UKGTR Season 8 Upper Endurance (GT1/GT2) - Spa (2004-6) - Sep 21 - Super

[Truetom]

I think this race was even harder than the other one over at r2p when we had 3 hrs in changeable weather. 

Started ok, after I joined I wanted to check my race setup and made 2.14 which I felt was ok 'cause I knew I could be faster here and there. After session ended I just reduced my fuel and put on softs. Was ready to quali session, pushed the button and found myself on track on racing grid.    Seems like I joined a bit late and into the quali session. I could be a bit higher on start. 

Anyway, gained some places from the beginning by mistakes of others and some shoulder bracing got me up to 4th. Nose to tail in 1st, 2nd and 3rd stint with Gazza, Busi, Mike, RM... Tough.    Saleen's got enough power and kept me safe from most of the cars - must have been frustrating not to be able to pass while you were faster overall. Busi was pesky  in his Corvette and I had to do some defensive driving in 2nd stint and same with Mike in the 3rd stint. I lost my 2nd place in the pits, I know I could keep it from Busi if I came out before him.    I didn't want to run out of fuel (again), so I took too much    and lost two places. Was able to get the 3rd back on last lap - it was a desperate move, but I knew it was my only chance and after I got alongside I didn't back out. I wasn't sure if we touched and Gazza told me we did only after the race. Have to watch the replay, I wanted to leave enough room for ya.    Hope this didn't decisively affect the outcome. 

Good show from all drivers, thanks to Busi and Mike to be patient and to Gazza to be a gentleman.    Very few mistakes up front, a reliable bunch.    Missed my Nemesis Sharky boy, but others more than made up for him.    Grats to Freq. 

To bad MJ, you were fast in training and worked very hard for this race. To have the car damaged even before proper racing started is frustrating at the least. 

TT       

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

I started with 100l so may have helped me a lot but we'll never know.

It would probably have leaped you past me at the first stop. Given the very long pit lane, and knowing the car was a handful in Eau Rouge on a full tank, I started with just 65l and planned to do three equal stints, fuelling back to 65l each time and using softs all the way through. I think that was the right decision; I made up a lot of time in the middle stint with the other GT2 cars stopping later.

I wondered what the heck was going on at the start; you seemed to go and then I realised your limiter was still on and had to slow again - that problably caused a bit of a chain reaction behind. Perhaps for next season we need to adjust the rule so that if you reach the line and the car ahead hasn't gone yet you just get on with it.

Scariest moment of the race was Mike Hammer passing me on the left out of Stavelot when I was trying to stay left so he could pass me on the right.

Nearly binned it twice in the last 15 minutes, first running wide in Pouhon, and then almost doing a Kimi and losing it on the exit of Blanchimont, luckily just grazing along the wall on the left. Also managed to clip the pit wall whilst pitting for my first stop, which meant they had to tape my splitter on.

I thought it would be darked when the race ended, was a bit disappointed that the sun was still just about up.

That's my first proper class win since the Le Mans special before the start of the season - very pleased to get it and take a narrow lead in the GT2 championship.

[Truetom]

Hm, forgot to say GT2s were all proper gents. Almost clipped JPS in Eau Rouge, the speed difference is enormous!    Grats on win, DG. 

[Blunder]

Wow, more, more, more!
Can't we do that again for longer!? 

Was way uncompetitive and raced myself the whole time but somehow loved every minute.

Meant to post about Eau Rouge before the race, closing speeds through that section are huge.
I have had issues in the past. none last night though.

Congrats all ! Oh especially, pseudo and reign man for handing me a couple of un-deserved places on the last lap!?

When can we do it again!

M.

[Truetom]

Lol, read MJ's report and was sad.    Then I looked at the results.    I'm sorry MJ that you were only 3rd.    A good result, wouldn't you say? I'm satisfied with 3rd, thank you. 

[Mark J]

hehe, yeah i know i cant complain too much as got the 3rd place but was hoping for a real crack at the class win, and so having that removed from the equation on the blinking formation and 1st flying laps of a 130minute long race was not the ideal scenario for me !
Will never know how it would have turned out as obviously you can put pressure on other lead cars around you and dont know if the car damage affected my lap times as i couldnt even break into the 2:23's during the race despite banging in regular 2:22's and 23's in practise with full fuel load and meds.
Once i dropped behind 3 or 4 other GT2s, i lost heaps of time trying to find a way past for many laps and by then the lead couple had steamed off into the (ever-present) setting sun. That sun was a bugger up at Malmedy !
Still had a great race anyway, thanks to Peter keeping me chasing right to the end. and 3rd is 3rd 

Gt1 cars behaved impecably too, so thanks to all.

As great as it is doing a proper endurance distance like that (ps why 130 mins and not 2hrs?...ie whats the extra 10mins for?) i do think it affects attendance levels as not easy to commit to a race for approx 3 hours of an evening for many. A fair few regular faces were missing last night who i was looking forward to racing against at this great track.
I felt properly knackered at race end and soaked in sweat, so it certainly felt like an enduro !

Shame it didnt get fully dark but watching cars blitz up through eau rouge with their headlights catching the treeline was superb 

[JPS]

Great Race for me, hardly no mistakes in the GT2 Frezza.

Felt sorry for Jonzo, saw him get clipped just before the start which allowed a couple of us to jump a head in the queue while three or four cars got caught up in the tangle.

Once things settled down I had Mark and Picnic all over the back of me, could of gone more defensive on both of them as they over took me, but it was obvious they were both quicker than me, so I didn't want things to end in tears, especially after the woes they encountered at the start.

Not a bad result, 4th GT2 (after over two hours of hard driving) seems to be my favourite top position, podium hopefully one day!

[LEUVEN]

Started OK, after I joined I wanted to check my race setup and made 2.14 which I felt was OK 'cause I knew I could be faster here and there. After session ended I just reduced my fuel and put on softs. Was ready to quali session, pushed the button and found myself on track on racing grid.    Seems like I joined a bit late and into the quali session. I could be a bit higher on start. 

If I'd have known you were just reccy-ing I wouldn't have dived out of your way on my hot lap, cost me over a second at first sector.
You Legends will try anything.................must have been MJ's idea to get the GT1's to hold us up eh

I wondered what the heck was going on at the start; you seemed to go and then I realised your limiter was still on and had to slow again - that probably caused a bit of a chain reaction behind. Perhaps for next season we need to adjust the rule so that if you reach the line and the car ahead hasn't gone yet you just get on with it.

I was half expecting people to pass as it would have been completely fair in my opinion as those behind weren't to know if I had problems or not so I wouldn't have had no problem as it was my G25's fault own fault for not remembering the new layout on the G25's buttons.
Talking of the G25, I find it more enjoyable and at a higher level than the Momo I had before, so much more realistic which makes it nicer and easier to drive with.

[Truetom]

Started OK, after I joined I wanted to check my race setup and made 2.14 which I felt was OK 'cause I knew I could be faster here and there. After session ended I just reduced my fuel and put on softs. Was ready to quali session, pushed the button and found myself on track on racing grid.    Seems like I joined a bit late and into the quali session. I could be a bit higher on start. 

If I'd have known you were just reccy-ing I wouldn't have dived out of your way on my hot lap, cost me over a second at first sector.
You Legends will try anything.................must have been MJ's idea to get the GT1's to hold us up eh

 

He's our stratego, he is. 

[Blunder]

As great as it is doing a proper endurance distance like that (ps why 130 mins and not 2hrs?...ie whats the extra 10mins for?) i do think it affects attendance levels as not easy to commit to a race for approx 3 hours of an evening for many. A fair few regular faces were missing last night who i was looking forward to racing against at this great track.

While, I understand MJ's point, can I temper that with the fact that 19 people did turn up!?
Personally, I prefer the long enduro's, probably because it suits my plodding style! ie. Not very fast  , but can do that pace all day! 
I would prefer the other extreme where we race for longer! ( Guess that won't be the consensus!! )

Not sure why we have 130mins over 120? I'm sure someone will enlighten us! May be it forces you to look at other options to just breaking it into 3, 40min sprints!?
Pit strategy, tyre wear, etc. is all part of the fun. Just wish I was better at it! 

Just my 2 pence worth 

Oh, and if anyone has any suggestions how to get quicker!?  please let me know.
Simon has shared some Lambo set up's and tip with us which are excellent to get a good set up , so thats reasonably covered.
All Legzy and I need now is a little talent!? 

Go Team Oldie!!

[Joss]

Think it's due to fuel usage. The Lambo would have to stop twice wherre as most other cars could make it on 1 if it was only 2 hours (Lister, 550). In the 2 hour Donington race I did, the winner in a 575 only did 1 stop. Saved him over a minute 

[Mike Hammer]

Think it's due to fuel usage. The Lambo would have to stop twice wherre as most other cars could make it on 1 if it was only 2 hours (Lister, 550). In the 2 hour Donington race I did, the winner in a 575 only did 1 stop. Saved him over a minute 

550?
Hmm, I used 100, 100 and 90. Iirc, tank had 1, 2 and 3 laps left of fuel at pitstops and finish line. Yeah,so I had a bit of extra fuel, but to stretch 200L over just 10 minutes shorter race? Sounds a bit much to me? Perhaps the SROU version of the 550 gets fewer miles per gallon? Or then I'm a gas guzzler 

[Jeffrey]

Think it's due to fuel usage. The Lambo would have to stop twice wherre as most other cars could make it on 1 if it was only 2 hours (Lister, 550). In the 2 hour Donington race I did, the winner in a 575 only did 1 stop. Saved him over a minute 

But 2 stops are manditory, so 2 hours would also work

[Joss]

Ya, no madatory stops in R2P, so he short shifted all race (and was impressivly fast with it) and only pitted once. My best was a 25.5 and he managed a 25.4, short shifting. V Fast. That was a 575 though.

Maybe the 550 uses more fuel than the 575? I don't know.