- 1,591
- United Kingdom
- VulcanSpirit
Tonight was one of the tensest Manufacturer races I've ever had...
Got grouped in the same 19:00 lobby as @watto79 and @Lost Sheltie, again as the only Ford representative on the grid. Qualifying went as smoothly as it could've done against the perils of the tight and twisting Sardegna A; best lap was a 1:41.448, good enough for me to start fifth. Polesitter was a Corvette, some four and a half tenths up; the entire top 10 separated by just over a second.
In practice lobbies, I experimented with a slightly gentler driving style, braking earlier and more gradually for tighter corners where possible. I was aware that the Mustang would not be the kindest car on Medium compounds, so it was essential for me to preserve my tyres while keeping up with other drivers in front. This approach worked very well for me in practice, and I had high hopes of getting a decent finish if I could look after my tyres well enough.
Immediately, the fourth-placed Lambo in front rights up the rears and spears off into retirement just after the first corner. This allows me to pressure the AMG Mercedes and McLaren F1 up ahead, until the AMG clips the inside barrier and loses momentum going through the uphill S-curve. Even before the first lap is done, I'm up to third, and pressuring the McLaren through my gradual braking techniques. Now, as this was happening, I also had to keep an eye on an Aston and another AMG closing in on me, and had to be careful not to get pressured or mugged by them. The pressure built up when I ran wide onto the grass at the uphill esses on Lap 2, and again on Lap 3. Thankfully, I kept the Mustang out of the outside barrier both times, so not much lost there.
Soon, I am back on the tail of the McLaren, and keep applying the same pressure as before. I later learnt that he was the only driver in the lobby running on Hard tyres, but to give credit where its due, he did a fine job soaking up the pressure and hanging on for second place. That was until near the end of Lap 5, where he missed the apex through the uphill esses and lost speed. I move to the inside and manage to outbrake him going into the final left-hander; I snatch second and hang on to it going into Turn 1, despite the McLaren's valiant attempt to dive down the inside of me. From that point, I was too far back to make enough gains on the leading Corvette, but reeled him in anyway, finishing just 1.515 seconds down. Cue my best FIA result of the year and my best Manufacturers result of the season:
The rewards? A 'Clean Race' bonus, a new season-best score of 1,876 points (would be even better if it was 1,877 as it says on the results screen!), a total score of 7,935 points and a DR boost of 1,316 points - enough to put me just 485 points shy of becoming an A+ driver!
Got grouped in the same 19:00 lobby as @watto79 and @Lost Sheltie, again as the only Ford representative on the grid. Qualifying went as smoothly as it could've done against the perils of the tight and twisting Sardegna A; best lap was a 1:41.448, good enough for me to start fifth. Polesitter was a Corvette, some four and a half tenths up; the entire top 10 separated by just over a second.
In practice lobbies, I experimented with a slightly gentler driving style, braking earlier and more gradually for tighter corners where possible. I was aware that the Mustang would not be the kindest car on Medium compounds, so it was essential for me to preserve my tyres while keeping up with other drivers in front. This approach worked very well for me in practice, and I had high hopes of getting a decent finish if I could look after my tyres well enough.
Immediately, the fourth-placed Lambo in front rights up the rears and spears off into retirement just after the first corner. This allows me to pressure the AMG Mercedes and McLaren F1 up ahead, until the AMG clips the inside barrier and loses momentum going through the uphill S-curve. Even before the first lap is done, I'm up to third, and pressuring the McLaren through my gradual braking techniques. Now, as this was happening, I also had to keep an eye on an Aston and another AMG closing in on me, and had to be careful not to get pressured or mugged by them. The pressure built up when I ran wide onto the grass at the uphill esses on Lap 2, and again on Lap 3. Thankfully, I kept the Mustang out of the outside barrier both times, so not much lost there.
Soon, I am back on the tail of the McLaren, and keep applying the same pressure as before. I later learnt that he was the only driver in the lobby running on Hard tyres, but to give credit where its due, he did a fine job soaking up the pressure and hanging on for second place. That was until near the end of Lap 5, where he missed the apex through the uphill esses and lost speed. I move to the inside and manage to outbrake him going into the final left-hander; I snatch second and hang on to it going into Turn 1, despite the McLaren's valiant attempt to dive down the inside of me. From that point, I was too far back to make enough gains on the leading Corvette, but reeled him in anyway, finishing just 1.515 seconds down. Cue my best FIA result of the year and my best Manufacturers result of the season:
The rewards? A 'Clean Race' bonus, a new season-best score of 1,876 points (would be even better if it was 1,877 as it says on the results screen!), a total score of 7,935 points and a DR boost of 1,316 points - enough to put me just 485 points shy of becoming an A+ driver!
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, qualified pretty good at P8 but couldn't make much progress up the grid, the new slipstream makes it very hard to pass, not many mistakes were made seeing as the car was relatively easy to drive.
