Nations Cup (Round 1)
Started 18th, mostly tried to keep it clean and on track for my first ever Nations Cup race (as well as avoid some of the drivers, who were just all over the place). Started on the Hards as I had a strategy I've been perfecting thanks to the Daily Race C I was doing weeks ago. Did one stop, took Mediums and began to catch the cars with four laps to go. Netted what was going to be 12th until someone who ran out of fuel decided to be a idiot and hit someone trying to pass by, gifting me 11th.
Exibition Series - Manufacterers (Round 1)
Was abit unsure on this one. On one hand, it wasn't one of the previous Tokyo Tracks (In fact, I actually like this one the most). On the other, its Tokyo. Usually that means bumper cars. So I start the race in 11th, Lap 1 was no so great as I messed up my braking point after overtaking one car and scraping the wall, lost 3 positions. Then would gain some back as two cars ahead were making contact, allowing me to get by one (and also get bumped from behind by another, trying to go for a space that was not present). Lap 2, I got by more cars as they seemed to have all gotten penalties from bumping, getting me all the way up to 9th. Lap 3 though, turn 1 Strikes again as this time I breezed past an Aston, only to again lose it on the brakes and this time, made accidental contact with the McLaren (no penalty). For the next 2 laps I settled down and focus on not screwing up turn 1 and finally, I got by that McLaren with no contact and no mistakes in Turn 1. Pitted on lap 7, got off the Mediums and on to the softs and spent the rest of the race trying to chase a Porsche down for 5th, which I did on the last lap.
Overall, solid Saturday for me.
Nations Cup (Round 2)
So when it comes to Sport mode, this has been by far my least favorite track so I wasn't exactly looking forward to this one. Starting 13th, all I had in mind was just staying on the track and not doing any worse. For a lot of the beginning of the race, it was simply a deadlock between me and two Ferrari F50s. Got bumped from behind many times by someone who was just way too eager to go for a move. I lost a few spots after a awhile after getting loose in some corners and made them up. In the final two laps, had some of my best driving as I finally made that overtake I've always wanted to pull off in Turn 1 and then battled until the final corner to finish 10th.
Exibition Series - Manufacterers (Round 2)
This race I was really looking forward to, Spent a huge amount of time in many cars on Autopolis so I was very much ready. Started in 12th , first lap was abit of a disaster as I got loose in Turn 1 and lost some positions and it only got worst after turn 7 as the pole sitter (who apparently had an incident) made a really aggressive dive and bumped me out the way, making me lose more positions. I had to get back in the rhythm and keep the car on track. As the race went on, tires on others car were wearing and many mistakes were gifting me places. While many were pitting on lap 5 and 6, I made it to lap 7 and pitted from the Hards for Mediums. This went beautifully as once again, cars in front were making mistakes and gifting me spots. Final two laps were spent trying to get around the pole sitter, who was clearly struggling AND had to serve a Penalty (losing even more time). On the final lap, he had a slip up in Turn 1 and I got a run. Made a dive for 11th (making contact, but no penalty) and staying there.
