Here's my latest run in a car I actually tested this time. I ran the Spoon S2000 '00, technically a tuner - but only just - which comes at 448PP in stock trim from the recent OCD. Following a few test laps and a new oil change, she now sits at 455PP and 286HP. My tests were on RM and RH tyres which showed she'd do 4 and 5 laps respectively, but obviously lap times were affected. So I took the brave (and fun) choice of RS tyres and a 2 or 3 lap pit strategy plus giving me comparable lap times to the HPA FT565 and Z-tune. My only adjustments were to lower her slightly and raise the top speed to 174mph - this is going to be tight so I need to be prepared for some drafting.
The observant amongst you might notice my only upgrade - BBS spokes.
Car: Spoon S2000 '00
HP: 286
PP: 455
Mods: None (I think it comes with full trans as stock)
Top Speed Setting: 174mph
Tyres: RS
All aids off. ABS 1. DFGT wheel.
Grid:
1. HPA FT565 Twin Turbo Audi TT
2. RE Anemiya FD3S RX-7
3. Opera 350Z '04
4. HKS CT230R '08
5. Fairlady Z Z-tune (Z33) '03
6. Ruf CTR2 '96
7. Me
8. Skyline GT-R R-tune (R34)
9. Nismo 380RS Super Leggera
10. Gran Turismo 350Z RS
11. AEM S2000
12. Mine's BNR34 Skyline GT-R N1 base '06
Lap 1 - 9:09.xxx
Not a bad start up down to 10th and then up to 7th at the first corner. New RS rubber means I can overtake around the outside of a couple of corners of the GP section and I hit the final chicane in 5th, about 3 secs down on 1st (FT565). This car feels so good on RS tyres! Crept up to third through Adenauer Forst and constantly gained on 1st but dropped back through Kesselchen. Finished lap -8 secs in 3rd but only by drafting the first two (FT565 + CTR2) on main straight. Hit 169mph with draft - not too shabby.
Lap 2 - 9:06.xxx
Trying to stay smooth as I'm not sure how these soft tyres will hold up - this is hard as I need to be on it to keep up. Start lap with about 66% front and 75% rear. This means I'll have to run the fronts to the canvas to pull off a 3 stopper.
Get passed by a Skyline and the HKS on the main straight but my extra grip means I'm back in 3rd at the end of the GP section about -8 secs down. It's a clean lap, but as I get to the final chicane my tyres are down to 33% front and not much better at the back. What the hell, I go for a 3rd lap.
Lap 3 - 9:23.xxx
Pit In. CTR2 pits and I'm just in visual range of the FT565. Amazingly I'm losing very little grip - up until about the Hohe Acht/Brünnchen section when I really start to feel it. But so is the FT565 as I can keep the gap at a steady 3.5 secs until the main straight where he pulls away. I have the smallest of tiny amounts of fronts left and less that 20% on the rears. This car's chassis must be amazing!
Lap 4 - 9:25.xxx
Pit Out. Phew, get those new tyres on NOW! FT565 pits as well but I've only used about 1/3 of a tank so no fuel for me. I beat him out and end up -14 secs down in 3rd as 2 cars carry on (HKS and 380RS I think.) No sign of the Z-tune yet, but he's on a 2 stopper and down in 7th.
Lap 5 - 9:06.xxx
I chase down the 2 cars in front of me and take the lead by Aremberg. Steady lap trying to watch the tyres. No draft on the straight this time means only 150mph. FT565, now in 2nd, is able to gain a good 5 seconds on me by the start/finish line. Lead: 7 seconds.
Lap 6 - 9:28.xx
Pit In. I pull out a few seconds at first then my lap of doom starts. FT565 is able to get past on the main straight. I try to draft as much as I can but end up -4 secs down at the end of the lap. Oh how the tables have turned since the pre-2.02 days - the AI are relatively consistent and I'm the one with the 3rd lap of doom(ish) now! I take on 15 litres to keep me topped up but without losing time.
Lap 7 - 9:32.xx
Pit Out. More close combat fighting and drafting. End lap in 3rd as cars are running different pit sequences. More concerned about where the FT565 and strangely absent Z-tune are.
Lap 8 - 9:06.xx
Cars pit and I take the lead 8 secs up on the FT565. Z-tune appears in 3rd as he must have hit some clear air now.
Lap 9 - 9:34.xx
Pit in. Same as before, FT565 catches me on the straight every time when I don't have an out-of-sequence car to draft. We both pit together again. Tyres on, no fuel this time.
Lap 10 - 9:32.xx
Pit Out. I exit in 1st about 8 secs up which I open up to 11 secs by Galgenkopf. I get a draft from a Mine's Skyline and this time hold the FT565 off. I cross the line +2 secs up. Z-tune is now ominously lurking in 3rd position.
Lap 11 - 9:05.xx
Keeping it clean - still no bad mistakes. Tbh, any mistake here is going to leave me a lot to do. I maintain slim of +2 secs.
Lap 12 - 9:34.xx
Pit In. Keeping a hungry FT565 behind you is hard with very worn tyres. I think I've held him up a bit as the 380RS has joined us. The both pass me on the main straight but we all pit. 15 litres of fuel and I exit +10 secs in first. I extend it to +14 during the lap - that' enough to keep me in front as we pit. 15 litres of fuel.
Lap 13 - 9:32.xx
Pit Out. The Opera 350Z and Z-tune have gone through. The Z-tune takes the Opera and, guess what, pulls out at 20 secs lead on me. I stay in 3rd.
Lap 14 - 9:06.xx
Quick and steady. Z-tune pulls another 5 secs on me, but I know he's going to pit up ahead. I take 1st as he does and the FT565 is the start/finish straight behind me. No movement from the Z-tune in the pits.
Lap 15 - 9:29.xx
Pit In. The last thing I need is that Z-tune near me so I push on. Looks like he's hit traffic as I keep an eye on him down in 5th. FT565 passes me on the straight and I finish -0.5 secs down. Z-tune now in 3rd. 15 litres of fuel.
Lap 16 - 9:31.xx
Pit Out. I exit the GP section +14 secs in the lead which I open up to +18 by Galgenkopf
Lap 17 - 9:04.xx
Fastest lap! Just so paranoid about that bloomin' Z-tune. Maintain +18 secs lead.
Lap 18 - 9:33.xx
Pit In. FT565, as always, closes the gap but I pit +2.8 secs up. 15 litres of fuel.
Lap 19 - 9:29.xx
Pit Out. Steady lap, steady gap: +13 secs.
Lap 20 - 9:08.xx
Oops, my first mistake at the final chicane loses me about 4-5 secs. Stay ahead by a whisker as the Z-tune exits pits into a strong 3rd position - he's been playing the waiting game.
Lap 21 - 9:27.xx
Pit In. Getting used to where I lose the grip on my 3rd lap, luckily it's as I approach the final sector and fast straights. FT565 appears to be holding up the Z-tune quite nicely as they've been glued together for most of the lap without swapping positions - that's fine by me! Z-tune takes the lead when the FT565 and myself pit. 10 litres of fuel.
Lap 22 - 9:30.xx
Pit Out. I chase the Z-tune who's +15 secs ahead. I don't do too bad and take the lead as he pits at the end of the lap. Lead +18 secs to FT565.
Lap 23 - 9:04.xx
That's another quick one, but good on the tyres. These tyres last much longer when I'm on my own rather than in traffic. Z-tune has jumped the FT565 during the pit stops and is -14 secs behind.
Lap 24 - 9:29.xx
Pit in. Come on! The Z-tune is faster than the FT565 was on it's in lap. He cuts my lead to +3.8 secs as we both pit. Bloody hell, I can't let this slip now. I look at the clock and take a gamble hoping we're only going to do 26 laps. So no fuel for me, I want to be as light as I can and keep those tyres good for the fight.
Lap 25 - 9:34.xx
Pit Out. I exit the pits +22 secs in the lead (Z-tune filled up?). I open the lead up to +24 secs but notice that the FT565 is back in second - must have happened during the stops. Small grassy moment at Galgenkopf luckily doesn't lose me much time.
Lap 26 - 9:11.xx
I cross the line with the clock at 3:56.20.xx, so this is my last lap. I'm +25 secs up by the end of the GP section and on good tyres, so all I have to do is keep it on the black stuff and I'm home. I take it easy on the final section and cross the line for a good win.
I cross the line to win at about 4:05.00.xxx with the FT565 +18 secs back and the Z-tune somewhere in 3rd.
Spoon S2000 '00 post race figures: 278HP & 447PP.
Conclusion:
I love this car, just love it. I thought my favourite low-end tuner was the Amuse R1, but this is just so full of character and easy to throw around that it made this a joy. The race was always quite tight, but this car never let me feel like I was never in contention - smooth, grippy and always under control. I was just absolutely amazed how well she behaved on almost totally worn out tyres. At times I was running on less than 15-20% rubber and keeping the FT565 at bay - brilliant. Consistency was key here and this car allowed me to do that. Go and get one and drive it NOW!
This was my lowest PP win to date, plus it was on RS tyres post-2.04. So I'm pretty chuffed with myself.
).
Looks like the Ruf and Mine's are having a private little battle following the last pit stops. Fine by me!
