FIA Race Discussion [Archive]

[HaydenFan69]

I forgot that they were both on the same day. I wish they'd stop doing that and spread them over two days. I think I'll probably just do one of the earlier Manu slots and if I do well then I may have a go at the Nations later on.

I did a couple of practice races at Spa on my own and managed to lap in the low-mid 1:31's with a good few in the mid-high 1:30's, which I'm pretty happy with for my DR level. The tricky points for me are Pouhon and I still don't have the confidence to always go completely flat with no lifting through Raidillon Eau Rouge. It's relatively easy to get a track limits penalty too. I just wish there were some pit stops involved and it'd be a perfect race.

I just hope the first corner isn't a pile up. At least it's a rolling start.

Just about consistency. You know the line and stick with it. I'd say nail down the exit from the hairpin and over rev the gears on exit of Raidillon to get the max out of your acceleration down the straight. Download a Top 10 ghost and practice La Source until you have them matched. That'll make up for any time lost from lifting before you hit Raidillon.

 

[SlowDriver87]

If you're in the 1:31s you'll be MILES ahead! 2:31s and you'll be competitive

Eau Rouge, cut as much of the left hand entry as you can (right wheels on the kerb) then it's easier to turn right hugging the kerb and straighten up over Raidillon. Once you're used to it it's easy flat in most Gr.4 cars, and also easy to tell when you've overcooked it and need to lift to avoid a penalty. Pouhon is extremely tricky, I would give the brakes a tap just before or on the 50m board and try to swing it in late to the apex, from there, full throttle

Ha, I really should have gone to bed at least an hour ago!

I’ve been trying to do pretty much what you’ve just written there but I think after the left entry I’m either turning right too early, in which case I ride the kerb on the right too much, or too late which then causes me to collect a penalty. As for Pouhon I tend to brake a little too hard before the 50 board but I figure it’s better to lose a couple of tenths than go off the track completely. I think I need another practice race or two tomorrow and I’ll be set.

At least the penalty zone is towards the end of a straight and not at the start like at Fuji so it’s not the end of the world if you get one.

 

[GTWolverine]

@Famine, maybe you should give this one a go. on the NA leaderboard for Spa, 4th-6th are Atenzas.

 

[Ashthebash]

Ha, I really should have gone to bed at least an hour ago!

I’ve been trying to do pretty much what you’ve just written there but I think after the left entry I’m either turning right too early, in which case I ride the kerb on the right too much, or too late which then causes me to collect a penalty. As for Pouhon I tend to brake a little too hard before the 50 board but I figure it’s better to lose a couple of tenths than go off the track completely. I think I need another practice race or two tomorrow and I’ll be set.

At least the penalty zone is towards the end of a straight and not at the start like at Fuji so it’s not the end of the world if you get one.

You can afford to ride the kerb a little, it's if you get all over it that you'll get a problem. The thing about cutting the entry is having enough time to get the car balanced to turn back to the right, so point it over that kerb to the left way before you get there, you should be almost straight-lining the left kink

 

[RX8 Racer]

I tried the 4C Gr.4 in the practice lobbies and it went horribly. I can clock a decent quali time, but I have absolutely no pace in the race itself. The loose rear end makes it difficult to take the slow corners at a decent speed and there seems to be some understeer in high speed corners as tyre wear sets in (especially at Pouhon). It took me 7 race laps to get a lap time anywhere close to my quali time. I was dead last and a good ~30 seconds off my fellow B driver at the end of my last attempt. This is just plain disappointing. The Alfa just doesn’t have the handling to justify having the least power in Gr.4.

Not good enough, PD. Not good enough.

 

[CurbHog]

SPA Fundamentals
As a bonus I put in the name of the turns in the video.

 

[05XR8]

I will say, this was THEE most epic race I ever had in Sport Mode.

Qualy was super tight.

Race finished close.

I went two stop on RS. Lap 7 and Lap 13. P1 was getting a bit sketchy around lap 4. Went wide and I cut underneath. Maintained a gap and started to eek out about 2 seconds. Tyres were okay and fuel was around 48% by middle of Lap5. I decided to go around and pit end of Lap6.
Topped up to about 93%, came out 5th. Someone spun out and I was on the back of a 3rd place player.

I needed to get by, as the leader was hovering 8.3-8.8s. I went for the inside as watching 3rd place kept taking the outside line at T3. He cut right down into my passenger door but we stayed on the track. I slotted back behind and we lost about .3s to P1.

Finally, Lap 8 or 9, others start pitting. P1 pits and I pass him as he exits( I'm1s in the lead). Head down to see if if I can pull him as his tyres are coming up to temp. Lap 10-13, I'm pulling a little bit to 2.5s. Each lap, I'm setting purple sectors as fuel burns off.
I pit end of Lap 13. Exit right behind P1. P1 getting a bit defensive and trying to break the sli[pstream. Last lap, I'm right there. We both have to early brake for the final chicane. Dash to the final turn and finish. I'll be enjoying the replay. Such a great race.

With him going off and me being held up, it balanced out. Happy with my driving and the result.

The Redheads matches girl, had my back.

 

[05XR8]

@Famine, maybe you should give this one a go. on the NA leaderboard for Spa, 4th-6th are Atenzas.

You ain't kiddin'. Atenzas ahead of me.

Oof! The RC F was a boat in qualy. Much different to the Lobby race. At least I dipped in the 2:30s in that. No luck here all on my own. Well, here we go....

Edit: The GT-Rs are fast. The one behind me was catching me twords the end like nobody's business. Thought he must have changed tyres. Anyway, RC F is too frugal. Nearly 4 laps of fuel left. Doesn't help when trying to go fast in the last few laps. Maybe that's why the BOP has such a low weight to start with. I don't know.

The Atenzas were having their own troubles. One was on the side of the road and another looked to be out of control and the driver couldn't get the rhythm back. Nevertheless, another good replay to watch.

 

[ShiftingGears]

You'd think passing at Spa would be a lot easier than it actually is.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

Do we need to use mediums in the zonda?

 

[C_Raccoon23]

Do we need to use mediums in the zonda?

Softs and mediums.

 

[05XR8]

After Spa, I needed to go to a spa. That was a physical race for me. Even using the DS4. Adrenalin was high, no doubt.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

I just 2 stopped softs and don't think I was penalised for it, not that it mattered coming last . Was a good practice run though. Back to spa now, keeps you on your toes these totally different combos..

 

[Redneckchef]

6 laps of practice for Spa and in we go. Starting p15 in my mello jaaaag after getting wobbly both qualifying laps so could be interesting.

EDIT: And another Manu disaster. Couple of drivers make some rough passes, so I make sure I try to get in front cleanly. Nope, passed again when I make a little slip, with just enough bumping to ensure I cant defend. I return the favor by blocking after i next get past. Pushed wide where i get a track penalty and they are past again. I back off. Decide a clean pass. They push me onto the grass so I make sure I get a solid inside move and hold it. Bumped wide for the pass at double gauche so I give up. Make a hard pass as they try to slam the door on the last lap at the long sweeping left. They go wide but no penalty(when they slammed me wide there I got a track limit penalty). Come to the bus stop. Punted. Driving back, was p13, now possibly salvage p16 (for no real reason) and then reset just as I turn on to track. DFL, all time low in points.

FIA are just rubbish. If I race clean I simply get run off track. If I race hard and physical I get my SR slaughtered and I still fall back. If I race dirty I lose because I cant do that that well. I was challenging for a spot in the top 10 till this person and I got mixed up. And all they wanted to do was ensure I couldn't be in front of them. I had really not run into this much garbage in the dailies for a long time but it seems normal at the back of my FIA grids where I sit. What the heck do I have to do to get clean racing there?

I had enjoyed them as a variety from the dailies but as the season progresses they just become exercises in anger management.

 

[Rangeraus]

Got into Superstars for both Manufacturers and Nations, they both went terribly.

Nations I wasn't quick enough, finished P11.

Manufacturers I was in a decent slipstream in qualifying, then someone decided to try and overtake at the final corner before my hotlap, then overtake into Turn 1 of my hotlap, ran me wide and I got a penalty. No awareness whatsoever.

Before second hotlap this slipstream tomfoolery happens, tyres got cold, someone bump drafted on the way up to Les Combes and I missed my braking point. Got a penalty shortly afterwards and started last without setting a lap. So I get to look like a ****ing slow idiot on livestream.


Finished P13, a shame because the Alfa is decent in a tow of someone fast (but is otherwise a sitting duck if you run out of people to sit in the tow of).

 

[Adam Barber]

Going to try and go for the two stop later, there's a big gap in pace between both tyres and should hopefully be able to capitalise on that.

 

[05XR8]

Going to try and go for the two stop later, there's a big gap in pace between both tyres and should hopefully be able to capitalise on that.

If you exit behind someone that hasn't pit, hopefully you can dispatch them quickly and cleanly.

 

[Ashthebash]

Got into Superstars for both Manufacturers and Nations, they both went terribly.

Nations I wasn't quick enough, finished P11.

Manufacturers I was in a decent slipstream in qualifying, then someone decided to try and overtake at the final corner before my hotlap, then overtake into Turn 1 of my hotlap, ran me wide and I got a penalty. No awareness whatsoever.

Before second hotlap this slipstream tomfoolery happens, tyres got cold, someone bump drafted on the way up to Les Combes and I missed my braking point. Got a penalty shortly afterwards and started last without setting a lap. So I get to look like a ****ing slow idiot on livestream.


Finished P13, a shame because the Alfa is decent in a tow of someone fast (but is otherwise a sitting duck if you run out of people to sit in the tow of).

I feel for the people who came across that while on their hot laps!

Still think a minimum time to do your lap in would help loads. Set it at say 3 minutes for Spa in Gr.4, if your out lap is over that your run is invalidated

 

[MikeyLCR]

I think they should just go one shot qualy like the optional one thats in the F1 game, everyone on their own on the track one out one flyer and thats it.

 

[stpatty]

There's absolutely no chance of me lasting in Nations with worn mediums, so I'll be two-stopping too.

 

[Redneckchef]

I am deciding to end the night on a good note. To all you heading out in EMEA and NA later on good luck and go fast. Always nice to wake up to stories and highlights of good races on the sunday morning.

Don't let my bad story put you off. There's always 1 around, hope I absorbed the ugly one for ya 👍

 

[05XR8]

The BOP BHP are wrong for the Supra and RC F. Supra is adjusted to 380 BHP, but it's 374 BHP. The RC F is adjusted to 408 BHP, but it's 402 BHP. What the heck? I tested the Supra at Sardegna II and I was .4s faster. with BHP set to 382 BHP(can not be lowered to 380 BHP).

Maybe the RC F is getting good fuel mileage, as it's not set to the correct BHP.

 

[Adam Barber]

If you exit behind someone that hasn't pit, hopefully you can dispatch them quickly and cleanly.

Hopefully with fresh tyres and you can generally be more inventive with overtaking in FIA races shouldn't be to much of an issue

 

[Mr Miyagi]

Well all I can say about tonight is ***** **** *** *****.

 

[KosmoKazi]

I will say, this was THEE most epic race I ever had in Sport Mode.

Qualy was super tight.

Race finished close.

I went two stop on RS. Lap 7 and Lap 13. P1 was getting a bit sketchy around lap 4. Went wide and I cut underneath. Maintained a gap and started to eek out about 2 seconds. Tyres were okay and fuel was around 48% by middle of Lap5. I decided to go around and pit end of Lap6.
Topped up to about 93%, came out 5th. Someone spun out and I was on the back of a 3rd place player.

I needed to get by, as the leader was hovering 8.3-8.8s. I went for the inside as watching 3rd place kept taking the outside line at T3. He cut right down into my passenger door but we stayed on the track. I slotted back behind and we lost about .3s to P1.

Finally, Lap 8 or 9, others start pitting. P1 pits and I pass him as he exits( I'm1s in the lead). Head down to see if if I can pull him as his tyres are coming up to temp. Lap 10-13, I'm pulling a little bit to 2.5s. Each lap, I'm setting purple sectors as fuel burns off.
I pit end of Lap 13. Exit right behind P1. P1 getting a bit defensive and trying to break the sli[pstream. Last lap, I'm right there. We both have to early brake for the final chicane. Dash to the final turn and finish. I'll be enjoying the replay. Such a great race.

With him going off and me being held up, it balanced out. Happy with my driving and the result.

The Redheads matches girl, had my back.

Nice work! What would you say is the optimal interval for two-stops? Are the softs good for 5 laps or just 4? Thanks!

 

[Baka_Marimo]

Looks like the game decided I should be a good Samaritan and take the penalty for my fellow countryman there



Made up 2 positions to finish 5th despite this and another minor incident. Happy with the result 👍

 

[RX8 Racer]

Nice work! What would you say is the optimal interval for two-stops? Are the softs good for 5 laps or just 4? Thanks!

I ran 7 Soft-1 Med-7 Soft. The Zonda on Meds loses about a second per lap to Softs.

Well, my race today was marred by a very dirty driver. I started 6th, gained a place at T1, then lost that place to someone who shoved his way past me at the exit of T7. I accepted my loss with a grumble and carried on. I dropped to 7th, but jumped back up to 5th after going in too hot into T1:



The guy that stopped short of turning into me got a 3 second penalty for turning into the guy that followed my line (even though he recovered with no position drop). Oops.

On lap 6, I caught up to the guy who shoved past me on lap 1 after he flubbed the final chicane. I overtook him while he was ghosted, but he proceeded to run me wide at the final corner, sending me into the gravel and a spin. I was not amused, to say the least. I was lucky I only lost 2 places, but losing 14 seconds to a dirty driver is infuriating (especially when he got off without a penalty).

I carried on with my pit strategy, and on lap 12, I happened to catch up to the guy who spun me out (due to the latter having an excursion at T7). He tries to slam me off when I take the inside line at T5, which is when I finally lost my patience. I let him past at T6, then rammed him off at T7, sending him down to 11th. It costed me a 2 second penalty and a drop to 7th (which is where I finished), but it was a small price to pay compared to the risk of getting run off the road again. As for him, he clearly didn't learn his lesson, as he muscled his way past one more guy to take 10th.

Replay involving both incidents:

It's quite telling that the dirty driver was the only one to lose SR after the race.

I also took some pictures of my ride:

 

[watto79]

My 2pm Nations race was full of drama and thoroughly entertaining.

Qualify 10th, which was disappointing but couldn't hook a decent lap together.

Lap 1 I bump someone wide at the left hander after the uphill esses. I get a 2 second penalty and back off to give the position back. Immediately after passing me they put a wheel on the grass and spin out. They were very good natured about it in the chat afterwards though.

After that I ran a 7S/1m/7S strategy and coming into the last corner I'm definitely going to finish 8th..... or am I? What followed was a butt clenching moment for sure.



Was was most surprising was that the winner, who started 5th, did a 1 stop strategy. Spadders and Wifi Password finishing 2nd and 3rd were gobsmacked. From some proper race experience I can put out there that overtaking in this combo is really hard. Even if you're on soft tyres against someone on mediums it's really tricky to stick a clean pass. Something to consider

I may actually race again. If I can sort out qualifying I have much better pace than I was able to show in this one. Especially considering the first lap issues.

 

[ivann]

disconnected first slot 👎

 

[Adam Barber]

My 2pm Nations race was full of drama and thoroughly entertaining.

Qualify 10th, which was disappointing but couldn't hook a decent lap together.

Lap 1 I bump someone wide at the left hander after the uphill esses. I get a 2 second penalty and back off to give the position back. Immediately after passing me they put a wheel on the grass and spin out. They were very good natured about it in the chat afterwards though.

After that I ran a 7S/1m/7S strategy and coming into the last corner I'm definitely going to finish 8th..... or am I? What followed was a butt clenching moment for sure.



Was was most surprising was that the winner, who started 5th, did a 1 stop strategy. Spadders and Wifi Password finishing 2nd and 3rd were gobsmacked. From some proper race experience I can put out there that overtaking in this combo is really hard. Even if you're on soft tyres against someone on mediums it's really tricky to stick a clean pass. Something to consider

View attachment 932481
View attachment 932483

I may actually race again. If I can sort out qualifying I have much better pace than I was able to show in this one. Especially considering the first lap issues.

That guy who just beat you to 5th was using my Vitaphone Livery, well done on the result.