FIA Race Discussion [Archive]

[GTPNewsWire]

This is the discussion thread for a recent post on GTPlanet:

GT Sport FIA 2020 Season Schedule Revealed: New Time Slots, New Tire Penalties

This article was published by Andrew Evans (@Famine) on April 21st, 2020 in the Gran Turismo Sport category.

 

[mclarenLB]

Bizarre change. Having 3 slots for half the rounds will compress the points for those nights so they'll be worth more than the nights with 5 slots, the Top 16 Superstars just gone also offered less points than the standard rounds due to offering zero bonus points plus the imposed Manufacturer and Country limits lowering the strength of field overall, they aren't changing this.

Some steps in the right direction, but unfortunately the championship is still overall pretty busted.

EDIT: Lets also get a RIP in advance for anyone in the UK wanting to compete, as the slots just got sent even further forward, with multiple shots meaning the guys from more eastern countries will get far more attempts per round than us.

 

[LeGeNd-1]

This is going to be huge for the ones that don't pay attention or try to game the system.

Beginning with the next Stage of the FIA GT Championships on Saturday, April 25, the time penalty for not using the required tires for Nations Cup and Manufacturer Series races will change as follows:

・The time penalty will increase from 20 seconds to 60 seconds.

Thank you for your support, and we hope you continue to enjoy Gran Turismo Sport!

Inb4 PD adds Eiger Nordwand - the longest pitlane ever in GT series I believe

Starting from Stage 1 of the ‘FIA Gran Turismo Championships' 2020 Series beginning on Saturday, 25 April, the race schedule, entry times, and the number of race entry slots for the Nations Cup and Manufacturer Series will change as follows.

■ Event Days
　・Nations Cup: Tuesday & Saturday (no change from previous format)
　・Manufacturer Series: Wednesday & Saturday

■ Event Times & Entry Slots
EMEA Region
　・Tuesday & Wednesday : 14:00, 15:20, 16:40, 18:00, 19:20 UTC (5 Slots)
　・Saturday – Nations Cup : 13:00, 15:40, 18:20 UTC (3 Slots)
　・Saturday – Manufacturer Series: 14:20, 17:00, 19:40 UTC (3 Slots)

On Saturdays, the Nations Cup and Manufacturer Series are hosted one after the other.

Thank you for your continued support and please continue to enjoy Gran Turismo Sport!

Honestly they need to stop reinventing the wheel every season. They either need to revert to the original Wed/Sat only or keep the one series per day instead of this hybrid mess. My guess is they want more people to do the GR Supra Cup, so they made that exclusive on Sundays.

And still no word on when the next update will be. I don't really test extensively but a lot of the top guys will be in limbo now waiting if they should pick certain manufacturers or not. Knowing PD the update will probably come mid season and we'll see a massive shake up in competitive order. And still no clarity on how the new Mazda will fit into the season given its release date. Total shambles.

 

[Winnie847]

Season results. It was a good one. As usual, it was great racing with you folks. 32nd in NA, 22nd in US. P2 for Lexus. Not bad for an old guy with limited experience and time to play. See you next season!

 

[Silver_Wolf]

EDIT: Lets also get a RIP in advance for anyone in the UK wanting to compete, as the slots just got sent even further forward, with multiple shots meaning the guys from more eastern countries will get far more attempts per round than us.

As ever a bit slow in the developments in game with still having to work but I guess these changes effectively rule me out from doing the 2020 season as I can't compete at those times but if the Supra championship is on the Sunday then I should be able to do that one.

I can guarantee however there is still going to be someone who will ask 'Why did I get a 60 second penalty' even though it's on the game itself
on the notices page!

 

[Nismonath5]

Season results!!
Good enough to reclaim my S rank, so thanks to what's gone on in the world, I have now a second wind in my campaign to make it to a world tour event.

I know that achieving such a feat will require a dramatic increase in race pace, even as i stand right now, but the S rank is a good start!

 

[Famine]

As ever a bit slow in the developments in game with still having to work but I guess these changes effectively rule me out from doing the 2020 season as I can't compete at those times

Do you do late shifts? The last weekday races start at 8.20pm UK time, with the last Nations race at 7.20pm on Saturday and the last Manufacturer race at 8.40pm on Saturday.

 

[Silver_Wolf]

Do you do late shifts? The last weekday races start at 8.20pm UK time, with the last Nations race at 7.20pm on Saturday and the last Manufacturer race at 8.40pm on Saturday.

Most days I do have to cover people so yes I guess late shift.

The Saturday's are always difficult because usually I am out doing the other side of the hobby (attending car shows and chasing buses) so I am sometimes home in time, sometimes not.

No biggie though, I had to miss 2018 and 2019 because the times weren't suitable with my work/hobby life balance.

 

[larrybr07n]

It'll also reduce the number of attempts people can take at these races for most. My schedule allows a window of racing each evening. In the past, this window would have 2-3 slots. Now, it'll have one slot for each.

In either case, these announcements are frustrating for their lack of race schedule and details if there truly is an update prior to Saturday.

Yeah I only just paid attention to the actual time slot changes. I felt they started too early as it was, but now they're even earlier. Anyone with a weekday job is likely limited to a single slot now. I actually prefer that for the Saturday, but not for what is a normal work day for most people (current pandemic aside).

Yeah not sold on the schedule change, but glad the tyre penalty has been sorted.

Yeah these times kind of suck a little. If you live in the UK, these times are quite tight on a work weekday.

But then, in the other hand I get it's difficult to please everyone, we all have different schedules.

 

[SirCorwinek]

1st of all why they don't cut time length on Laguna Seca pit entery? Instead of fixing too long pit entrance they extend penalty? It's not fixing the problem.

2nd we still got no info about BoP changes and the new season starts now. Wtf?

3 Time. In my feeling it's ****** that they changed it. It was good but 5 enteries was bit too much. 3 or 4 will do. For ppl that are working and have family in mid Europe it's to early? You don't have time to finish job, eat something, and sit calm to console. You need to speed things up.

Wired.

Last but not least no patch notes. I hate them for it. No communication at all like it was earlier. Since 30 march we got first info now. 4 days before sezon starts. We should have patch last week so we can learn what changed and get bit of a feeling of BoP.

I have bad feelings about it.

We can't be even sure that the patch will be this week. If not we will have silly situation witch BoP changes DURING the season. Thats ridiculous.

 

[Tidgney]

The UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy are all huge populations in the GT World, and the times should be focused around those countries in EMEA. I know the primary focus is participation rates and not individual players but nuking the UK players (Which the new time slots do) which is 893,000 players that play GT Sport according to kudosprime vs trying to get countries further east in seems a bit disproportionate to me.

For me personally with the weekday thing;

• At the moment with the epidemic I can do (Working at home, although I'm off this week wahoo!): 18:00 and 19:20 (UTC)
• The minute I go back to work and it's not term time I can do 19:20 (UTC)
• The minute students are in, or work gets remotely busy I can do: 0 on a Weekday or sprint home as fast as humanly possible and try to switch on and play at 19:20 (UTC). The bigger problem with this is if others also do this then you've got a lot of players jumping in with 0 practice and more crashes are 100% inevitable.

The minute day light savings disappear no weekday race is possible. Last time we had a change like this it stayed for winter so participation rates in the winter could drop even harder?

I don't get why the times have changed again other than to try to reduce disconnections?

 

[larrybr07n]

work gets remotely busy I can do: 0 on a Weekday or sprint home as fast as humanly possible and try to switch on and play at 19:20 (UTC).

And also, I don't know for other people here who live in the UK, but even though my train journey to work is only half an hour, with these times you only really need one train to f up and you are out, no race.

 

[barak181]

It looks like - as with most things in life - I was very wrong about my predictions for the upcoming season.

 

[TeddyWestside]

Well, that's all certainly going to set the cat amongst the pigeons! I wasn't expecting all those changes. Not a fan of both races on the same day.

From a UK perspective, those are very early times:
(BST):
Tue/Wed 15:00, 16:20, 17:40, 19:00, 20:20. I can probably manage 3 of 5 slots at a push.

Sat Nations 14:00, 16:40, 19:20. 1 slot for sure, the other 2 are pretty tight.

Sat Manu 15:20, 18:00, 20:40 1 for sure, 1 tight, 1 definitely not.

And even then, it would cut down my exercise schedule, particularly at the weekends.
I wonder what time(s) the Supra Cup will be? I had to miss most of it last time as it didn't fit my free time.

For my alt (USA) account, at least I won't have to choose between the last EMEA and first NA slot this way, as the NA races start at 22:00 BST (Tue/Wed) & 21:00 (Sat).

As for the tyre penalty, it's a massive improvement, though I still think a DQ would be more fitting. Have a pop-up screen between the end of qually and the race intro which must be clicked on to confirm you know the tyre requirements, then there is no excuse (even if that does take away the joy of seeing a rammer plummet down the results board sometimes!).

 

[Marky264]

Disappointing for the Weekday Time slots for here in the UK. I work Shifts and I'm on lates next week 2pm till 10pm. However Tuesday I may get back early for the 7pm/8:20pm Time slots. Really a bad move moving the times so early especially on a Saturday.. Going to be yelled at more from the Mrs which is the bain of my life!

When is the Update going to Drop? No BOP Change Confirmations or Clarification on the Mazda situation is very confusing. I'm predicting the Update to go Live tomorrow or Thursday surely?

 

[HERE4BEER3]

I won't be able to race at all on Wednesdays now with the time slot moving up 80 minutes once life returns to normal. However, it did resolve my decision of switching to another racing game for the weekdays now. I'll do the manu slots on Saturday and play iRacing or ACC on weeknights now. Problem solved.

 

[xxPinkyKissxx]

Pretty annoyed to be honest with the timings. I know it can't be great news for other European countries either but the UK (and Portugal) are hardest hit. I pretty much can't race any of those time slots. I don't do Nations anyway so only leaves Manufacturers.

Wednesdays...I work until 5 or 6 and then have to Cook AND Eat so that pretty much eliminates all slots apart from 8.20. Even then, i'll have to try and make sure i've got my youngest kid in bed for 8ish which is rarely easy and then switched on a ready to race in time!

Saturdays...Maybe the 3.20 slot if for some reason we're all at home and bored, otherwise same again with Dinners etc at 6pm and 8.20pm its usually family time, movie etc.

If the races are due to start this Saturday still, good to see that leaves about a day after the update (if its this week) to practice the new handling to make a choice on Manufacturers! 👎

Rant over!!

 

[Rangeraus]

A few points;

1. The season starts on Saturday. Where are the race details? Where is the update? People will have to select a manufacturer which may be completely uncompetitive after the changes in the update.

2. PD should announce that this upcoming stage is an exhibition season.

The rules now say that the Nations WT selection process, Manufacturers WT selection process AND World Tour details will be announced "when they have been decided". Which is understandable given the circumstances, but don't string the players along when there are now zero details of any events taking place, or the criteria to qualify for them.

Announce a proper championship season when there are certainties.

3. Why were the times moved forward? Race starts on weekdays in Oceania is now 4pm on Australian East Coast and 2pm on West Coast. That is a stretch for most/all who work or study. I don't understand at all.

4. Just as everyone was getting used to 4 day schedules it has been changed to a mishmash that doesn't make sense. Why 5 slots per championship on weekdays and 3 on Saturdays?

All in all, these changes seem very haphazard with no clear logic behind them.

 

[Groundfish]

Weekdays 2 pm?
The only thing I have to add to what’s been said is I think the events in FIA would be more special if multiple entries into the same race were not allowed.
I think the schedule is very much oriented towards younger folks without responsibilities.

 

[Pigems]

Weekdays 2 pm?
The only thing I have to add to what’s been said is I think the events in FIA would be more special if multiple entries into the same race were not allowed.

Is be fine with 2 shots per event, that gives you one bad race or DC, but that’s it.

 

[Granadier]

2020 Supra Cup begins on Apr. 26 is scheduled on Sundays. So I think that PD make rooms for Toyota.

Selection process of Nations cup is completely TBA now.

This is a good explanation of why the change happened, but it still sucks tbh.

The Supra Cup shouldn’t take priority over the actual FIA races, and it definitely doesn’t warrant an entire day’s schedule dedicated to it imo.

 

[Groundfish]

Is be fine with 2 shots per event, that gives you one bad race or DC, but that’s it.

There should be some allowance for DC. But every race I dunno, then again where I’m at I’ve not experienced many dc.
Looks like I will have to drive the Supra more if it’s Sundays...
One thing I really think DR2 got right is the no retry feature...It puts an added element of pressure into it. In a real race there’s no do overs in most cases.

 

[roamingbard13]

This is a good explanation of why the change happened, but it still sucks tbh.

The Supra Cup shouldn’t take priority over the actual FIA races, and it definitely doesn’t warrant an entire day’s schedule dedicated to it imo.

Especially since I think they said it's only one slot...

 

[edgematic]

This is going to be huge for the ones that don't pay attention or try to game the system.

Beginning with the next Stage of the FIA GT Championships on Saturday, April 25, the time penalty for not using the required tires for Nations Cup and Manufacturer Series races will change as follows:

・The time penalty will increase from 20 seconds to 60 seconds.

Thank you for your support, and we hope you continue to enjoy Gran Turismo Sport!

R.I.P lobbies below DR A

 

[Pigems]

This is a good explanation of why the change happened, but it still sucks tbh.

The Supra Cup shouldn’t take priority over the actual FIA races, and it definitely doesn’t warrant an entire day’s schedule dedicated to it imo.

I feel like Toyota has waaay to much influence over GT, I’m so sick of being forced to use the GT86 so much.

 

[pantherjag]

Oh come on people. Coming on here and saying I cant do this or that at this time because of this and that is just anecdotal evidence....which is the worst kind of evidence!!!

No matter what the schedule is it's going to suit some people more than others and that always been the case since FIA started. The move to 4 days suited me less than 2 days tbh but I just played what I could. This move is going to be beneficial for as many people as it is detrimental.

The championship is set up with the assumption that you cant sit down and play every slot of every round that's why only 3 scores count from 10 and there is multiple time slots spread over a 5-6 hour window!! Sure a few folk are in that position but the vast majority aren't and never have been.

If your time limited then find a solution. The schedule will drop in next few days with relevant tyre and fuel setting so work out what rounds you can do in advance and focus on those and if you happen to be a player with world tour aspirations then ultimately you may have to make sacrifices to get there. See a round that you think will particularly suit you but are working, apply to take it off. It's part of the game in getting to championships in all areas of competition.

Anyway just thought I'd play devils advocate for a while....certainly not trying to rile folk up

 

[stpatty]

As with everything PD, it's the logic, transparency and justification I most enjoy about these decisions.

 

[larrybr07n]

I think the schedule is very much oriented towards younger folks without responsibilities.

Are you calling us old?

 

[iamQmai]

Sundays and Wednesdays tend to be my only days off. I work late on Saturdays, so that's half my season completely gone.

I don't care for the one make (Sorry, nations) Cup, so manufacturers were the only races I wanted to do and now I'm screwed.

Guess it's back to the pc for me.

 

[mastretta_mx]

PD just killed the FIA championship, just can't understand those hours for the races, maybe they just want 8 years old kids crashing over the walls in the next world tour