I also tried the Lotus 49 with no wing ( it only has a front wing option) and it was very quick in a straight line, in fact it looked like it might seriously challenge faster cars. I used the BRM as a benchmark with wings and initially the Lotus 49, although it felt very fast, was around 2-3 secs a lap slower?? I reasoned that the time was being lost in the long fast corners like Stavelot where the Lotus was struggling to carry the speed.
So, I added 1 degree of front wing and initially the car just oversteered like crazy so that it was undriveable. By backing off the diff, and the roll bars, and the toe in, plus tweaks to the dampers etc I managed to balance the front grip and the speed to make the Lotus match the BRM laptimes. It was quite fun throwing the Lotus 49 through Masta and controlling the slide, although slightly scary
All was going well in qualifying...quite relaxed about not challenging the McLarens and pleased to be very close to Greg's Lotus49 time. As qually was ending I was on a faster lap when I suffered a screen freeze
Just managed to get back onto the server before the start and as a precaution I decided to up all the gear ratios one click, just to be safe
It was not until the first run down Masta that I realised I had missed upping 5th gear
, so 4th and 5th were very close ratios. As a result I could not challenge Bastian's McLaren as the slipstream was taking the revs into dangerous territory and....I needed to finish the race to get some points. So I eased back and stayed just in the tow until Bastian disco'd.
Without a tow truck I could not close the gap to Greg and Tris, who I could see up ahead as they slowly eased away on each lap.
Quite a lonely race after that until I passed a recovering Greg at Masta, promoting me to 4th place. Then with just a few laps left the gap to Tris and his BRM started to reduce and I could smell the scent of a podium.
Tris was obviously in trouble with his car and eventually I was able to pass him and finish in 3rd place.
Grats to Uli and Andreas and to all other finishers.