FIA Race Discussion [Archive]

[Mr Miyagi]

Here's your answer for a good allrounder.
View attachment 928584

The Viper was actually fast out of corners and in a straight line. So, I'll give it that. P1 lost by pitting one lap earlier and it was at 31%(I had 42% at that point). I went one lap more. Was it always this frugal? Been so long since I used one in a fuel race.

Came out, I had a 3s lead over the RCZ that finished 5th(it started 8th on RM). It pit around lap 11.
Edit: My mistake. Watched the replay. The 3rd place RCZ briefly got ahead if the Viper.

The RCZ that finished 3rd, had a sneak up the inside of me around Lap3. Us three already pulled away, but I guess that player didn't want to build more of a gap.
It got a .5s and I made my way past before we completed the lap. From there, it was about keeping with the Viper.

I was flatout, no conserving. Steady 1:48s all race. Just a comfortable comfortable car. No stress. Stable like the GT3 car. 👍

One more thing. I went my own pace. I tapped the brakes for the chicane every lap. Didn't trust the computer in an FIA race.

Thanks for this haha, I had 3 slots I could race after work, no practice didn't get a warm up.

Used the lexus, first race started mediums, got punted early and switched to hards with 3 or 4 laps to go, didn't really achieve anything so decided to start on hards in the next race.

I'd seen your post so I pitted about halfway with about 30 something percent fuel left, onto the mediums and picked a fair few off, car felt great while I could see others were struggling for grip, ended up nabbing 3rd starting from 10th.

 

[RX8 Racer]

First Nations race was a practice run, because I wound up in a DR B/C lobby despite not being near the borderline. Started 5th on Mediums, barely missed out on the podium when 3rd place botched the final left/right S but successfully cut me off when I tried a half track/ half runoff overtake at the final left. A somewhat scruffy race with plenty of SR drops, but no penalties. I didn’t get enough points to beat my best 4 results, so I went again.

Second run was even more messy. I set a decent 1:49.9 on the first flying lap, but I couldn’t get a good time on lap 2. I was punted off at the first hairpin on lap 3, prompting me to restart from pit lane for new Mediums. Had a good tow on the final lap, but accidentally running into my tower at the hairpin after the esses costed me a good time, and another chance lap.

I started from 12th on Hards, expecting hell to break loose. I was proven right when I was slammed off at the esses on the first lap and dropped to last (18th). With the help of a few discos, I fought my way back into the top 10 by my pit stop at the end of lap 7 for fuel and Mediums. My undercut worked pretty well, as I was right behind 8th place when they finished their pit stop. What ensured was a rather contact-heavy battle involving 7th to 9th. I was punted off at the esses again, but was able to recover quickly enough for me and one other driver to capitalise on my punter’s +2s penalty. I finished 9th with 62 points and a time of 28:28, but the cage fighting dropped my SR to A.

I’m really dreading Big Willow tomorrow, with my SR rating....

 

[Pigems]

I did a 27:16 but I refuelled when I probably shouldn't have. The winner (Emree) did a 27:06

The Audi TT is what you want to have

Thanks, great race! I think my best so far is about 27:19 with no slipstream, I should be ok with some tow then.

 

[housej]

In mid B Lobby. Had 2 attempts, first run in the TT ended 6th after Qualy 8. Unfortunately was a blocking fest from mostly RCZ drivers towards the end.
In my second Race I ran with the Megane GR 4. It was surprisingly nice. Finished 4th, less than 0.01 behind another Megane. 2 RCZ came first and second, but they were a level above the rest.
Megane is definitely worth a try as an alternative to the TT and RCZ fest.

 

[SlowDriver87]

I just tried the RCZ for the first time and what a thoroughly unenjoyable car it is to drive.

 

[Rangeraus]

Thanks, great race! I think my best so far is about 27:19 with no slipstream, I should be ok with some tow then.

Make sure you get slipstream in qualifying, is my one tip.

This is what it was like in Asia, everyone does this because you get absolutely murdered if you are the guy in front that doesn't get a tow...

 

[Jwptexas]

I must be the only one who stays in his pit box until all cars have left then go set my qualifying lap in peace all alone. At least in the higher DR races/top splits I never see it but I'm just so used to doing it that way by now.

 

[KosmoKazi]

Make sure you get slipstream in qualifying, is my one tip.

This is what it was like in Asia, everyone does this because you get absolutely murdered if you are the guy in front that doesn't get a tow...

I must be the only one who stays in his pit box until all cars have left then go set my qualifying lap in peace all alone. At least in the higher DR races/top splits I never see it but I'm just so used to doing it that way by now.

I think in the B lobbies, that the chances of a guy just in front of you binning it or being so much slower than you, offsetting the slipstream advantage, are pretty high- so I tend to prefer clean air and track in qualifying most times so far as well... so far. When I've tried to make sure I'm in the slipstream, the guy in front of me has either held me up in the technical parts, or some other moron has jumped my space, backing us up so that I'm pretty much stuck with whatever time the guys in front of me run, because passing them would take even more time, compromising my hot lap.

But in higher lobbies with faster and more consistent guys, I think it's likely critical that you take advantage of the slip stream to have any chance. The risks are lower and the gain too high, to ignore it. At least I hope to see that for myself soon!

 

[alx42]

I think in the B lobbies, that the chances of a guy just in front of you binning it or being so much slower than you, offsetting the slipstream advantage, are pretty high- so I tend to prefer clean air and track in qualifying most times so far as well.

Another thing to note is for cars that produce downforce with aero devices (Gr.4-Gr.1/X), you'll need some distance between you and the racer in front in order for your aero devices to work properly. Plus, adjusting to the higher speed which requires longer braking zones, different braking points, braking pressure, blah, blah, blah. lol

So I don't think it's worth the risk, unless it's a track that primarily relies on top speed and low downforce.

 

[SlowDriver87]

Been practicing with a few cars for the Nations Cup and whilst I find the RCF the most enjoyable to drive I seem to be fastest in the TT. I’m B/26k DR and managed to set a 1:47.719 in practice and I’m wondering if that’ll be enough to be at least competitive in my DR range. I don’t fancy spending all day on it and just want to race.

 

[Jwptexas]

I think in the B lobbies, that the chances of a guy just in front of you binning it or being so much slower than you, offsetting the slipstream advantage, are pretty high- so I tend to prefer clean air and track in qualifying most times so far as well... so far. When I've tried to make sure I'm in the slipstream, the guy in front of me has either held me up in the technical parts, or some other moron has jumped my space, backing us up so that I'm pretty much stuck with whatever time the guys in front of me run, because passing them would take even more time, compromising my hot lap.

But in higher lobbies with faster and more consistent guys, I think it's likely critical that you take advantage of the slip stream to have any chance. The risks are lower and the gain too high, to ignore it. At least I hope to see that for myself soon!

I've got two strategies for qualifying and they have worked out well for me so far.

If I can land pit box #1 thru 3 I'll open it up right at the start and go flat out on my outlap directly into my qualifying lap and this seems to be my favorite. Every now and then you'll pull a slower car around the track but most of the time I can gap people out of the box and carry that momentum to pole.

Strategy #2 is the waiting process and be the final car to leave the pits then take it easy and don't stress the tires AT ALL until final turn get them warmed up and go flat out by myself.

 

[stpatty]

I must be the only one who stays in his pit box until all cars have left then go set my qualifying lap in peace all alone. At least in the higher DR races/top splits I never see it but I'm just so used to doing it that way by now.

I used to do that when it was 10 minutes for qualifying. It was as much for me not blocking people as anything else. Most of the time now I try to get out and drive away as much as possible, but that's easier to do now since the tyre multipliers are typically much lower than they used to be.

For tonight's race, with no prior experience, I'm driving the TT. Glad to see Pigems says it's good.

 

[tankuroded]

Speaking of Asian region, I've noticed that for this season they didn't top Top 16 Superstars/top split GR Supra GT Cup videos for the Asian region.

 

[Razgriz2118]

I must be the only one who stays in his pit box until all cars have left then go set my qualifying lap in peace all alone. At least in the higher DR races/top splits I never see it but I'm just so used to doing it that way by now.

I like to qualify alone because generally slipstreaming someone doesn't work out well for me. A lot of times I end up catching up to the person ahead, even when I've given myself plenty of space, or the dirty air from the person ahead ends up ruining the handling of the car and ends up making me slower overall despite the gains in the straights.

 

[Jwptexas]

I like to qualify alone because generally slipstreaming someone doesn't work out well for me. A lot of times I end up catching up to the person ahead, even when I've given myself plenty of space, or the dirty air from the person ahead ends up ruining the handling of the car and ends up making me slower overall despite the gains in the straights.

This, exactly. Also braking points are different under slipstream and not every car brakes the same. I know the Ford GT brakes are freaking terrible my biggest knock on my car is and always will be the brakes when compared to something like the AMG.

 

[Cerebral303]

That was beautiful! I had close and clean driving for several laps each with two other fantastic racers in two separate stints. We were leaving each other room round the outside of corners, taking turns through the chicane of death and swapping sides round the esses. No contact no carnage just pure hard racing, exactly what I play for, but is never guaranteed and a joy to find.

I went for the Stodge Wiper given the positive comments here, it's a good allrounder, qualified mid pack and went for Hard tyres first. Went a good 8 or so laps before pitting for mediums and finished 4th. I was ahead of the car who finished 3rd on the final lap but I was too cautious as there were 3 of us battling for position, so I ended in the middle and would rather that than take a chance and mess up either of their races.

 

[KosmoKazi]

Been practicing with a few cars for the Nations Cup and whilst I find the RCF the most enjoyable to drive I seem to be fastest in the TT. I’m B/26k DR and managed to set a 1:47.719 in practice and I’m wondering if that’ll be enough to be at least competitive in my DR range. I don’t fancy spending all day on it and just want to race.

I'm at a similar DR and was able to lap high 1:46's in the TT... I think that for our range, +2% from the fastest guy is where you want to be in Gr4 races, based on my experience being stuck at this DR range! That puts the target under 1:47...

I see some other familiar PSN ID around the same time as mine, so thinking it makes sense.

Keys to the best times for me at DTG-II seem to be (best times have been in the TT, which is a sweetheart to drive IMO- just remember, in a FWD car, you can't give the front tires too many jobs to do at one time.. but you CAN 'make speed' by adding throttle where you feel you are understeering, so you need to make sure you're boss, not the car!):

1) don't overdrive it in T1, get the apex and apply the power on exit as soon as you can.
2) have to be able to attack the chicane, minimize the slow down and be able to power-on before the second (right) apex, so that you are building speed before you are out of the first part (aim the car for the RH hard corner wall in the first section so you glide past it with the power on...)
3) again don't over drive and ~really~ late entry into the hard LH turn after the chicane, so you are building speed all the way up the hill
4) keep the car balanced F/R in the fast esses... a little ease before each turn, with some added throttle to maintain the same speed with weight on all four tires will help preserve the speed, especially in a FWD car
5) hard left turn at the back is a really late-braker
6) I wish I knew how to attack the last chicane... I think this is where I'm losing most speed compared to the top times! But again, just don't over drive it... I think you need to really attack the left side on entry, hard to do because it's kind of blind at the braking zone start, but get as much of the left side curb as you can because the right turn curb is not as friendly in this direction, as it is in the 'normal' direction (you can kill it when running the track the other way, but it's on braking and at a fast speed, in this direction you want to avoid upsetting the car on exit leading up to the last hill)
Also) because it's a FWD car, it's really key that you manage the weight transfer all around... try to ease up on the brakes at the end of the braking zone in most turns, as you come on the throttle-- jumping off and on them tips the car and makes it harder to get the torque through the traction available... the smoother you are in the TT, the faster you go.

Anyway, that's what I learned, but maybe it will help you. Good luck!

 

[Ashthebash]

Well that was pretty fun to be fair.

Entered the first slot alongside @VulcanSpirit and I was one of four people who had entered the Class B race, with others being in a Viper, a Citroen and a Ferrari.

Qualifying was a bit shambolic to be honest, I never really got a tow, never took a clear lap either, and ended up with a mediocre 1:46.8, which was good enough for 15th but only 2nd in the real race as the Ferrari qualified one place higher. I started on hards with intent to run for two laps.

Off the start a Peugeot goes up the inside, then doesn't move over to the racing line on the run to Death Chicane which compromises my line and an Audi quickly pounced followed by the Viper into the hairpin. At the end of L1 the Ferrari almost bins it on the exit of the final turn and I manage to be the third car to pass him as I just draw alongside before the first turn and overtake under braking. Now running behind the Viper, I pit at the end of the lap for a splash of fuel and tyres to the end.

The out lap is just good enough to stay ahead of the Ferrari which didn't fuel, but did have a moment at the end of the lap and I settled in in 16th, 5.5s behind an Audi as the Viper ahead of him had a very loud word with the Death Chicane and left the party.

The gap to the Audi was slowly coming down but I was dragging the Ferrari with me. On L6 the Peugeot that passed me on the opening lap pits with just 56% fuel left, we just get past before T1 and he is no longer a worry, as he's clearly pushing hard and will need to pit again. He quickly got past the Ferrari, another pitting Peugeot rejoined on the tail of our group, now I was up to 14th and quite confident that I'd finish ahead of all of these. First Peugeot gets past on the main straight, but I wasn't too worried as I knew he had to pit again then at the end of L9 I make my only real mistake of the race out of the final corner and the second Peugeot takes advantage as the Ferrari makes a second(?!) pit stop.

For the first time I felt in a bit of trouble, if the Peugeot was on hards I would need to get it done on track and it quickly became apparent that he was as he was losing time to the group ahead. So I soon got about pressuring him, almost having a chance into the second hairpin then through the chicane a Spaniard that had been running 8th had a row with the wall, unghosted on the exit just as we were approaching and I took advantage of the confusion to go through a small gap. There was contact with the Peugeot, not a great deal though it must be said, I'd already got my nose ahead and it was slight side contact or smash the Spaniard up the back. Now up to 13th, four laps to go and a group of three ahead with possible pit stops to come as well as cars struggling on tyres.

Worn tyres of cars ahead made the group bigger, a Peugeot goes off at the end of L12 putting me 12th, I set my fastest lap of the race, the Peugeot from L1 makes its second stop and I was now in a train of four cars as we entered the final two laps. Hoping for some battling ahead to help me. A French driver in an Audi on hard tyres was doing some heavy fuel saving and I passed him on the run OUT of the hairpin and up to the esses. Up to 10th, not quite close enough to attack any more this lap and that was it.

15th-10th, plenty of fun, and far and away the leading Class B driver!

(Apologies for the essay!)

Tight squeeze on the way out!

 

[stpatty]

Started 12th, finished 13th. A few mistakes cost me the chance of what could have been 8th or even as high as 6th, some mine, some not. Hell I just realised my 47.6 was a faster fastest lap than the winner, a 47.7. I feel as if I'm convincing myself to go again here...

 

[DK]

Learn from my mistakes: don't pick the Lexus. I just got reamed and only avoided last because someone forgot to use both compounds.

Time to subject myself to terminal understeer.

 

[Lost Sheltie]

Decided to have a quick go at the Nations as Gr.4 cars don't generally require much practice. Tried the Renault Megane, just to see if it would be a decent comparison to the Audi, but it's fuel and tyre wear are worse so decided to go Audi.

Quali went well. Had an incident at the start when everyone stopped before the final chicane, and the guy behind me plowed into the back of me. He got a penalty for this, so he wasn't happy and wrecked my exit to the chicane. Meant I did my first flying lap without slipstream, but I managed to latch onto a train for my second attempt and managed to get 2nd.

Race went perfectly for me, started on mediums. Driver in 1st was in a pug, so I just sat in his slipstream and saved fuel. Luckily the peeps behind fell back to 5 seconds behind us (Either there was some mistake or maybe they started on hards?). So that meant I could just sit there saving fuel until he pitted on lap 9. I probably could have passed him, but decided saving fuel was more important.

I pushed for a lap, but saw I was losing a little time to him so I pitted, but since I didn't need fuel I came out about 2 secs ahead. After that he got into slipstream range once, but I managed to shake him and won by 2 seconds. Quiet race tbh but got me 285 points so can't complain

Was a nice mix of cars tbh, but Audi, Peugeot, Audi, Audi, Mercedes probably gives you an idea of what car to use. I had BB at 1 during qualifying, but pushed it back after a few corners in the race to 4.

 

[Hasnain282]

Giving it a go in the Citroën

 

[SlowDriver87]

Well that was an absolute blast!

I'm a high B driver and got put in a lobby with half A/half B drivers. I got door number 18 and I qualified 16th after a miserable session which saw me only register one half decent lap due to getting punted on the second flying lap and making a mess of the last 2. I started on hards to get them out of the way with considering I was at the back.

I got up to 14th by the end of lap 1 after two people got claimed by the death chicane and someone served a penalty. By the end of lap 3 I was up to 10th after taking advantage of a couple of people fighting. I was pretty pleased by this point and would easily have taken 10th. By lap 5 I was 8th after an overtake and someone pitting, then I made my stop on lap 7 as I figured I'd shred the mediums if I pit too early. I rejoined in 15th, got back up to 11th after the death chicane struck again, an overtake and someone pitted. I made my way up to 7th by the end of lap 11 after some overtakes and pit stops.

I caught up with 6th place and unfortunately missed my braking point on turn 1 of lap 13 and gave him the slightest of nudges. I took the place but gave it him back on the next corner so I didn't lose too much time. I put on my hazards to say sorry but he still tried to ram me off (twice), so I gently barged my way past again. He tried to completely wipe me out near the end of the lap and only ended up destroying his own race, much to my amusement, and he finished 16th, then swore at me at the end.

One of the most enjoyable races I've had so far on GT Sport even though I've won over 20 races. I'd never done this track before today but I really liked it. I want to go again but probably won't get any better so I'll just practice for tomorrow's Manu race.

tl;dr: I went from 16th to 6th and had a laugh along the way.

*Excuse the ridiculous PSN ID, it was my girlfriend's idea and I stupidly listened.

 

[Ashthebash]

Giving it a go in the Citroën

That looked very tough like nothing was going to go for you until the last five minutes!!

 

[Neil1jnr]

Came 2nd in nations with the TT.

90% of the field were RCZ. Poor Spaniard battling for 1st about 2 sec ahead of me ran out of fuel on last corner of last lap, just at the penalty spot, he ended up 7th!

Great clean race!

 

[Hasnain282]

That looked very tough like nothing was going to go for you until the last five minutes!!

Yep, was surprised I ended up where I did, drove so poorly

 

[DK]

I really regret not picking the Audi in my first attempt, it had the Lexus beat on pretty much everything (including fuel consumption, I only needed 12L vs ~30L when pitting) and even stayed on track under braking for the T4 hairpin after the Death Chicane. I qualified 9th, 1.3s off pole, and I had an uneventful ride to 4th as I picked my way through. I had a brief scare exiting the pits on lap 8 under braking for T4 when I just about kept it on track on cold Hards.

 

[OutlawQuadrnt]

I think in the B lobbies, that the chances of a guy just in front of you binning it or being so much slower than you, offsetting the slipstream advantage, are pretty high- so I tend to prefer clean air and track in qualifying most times so far as well... so far. When I've tried to make sure I'm in the slipstream, the guy in front of me has either held me up in the technical parts, or some other moron has jumped my space, backing us up so that I'm pretty much stuck with whatever time the guys in front of me run, because passing them would take even more time, compromising my hot lap.

But in higher lobbies with faster and more consistent guys, I think it's likely critical that you take advantage of the slip stream to have any chance. The risks are lower and the gain too high, to ignore it. At least I hope to see that for myself soon!

Slipstream qualifying is most effective when you have enough drivers that are consistently fast and/or your car relies on handling. Regrettably, I remain terrible in both luck and execution for this but I gauge whether I want to try when I see who is in the room.

I will likely give Nations a try with the TT. Maybe the RCZ if I have time to try it out.

 

[RacingGrandpa]

*Excuse the ridiculous PSN ID, it was my girlfriend's idea and I stupidly listened.

That's the reason my psn is Resident_Knievel

 

[Tidgney]

Right, as my little Audi is actually good here, going to give Nations a whirl!!