UKGTL Season 7 - Le Mans (Sarthe) - Apr 16

[dynosaur]

My race ended with a nice engine failure! Thanks for the season and race, guys! And grats whoever the podium are!

[ross.mcw]

Qualie'd 11th with a second to spare only to find I was then having to start from the pits (?).  Came out, to see the grid had pretty much left me behind although it sounds like I missed a fair bit of carnage (one smoking wreck that I could see).

Spent the first few laps having some fun with a gaggle of Panteras, before pitting a lap too early which caused me to run out of fuel on the last bloody lap!  Oh well.  Tyres were shot long before that anyhow.

Great job Oily and Spanner, and well done to all those that finished.  It's been great fun joining in this season.

Cheers, Ross.

[ginsters sponsored]

I am so sorry guys, totally my fault, all the carnage at the start.  Thought I'd got the start just right, and shifted to 2nd and had too much throttle and started spinning.   
Cause I'd launched Ginsters sideways I waited behind him while he recovered and that must have cause more problems, although the cars would have hit him instead of me.

Cwap and no worries Steve. I wish that was bad as it got for me :'( After that got back up to 4th only too spend 3mins in pit fixing something. Then started catching up again, only to suffer a pc freeze and, although I was lucky to come back in game, it wasn't Lemans as I remembered it. Sure there wasn't upright sections, like walls, along Mullsane before I left. Whenever anybody got close I just let them by as I didn't want my trip to ruin anyones race. Another crud race through no fault of my own.

Be back to congratulate winners when I've simmered down

[Minton]

Well that was all going to plan at one point managed to get up to 5th before my stop. Totally F88ked up my stop by not turning off repair damage so a stop that should have taken 35 secs took a minute and a half    ,   Race was screwed by then and to top it all off i had to make a splash and dash one lap before the end.    Maybe could have got a podium .

First few laps was great not sure who i was battling with but there was 4 or 5 of us , i was getting some mega slip streams down the long straights ..great stuff guys.   And also SBg who i had a good battle with, it was tough trying to see through the smoke screen plus it was wrecking my fps.

Grats to PR on the win ,Oily and Geoffers for getting on the podium   and to my teamie Matt for an amazing fastest lap of the race 1.24.xx  , blows the lap record away by 2 secs.  Big up ya chest!!!

Another great season of GTL thanks to SBG and everyone who took part. I think P & G should take over IMO its just shite that theres no Escort's, Beemer's , Capris and Pantera's.



Cheers

[Madd-RIP]

Had a nightmare of a start Steve spun his Panty into Ian who then smacked me and to make it worse I then got shunted over the pit wall!

Just about got around a lap with no spolers and a badly braking car to the pits but was sitting around waiting for repairs , fuel and tyres for 2 minutes, result......stone dead last by a looooooong way, nearly thought about quitting but my co-driver.........' The Red Mist' slapped me and made me drive my ass off or face the shame!

I just went for it, putting quali laps in to make up time and it worked, slowly started reeling in people, sometimes a couple at a time so that by the time I had to stop for fuel on lap 14 I was up to 10th, a quick tyre change and some fuel and got the hammer down once more, basically I just nailed everywhere even taking the corner before virage indy flat out sometimes, caught up my teammate Dan and Ian fighting for 10th and managed to squeeze past Ian (just read your post which explains it) before Mulsanne and then got past Dan (which explains why you were there too  ) at the end of it, Ade moved over on my all time pb lap of 4.24.7 and I was almost past Phil before we crossed the line to finish in 9th.

Really enjoyed it and apart from the pile up on the grid everyone drove impeccably,

Congrats to Pribeiro on another Le Mans win and also many congratulations to Dan on winning the drivers championship.

Also congrats to the 2nd and 3rd drivers and to the runner ups in the team championship.

Bring on the next season....it can't come soon enough!!

[Mike Cook]

I think it was amazing that I even finished that race!

I was on a pretty solid quay lap, probably would have got somewhere around 4:37 but alas I slipped off the track in the last esses and although I thought I'd be able to keep going, I got tapped up the behind which took me off and there was just not enough time to do another two laps. Therefore I started the race near the back of the grid.

I got off the line solid enough with everyone else and as I had a little more speed than the guy in front I thought I'd go down the left where there was a nice gap. All looked good, nice clear gap in front....or at least there was -- suddenly I found myself ploughing into a couple of stationary cars. They just popped out of nowhere 

As you can imagine, my car was in a bad way, though I kept going for a few laps but was finding it hard to keep up with the cars in front. I figured I'd try my chances with an early pit stop in the hope that the mechanics could fix it well enough to be drivable....not a chance; it felt like I was driving on jelly!

I had massive understeer during acceleration, massive oversteer while coasting, and once the tyres started to go off the thing became really unstable. I was wobbling around like crazy through all those esses and to be honest, I'm surprised I kept it on the track as much as I did. I'm even more surprised that I actually finished the race.

I've certainly learned much during my first racing season (well, half season) and I guess if there's one thing I can take away with me is this; Unless you anywhere near the front of the grid, don't even bother trying to overtake on the start. And, as SBG has said many times, patience, patience, patience.

Let's hope my next season is more fruitful. :-D

[Wiltshire Tony]

That start was so weird. Pulled away with nothing in front of me then bam, I'm driving into someone elses accident. They just appeared. So really sorry to whoever I hit but nothing I could of done. Screwed my race anyway as I had suspension and body damage.

Well done to Oily for bringing home the big points  and thanks to all the TP boy's for a great season. Sorry Oldies, maybe next time eh?
Thanks SBG for all the hard work behind the scenes sorting stuff out for us muppets, it's appreciated, loads.

[Samb]

A bittersweet end to the season. The results suggest I had a pretty good race, finishing 5th a managing to set a new record for the Mclaren - although I managed a 4.29 in practice an hour earlier. However, I wasn't happy with the way I drove this race. I had far too many spins throughout the race. I reckon I may have finished 3rd if I could keep the car on the road.

After qualifying 4th, with a conservative lap, I put the power down at the start and I fear that from looking at the replay, I may have given Steve a warp assisted nudge across the track which resulted in chaos behind me. I can't stress how sorry I am  . My internet connection was simply appauling for the first few laps. I hadn't any idea just how bad it was as the competitors I was racing seemed fine and fluid behind me. This isn't the first time my internet connection has let me down in GTL - not to mention my computer's anti virus software that keeps minimising the game! It was also a catalyst for the mayhem at Bayfront Park as well as other races which messed up people's battles. It is really such a shame as I'd love to continue racing in GTL, but if my internet keeps persisting shoddy quality at the start of a race, the most vital point, then I may have to pack my bags and stick with GPL.

Back to the race itself, well, I was in 2nd for a short while when Pribeiro shot away into the distance and I was fighting the back end through one of the corners and Dyno clipped me as I was trying to correct the car. No harm done really as I probably would have spun round without his aid. Rejoined in 4th and stayed there, about 3-4 seconds off the pace of my qualifying time, until the 9th lap where the tyres had lost all their grip which made the Mclaren even more of a beast to handle. I then spun again as the second chicane down the Mulsanne straight, and was down to 5th. Pitted the next lap and was down to 9th. Then I spent the rest of the race in catchup mode and other people pitting and passing a couple others, I was up to 5th again by the race's end. Only spun once during the second phase of the race  .

So, overall then, my first season of GTL has been reasonably enjoyable. If the internet hadn't cut out during the Nurburgring race I reckon I could have finished the season in 4th place, but 7th is still not too shabby for a first attempt. Yes, I've made plenty of mistakes, but that's why I'm a sim-racer and do not get paid for such a task  . Ah well; I may attempt a few races next season but if my hardware/software combination keeps letting me down, then I'll call it a day. Thanks to everyone for a brilliant season and some excellent clean driving which made the duels throughout the races particullaly enjoyable. See you all at a later time.

[Legzy]

Lost my network connection right at the end on Practice on what was already a full server! Had to restart PC & was just hoping I'd be able to get back in! Yup, got my slot back... 28th spot of 28  .

What was not so good was that I had less then 8mins to complete an out-lap & a timed lap  Gave it my best shot, nailed them both but only got to the last curve before the final double chicane  So started 21st on the grid.

After the grid carnage (with half the cars being invisible to me) which I was lucky to get through unscathed, I was up to about 15th. From then it was just amazing racing, I was flying & had some tremendous battles. For the life of me I couldn't shake Minton in his slower 906, your corner exit skills were on top form & you totally filled my rear view on every straight, back to back for about 3.5 laps! Despite that pesky Dan, I managed to get myself up to 6th(?) on lap 5 for about 20secs, but Spanner & me managed to have a little rub under turning & braking & span. He very kindly waited while I recovered from the wall & the sand & followed me for the next lap. My car wasn't right but I thought it was OK to continue... I should have pitted. On the next lap, I briefly relaxed & it span itself under braking & I hit two walls! Had to limp round to the pits & waited for the repairs that took 3+mins. Rejoined in 24th but car still wasn't right after full repairs but was fine to push on. Sadly I just couldn't get with in 2 secs of my best lap time so far (still 5 secs off my PB from night before).

Gradually picked people off again & eventually finished up a decent 14th. But it was a case of the one that got away, as I feel confident a top five finish was on the cards for me tonight. Never mind, I still had a most enjoyable race 

Well done to PR on the win again, Oily for his continued recent good form & Geoffers for just holding off Lazlow's challenge for 3rd.

Well done to the Prodigy boys on getting 3rd team overall, it's been great competition this season & I've very much enjoyed the banter with Oily/Tony & the guys for much of the season .  But we'll be taking no prisoners next season, so look out because these Oldies are learning new tricks 

Well done Minton, Madd & Ginsters on the season podium 

Thanks to all the drivers, it's been great fun. The close & considerate driving plus the regular banter are why I love it here. I hope to see you all in my rear view again soon (very soon, I'm hoping we'll be doing something next Thursday?  ).

Massive thanks to SBG, who's done it all & had to stand up to all the questions etc on his own this season. You have done yet another marvelous job sir, hats off to you. But I'm not sure you can get a bigger tribute/compliment then, the last six races of this GTL season have seen six 100% FULL grids in a row. Amazing.

[Tim Robey]

Made a mess of qualifying, forgetting that I had only 15 mins to get a time in. I span off on my first hot lap, but rather than carrying on, I went back to the garage & mucked about with my gears and ran out of time to get a decent grid slot.

The race was OK, but I made far too many silly mistakes, it felt like pass someone, go off, they pass me, pass them again, go off etc....

I pitted around half distance, wanted to leave it a couple of laps later but I was desperate for a "slash & dash"  so just refueled and repaired the bodywork whilst I had a tinkle. Both driver and car felt better after that but I soon pranged it again.... Grrrrrrr..... 

But at the end my back and legs were starting to ache. I was hoping I had been lapped twice and could get it over sooner, but no chance.

Thanks for the racing, I enjoyed my first season and am looking forward to the next season, either GTL or PnG.

Thanks SBG for all the hard work behind the scenes sorting stuff out for us muppets, it's appreciated, loads.

Agree with Tony 100% there. Thanks SBG for looking after us!

[Spadowski]

Sorry to whoever hit me at the chicane on the first lap. I spun going in and with cars bearing down decided it was safer to stay put rather than move one way or the other. (Figured a stationery target was easier to miss.) Well someone clobbered me. Sorry if that caused you any problems.

Reason I've missed so many races this year is due to medical crap. Severe recurring dizziness. Desperately wanted to make this race as my last Le Mans race ended with a system crash, so I had unfinished business. Spent the first half of the race not feeling too bad, having a fairly epic battle with Veldhoven. Then the second half it's a good job I was on my own as I felt very ill and almost had to quit twice but tried to keep going and ultimately

blah blah blah... Like anyone will read this anyway.

[Blunder]

blah blah blah... Like anyone will read this anyway.

We ALL will buddy.
Sorry to hear your having a rough time of it!
Hope your on the mend soon. 

[Blunder]

Had good news and bad last night! 

Quali lap was too slow! 

Blistering start ! saw that GT40 going sideways and steered to the right to miss it and I was gone! in 3rd! with everybody else nowhere!!  Perfect start !!

Put in lots of good solid laps, let Dynosaur and Mr Oily past as I was not gonna risk any incidents when I was doing so well and Team Oldie needed the points!

The bad news! Just clipped the grass while braking for the twisties at the end of lap 9 ? and hit the barrier hard!
Car was damaged but carried on. Was then up to 3 seconds a lap slower. Took Legzy's advise and pitted earlier than planned to see the extent of the damage! Ooops 40s aero, 90sec suspension! Took the gamble and did not repair them!
Hung on and scrapped 6th! Was flying in practice so should have done much better!
( Gambling on the suspension was a big gamble as I had a similiar problem here in a 906 once, only for it to give up totally a few laps later. )

Wow, how things/people have improved since last year! In that race I was doing 4.35's to 4.40's and lucked a second place but laptimes of everybody have come down hugely! Managed a 4.30.5 in practice, my PB!

Big thanks to sbg for another awesome season. Must take a lot of effort to pull this together every week with excellent track/car choices. As Legzy said, adding a Teamspeak server for some extra banter is also adding to the fun!

Whether it is GTL or PnG next season, I will not miss it for anything! 
( Don't tell the missus!  )

 
Thanks to all, great fun, close racing

Rollon S8 

[dynosaur]

Samb
"Dyno clipped me as I was trying to correct the car. No harm done really as I probably would have spun round without his aid."

I was correcting your possible spin there, Samb!  Maybe a "Sorry" is not in order this time, eh? Glad you were able to continue, but your warping was the reason for the clip. I felt I was a bit faster than you at the time, so I tried to make a clean passing maneuver, but one time you were far and the second time just in front of me, lag was quite massive, so it wasn´t easy.

Thanks for SBG and everyone, this was my first full season, really enjoyed the races with you guys! Bring on season 8! 

[Minton]

For the life of me I couldn't shake Minton in his slower 906, your corner exit skills were on top form & you totally filled my rear view on every straight, back to back for about 3.5 laps! Despite that pesky Dan

That was top draw mate, i was an inch from your bumper at some stages .