A very mixed FIA double last night on two of the most difficult and demanding reverse circuits GT Sport has to offer.
Nations Cup (17:00):
Stuck with the tried-and-tested 2016 GT-R, got drawn into the same lobby as
@Ashthebash. Had a relatively trouble-free qualifying session to go 7th fastest with a 1:31.726. My main focus for the GT-R Cup (no joke, the only non-Nissan entry in my lobby was a solitary Lexus starting in 6th) was to pace myself on a two-stopper (Softs, Mediums, Softs) and not do anything overambitious, knowing full well about the barriers and limited overtaking opportunities at Sardegna A II. Despite immediately grazing the barrier at the outside of Turn 1, the first stint went relatively well, and I was more than content with passing through incidents and saving fuel in the tow of the '08 GT-R in front. When I realised that I was losing more time to the cars further ahead, I decided to undercut said GT-R on Lap 5, exchanging Softs for Mediums and securing 4th place. Made the Mediums last until Lap 12, and soon became embroiled in a few tense battles for position.
On Lap 14, a Rebellion-liveried '08 GT-R dives on the inside of me at second hairpin, and we spend at least a quarter of a lap mostly side-by-side. Had to give up 6th so we could have enough room for the slow S's, and sacrifice 7th to a blue and orange GT-R (who started the race from the very back) as he sweeps around my outside. Not a problem for me, though, as we all gradually catch up to the GT-R in 4th, the Rebellion car runs wide at Cathedral and an Italian spins out of 3rd on the very next lap. Going into the final moments, a podium place grew increasingly likely as 3rd and 4th squabbled up ahead and the car in 2nd picked up a penalty. This was where things really got tense. I make a strong run past one of the PTM GT-Rs as he drifts wide onto the blue zone at the final corner, and try to closely follow the fight for 2nd that is now developing. Next time we come to the slow S's, I brake early and my car snaps suddenly to the left as I turn in; I hit the PTM GT-R who's trying to pass me on the inside, causing him to spin out and me to feel guilty at having unintentionally taken him out. Momentarily lost 4th when the Rebellion GT-R forced past me at Turn 1 - not at all helped by the other PTM GT-R being forced out wide by the blue and orange one - but regained it when the PTM car forced the Rebellion car wide at the exit of the final S's.
Felt glad to have conquered Sardegna A II, yet disappointed with how scrappy the last few laps turned out. Made amends with the PTM driver by apologising to him after the race, but still can't help but feel like I should've braked a little later or turned in a little gentler that time.
Manufacturers Series (21:00):
On the back of my FP times and practice runs, I wasn't feeling confident about the reverse Maggiore GP loop. Like many others, I struggled to get consistency in test lobbies, but decided to do the 21:00 slot anyway as I felt I had nothing to lose following my Nations run.
Got drawn into what
@breeminator told me afterwards was a 55-60K lobby, and immediately encountered problems when I made contact with a McLaren on my out lap (prompting another apology). Aborted my first flying lap after going off twice, got blocked on my second by a Lambo and was reeled in by a fast-charging Aston on my third. Despite having to let the Aston through, I was able to clock a 1:58.750; not bad on worn tyres, but well short of the low-1:58s I achieved in practice. A very frustrating session, to say the least.
Started the race with a couple of consistent laps, catching up to a Porsche/Lexus battle and gaining four places at the near-halfway mark. Initially, I thought about doing a one-stop, but decided at the last minute to follow the Lambo into the pits on Lap 5. Went wide on cold tyres on Lap 6, but quietly soldiered on in 14th once more pit stops and penalties were served elsewhere. By Lap 9, I felt that a one-stop was no longer possible without losing masses of time near the end, and found myself being pressured by a Honda who had earlier been punted out of the top 10. Said Honda rams me from behind as I hug the apex at the final corner, leaving me fishtailing on my way into the pits for the second and final time. The McLaren squeezes me to the kerb on pit exit; the Lexus bumps me a split-second later. Despite not being able to get past, I follow the McLaren as he draws closer to - and repeatedly makes contact with - the Porsche in front. Coming out of the final corner, I get a fantastic run on both as we start the last lap, getting the move sown up under braking into Turn 1 despite being biffed by the McLaren in the process. At the time, I thought I might have accidentally blocked him by losing too much speed through the apex, and felt compelled to apologise to him once again. However, re-watching the radar and rear-view mirror on my on-board capture suggested that the Porsche merely shoved the McLaren into my rear bumper, so clearly their on-track tempers hadn't fully died down at that point. And with that, I was free to run away with 13th place, which became 12th when the Honda had a massive off further into the lap.
Well, I can't honestly say that was the most enjoyable race of the season, but 153 points is not bad considering how badly qualifying went. From the replays and streams I've seen of the same race, it seemed like it was just as chaotic and unforgiving at the front as it was in the bottom 10.
And with those races done, my total scores now stand at 1,028 points for Nations (8th in UK, 57th in EMEA) and 557 for Manufacturers (12th for Citroen, 435th in EMEA). Think I can safely wrap up my Nations campaign for this season, but am not sure if I want to continue in Manufacturers after my form in the last two rounds and with the Christmas holidays coming up. I have the pace for sure, but I don't feel like I've enjoyed last night's rounds the same with the extra practice I put into both.
