UKGTL Season 17 Ford Asia Endurance Cup - Bahrain - Feb 27

[EvilClive]

My view on the tyre wear and refuel issues Steve.

 I have noticed in other series, that some drivers in 2x tyre wear races have managed their tyres to avoid the need for a change. I don't find the time for proper testing and working out these things before the event, which would be the ideal way to approach the challenge.
So, these days in any race that threatens me with a tyre change I take the view that I will fill up with fuel and during practice and quali I try to learn a new track quite quickly and get in some long ( well, 10 laps?) runs and look at the predicted fuel consumption and how fast the tyres vanish.
Even then, I follow Erling's suggestion and fill the tank to the brim for long races (and usually overfill even for sprint events just to be sure) and then watch tyre and fuel consumption over the first 30% of the race and work out if there is a chance of getting to the flag without a stop. Sometimes, like the Bahrain race, it looks very marginal at 30% and then I have to weigh up if a splash and dash is better than a stop for new tyres and extra fuel at maybe 75% distance. Will my faster laptimes with fuel to spare and rubber to burn make up for the alternative  of short shifting and dodgy handling if I don't stop.

Personally, I don't mind a car sliding around a bit and am quite happy travelling sideways on worn tyres as long as the car stays predictable. It is when the tyre wear starts getting critical and causes random snatches of the brakes or sudden changes in the handling that I struggle and have to make a stop. I'm still learning about these cars and I notice that Tony keeps introducing new variants to keep me on my toes!!!!

[Erling G-P]

Just to clarify:  I (almost) never run with more fuel than I need to complete a race (with reasonable safety margin), as I'm (almost) always faster in a lighter car.  It's the endurance and long distance races where I know I will need to refuel, that I always start with a full tank. Whatever is there from the start, is there 'for free' - if I have to add it later during a pit stop, it will cost time - most likely more time than I save by omitting it from the start.

With regards to sliding around on worn tyres; even if it's to your liking (Clive  ), it's a bit of a double edged sword, as the sliding will drastically increase the wear, and so has to be included in the considerations about how to drive and whether to change tyres or not.  (It's very evident in this Cup, with 2x tyre wear - as soon as you're sliding, wear values as seen on XD are spooling up)

Cheers,
Erling