FIA Race Discussion [Archive]

[MCL1974]

Went better than I thought it would!

Seeded at #17 and that's where I managed to qualify at as well, so no big surprise there. Got some okay-ish quali laps in, could probably have gone half a second faster if I'd kept it together but I'm not great at qualifying. On this grid that would've put me around P8-P10. P1 was half a second faster than P2, but P19 was only 1.6 seconds behind P1 so it was a fairly tight grid for a B/S lobby.

So I decided to gamble on a pit strategy where I started on the mediums and would run them for six laps, then do seven/seven on the softs and refuel on the second pitstop. In the Corvette I didn't even bother fuel saving because I'd be losing so much pace then. I was keeping up fine with the rear pack for those six laps, and I even gained two positions from other people messing up during the first lap (because that's where the race is won, amirite?). Kept gaining ground because my pitting strategy put me outside the suggested pit windows so I would pass tons of people as they were pitting. At one point before my second stop I was up to P8.

Came out on track again in P16, but then some guys pitted ahead of me and then started driving really badly. One guy caught 7 seconds worth of penalties and I was right on his ass when he went into the penalty zone but then he ragequit although I saw both incidents that gave him the points and they were well deserved. He punted someone else out of the way so now I was in P11 with several seconds down behind me. P11 ain't bad I thought and decided to focus on bringing it home.

Then on the final lap two guys went into each other on the back straight and racked up some penalties and slowed each other down, so I reached deep down and drove a perfect final sector to catch up as much as possible to those two and managed to cross the line only 0.9 seconds down from them and wouldn't you know it, he had a 1 second penalty.

P10 baby! Up 7 positions from P17 with a CRB. I'm taking those points and going home because it's getting late here and I don't fancy my chances a second time around.

Well done, congrats! if I may ask: what was your qualifying time?

 

[stpatty]

The good:

The bad:

The ugly:



Survived a bit of close running in the first few laps. I was in 5th before the guy in 3rd got double passed into turn 1. I got a track limits penalty at the left/right combo going into the top of the track on the same lap. By the next lap some carnage had happened behind me and when I served the penalty I was still in 3rd. I caught up to the guy in the NSX and then that video happened. What are peoples' thoughts on it? At the time I felt like I was caught in two minds of backing out and letting him go or going for it up the left. In the end I think I did both and neither, and the contact happened. It's a shame that happened, it could have been a decent race.

I planned to go 7/7/6, but when lap 7 came and the NSX stayed out we had a gap that was increasing and the tyres hadn't dropped off. Fun race, even if I was alone for most of it. Actually that's probably a good thing.

 

[Tidgney]

I've done 20.4 miles practice, so a bit more than normal ! Lets try get a win... but open lobby first of course !

 

[Zorz]

The ugly:

I'd have to go with the Honda being at fault without a doubt. It looked like he had no intention of leaving room even though you appeared to be partially alongside.

 

[kungtotte_]

Well done, congrats! if I may ask: what was your qualifying time?

1:46.000, pole was 1:44.3xx.

 

[Pigems]

The good:

View attachment 963415

The bad:

View attachment 963417

The ugly:



Survived a bit of close running in the first few laps. I was in 5th before the guy in 3rd got double passed into turn 1. I got a track limits penalty at the left/right combo going into the top of the track on the same lap. By the next lap some carnage had happened behind me and when I served the penalty I was still in 3rd. I caught up to the guy in the NSX and then that video happened. What are peoples' thoughts on it? At the time I felt like I was caught in two minds of backing out and letting him go or going for it up the left. In the end I think I did both and neither, and the contact happened. It's a shame that happened, it could have been a decent race.

I planned to go 7/7/6, but when lap 7 came and the NSX stayed out we had a gap that was increasing and the tyres hadn't dropped off. Fun race, even if I was alone for most of it. Actually that's probably a good thing.

I’d call that more the Honda’s fault, if anyone. He turned in when there was overlap, it didn’t look like you moved off of your line at all.

 

[HaydenFan69]

I'd have to go with the Honda being at fault without a doubt. It looked like he had no intention of leaving room even though you appeared to be partially alongside.

He didn’t need to give any room. @stpatty wasn’t remotely in a place to overtake. A bad spot on track in that it is not an overtaking spot. Maybe take a different line than the guy in front to get the undercut, but that’d require him to sit back for this left hander.

I know the guy in front got wiggly on exit, but he was too far behind to really take advantage.

I’d have backed out and waited. Guy was obviously struggling.

 

[Zorz]

He didn’t need to give any room. @stpatty wasn’t remotely in a place to overtake. A bad spot on track in that it is not an overtaking spot. Maybe take a different line than the guy in front to get the undercut, but that’d require him to sit back for this left hander.

I know the guy in front got wiggly on exit, but he was too far behind to really take advantage.

I’d have backed out and waited. Guy was obviously struggling.

That's actually kind of my thinking. Unless stpatty would somehow be able to stick it around the outside on such worn tyres, there was no way he was going past. The Honda was already in the right place to simply take the inside line for defending the long right-hander. If he'd stuck on the right, it would have forced stpatty to back off regardless, but instead he opted to move across onto someone who was partially alongside.

 

[MCL1974]

1:46.000, pole was 1:44.3xx.

good qualifying times, think you were in a strong B lobby...
Shows me that i am right not doing this race, propably would not have been able to do these laptimes.

not my kind of track. (looking so much forward to the next 3 races though!!!)

 

[das89ca]

The good:

View attachment 963415

The bad:

View attachment 963417

The ugly:



Survived a bit of close running in the first few laps. I was in 5th before the guy in 3rd got double passed into turn 1.

I planned to go 7/7/6, but when lap 7 came and the NSX stayed out we had a gap that was increasing and the tyres hadn't dropped off. Fun race, even if I was alone for most of it. Actually that's probably a good thing.

To be honest, I think it was your fault - you were nowhere near the point you would have had any claim on that apex so you should have backed off in that corner and got him on the main straight. But for sure this incident could have been avoided by both of the drivers being a bit more aware of what's around them...

Manufacturer's Cup Catalunia

My 2nd race at A+ was not that successful - had absolutely no practice(only 5-6 time trial laps while waiting for the matching) and added a 700km drive today and a COVID test.

The lobby was really strong, I was #14 and the pot for the victory was 275 points. Did a weak quali with 44.6 enough just for starting in P18. Started on Mediums and my objective was not to finish last. Objective achieved after doing a 2 stop: 6M-7S-7S with fuel at the 2nd stop. Managed to finish in P15, but P11 was in sight so it was an decent result considering the facts. I was too tired to go again, hopefully I will make amends Saturday at Monza.

 

[Pigems]

To be honest, I think it was your fault - you were nowhere near the point you would have had any claim on that apex so you should have backed off in that corner and got him on the main straight. But for sure this incident could have been avoided by both of the drivers being a bit more aware of what's around them...

The way I see it is pretty simple, if you can’t turn in on your normal line without hitting me, then it’s enough overlap and you can’t turn in. 👍

 

[stpatty]

I'd have to go with the Honda being at fault without a doubt. It looked like he had no intention of leaving room even though you appeared to be partially alongside.

I’d call that more the Honda’s fault, if anyone. He turned in when there was overlap, it didn’t look like you moved off of your line at all.

He didn’t need to give any room. @stpatty wasn’t remotely in a place to overtake. A bad spot on track in that it is not an overtaking spot. Maybe take a different line than the guy in front to get the undercut, but that’d require him to sit back for this left hander.

I know the guy in front got wiggly on exit, but he was too far behind to really take advantage.

I’d have backed out and waited. Guy was obviously struggling.

To be honest, I think it was your fault - you were nowhere near the point you would have had any claim on that apex so you should have backed off in that corner and got him on the main straight. But for sure this incident could have been avoided by both of the drivers being a bit more aware of what's around them...

I'm glad we reached a consensus here, thanks guys.

 

[HaydenFan69]

The way I see it is pretty simple, if you can’t turn in on your normal line without hitting me, then it’s enough overlap and you can’t turn in. 👍

I always view the driver in front has 100% the advantage. There is sloppy driving, I.e. over aggressive blocking and such. In this case, entering the start of that corner, the Honda had the right to his line. Regardless of how off the curb the Honda was, that track was his. But the Nissan came in as the Honda neared the his apex and bumped his rear left tire. Ultimately it is not too big of an issue to if I was either driver. If you’re the driver of the Honda, you bobbled the exit of the previous corner and someone who was a bit overzealous made a weak attempt which led to you getting knocked from 2nd. And if you where the Nissan driver, you saw the smallest of holes and went for it.

I sided with the Honda driver mainly due to that particular spot on the track. The Nissan driver should’ve known that was always going to be a messy overtake.

 

[xxPinkyKissxx]

Can honestly say I feel like giving up on this game after that race. See how I feel in the morning but totally demoralised right now.
Was so far off the pace it was laughable.

Qualified dead last half a second off 19th. Started on Mediums and could barely keep up just cruising round in last. Pitted lap 4 for Softs as did a couple of others in front. Still couldn’t catch anyone and decided I was going to quit for the first ever time. Thought I’d wait to see where I was after my second pit stop and came out in 19th so didn’t quit as at least I wasn’t last. A couple more cars had span off and then some dick in a McLaren span off, came back on and rammed me off on purpose as I went to pass. He immediately quit but somehow I was given a 1 second penalty for it!!! Finished 14 seconds behind 15th!

Can’t decide if the car was poor on this track or I’m just *****! Only posting a screen shot as I didn’t come last!

 

[Pigems]

I always view the driver in front has 100% the advantage. There is sloppy driving, I.e. over aggressive blocking and such. In this case, entering the start of that corner, the Honda had the right to his line. Regardless of how off the curb the Honda was, that track was his. But the Nissan came in as the Honda neared the his apex and bumped his rear left tire. Ultimately it is not too big of an issue to if I was either driver. If you’re the driver of the Honda, you bobbled the exit of the previous corner and someone who was a bit overzealous made a weak attempt which led to you getting knocked from 2nd. And if you where the Nissan driver, you saw the smallest of holes and went for it.

I sided with the Honda driver mainly due to that particular spot on the track. The Nissan driver should’ve known that was always going to be a messy overtake.

That’s part of racing though, getting just enough overlap that you can force the other driver to take a line he doesn’t want too, so you can set up a move a corner or two later. In this case it would have been the tight/right line going into the next corner. The Nissan didn’t in any way steer into the Honda, he was holding his line. The Honda, who should have had more special awareness, turned into a corner without realizing someone had overlap on him, and spun himself out on the Nissan’s from bumper. You can make a pass anywhere on a track, some spots are just better than others is all. If the Honda didn’t want a move made there, then he shouldn’t have bobbled the previous corner and allowed the car behind to get overlap on him.

 

[stpatty]

In fairness, watching it back I think I'm the same as I was at the time - stuck in two minds about what to do and where to go. With the NSX having a wiggle on the way out of the previous corner I thought he'd be aware of the car behind and not sweep across for the left hand bump as much as normal. I was completely on the left and steering left. I think it's a combination of indecisiveness on my part and undue decisiveness on his. That isn't to say I wouldn't be furious if I was in the Honda's position there and that happened, but then I think I would have stuck more to the inside if I'd been there.

 

[Dave_H_87]

Cracking stream Texaco Tidge! Only caught the last couple of laps but what laps they were!

I've done 20.4 miles practice, so a bit more than normal ! Lets try get a win... but open lobby first of course !

 

[Tidgney]

Cracking stream Texaco Tidge! Only caught the last couple of laps but what laps they were!

Haha, I still can't believe the end of that race, absolutely mind blowing !

 

[Kermit_2142]

Having missed all the Saturday races I was looking forward to this one. Having not raced online in a while I didn’t realise my SR was down to 88 (still S, why I didn’t notice) so got put in a mash of AS, BS, CS, DS Drivers. Qually was tough because finding space was a nightmare with people spinning everywhere and the field spread being high. Luckily I managed to get pole even though my final lap got blown by a slow Huracan in the final sector (not his fault) by 0.094s.
The race started with a viper and jag hot on me, I decided to gun it to try and break the tow. I managed to pull a second but on lap 3 the viper had pulled me back to half a second and I started to think about fuel. A lap later we had dropped the jag and the viper made a small mistake through the final sector so I bolted again and that was that. By lap 7 I was coming up to backmarkers who weren’t having a fun time by looks of it but fair play to most of them ducking out the way to blue flags. (Who said that lower dr/Sr doesn’t have good sportsmanship?). I was really enjoying the Ford GT, what a car, it’s amazing I love it already. I decided I would push as if it was a usual lobby and see how much I could push the car and to give my competitors respect as I would’ve been in trouble with a silly penalty or crash. Someone down the order set a FL which I couldn’t match on my first set of tyres but I came out to see if I could manage it on the 2nd set. Finished the race with a clean sweep, pole, FL, CRB, win. A really fun race, wish I could’ve tested against a tougher lobby but a clean/fun race and a nice way to bed myself into the GT.

 

[HaydenFan69]

Okay, so it was one of those messy, you need to boost you rankings race against a bunch of bottoms drivers (I lapped to 11th). But a wins a wins. Even if it’s 63 points. Good race from 2nd with the pole winner. Kept the leader less than a second in front until the first pit stop. Took no fuel but softs again. Lost the lead during that swap to make a big pass into T1 before having to pit for mediums and the crucial fuel. This time back to 3rd, but the leaders pitted so back to the lead which I held for the last 5 laps.

Imma call that a night. Know I can do better point wise, but a win is a win.

 

[Razgriz2118]

Welp, that was a disaster lol. @Jwptexas , @csmirnoff , and some other regulars, both good to see and a little "*chuckles* I'm in danger" reaction to see. Door #16, so on top of being uncompetitive, I was in a lobby that was too-competitive for me in general. I qualified around 16th as well.

I screwed my strategy and started on Softs instead of Mediums because I went to the bathroom and my mind wandered when I came back, and I did pounce on some of the people ahead, but got a penalty for going beyond track limits, and with that, I got put on the back foot and was swarmed. Then, I sbinalla-ed myself, putting myself down to last, where I stayed. I did reel in 16th-19th, but I ended up getting a time penalty for going off track again, even though it slowed me down because I went into the dirt.

Down to 40k DR, the lowest I've been at in a while. At least my DR is back up to 99! ....juuuuuust in time for a Monza race.........

 

[csmirnoff]

Not having touched GTS in a few weeks (enjoying ACC more at the moment), only being able to practice around 30 mins before the race was probably not ideal. Did a few laps in a lobby and a few in TT before the race, doing a mid 43, not great but could have been worse.

In the first slot with my twitchy McLaren, racing with @Razgriz2118 and @Jwptexas, I qualified in 13th. Lost a couple of tenths on my quickest lap, but it wouldn't have made a big difference.

Race was fun, started on mediums, then 2 stints on softs, with a bit of fuel saving and some refueling in my second stop. Pace was not as bad as I thought it would be. Would have finished at least in the top 8, but at the end of my second stint, I hit the entry kerb to the 🤬 chicane in a wrong angle and lost the car completely. 8-9 seconds lost which left me P13 in the end.

Points weren't good and I lost a little bit of DR (now back below 44k), but I cannot go again tonight. At least, it was a fun race...

 

[afc5150]

I got matched in a lobby in slot 1in which I didn't recognize a single name, which is weird for me. All A/S drivers and I was given door 19. I wasn't sure what to expect, but felt I had decent enough pace, so of course I qualified down in 17th.

The race itself was pretty straightforward, nice and clean from what I could see. I went with the 8S/8S/4M strategy with fuel on the first stop. Had a few nice door to door battles, and by the end of the race I found myself in the top 10. A couple of mistakes up ahead and a couple of nice passes for me along the way.

Finished 9th in the one-off Eddie Van Halen livery, for 112 points which will count toward my total for now. Gained around 300 DR ~33.5K . So I figure that's enough for me. Overall not unhappy with my race.

 

[KosmoKazi]

FIAGTC 2020-2021 Exhibition Season
Manufacturers Series
Race #7 - Gr3 / Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix Layout

Hoping to turn things around in the second half of this short season. Not been a good one in either Nations or Manufacturers races so far. This would be my first real test of the new brake pedal, too, at a track that I haven't had great pace on.

Shared a grid with @Trone_Colby ...and his AWESOME Cleveland Browns livery-- though I can't get used to him in a VW! He unfortunately got punted by a Ferrari, which I didn't notice until watching the replay. Shame... I've had trouble with that Ferrari driver before, too. I let him through twice on account of my prior experiences with him.

Qualified 13th, had 6th for most of the first half of the session after a solid first lap, then watched as people's second laps pipped mine. No problem, didn't expect to be that high, even. Stuck with 7S/7S/6M strategy outlined by @Mistah_MCA, even though I was mid-pack.

Clean start, managed to get a couple of spots on the first lap by being more careful on the cold tires than two other drivers. Was actually held up quite a bit by two guys battling harder than they should have, and I think ultimately this may have cost me a place or two... running 1:48/1:49s behind them, I was able to pick up my own pace quite a but once they were out of the way. Had set my Fuel on 2, thinking I'd save 10% and shorten the final pit stop a bit... not sure if that was critical or best at this level, but stuck with the plan. Focused on being clean, REALLY clean, and enjoyed some space after a while, once the first pit stops began.

Was really pretty confident with the new brake, which really lent itself to the close quarters this track can put you in, at high speeds in the faster turns. Was braking even a little earlier than I used to, but at less pressure and trying to carry more min speed at the apex... Barcelona is a great place to practice that. But when I knew I needed to take it DEEP, with the RSR's best-in-class brakes, I could defend nicely, and the very fine control on the release came in handy at the hairpin in Sector 2 especially.

Eventually ran as high as 8th in pit cycles, but settled in at 11th, with an Aston closing in on me the last lap, while I was managing fuel just a little. Was able to protect the inside line at the hairpin T10, while he went long and wide...then I was able to cruise home, where I gained a place due to a required tire penalty from someone ahead.

(It is discouraging to see cars pull you even after bobbling on the exit to the main straight, or even off the T4... I mean what can you do?)

Equalled my best result, at one of my worst tracks, but more importantly: really enjoyed this race. I got the result I deserved, it was clean (thanks to some defensive driving... I did have to yield to a couple of bullies out there, but what are you gonna do?), and everything went according to Hoyle. Came away with a few DR, not much at all, but hey- didn't lose any! And after grinding a bit to recover some of what I lost in the first part of the season, had fun competing tonight.


Example of the improved braking control mid-turn
(I used to conduct 'brake-in-turn' performance evaluation testing on real cars in Dearborn, so this was near and true to my heart... so controllable, I could slot in behind the faster car without contact, and without conceding another position to the car right behind me, by maintaining higher min speed on the apex even as I let the Aston through)


Defending position against a faster Aston to seal my final finishing place on the last lap


@Trone_Colby getting the worst of a blown braking zone

Porsche 911 RSR (991) '17
Qualified: 13th
Race Finish: 10th (98 pts)
Door #11 in lobby with about 33k average DR

 

[RacingGrandpa]

Ran two slots yesterday. Both turned out really bad... In the end I went p19 to p17 and 17 points. I really got better along with the car, but the track is probably my worst.
Down 2 k DR from the two races.

Edit: but despite the dreary experience it was good for something! I feel much more confident in the Ford GT now.
There was a German racer in my last race that pitted to softs while I was on medium, I was right behind him for a lap then passed him and put 2 seconds in gap before I pitted for softs and overtook him again, then ran away easy. He quit on last lap. i felt a little sorry for him but at least I got to feel a little faster for a while.

 

[24HuresdeLoL]

The Circuit de Catalunya is a very surprisingly difficult place to drive. Even in a good-handling car such as the Subaru, it has to be pretty perfect or else you're off in the gravel or spun out at the last chicane (dear lord the Subaru does not like this curbs). The track with people on it compared to just hot-lapping (of course) and it can get awfully crowded.

Qualifying kinda sucked the first time around, but the second was a bit of a hail mary! Literally with 2 minutes left, getting into the top 3 with a 1:44. It kinda took all my concentration with that lap, but it was very satisfying.

Into the race, it started out decent enough, with 2nd place kinda holding me up for the first few laps, and then the top 2 starting to fight one another. Then the Supra behind had a run and got me for 3rd before the pit stops for mediums. Then with about 5 laps to go, when the leaders pitted for mediums, I pitted for softs. That led to the tight battle with the black Porsche for what was eventually third. Into the slowest corner, and he tried to take the outside but spun!! ENded up right where I started,, and my highest points haul to boot!

Started: P3
Finished: P3

 

[adokeeffe]

Round 7, and 7 turned out to be a lucky number. I qualified 7th, and was 4th by the end of Lap 1, taking full advantage of others' mistakes, and pulling off a near flawless run. I say "near flawless" - a slow moving Beetle was blocking the exit of the chicane mid-race, and I accelerated into their rear bumper, resulting in a loss of SR (but no penalty).

But they ran for cover into the pits and the road ahead was clear - I was 5th after my second pitstop and quickly gained on 4th, having pitted early to avoid running out of race time a lap early (1st place was miles ahead). But I still managed to go the full race length and finished 4th with 81 points, and a FL of 1:45:411

 

[Dave_H_87]

I'm going to try and make time to give this a go tonight but the Atenza Gr 3 is tortoise-like down the straights, could be a struggle.
Should have picked the REEEEEEEEEEE!!! RX Vision

Planning on a (probably starting from the lower mid-pack) 6M/7S/7S strat and hope to keep the mistakes to a minimum

Well, this turned out to be a completely different race from the one I expected.

Went in doing fairly consistent practice laps of 1:45-1:45.8 which I was aware seemed quite slow.
Signed up, had door number 16. My expectations got even lower, thought I would be lucky to finish any higher than 15th.

Ended up putting in a lap faster than most of my practice laps, a 1:44.9 which bagged me 5th on the grid.

Opted to go with a S-S-M strat
Managed to stay in 5th at the start and maintain reasonable pace with the front pack.
Pace started to fall off at the end of the first stint, I pitted on lap 7 from 6th place and put on the new set of softs.

5th place put on some mediums for his middle stint, so I caught and passed him after a couple of laps.
I managed to eke out the second set of softs to a 9 lap stint and plonked on the mediums.
In this time 4th place had spun and dropped to 6th.

Didn't feel comfortable on the mediums so I'm glad I managed to reduce my time on them.
Last four laps were just about staying on the road and not binning it.
Came home a fairly solid 5th, 73 points (my highest points score this year) and feeling pretty good about myself and the race.

Highest personal DR at the moment and my racecraft is improving constantly since I started reading and joined this forum!

Got a clean race too which I couldn't quite believe was true after 20 laps of racing

 

[adokeeffe]

...Happy with the 6th place finish and a clean race, in a group which featured a couple of average drivers.

...and a few above average ones too

 

[Raptor013]

...and a few above average ones too

Too true. It was a decent challenge trying to stay with you in the early part of the race.