UKGTR Season 7 Lower Endurance (GT2/3) - Mugello (GP) - Mar 30

[Mike Hammer]

I *really* have to learn how to pass lower class cars. Spun or went off not once, not twice, but three times when lapping. Completely my own fault, and I am sorry for the problems I must have caused doing that.

I have to be pleased with finishing position, but it still feels quite disappointing when I knew I had the pace to mix it up at the front.

Also sorry to Spanner, I thought you were giving room there, but once again I thought wrong.

[Kerr]

What a truly awful race for me.

Qualified 6th but just could not get my car to go well, but I was far more confident in my race set up.

First lap everyone was following very close.

I had the run on both the BMW's ahead out of last bend but with them holding a slipstream I made a good out braking move first corner but left enough space.

Come second corner I was now on the outside and again tried to leave space. I knew what was coming, it always does, "bang" and that was me up in the air flying deep into the gravel.

It took me ages to get out and I was already about 40 seconds down. I felt like hitting escape right away.

Made a effort to get back into things. I was trying to make my way up the field.

I eventually caught PR. I was about 2-2.5 secs a lap quicker but even in the early stages he was not for letting me past.

Although it was for position it was costing us both huge amounts of time with really only one end result. I was far too quick to hold for too long but the Bi-turbo is too fast on the straight.

I went around the outside only for cotact to be made and further time lost. PR then allowed me in front.

I soon made a stupid mistake and decided to pit slightly early and not try and pass PR again.

The pit crew stood and looked at the car and I was dropping even further behind.

Out on fresh rubber I was catching the leader, at that time, at a really fast rate. Although I was a mile quicker on new tyres he refused to budge.

After nearly running off the track he still tried to hold me behind. He was putting us both at risk for really no reason. Why? Completely pointless!

I eventually got my car back in front and felt a little clip on my rear. I can only say the outcome servers you right.

I was catching up with Jan and Mark McLean. Mark ran off and gave up and I had Jan in my sights.

I then ran off again and those gravel traps are really hard to get out.

That was another 20 seconds lost and just completed what was a horrible race,

The track is actually quite good I just had a race to forget.

Congrats Jeff and SBG

[psuedo]

I had the pace to mix it up front too.....for about 6/7 laps till my badly abused tyres started playing up  

Dead chuffed with pole....a pb by nearly 1/2 a second  

Started ok...lapping quite consistent and keeping a steady 1 to 1.5 secs ahed of SBG, but I was pushing a bit to try and get a bit of a lead so that I wouldn't lose out too badly in the pits, and over used my tyres in the first quarter....so ended up visiting the kitty litter a couple of times and lost 4 or 5 places....

Then Mike lapped me, and I lost another 30 seconds or so extracting myself once again from the litter.  .....just don't do it on apexes of corners Mike, it nearly always ends in tears.  

Never really recovered any rythem back then so finished in my usual sort of place.

Ahh well, It was good praccy for tuesday and next Sunday, where I'm quicker still in the GTC's  

Grats to winners and podiums...good race (ish) lol

[picnic]

Replay and Provisional Results posted

[Kerr]

Is anybody else having trouble with the replay?

I can't extract the file as it says it's damaged

[picnic]

You've downloaded all 90MB already!

[Paul968]

The download terminated early the first time for me too. 2nd time was fine.

[picnic]

Is anybody else having trouble with the replay?

I can't extract the file as it says it's damaged

I've now downloaded the whole thing and it opens ok in winrar

[Kerr]

It's ok now

[Truetom]

What do you eat lately, Picnic? Mind if I have a bite?    Great driving, buddy. 

TT

[H@L9000]

Good race for me 

Lots of battles early on with nice driving by all. There was a bit of a hesitant moment near the end of the race going in to the last corner where I made a real mess of letting several battling GT2's pass but it turned out OK just about. Apart from Simon taking advantage 

[Paul968]

Unofficial Race Report

[picnic]

What do you eat lately, Picnic? Mind if I have a bite?    Great driving, buddy. 

Thanks TT After several really poor races (hate Dubai) last night's race was a pleasant change. I used one of Freq's setups that at least meant the car remained consistent throughout the sessions. The setup is a little loose for my liking but apart from some minor slidey moments in the race it was always under control Thanks Freq Found it hard to do a quick lap without falling off though. Twice I was only .15 off the pole time at the second split to just fall off

Hard place to pass the 'slower' GT3 cars. Thanks due, no real issues with the way it went TVM chaps

[ginsters sponsored]

Really tough and enjoyable race that

Nice pole from Bob Just about impossible to pass a well driven Viper in the 811 and Bob drove his really well for first 6 or 7 laps. However, I did pressurise him as much as I could and would like to think that did for him in the end  . Good stuff.

Then, up to pitstop I couldn't really tell where I was in class with Fozz, good to see you back, and other GT2 cars in the mix. Not really surprised to see it was our Paul who was closest and even less surprised when he took 3 seconds outta me in pits. After that gap was down to 2 seconds and the heat was on. Could now see Paul and also note that he was pushing really hard so, instead of settling for second and revelling in a KC 1/2, my ego got the better of me and I pushed as hard as I could. Driving well outta my comfort zone and regularly lapping in the 55's but Paul still gained on me slowly, but consistently, over 10 or so laps. Didn't really have anything left to give as Paul finally closed to a couple of tenths and duly slipped a little through final turn but this must have surprised Paul and he duly slid off as I held my slide :'( Sad end to a great fight and I think we at least deserved to duke it out after that struggle. Pretty much a boring cruise to finish then.

Congrats to JR and our Paul for the amazing pace carrying the bag of spuds Lapping was excellent from my point of view and many showed great patience as Paul and I fought our own fight.

[Simon Gymer]

Well, I decided at the last moment to hop onto the server. No setup, no practice and starting at the back I thought it can only get better from there. I stiffened the rear to the max and softened the front to the max to get the car to turn round the constant barage of twistiness, plonked a load of fuel in, put medium-hards on as usual and hoped for the best.

Picked off a couple near the start and then it was hard work for the rest of the race.

Pit stop was a shambles. I requested my stop but didn't check my blue light, so when I came in I found my space already taken by H@l9000 and so I effectively did a drive through and came back in a lap later wasting me a good 20-25 seconds I would think. Completely my own fault for not paying attention. I thought that would be the end for me, but somehow I was still vaguely in touch with some of the other GT3s and near the end I caught up with 2 of them and sneaked by pretending to be a GT2 behind a couple of team mates as they lapped the GT3s.

Without the extra pit stop I would have finished 3rd in class which would have been a brilliant result considering where i started and how I started. Think the setup needed some work, although not sure what, probably even more stiffness at the rear as there were still a few clicks of rear anti-rollbar I could have added.