iRacing Season 4 Radical - Sebring (Modified) - Aug 24

[Adam Parle]

I was rubbish.

Nearly took Pops out early on, and then managed to lose the back end and hit him on a subsequent lap.  My steering was "compromised", and I soldiered on for as long as I could stand, but with my incident points catching up with my laps completed I retired.

Had the car been a bit more stable it could have been fun, but it wasn't an enjoyable combo for me.

[Brendan]

I like Sebring, but not in the Radical.

Couldn't get any consistency going in practice and was frustrated in qually even though a PB was enough for 4th.  T1 was real squeaky bum stuff, but I managed to get through unscathed and tried to settle in for the long haul.  I'd gone long on fuel and was keeping a reasonable pace, not really losing time to Gary, or gaining much over Paul T behind.

That was until about 6 laps in, the back end got out of shape in T1.............. I think we all know the rest.

I had to let the field by and when I rejoined the steering was off.  I was having to hold the wheel at 1 o'clock but it was driveable and I thought I'd try and regain some places through others attrition.  This worked to a small degree until I made the same mistake again.   Wheel now at 2 o'clock.

Decided to stick around and was lapped again and again, but was still 7th.  Got upto 6th at one point, but my straight line speed was compromised and I couldn't keep Pops at bay down the back straight.  A few more errors later and I decided to call it a day.

Very disappointed with my races of late, must sort it out.

Grats to Dave on a fine win, and to Simon and Gary for the podium.

[popabawa]

A big sigh of relief for me, I finished Yeah, I was a bit slow but mission accomplished for tonight.

The start was a lot of fun with Adam, Andy & I swapping places until everyone at the back dropped away and I was on my own, Pops v's Sebring with 40-odd laps to go

After my sight tap from Adam my steering was a bit off but nothing too dramatic but my tyres were horrible 20 laps in and I was glad of the stop to get new boots. The car felt loads better during the 2nd half, not that I went any quicker mind...

Can't complain at 6th  place looking at the lap times, slow & steady does it!

[Simon Gymer]

That was a really fun race for me. After getting a 1:03.3 in practice, I didn't quite repeat it in qually and had to settle for 6th.

Race started fine, but was soon having some brilliant wheel-to-wheel action with Paul. Eventually I got past him I think it was at the end of the back straight? Anyway, started to pull away and close on Gary. Gary was about the same speed as me everywhere but T1 and that's where I attempted a move. However I caught the bump on the inside, skewed horribly sideways but somehow held onto the car. This lost me a couple of seconds, but it had me flustered and the same lap I got the exit onto the back straight wrong and took too much inside curb to get me a cut warning and a slow down message. This let Paul close the gap completely again and as I sped up we raced side-by-side into the tight right at the end of the back straight. I came out ahead again, but realised this may have screwed up my chance to still retain a podium and change tyres.

About a lap later I came in to pit. Put in 9.9 gallons, which was a bit too much and changed tyres as I had no idea how much was left on them. Dunno how, but after Gary pitted he was only 5 seconds ahead of me then and I once again pushed as hard as I could to catch him. Once I'd caught him I couldn't quite get close enough to make a move though as I seemed to make a few errors dropping me back to a second behind him and have to close in again.

I think it was with 4 to go I'd got really close again though and I was feeling quite confident I could maintain the pace and make some sort of move. I think again at the end of the back straight I eventually made it stick and from then on it was just keeping completely focused to make sure I was fast enough for him not to be able to get back at me.

Well done to Gizmo on the win. Delighted with 2nd to make it a Gymer 1-2. Makes up for last time out getting disco'd early on.

Was a very tough combination that, but once I had found a good setup I could do the last corner flat and I only had to concentrate on mastering T1. The setup made so much difference here and once I stopped trying to get back to low 1:03s I managed low 1:04s fairly easily in the race. Posted my setup on the Team Shark website if anyone wants it.

[Gazza49er]

WOW that was tough 

Wasn't sure whether to race or not as i didn't think i could last 56 laps and the stress of T1 and the last corner, but practise showed i was sort of on the pace so went for it.

Outdid myself in Qually and got 2nd, was a little worried being among the fast guys so went very steady at the start and Darren mugged me  (i owed him).  Settled down into a pace which was a little slower than i could go but i was just to scared to really push in those bumpy corners and i was holding my own with Simon only ever a couple of seconds behind putting the pressure on, had a bad in lap making a few errors and put fuel and changed tyres. Came out 5 secs ahead of Simon and apart from one moment i was holding the position. As Paul pitted i got 2nd back but with 3 or 4 to go i made a slight mistake coming onto the back straight and Simon got a run on me and got me, i tried to make him work for it but he got through 

Very pleased to get a podium there as that was a tough combo and i hadn't driven the Radical hardly at all.

Grats Dave & Simon

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

What an event of contrasts for me!

I've always loved Sebring, even (perhaps even especially) in the Radical, but after yesterdays's surprise topping of the testing time sheets, I spent the whole practice session feeling very uncomfortable and really struggled to get to grips with the car. Tried a bunch of setup changes but to no avail, nothing really improved my comfort level and I sort of mentally resigned myself to just aiming for a podium rather than fighting for a win.

Come qualifying everything changed - another couple of very small tweaks and I suddenly found my feet again and nailed a PB, just missing out on a 1:02 but getting pole, vital at Sebring with that awkward turn 1.

The plan was to start on 8.5, and take 7.1 at the stop, bumping it up to 8.5 if there was any doubt as to whether I'd make it.

The start went well; I let the pace car clear off, checked my mirror  to make sure there wasn't any crazy stuff going on behind, and floored it. Was surprised - and a little alarmed - to see Darren jump straight to second, but that was soon of no concern as I gradually but consistently pulled away. The difference in pace strongly suggested that Darren was on more fuel, but even taking 8.5 my stop wasn't going to be a long one and I wasn't concerned.

That was rendered a moot point when Darren met his untimely demise, and I now had a gap of over 15 seconds to Gazza and Shark. I had planned to go to half distance for a solid view of the fuel situation, but by 25% distance I'd used half my starting load so I bumped it up to 8.5 for the stop. Given the lead I had I decided to err on the side of caution and change tyres too; that nearly bit me in the bum...

I stopped a few laps early as the traffic was starting to thicken up; the stop went very well, but I slid wide out of turn 2 on cold tyres, giving myself a nervous moment and denting my confidence just a tiny bit. Gazza and Shark both stopped around half distance and came out well behind me, which just left Bananaman ahead, obviously on a splash and dash strategy but already close enough for me to not have to worry about, even if I wasn't closing in at nearly a second a lap.

Struggled a bit for pace in the second half, setting a race fastest lap on 8.5g but finding it hard after that to do better than 1.04.0, and even that inconsistently. Caught Paul with about 5 to go, and he predictably dived for the pits rather than lose time racing with me; I think had he gone in earlier he might have come out still ahead of Gary and been able to at least defend the place.

In the end I had a very comfortable margin, which was good because Shark had slightly better pace in the second half of the race and I was struggling a bit, not so much for concentration but just with my wrists getting tired due to the amount of caster I'd dialled in to give more steering feel (not to mentione from a spot of gardening earlier!). Well done to him on a very creditable second and to Gazza for a solid third place.

I've put my final race setup up in the Team Shark garage. I was quite surprised that 17 wing worked so well as previously I've always had to run 26 on the full Sebring to keep the back end nailed down over the bumps. In qually I was able to use full throttle all the way out of the final corner despite the bumps (didn't dare in the race) which surprised me. I know people moan about the bumps in this car, but it really is a matter of just knowing where they are and either making sure the steering is straight or lifting as you pass over them, and/or be ready to countersteer as the car reacts to them. Personally I fiind it tremendously rewarding to stay on top of the car round here for lap after lap.

Before I close I must just say a big thank you to all the lapped cars who were without exception very considerate and generous. I think the only scary moments I had were with cars spinning in the final corner, and one with Pops near the end when I almost caught myself out setting up a pass out of the penultimate turn only to find him much slower mid-corner than I'd anticipated. I really should've seen that coming given the difference in lap times!

On to Laguna, where I tend to struggle even more for comfort, but have been known to eek out some excellent results...

[Paul Thurston]

I'm still finding my style with the Radical.  It's not a car I've ever been comfortable with in the past but I've found a setup philosophy which works for me and am getting there.  Sebring's different though and my setup wasn't as quick as a slightly modified one from Gary T I used that.

I've never raced with pitstops before and I'm working hard to figure out optimal strategies.  On my long run Monday I found that I wasn't really quicker on low fuel than high so figured a very long first stint without tyres might gain me a few seconds.  As Dave says I might have been better to come in earlier in hindsight but the gap to Gary seemed fairly stable and I didn't know the time loss from a pitstop here (more data for the spreadsheet ).  Anyway I was enjoying leading a race for the first time in a while.

The problem was that I wasn't as quick as I should have been near the end of the stint though.  I was doing 4.2s on fuel in practice but near the end I was struggling to get under 4.8.  I think I may have hurt the front left in the early dicing with Simon as I was losing the time on the two right handers before the straights.

That battle with Simon was fun though.  I knew he was quicker than me but also that I was almost certainly a lot heavier so fighting tooth and nail for the position wasn't really worth it.  Nevertheless I wasn't going to just let him by.  He got alongside into the final turn but we went round side by side and I got the place back on the pit straight.  He then dived up the inside of T1 but I did the same and had the inside line into 2.  A couple of laps later he had another go into the final corner and ISTR I held him off again.  I think it was actually T1 he finally got me and I settled back to follow with Mike a second or so back.

As I came out from my stop Gary and Simon went past but I got out in front of Mike.  Mike was a lot faster at that point but he wasn't getting alongside.  He nearly did into the final corner but I could see him behind in my mirror so turned in and felt a thump which unsettled the car.  It was a 0x contact and Mike hasn't mentioned it so maybe it was warp.  I didn't think we were close enough for contact but sorry if I turned in on you Mike.

A lap or two later Mike was right on my tail into T1 so I stayed tight.  Mid corner I spotted him sideways in my mirror and knew fourth was mine. Muhahahahahah.

Well, my aim was to get a 1:03 in qually, not crash in the race and lead before the stop.  Check (new PB), check and check.  Fourth was a happy bonus.

Congratulations to Dave, Simon and Gary and everyone else who attempted it.  It's not an easy combination and a bit unique.  I dislike Laguna but I'll give it a go.

Paul

[popabawa]

I think the only scary moments I had were with cars spinning in the final corner, and one with Pops near the end when I almost caught myself out setting up a pass out of the penultimate turn only to find him much slower mid-corner than I'd anticipated. I really should've seen that coming given the difference in lap times!

Yeah, sorry about that Dave, I thought I had a pretty decent entry & exit for the turn so I was shocked to see you closing so quickly! Glad it didn't make a material difference.

[popabawa]

As the attendance was fairly low for that race I'm just wondering whether it was the track that put people off or was it other factors?

[mr_oily]

Purely other commitments this end Pops - I was actually looking forward to trying this layout.

[Dan Minton]

As the attendance was fairly low for that race I'm just wondering whether it was the track that put people off or was it other factors?

My lack of attendance is due to other things not your car/track combos Pops...

[Mike Wrightson]

Calmed down a bit now 

I am rather kicking myself for the number of mistakes I made.  I started on a heavy fuel load to get a fast stop later, but that went out of the window when I spun in the last turn into the pit entrance 

Decided I might as well do the stop and came out even heavier.  Had to push on as fast as I could to try and stay ahead of Paul, but made far too many errors that cost me time and he came out ahead of me. It was obvious that I was much faster for some reason and I had to attack before he settled in again, as I only had 3 laps to do it. Couldn't get alongside for the last turn and went to follow through the turn, but was caught out by Paul being so much slower mid turn that I had to evade so I didn't run right into him. Still got a 0x contact. He was very defensive at T1 so I took the outside line to go for the inside at T2, but a bump had other ideas.

My race finished at the last turn with a big twitch and a trip to the wall. Made sure I dragged the remains over the line before I had to quit.

Not a good race at all, a long way off the pace, so better preparation needed for Laguna, which I quite like.

[Paul Thurston]

Couldn't get alongside for the last turn and went to follow through the turn, but was caught out by Paul being so much slower mid turn that I had to evade so I didn't run right into him. Still got a 0x contact. He was very defensive at T1 so I took the outside line to go for the inside at T2, but a bump had other ideas.

Not a good race at all, a long way off the pace, so better preparation needed for Laguna, which I quite like.

I did wonder if that was what happened.  I was going as quickly as I could but that was where I was struggling to get the car turned in with the worn left front.  I wasn't actually aware just how slow I'd got round there because I'd not had a car close behind me for a while.

You weren't off the pace though except compared to Dave.  You were lapping in the 1:03s in the race which I certainly didn't manage in my little yellow oil tanker.

Paul

[Simon Gymer]

a long way off the pace

You're being far too hard on yourself. You were doing 1:04s most of the race which is essentially what I was doing. I dipped into the 1:03s occasionally, but most of the time it was 1:04s.

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

You're being far too hard on yourself. You were doing 1:04s most of the race which is essentially what I was doing. I dipped into the 1:03s occasionally, but most of the time it was 1:04s.

Indeed - from lap 34 onwards I only managed a single 1:03 and that was on the penultimate lap with low fuel. I benefitted enormously from being on pole and being able to put in a bunch of unmolested laps early on to stretch out a gap; after my stop there were at least three cars virtually matching me on raw pace.