UKGTR Season 5 GT1 Sprint - Silverstone (GP) - Apr 10

[Joss]

I ran 5 tonight, just to try and fend off the Ferrari's. My lap time was slightly quicker with more wing but I knew I had to run less wing to try and hold position on straight.

The plan was for better qualifying. Did countless mid 1.41's today, but never had one good lap during qualifying, then I thought I could hold off Ferrari's with my strategy

From what I've read, even a 550 with high wing is faster than a Lambo with low wing, so I go my own way on wing setup now and don't worry about what others are doing. It sometimes means it's very tough to overtake, but by running higher wing I can manage the tyres better and run far more consistantly throughout a race. For the record, I was on 8 wing.

Regarding the speed difference? I don't think there's any change really. It's the usual Lambo rocks through corners and sucks on straights thing that's been going on for aaages. You've just got to exploit the strengths as best you can.
I personally hate muscleing a poor handling car through corners and flying down straights, I enjoy really pushing through corners and I love the linear nature of the way it breaks loose into a slide that's really controllable. After trying the Lister, I realised I was having more fun driving the Lambo (in a similar way to realising I preferred driving GTR to GT4 ages ago) and that's all that matters really.

I'd give the Aston a go, but I think I really like the MR style layout, as I get on well with the Mosler as well...and as much as I hate to say it...the 360 :p

[Enzo]

i ran 10 wing, maybe i should of ran 12 keep that blinkin tyre cool lol

[Kerr]

It was a swings and roundabouts race. I did have the edge on the Ferrari's on the corners that mattered and I usually had enough of a gap gained through the corners to just manage to hold it on the straight.

Watched the replay and it's impressive in bits. The first few laps with the Ferrari all over me was good to watch. He was actually past me at one point, I left enough space for him and ran round the outside then had the line into next bend. All good stuff!

I still wish I qualified better to see how it went. The racing from 3rd back was hectic to say the least real quality. Unfortunately I was nudged and spun, It was all a bit tight and these things happen.

Would have liked a go and Enzo in his lambo, but was not to be. The maser of truetom was similar to the Lambo in performance and had a couple of looks to pass, but he covered my path well.

Great race really enjoyed it. I have the clubmans race on Sunday to look forward to. Should be good as there is a few really fast guys in there. Not sure why Snarsky was off the pace tonight as he was impressive in his viper at Anderstrop?

Would have liked to be in amongst the masters next again week but sadly that will not happen

[Truetom]

I had 10 wing and I was quite satisfied with the way Massa behaved through the corners - while the tyres lasted, that is.  
Qualified 8th and I saw a lot cars were close lap-time wise. Legends Bernie and Adam were within a second from me which was a good sign for the race.  
Race started and I was chasing Baracus. I was able to keep up 'cause Eccles and Kerr (I think) had a battle going on and they were slowing eachother down. Managed to catch Baracus at braking point with a risky   move. Sorry, buddy, that was the closest thing I managed to an overtake attempt.    Your F575 was waaay faster on the straight, no chance there. Thanks for not closing the door.  
Then I went to chase Zacari and we were close for quite a few laps. Never managed to pass, though.    Carr difference was too big - what Massa gained through corners, his F550 anulled on straights. Great fight though.    Guess this pushing was the reason that my tyres went worn quite soon. That sneaky (   ) Baracus passed me on corner exit while my tyres were schreeching with no grip. Great move, my friend - the revenge must have been sweet.  
At the end of the race Kerr was catching up but I managed to stay in front with some defensive driving. Two more laps would be the end of my tyres, so that's the lucky part.
Quite pleased with my 6th position. As an NGT boy at heart I'm still amazed how fast these GT cars can go. I have a lot to learn.  

TT  

[baracus250gt]

My polecat just walked on my keyboard and wiped out my post before I could submit it! Start again!

Great race for me. Really enjoyed it!

Was gutted I couldnt repeat my practice 2 time in Q proper (2.41.7 was here for me!) otherwise I would have been 3rd! But during practice before the race I noticed how much Silverstone works the tyres and decided then to go for med fronts and hard rears. Also it was my fisrt outing in the 575 which I actually much prefer the feel of compared to my usual ride of the 550. Think i'm gonna stick with her for the rest of the season even tho i'm probably shooting myself in the foot as all my hard work finding setups last year will have to be done again! It just feel so much more alive (and 15kg less haha) :-)

It was an interesting race - first half I just fell down the order - first a great move by TrueTom down the inside of me into Club (sorry for the tap, you surprised me!), then fell back down dangerously close to the clutches of the pack behind. My tyres came to me just as everyone elses seemed to fade so then I yo-yo-d back up the pack catching people very quickly. Had a very satisfying move up the inside of I think Zacari (?) at Bridge! A classic slingshot out of Abbey and tucked in to hug the curb at Bridge :-) I even started thinking I could catch 3rd again but I would have needed another couple of laps at least!!

I do like the way GTR's tyre charecteritics play out so subtly but noticably in our races... shows how well we are all driving.

Grats podium... (so close yet so far) :-D

[Kerr]

Everyone better get practicing their pistops, as it looks like it will come down to that for endurance

[Paul968]

The missus decided that getting back at 7.30pm after a day out with the kids was no problem, since I could do all the cooking for dinner. No problem normally since I like to cook, but she forgot to ask if I had a race   We finished eating at 8.29 on the lounge clock, so I trudged upstairs expecting to find the server full. Amazingly there were 2 places left, so I quickly joined in practice 2, loaded my best guess at a race setup and went out for a few laps. I wasn't that fast and others were clearly much quicker, but I assumed they were just trying out a qual setup. As time went by it gradually dawned on me that something was wrong - I was still right near the bottom in the standings despite some decent laps. I ducked out to the pits and checked the monitor - sure enough, there were only 8 minutes left of QUALLY TWO !!!!!  

I quickly took the fuel out, put soft/meds on and went out to set a time. Unfortunately I sucked big time on the first 2 laps, and only managed 10th in the end with rear tyres at 230F. In the race I was following Picnic, who was pretty quick in the first part of the lap but slower later. I could never get close enough though, so I had to be patient. Pete then made a mistake at Stowe, I got down the inside at the vale and proceeded to mess it up big time and overshoot. Simon nipped past as I recovered, but things went downhill rather quickly from then on. My rear tyres were hot though not silly, but the back end was becoming increasingly mobile. I was struggling to get the power down everywhere, which was frustrating since this is one of the advantages of the Saleen. I lost one or two more places before a big power oversteer spin at Beckets told me that my setup was utter rubbish in a race and that retiring was the best thing for everyone. The lesson learned is not to jump into a 40 minute race in a Saleen with no setup and little practice. At least I should be better prepared for the endurance race.

[Paul Richards]

Hadn't driven round here at all until 7pm last night. Got a pretty good qual setup on Soft-Med and managed 11th on the grid. In fact the tyre temps were so good I decided to stay on Soft-Med for the race. BIG mistake!    Started and Shark was pretty racey from the off and I managed to snatch the rear brakes trying to hold him off and round I went. Waited for the entire field to pass (for some reason, I noticed it on the grid initially I could only see 4 cars behind me in the mirror or in front while facing the wrong way - will check settings). Made my way back through the field - thanks to all who let me past, Edam, Buckie for example. By the time I managed to catch up with Bernie my front tyres were shot! I still was slightly quicker over the course of the lap by couldn't keep up through the fast corners to get a run down the hanger straight. Apart from one dodgy stab up the inside (sorry Bernie completely mis-judged the braking zone and with my lack of practice was using solely the black areas on the track) never got alongside. Going to miss the enduro as off to Florida next week but might make next Tuesdays GT2 if I can get in as a reserve. Congrats to podium.

[jan duijs]

It has been a while but i had a DISCO  about half way in the race ,

Jan

[Simon Gymer]

I was on 9 wing for qualifying, but dropped it one notch to 8 for the race to try and help against the Fezzas (which it didn't lol). I think mainly it was due to the long straights at Silverstone as the Lambo was definitely quicker through the corners, there just aren't enough of them. As I said, swings and roundabouts as long as all the circuits aren't fast ones like Silverstone.

As Freq says it's more fun going faster round the corners than the straights and I really enjoyed stepping into my old Lambo again for the first time since GTR1 (that I can remember).

GT1 cars definitely need more thought in how to drive them in a race than GT2s. I have to tone back my driving more than GT2s in the race to keep the rear tyres under control. I don't tend to race all out anyway, because it's more important to keep a consistent pace throughout the entire race than be quick for 5 laps, have your tyres overheat and wear out and then be really rubbish for the rest of it. It makes for a much more drivable car and ultimately better position.

[EdamSpeed]

The lesson learned is not to jump into a 40 minute race in a Saleen with no setup and little practice.

That's a lesson I still haven't learned either! In fairness though, I very rarely have any time for serious practice.

Sorry if anyone caught the big cheesy chicane last night - my setup was laughable. I really shouldn't fiddle without practice time, or for that matter still be eating kheema on the start grid after missing most of quali, then finding out I hadn't set the brake ducts up at all, and the brake temps were almost going below zero on the Hangar straight I pretty much had to brake half way down the straight, or I would have ended up in Dadford!

[Munkez]

The lambo behind me made me fight for my 18th spot aswell was a great battle for end part of race, he was alot quicker in corners and had alot more grip but not enought to pass me and on the staights i started pulling away again.

Gr all, cgrats to podium

That was me and that was a excellent last 5/6 laps or so, always gaining through sections 2+3 and maggots, but to be blasted away down the straights!! I was hoping the pack on the last 2 laps may have given you more of a problem, but no, you drove defensively and held me off more than a few times, well done!!

Munk