UKGTR Season 8 Lower Endurance (GT3) - Brands Hatch (GP) - Oct 12

[zak]

well I got DC'd just before race rather anoying..although I didn't practice. as my qually time was pretty bad. - but I know the track well and would of been a lot more confident in race pace. (possibly) - looks as if I missed out on a good race. - shame!. next time!

[picnic]

Shame about your spin picnic. As I came around the corner at full tilt & saw you'd done a 180, I tried to react but had nowhere to go.

Sadly my car was nursing some damage before hand, you may expect some understeer they told me. So why did the car swap ends on my half way through the corner with no front end grip and stop dead unlike if it had loads of downforce where I would have carried on much further No fault of yours Legzy and I'm glad you didn't pick up any significant damage.

Rubbish race for me, too many little mistakes and one big one that cost me the damage  :'(

[Clive Loynes]

Well, that was an experience.

All started to unravel on the formation lap when Legzy threw me a curve ball by throwing himself in the gravel at Stirlings.  Whilst I tried to remember the relevant procedure he regained the tarmac and scuttled off.  Leaving me trying to remember which was the speed limiter button.

By the time that was sorted you were all miles away and I judged that as Legzy disappeared into Paddock it should be safe to take the limiter off again.

Trundled round and round quite happily until I started to be lapped.  Then things got a bit hairy.  Hope I didn’t cause too much anxiety. 

I only had one “off” of my own, the rest of my trips to the gravel were the result of trying to get out of the way and then over doing it.

Don’t suppose there is any chance of Road America being flat?  My z3M was getting in a right tank slapper through Dingle Dell and I would like to find out what it is supposed to feel like under normal conditions.  Hawthorns and Westfield are about the only two corners at Brands that I would call normal.

Not given in yet.

[Truetom]

Well, that was one of the more tiring races recently. After my lucky lap in quali (I don't think I could do that laptime again   ) I was quickly passed by Busi - didn't expect such a quick pace after your   in quali.    Freq had some more troubles with the car - must be the car, in every other series your 2 sec faster than me.    Busi then made a mistake and we were then very close together, swapping places, trying to stay away from eachother - I don't think we made any contact, did we? Good stuff!    That (and his great pace) allowed Dan Minton to close the gap and he passed us both. We made contact, me and Dan in the fast corner entrance. Didn't see the replay yet, but in my view the reason was the speed difference at the entry into the corner. Dan went sideways a bit and this slowed him down. I think he would have normaly made the corner - it's how the that crazy xxxx    drives. Anyway, we touched (lightly, just a breeze) and he spun. Sorry.   I wanted to stay close to Busi and if I'd wait for Dan, Busi would drive away. So I decided to drive on and let Dan by when he catches me again - I had no doubt that he will.  

Pitting was a nightmare - rookie mistake caused changing tyres only and no fuel being added. I had to pit again just for fuel.    Came out of the second pitstop just behind Michael Boylan (linus27 - what's with the double name mess   ) in his Elise. Not my fault, Mike, you were hasty. Elise is fast enough to keep Vertigo behind - if you don't spin under braking, that is.     Was about 13 seconds behind Dan Minton then, with 30 minutes 'till the end of the race. Chase was hideous - great driving, buddy. Gap was closing sloooooooowly - only got on his tail in the last 3 minutes. Wasn't really sure if I will try to pass (even if I could) 'cause of our previous contact - I just wanted to catch him.    Well, he made a mistake and went into sand - bad luck, buddy.  

2nd place and still in the game for Championship title. Roll on to Road America - finaly, finaly a race at this great circuit.    Too bad it isn't Super Endurance. Well, I guess this is more a ViperCC teritory with the loooooong straights. Well, beemer also. And Elise, Nissan, Porsche. Hm, ok, everything is faster on straight than Vertigo.   But we'll see how their tyres last.  

TT

[Mike Hammer]

The Elise has been wonderful with the default setup at all other tracks I've tried it on. Not here. Horrible, disgusting understeer that I could not get rid of. Only thing that made the bugger turn was going over the light gas - no gas boundry, because even at continuous complete lift off didn't do the trick sufficienty. This, coupled with full throttle uncontrolled oversteer didn't do wonders for me.

Brands is an absolutely smashing track however.....in TC65 in GTL  especially the Alfa.

After my umpteenth off/spin I saw I was about to take out a Nissan as it approached to lap me, so I quit in shame and disgust. Better "luck" next time.

[Ken Murray]

Don’t suppose there is any chance of Road America being flat? 

Well it's not flat but there isn't anything as bad as Paddock Hill.  It's a fantastic race circuit actually, one of the best in the world I'd say, although obviously I've only ever driven it on a PC.

[Linus27]

Pitting was a nightmare - rookie mistake caused changing tyres only and no fuel being added. I had to pit again just for fuel.    Came out of the second pitstop just behind Michael Boylan (linus27 - what's with the double name mess   ) in his Elise. Not my fault, Mike, you were hasty. Elise is fast enough to keep Vertigo behind - if you don't spin under braking, that is.     TT

Yeah my fault totally. Graham Hill bend was a nightmare. Third gear was too slow on the exit and second gear you had to be careful or the rears spin up. As I never changed my tyres, I had less grip on the rears so when I dropped to second to get a quick exit, I did it slightly to early causing the rears to spin out making my back end step out. Don't forget we can't change the gear ratios in the Lotus so your stuck with what you get.

I agree with Mike, the Elise really suffers with snap oversteer at times but even worse, major understeer. I was struggling all race to get the car turned in to meet the apex. It was either to early or way to late.

Don't understand what you mean about the names thing.

[Linus27]

Don’t suppose there is any chance of Road America being flat? 

Well it's not flat but there isn't anything as bad as Paddock Hill.  It's a fantastic race circuit actually, one of the best in the world I'd say, although obviously I've only ever driven it on a PC.

I have driven the real circuit a few times. In fact I am up there next Wednesday. The PC version is nothing like the real version, especially Paddock Hill. The drop down through Paddock Hill is enormous and every time you go through it, it feels like you whole head compresses into your shoulders. Even at 15mph in a minibus, let alone at speed in a sports car. After a while, it actually starts to hurt. It also knocks the wind out of you or zaps your energy as your whole body compresses. Druids is also profiled wrong. The real version you need to V, so turn in late, meet the apex mid corner and then let the car run out wide.

It was great to drive the full version last night though. Don't get to do that often.

[purdie]

grats Busi 

[Ken Murray]

I have driven the real circuit a few times. In fact I am up there next Wednesday. The PC version is nothing like the real version, especially Paddock Hill. The drop down through Paddock Hill is enormous and every time you go through it, it feels like you whole head compresses into your shoulders. Even at 15mph in a minibus, let alone at speed in a sports car. After a while, it actually starts to hurt. It also knocks the wind out of you or zaps your energy as your whole body compresses. Druids is also profiled wrong. The real version you need to V, so turn in late, meet the apex mid corner and then let the car run out wide.

It was great to drive the full version last night though. Don't get to do that often.

I was actually meaning I hadn't driven Road America in real life! I haven't ridden/driven Brands for that matter although I have real life experience of many UK short circuits, especially the Northern ones. 

All PC simulations suffer from their inability to simulate G forces, either lateral or vertical. The track mapping of gradient changes like Paddock Hill may not actually be so innacurate but most people drive with totally unrealistic FOV's and the image becomes stretched on the moniter and so it gives the impression of being less steep. I drive with a FOV of about 50 deg, and even that isn't correct. It should be nearer 30 deg to give a realistic image.

[purdie]

yeah paddock hill is real steep, i've walked up it a few times!! dont realise when your just driving 

[Linus27]

I have driven the real circuit a few times. In fact I am up there next Wednesday. The PC version is nothing like the real version, especially Paddock Hill. The drop down through Paddock Hill is enormous and every time you go through it, it feels like you whole head compresses into your shoulders. Even at 15mph in a minibus, let alone at speed in a sports car. After a while, it actually starts to hurt. It also knocks the wind out of you or zaps your energy as your whole body compresses. Druids is also profiled wrong. The real version you need to V, so turn in late, meet the apex mid corner and then let the car run out wide.

It was great to drive the full version last night though. Don't get to do that often.

I was actually meaning I hadn't driven Road America in real life! I haven't ridden/driven Brands for that matter although I have real life experience of many UK short circuits, especially the Northern ones. 

All PC simulations suffer from their inability to simulate G forces, either lateral or vertical. The track mapping of gradient changes like Paddock Hill may not actually be so innacurate but most people drive with totally unrealistic FOV's and the image becomes stretched on the moniter and so it gives the impression of being less steep. I drive with a FOV of about 50 deg, and even that isn't correct. It should be nearer 30 deg to give a realistic image.

Have you driven Oulton park? I drove that back in June and that is an amazing circuit. So much grip but so little run of areas. Plus it flows so well. Really want to go back again. The next one on my list is Snetterton. The long starights should be a blast.

[Legzy]

All started to unravel on the formation lap when Legzy threw me a curve ball by throwing himself in the gravel at Stirlings. 

Sorry Clive, I think that was about the time my Mrs came to "talk to me". She likes to wait till the race starts which is nice I think. 

Further round while engaging my limiter on the S/F straight, I was wondering why I couldn't see you? I was thinking you were going to be really clever & time a high speed run on us as we all got going over the line!

[Ken Murray]

Have you driven Oulton park? I drove that back in June and that is an amazing circuit. So much grip but so little run of areas. Plus it flows so well. Really want to go back again. The next one on my list is Snetterton. The long starights should be a blast.

Yes, I've been there a few times over the years. I agree, it's one of my favourite circuits too, as you say it has really good flow to it. It was even better before the dreaded chicanes!!

I've been to Snetterton a couple of times as well. I've done some 6 hour endurance races there. 3 man teams with 1 hour long stints on the bike. On one of them it absolutely peed it down the whole 6 hours, not pleasant!

[Blunder]

Wow that was intense!
Not a moments rest! in the 80mins!
Racing on the practice server with Michael, Linus, whatever you name is!  really helped the other day.
Didn't quite manage a PB in quali but did in the race!
Loved every minute and to finish 7th was great!
Do wonder what I did wrong in the pit stop as I lost 40 secs on the road to the guys in front!
I stupidly chaged 4 tyres when just the front 2 would have done but 40 secs!?
Puzzled!

M,