- 559
This has now surpassed the Pitz SS R11 race as the most exciting race I have ever had. I didn't plan on writing it up, so I don't have exact lap times, but I can describe the amazing events that took place for me to win...
During qualifying, I lost control and slid into the sand of the first turn on my first qualifying lap, so I wound up in sixth. On my second lap, I qualified first by .009 seconds, which should have been an omen. I have had problems with this track before in other series, but I didn't know what to expect here.
I was racing a F686/M against the field of formula cars, but the only real competition was the F094/S which has amazing handling, tire wear, and acceleration. I had a slight advantage in top speed, but it did not help much in this race. My oil was completely gone, and I was down to 908 HP from 97* HP.
For the first 6 laps, I was neck and neck with the F094/S. I gained a little on him on the first two turns, but he gained it right back at the hairpin. I was also trying to decide on a pit strategy, knowing that in such a tight race it would be crucial. I couldn't really think it out though, because I was having enough trouble holding back the F094/S. I decided on lap 6 to pit because my right front tire was red and I was losing position. The F094/S passed me at the end of lap 6 (the s turn), and I went into the pits.
I came out about 18 seconds back, but I realize that he was going to pit on the multiples of 7, meaning he could make it to 27 on only 3 stops. If I pit every six, I would have to take 4 stops. I knew that I could not spare the extra 20 seconds. I decided that I could still pit after 7 laps and make it to 27 (pit on laps 13 and 20), but I would have to conserve tires.
The F094/S pit on lap 7 and I passed him. He came out about 3 seconds back. From laps 8 to 13 I held him about 3-5 seconds back as I tried to race a line that would be easy on my tires. However, my front right tire went red again by lap 13 and on the hairpin I slid and lost any lead that I had. The F094/S passed right as I pit, nearly blocking me from getting in. I knew, though, that if I lost that much time on the final lap of the race (which would be very likely, since it would be on the 7th lap of tire wear as well) that he could pass me and take the lead seconds before the end of the race, which would be devestating. I still intended to pit on lap 20, but I had to really work on conserving tires.
The F094/S pit again on lap 14 and I passed him. I had about a 3 second lead again as he came out of the pits. I managed to extend that lead over the next 6 laps to about 6-7 seconds. I was also trying hard to stay on the track and conserve my tires. At this point I was racing laps of between 1:04 and 1:07, which was just fast enough for me to gain slowly, but not to break out a big gap.
By lap 20, my front right tire had gone red again. I tried to hold my position, but I had to slow down a lot to compensate. I knew that this was exactly what the final lap would be like, and I began to think of a different pit strategy. I though that if I held out on extra lap and pit on 21, I would be on orange tires on the final lap rather than red and I can hold my lead. The problem was, I might lose so much time running a lap on all reds that I might not be able to get back my lead. I was still undecided.
The F094/S caught up to me again on the s turns. We were neck and neck as we hit the front stretch and I made the decision to stay out one more lap. I squeezed in front of the F094/S and let him push me down the front stretch, then on the first turn he tried to pass me on the outside, but clipped my car and slid into the dirt. He got out quickly though, and this only gave me a 2 second lead. He easily made that up after about half a lap and passed me. He pit with about a 3 second lead on me. I pit right behind him.
As I came down pit road, I saw his stall was right behind mine. I hit his car getting into my stall, which cost me a second or two. Then his car dropped and he tried to get out, but he ran right into me and was stuck! He couldn't leave until I did! So I came out of the pits just in front of him. It was hilarious. I still had 6 laps of racing to do though.
For the final six laps, I was on fire. I guess the excitement made me race better. I was running laps of 1:01 and 1:02, a full three second faster than before. It was amazing. I pulled a relatively huge gap on the F094/S, about 7-8 seconds. As my tires started to wear down on the last two laps, he narrowed it a little. However, I was able to hold him off and won by 5 seconds.
This race was amazing! I saved the replay so I can watch it again and again. How lucky can I get! If I didn't make the decision to stay out one more lap, he never would have hit me. If he hadn't hit me, I may not have been able to win. I thought it was absolutely hilarious! What a race!
During qualifying, I lost control and slid into the sand of the first turn on my first qualifying lap, so I wound up in sixth. On my second lap, I qualified first by .009 seconds, which should have been an omen. I have had problems with this track before in other series, but I didn't know what to expect here.
I was racing a F686/M against the field of formula cars, but the only real competition was the F094/S which has amazing handling, tire wear, and acceleration. I had a slight advantage in top speed, but it did not help much in this race. My oil was completely gone, and I was down to 908 HP from 97* HP.
For the first 6 laps, I was neck and neck with the F094/S. I gained a little on him on the first two turns, but he gained it right back at the hairpin. I was also trying to decide on a pit strategy, knowing that in such a tight race it would be crucial. I couldn't really think it out though, because I was having enough trouble holding back the F094/S. I decided on lap 6 to pit because my right front tire was red and I was losing position. The F094/S passed me at the end of lap 6 (the s turn), and I went into the pits.
I came out about 18 seconds back, but I realize that he was going to pit on the multiples of 7, meaning he could make it to 27 on only 3 stops. If I pit every six, I would have to take 4 stops. I knew that I could not spare the extra 20 seconds. I decided that I could still pit after 7 laps and make it to 27 (pit on laps 13 and 20), but I would have to conserve tires.
The F094/S pit on lap 7 and I passed him. He came out about 3 seconds back. From laps 8 to 13 I held him about 3-5 seconds back as I tried to race a line that would be easy on my tires. However, my front right tire went red again by lap 13 and on the hairpin I slid and lost any lead that I had. The F094/S passed right as I pit, nearly blocking me from getting in. I knew, though, that if I lost that much time on the final lap of the race (which would be very likely, since it would be on the 7th lap of tire wear as well) that he could pass me and take the lead seconds before the end of the race, which would be devestating. I still intended to pit on lap 20, but I had to really work on conserving tires.
The F094/S pit again on lap 14 and I passed him. I had about a 3 second lead again as he came out of the pits. I managed to extend that lead over the next 6 laps to about 6-7 seconds. I was also trying hard to stay on the track and conserve my tires. At this point I was racing laps of between 1:04 and 1:07, which was just fast enough for me to gain slowly, but not to break out a big gap.
By lap 20, my front right tire had gone red again. I tried to hold my position, but I had to slow down a lot to compensate. I knew that this was exactly what the final lap would be like, and I began to think of a different pit strategy. I though that if I held out on extra lap and pit on 21, I would be on orange tires on the final lap rather than red and I can hold my lead. The problem was, I might lose so much time running a lap on all reds that I might not be able to get back my lead. I was still undecided.
The F094/S caught up to me again on the s turns. We were neck and neck as we hit the front stretch and I made the decision to stay out one more lap. I squeezed in front of the F094/S and let him push me down the front stretch, then on the first turn he tried to pass me on the outside, but clipped my car and slid into the dirt. He got out quickly though, and this only gave me a 2 second lead. He easily made that up after about half a lap and passed me. He pit with about a 3 second lead on me. I pit right behind him.
As I came down pit road, I saw his stall was right behind mine. I hit his car getting into my stall, which cost me a second or two. Then his car dropped and he tried to get out, but he ran right into me and was stuck! He couldn't leave until I did! So I came out of the pits just in front of him. It was hilarious. I still had 6 laps of racing to do though.
For the final six laps, I was on fire. I guess the excitement made me race better. I was running laps of 1:01 and 1:02, a full three second faster than before. It was amazing. I pulled a relatively huge gap on the F094/S, about 7-8 seconds. As my tires started to wear down on the last two laps, he narrowed it a little. However, I was able to hold him off and won by 5 seconds.
This race was amazing! I saved the replay so I can watch it again and again. How lucky can I get! If I didn't make the decision to stay out one more lap, he never would have hit me. If he hadn't hit me, I may not have been able to win. I thought it was absolutely hilarious! What a race!
what a race man~! congrads
