UKGTR Season 5 GT1 Sprint - Magny-Cours (GP) - Jul 3

[Aagramn]

I'm getting old, I have my Pauls in a muddle.   

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

Not one of my better races. Barely got home in time to eat before the race, no setup, no practice. Actually qualified better than expected (ie. not dead last) but the in race my lack of setup time really showed - I had no grip at either end and went off or spun a number of times. I pretty much only finished ahead of those who crashed, blew engines or spun even more than me.

Adam - the MC12 seemed like a demon on the brakes - but perhaps that was just me being carp on them. I think in hindsight 100% pressure was too much despite the big stop at Adelaide. Was even more surprised to find I had good exit speed compared to the MC12s despite feeling that I didn't have enough rear grip.

Also had the driving on ice feeling in the last 5 or so minutes - not sure why. I noticed it was very bumpy on the outside of Adelaide and was trying not to run out there too often.

[linco24]

Crikey, this racing league lark never fails to surprise me. Never had a race like that before

Terrible quali left me languishing a bit but thought I could keep up with, and even challenge TT in front of me if I got up to pace. That was the plan, but from the very first lap I had Colin's fezza up my arse. I wasn't going to make it easy to pass but no way did I think I could defend for the whole 40 minutes . He powered up to me on the straight and I parked at the hairpin every lap. If you imagine DC vs MS as Magny a couple of years back, you got it. Hope Colin didn't go all crazy DC on my ass .

Colin, congrats on some fantastic racing. Many would have spanked their way past, but you showed admirable skill/patience .

Have to say the same for you too. As I said you defended well. The hairpin is the only real passing place out there. I tried going inside and round the outside but to no avail! Good stuff!

[Kerr]

Replay looks great in bits. After 1800 it 4 of us together. After 2300 (I think) it's me and Ruskus having a ding dong. Really close at times!

[Joss]

Well close race, few mistakes by all (me and Brian running off track at the same corner ) but very gd fun!

I don't what it is, but me and Bara are always very close on pace on almost any track we go to and that was the case here again. Always count on you for a close race 

Was annoyed that I didn't stick a move on in the first lap as my braking was good into the hairpin and could come from a little way back, got Bara after a few laps, then he got me back out of the hairpin! The he was held up by a lappee and I closed right up - Bara then went a bit wide at the next 180 degree left and I chose to ease off a bit instead of try to make a pass; was remembering when he let me by in Barcelona last season when I had bad luck so didn't think it'd be fair to punish him for a backmarker this time

Then we all ran in a 4 car train for a bit, then me and Brian went off (doh!). At that point I thought 3rd was the best I could do, but such was Jeff's tyre situation we closed back in!Back to another 4 way dice, finally Baracus got past and 2 laps later I snuck inside Jeff into the left hander after the fast chicane, then side by side into the same chicane he mentioned with Alonso & Heidfeld, I was lucky not to get a cut warning there - was just trying to make sure there was space for us both!

Then set about Baracus: "I've got him once, I can get him again!" I was saying, but not this time I could brake later but wasn't faster over the lap so couldn't close up. Bara actually pulled a little bit I think   

That's a hell of a way to win your first race, battleing with 3 peeps and beating the Jeffster fair and square - congrats mate, you deserve it

Unlucky to Brian as well, you got some serious speed - Ruskus also did a great job of holding onto p3 with totally crapped out tyres.

I hope to be around for the enduro, but once again, I might be competing in Karting for Intel...in the world games  . Awesome!

[baracus250gt]

Happy happy joy joy, happy happy joy joy, happy happy happy happy, joy joy joy!!
(Apologies for that to those who haven't seen Ren & Stimpy!)

That was an excercise in mind control for me! It's the first time I've felt comforatble in these GTR cars and I think that's down to knowing the track inside out from other games. So I could spend my time before the race getting a good setup, instead of learning the track AND getting a good setup.

I was very surprised to start 3rd (even looked like being front row until Brian stormed one!) - then at one point early in the race I thought "hang on, I can still see the leaders!" I realised I had a chance. The 4 of us were almost nose to tail for the whole race! Amazing stuff! It was a case of attacking and defending at the same time on a number of occasions which was a bit exciting.

Unfortunately Brian and FreQ both went off at the same time which gave me some time to focus on Jeff alone But we were slowing each other up and we were back as a train of 4 not long later.

When I eventually got past Jeff (the first time ) the adrenalin was pulsing through me so much that I missed my braking point a bit later and he slipped back through in the left 180

That was the sign for me to calm down and concentrate - I didn't even once look at what lap it was or what time was left - I just drove and kept it clean and it all just clicked into place for me!!

Relief when the "race over" text came up was immense I must say!!

Really good racing, so close all the way and interesting differences in the cars again (Lambo can go much deeper under heavy braking, and the viper just pulls away on the straight bits) - but I guess I had the better car over the course of the lap. hehe

Lets see if NGT's will be nice to me too!!!

[Gazza49er]

I really thought i was gunna be in the top ten here after doing alot of laps all weekend and seeing the pace of everyone apart from the top 5 of course. Bin doing low 1.32's which would of put me 7th i think but just couldnt put a clean lap together but knew i had a fairly good race setup but a botched start when limiter didnt disengage and lots of little mistakes saw me slip down the order and just as i was getting back in touch the engine lets go.

Congrats to the winner and the other 3 behind, watched your battle when my race was over and it was great to watch.

Oh well cya at the endurance sunday.

[baracus250gt]

was remembering when he let me by in Barcelona last season when I had bad luck so didn't think it'd be fair to punish him for a backmarker this time

Thanks mate!! I knew it would pay off in the long-run! That was exceptionally bad timing meeting that Porker in that bend, especially as he was going slower than normal after letting Jeff and Brian through - I just had to ease right off.

Good luck at the karting event - sounds great!! What track is that on?

[Joss]

Good luck at the karting event - sounds great!! What track is that on?

Can't remember the name - it's in northern Spain
We competed in the UK Corporate Games last weekend and won the team event, so have been invited to the World Games next weekend. No idea what karts they are yet but hope they aren't the usual shitty pro-karts. I want TKM's/Rotax's!
Missed the endurance in Oschers coss of that and looks like I'll miss the endurance here as well....ah well.

Don't think I've gone soft on ya! I'll have ya next time!! 
*Walks off grumbling*

[baracus250gt]

Don't think I've gone soft on ya! I'll have ya next time!! 
*Walks off grumbling*

  hahaha - I don't think you need worry - it seems we're attached by an invisible tow rope! Just depends if its tied to the back of yours or mine for that week!

Good luck in Spain!! If it helps stick an "[R24-7]Baracus - (125ms)" banner above the kart of the favourite team and give me a good beating

[Kerr]

I don't know why but I felt under more pressure than normal with Ruskus breathing down my neck during that race.

Got a few tweaks to make to this set up as it's very promising.

I have suffered at most tracks with terrible tyre wear to the extent my car is all over the shop and lap times are very poor late on. I noticed in lap chart with only a few laps to go my lap times, when I had a clear lap, was only 0.25sec slower than race best, says it all. So hopefully finally turned that corner,

Not sure if I'm going to make Sundays endurance clubmens race. I sure Backo would give his usual good account but doubt it would match tonight.

I wish I was in for the masters next again week!

I enjoyed that so much. Just noticed it was Baracus first win here.

What a way to win. There are races and then there are races and when you work so hard to win, it always seems more of an achievement.

[Paul Richards]

Thats some new found confidence there Brian!  Congrats on turing the corner and getting up to race at the very front. Haven't tried using only the 400 degrees 23 lock yet to my usual G25 setup but will be sure to give it a go. I did try it in conjuction with Ruskus' other FF settings before but as I couldn't get on with them I set everything back to how I had it originally. Big congrats to Baracus on your first win! Can't believe you haven't had one before.

Eventful race for me with some very close and enjoyable battles! I know the track from previous experience but hadn't even loaded it up in GTR2 until 7:15 last night. Managed to get a basic qual and race car prepared that I was reasonably happy with but was only hoping for a top 10 at best.

Qualified 9th which was as high as could be expected with so little prep time so quite pleased with that. Race got off to a frantic pace chasing old nemises Purdie in the opening laps. Aagramn fell back a bit from the car in 6th and Purdie was attacking hard with me right behind and Jure right behind me! Jure gave me a scare as he broke a bit late and suddenly shot passed my nose as I turned in for Adelaide. He managed to avoid everyone though and fell back into line after his trip wide. Eventually after a few laps in the 4 plus car train Purdie squeezed past into the final chicane. As we exited the chicane nose to tail I had just got on the power when aagramns car suddenly slowed and unfortunately I had no time to react being so close and bumped the back of his car. Was sorry to see him spin out. Many apologies mate I guess something might have happened with you and purdie as it was so sudden. Happy to take any penalties fgrom the moderator if I was at fault.

Was then chasing Purdie again, after a lap or so he was a little wide into Chateau D'eau. I got on the brakes as hard as I could as his car slowed rapidly to make the corner. Gave him a little kiss  on the exit but glad it wasn't enough to get him too much out of shape. Sorry mate about that! My loss of speed gave Jure the opportunity and he went by nice and cleanly. A lap or so later Purdie spun at the last chicane and Jure took off. Mark Maclean passed me and then Jure but I continued to chase him and initally we were pulling away a bit from TT. I think Jure's tyres then started to go as I suddenly caught him and was a bit quicker at certain points of the lap. I couldn't get by though as I didn't have enough pace where it was needed. He ran wide at Adelaide and I unfortunately gave his car a little kiss too on exit  removing his brake light. Many apologies mate I miss judged your exit speed but glad to see it didn't effect you too much. MJ spun and fell back just behind TT and they both then closed up on me and Jure. I still couldn't find a way past even though his tyres were getting worse. Then coming out of Estoril Jure's car begun to slide as he put the power down. Intially I thought he is going to spin to the outside so positioned my car to the inside. Then it looked like he was going to hold onto it so I kept my foot in to go by on the run up to Adelaide. The back then eventually (it would have won a drifting contest!) came around and to the inside of the track into my path. We collided hopefully with not too much damage to both cars. TT and MJ went by so back to 9th. MJ then spun at Chateau D'eau and I chased TT to the finish but never got very close. Will hopefully have more time to work on the setup before the Enduro. Great race. It must have been to deserve this rediculously long post!

[Mark J]

okay enough of the use of words in the same sentence containing 'MJ' and 'spun'     :'(   

Still havent got over the disapointment this morning. 

I reckon that pesky shark threw some oil out of his Lambo up ahead at the Imola chicane. 
Still none the wiser why my tyres turned to glass with only 11 wear and no-hot spots showing on the PD monitor. The car literally became almost un-driveable for two laps, then when i got the pace back i had to take the avoiding action with CH's 550 that saw me out of the race.
Its a Team Shark conspiracy i tells ya    

[Paul Richards]

Many apologies MJ! 

I think Dave reports something strange with the 350z having a bad patch mid race with the tyres on that. I have reported myself for penalties for spinning out Aagramn. There is nothing worse than having a collision with the front off your car and seeing him fly off into the wall  :'( 

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

I think Dave reports something strange with the 350z having a bad patch mid race with the tyres on that.

I've had it in the Corvette too - it goes through a phase of feeling like it's lost all grip and then comes back to normal, but with a slight (expected) loss of performance. I've never been able to identify any specific temperature, pressure or wear issues with GTR2PD monitor which would explain it.