UKGPL Season 32 (2017-18) Graduates Cup Works (67) - Monza - Nov 26

[EvilClive]

 Grats to Robert and the podium with a "hard luck" to Art on his do or die effort into Parabolica on the last lap.

I seem to have lost my way with the 67's and even my trusty Honda cannot get me anywhere near a competitive time. I was happy to start at the back of the grid and was aiming for a steady run and a finish with some points.
I managed the starting at the back of the grid very skilfully and for the first few laps was quite steady.
Fulvio was running a Honda just ahead and I just decided to follow him until my tyres got warmer. After several laps the only tyre getting even slightly warm was the rear left?? all the others stayed in the cold zone??? So I figured that I was just not driving hard enough, but pushing too hard simply cooked the rear left and left the others untouched  .
Played with a few different braking points and slowly reeled in Fulvio, who promptly got wobbly at Curve Grande and allowed me to pass. For about 10 laps he sat 150mtrs back and I wondered why he was not closing on me...especially on the straights with the slipstream. In fact I had a clear speed advantage?
Once past half distance I started to push a little harder and take a few more risks until things went all wrong at PArabolica and I ended up in the gravel facing the wrong way......Fulvio sailed past and was 800mtrs away by the time I had dug myself out.
I tried to close the gap for a few laps until I cut it too fine at Ascari and hooked a wheel onto the grass which pulled me into the barriers and bent something important in the suspension/steering dept. It was soon clear that the car was pretty much undriveable and with the leaders now not far from lapping me I opted to quit and watch the race from the stands.

BTW.....for those who find random chat messages a big distraction
Are you aware that you can turn off "in car chat" on the GPL OPTIONS tab. Chat is still available when in the pits, but you won't get any messages flashing up on screen when you want to be concentrating on your next apex. That is how I run my screen, so that I am able to see all the chat messages pre and post race whilst out of the car and in the pits. But I get no distractions when I am supposed to be driving.

[Artiglietti]

Yeah the ending was a bit cruel, with a tinge of mockery added for good measure, I could have walked to the finish line, vintage GPL ! Yet, it was my best race in a while, with a proper challenge for the win, which adds a bit of spice to the proceedings, faster car or not . I would not normally try a pass at the lesmos, especially if I am sitting in a car which is vastly superior on the straight bits, but it was the last lap and thats where the opportunity presented itself, so I went for it. A big five to Rob for managing to negotiate our way through the corners without touching, although I suspect the God of Warp was looking down favourably on us yesterday night  . When then I emerged alongside Robs brabby on the run to para, I soon realised there was an alarming lack of  firm plans on my part for the final braking zone...turns out my pole picking was a bit optimistic for the  right side of the road and I ended up beaching myself, with the engine letting go when I tried to regain the track... I should have woken up way earlier, as I was never more than a couple of secs off, and the pass would have been easy in the Eagle, having a bit more time to plan it. The days when you could just sit behind someone waiting for a mistake are long gone, now you need to earn your wins with speed and consistency, and thats bloody hard work  . Grats to Rob for a fantastic win in a Brabham at Monza! Super quick and consistent as they come, truly impressive from where I  was sitting. Also podium, very well done, especially happy for Andreas, considering what happened last race.

I could join with no issues for the first time, connection was perfect in the race, but I could see someone flashing in qually, hope it was not down to me.

Thanks guys, see you at the next one.

[Robert Fleurke]

Thanks Attilio, appreciate it. Also hope guys like Iestyn, Sam, Tim, Tristan and Greg among others will also return back on the grid. AFAIK Tristan has moved and yet has to get an internet connection...

[AnGex]

... Splendid run by Andreas for P2 tho...

... Also podium, very well done, especially happy for Andreas, considering what happened last race.

...

Thx, wasn´t aware that I am second. Thought i was third. But I take it. 

[GregT]

Congrats Rob, Andreas, and Dean!

It's good to see Attilio is giving Rob some action.

It looks like I'd need an Eagle or Lotus to have a fair chance of prevailing over Rob. I have doubts the Ferrari would have allowed me to stay close.

Thanks Attilio, appreciate it. Also hope guys like Iestyn, Sam, Tim, Tristan and Greg among others will also return back on the grid. AFAIK Tristan has moved and yet has to get an internet connection...

Thanks Rob. I wondered why Tristan has been missing races. I hope to be back some day. Works has often been frustrating to me but it's still one of my favorite online series.

[fpolicardi]

Another Economy run for me. I could afford a Braby but found out that in the Honda I was faster and I could spare some tokens. In qualy I was surprised that Clive, the Honda master, was behind me. Before the start I got a longer 5th to not risk the engine in case of slip streaming but soon I found that it was too long and I struggled to remain in view of the Ferrari ahead and Clive passed by after a little error at Grande. Focused to not gift Clive with other errors so to stay in view of him and when he went wide at Para I was sorry to see his retire. A little excite came when I closed gap on Arf for his mistake, but soon after was my turn to go wide at Para and loose that little gain. Ended almost lapped, but happy to have driven the Honda intact to finish even if with a lot of fuel still. In the end I found that Art gifted me a 5th. 
Ciao

[Artiglietti]

Hi guys, lets see if someone can help. Took out the wheel today and realised disaster had stroke. To cut it short, my accelerator pedal isnt working, as the white tiny wire that goes into the Ds (?) connector has snapped. Now I suppose my only hope is to manage to solder all the tiny cables into a new connector. I am going to try it, although that thing is flipping small, managing to actually connect the cables is going to be an adventure in itself...problem is , theres 4 cables and 7 pins...I found a diagram with the colour scheme for the cables, but it seems that each colour needs to connect to 2 pins, do I need a bridge of some sort? Anyone has got a clue?? Otherwise thats me out until at least new pedals, if not a new wheel ... 

[fpolicardi]

What kind of wheel have you?

[Artiglietti]

Hi Fulvio, it is a Logitech Driving force gt, any ideas?

[Robert Fleurke]

Sorry to hear Attilio Hope you can fix it...

I'm not much of a help I'm afraid, managed to screw up my only working button on my G25 while trying to fix/solder the other