch Postal again, well before the next carrusel - guess he must have stopped for coffee, thinking Mark and I were out cold. On and on then for several more laps, until Mark caught us again. The sight of the little blue terrier in my mirrors distracted me enough to spin off. Went off several more places subsequently - once you start to mess up...
Unbeknownst to me, up ahead Mark had passed Postal, when the latter went off briefly. Typical, I do all the hard work of wearing him down, and somebody else reaps the benefits, after being behind him for 1/10 of a lap...
When I caught the two gents on the following lap, they had switched places again however. Now it was Mark's turn to spin, in almost the same place as me the lap before. Thus I was back in my now familiar place behind Postal. On and on again lap after lap, until the end of the penultimate one, where I made a grave error. Under braking after the long straight, I went on the grass, lost control and ended up on the inside of the hairpin, with the car resting on its belly, on the curb. Unable to move, as the wheels hardly touched the ground. Furious with myself for having the race end like this. Luckily, prodigious appliance of throttle eventually pried the car loose again, so I could continue - albeit with Mark up my tailpipe. Not about to hand over 3rd without a fight though. Finally had a clear track ahead and could put the hammer down - reflected in this being my fastest lap, despite soft tyres now being quite shredded.
When I reached Metzgesfeld, I caught a glimpse of Postal's car up ahead. Then as I dove down Kallenhard, I briefly saw a flash of red high up on the right slope, obscured by trees, and heard something that might be an idling engine. Could it be... ? Yes, as it turned out, it was in fact Postal who had gone off, allowing me to finish 2nd. Hats off to Postal for keeping so cool for so long, on this impossible track, despite all the pressure I tried to put on him.
Goal for me was to finish, hopefully scrounging some championship points from the bottom of the field, so naturally very chuffed about 2nd place. Did spend most of the week practicing for it, so didn't get it for free..
Cheers,
Erling
