Gran Turismo World Series discussion (2026 Manufacturers Cup: 14th - 28th Jan)

[Wilsonson]

You would've been competitive in my 190 point race with that pace, well done.

Thank you. I feel like it is clicking at quite a few combos more and more often. But sometimes I still feel out of my depth. And let's not get started on race craft. Still a lot left to learn.

 

[Moose78]

Well, I've had a chance now to drive a few full 28-lap sessions in Free Practice. The weather is definitely scripted. It was identical in every session I did.

The rain is heavy for the first 17 laps of the race, keeping the moisture gauge pretty much pinned at or above the second tick. From there, the rain lightens up and the gauge slowly drops slightly below the second tick. On the radar, the rain moves completely clear of the track on lap 20. The moisture gauge steadily falls from there, but at the end of lap 28 it remains above the first tick. It isn't until lap 30, or so, that a dry line becomes visible on the track.

I feel like this is different from the race we had in January. I thought for that race even in Free Practice the dry line started to appear before lap 20. I'll have to go back to the forum chats to check, though. I could very well be misremembering that.

Anyways, if Saturday's race follows what is in Free Practice, it's feeling like 17W-11IM would be the way to go. Of course, I have no idea how well the IMs will last, or if having all those other cars on track will cause it to dry faster.

Luckily, I'm in the last region to race, so I'll have the benefit of learning from streamers that run earlier, and adjust accordingly. Good times.

 

[Talon16]

Anyways, if Saturday's race follows what is in Free Practice, it's feeling like 17W-11IM would be the way to go. Of course, I have no idea how well the IMs will last, or if having all those other cars on track will cause it to dry faster.

Having 15 other cars will definitely have an effect on how quickly the track will dry. I might try to set up a full grid 1P practice session tomorrow if I have time.

According to GT-Engine the race ends on S09 so it would seem plausible it ends dry. Running the Wets a bit long and going RS may end up being an option.

 

[Fezzik]

Ugh. I hate scripted weather races. Definitely skipping this one.

 

[Moose78]

From Jan 23, 2023...

I took the Audi (because... why not?) for a 28-lap ride in Free Practice this morning. I went with IM tires, thinking they would be quicker once the track started drying out. The rain lasted until lap 18, with the moisture gauge in the blue band pretty much the entire time. I was running 1:43s until it stared drying out, which only really started to become noticeable around lap 21. It dried gradually from there, but stayed above the first tick on the moisture gauge to the very end. There was never a visible drying racing line.

So it looks like Free Practice then was similar to this round in that it never completely dried out. It looks like this round is a repeat of that race.

If that's the case, the track is likely to dry out faster in the race and switching to slicks at the end could be viable.

That's what I did last time around (20W-8RS). My undoing was following the driving line assist too closely after switching to slicks. It turns out the drying line is wider at T9 than the assist would indicate, so I got my tires on the wet stuff and went for a spin.

I never noticed that in the custom races I did for practice because the track dried out so much quicker in those than it did in the actual race.

It seems like if I want to get practice with a drying line that resembles what we'll get in the race, I need to do it in an extra long Free Practice session, switching to RSs sometime around lap 30.

 

[Hiponiak]

Well, I've had a chance now to drive a few full 28-lap sessions in Free Practice. The weather is definitely scripted. It was identical in every session I did.

The rain is heavy for the first 17 laps of the race, keeping the moisture gauge pretty much pinned at or above the second tick. From there, the rain lightens up and the gauge slowly drops slightly below the second tick. On the radar, the rain moves completely clear of the track on lap 20. The moisture gauge steadily falls from there, but at the end of lap 28 it remains above the first tick. It isn't until lap 30, or so, that a dry line becomes visible on the track.

I feel like this is different from the race we had in January. I thought for that race even in Free Practice the dry line started to appear before lap 20. I'll have to go back to the forum chats to check, though. I could very well be misremembering that.

Anyways, if Saturday's race follows what is in Free Practice, it's feeling like 17W-11IM would be the way to go. Of course, I have no idea how well the IMs will last, or if having all those other cars on track will cause it to dry faster.

Luckily, I'm in the last region to race, so I'll have the benefit of learning from streamers that run earlier, and adjust accordingly. Good times.

Thanks, might be helpful. So you changed Wet's on 17th lap because of tire wear or because track moisture dropped to first tick?

 

[Moose78]

Thanks, might be helpful. So you changed Wet's on 17th lap because of tire wear or because track moisture dropped to first tick?

In Free Practice, it starts dropping below the second tick on lap 17. That seems to be the earliest point that IMs will be faster than Ws.

While the track is that wet, there is practically no tire wear. It is only once the track starts drying out that the W and IM tires start wearing. But in Free Practice, there is never any tire wear, so there's no good way to test how long the treads will last.

FWIW, the level only dropped to the first tick for me around lap 30.

 

[Pakiti]

I can't drive at all on the Red Bull track in the rain. The car skids when braking, and I know I probably shouldn't floor it, but it's hard to get the joystick to 90%. Increasing the ABS to a stronger setting helped a little. What brake balance and TCS settings do you use? I also tried "rim shooting" on the outside of corners, which helped somewhat, but I still can't find the right pace. What's your average lap time in heavy rain?

 

[Moose78]

I found Digit's stream of the January race. Here's a bookmark to lap 17 of one of his races. That's where the track starts drying out and strategy options start appearing:

 

[Talon16]

I can't drive at all on the Red Bull track in the rain. The car skids when braking, and I know I probably shouldn't floor it, but it's hard to get the joystick to 90%. Increasing the ABS to a stronger setting helped a little. What brake balance and TCS settings do you use? I also tried "rim shooting" on the outside of corners, which helped somewhat, but I still can't find the right pace. What's your average lap time in heavy rain?
View attachment 1493474

Try not to brake too hard in the wet. Think of braking into a turn as the opposite of accelerating out of the turn; it's all about finesse both sides of the apex.

TC: 1
BB: Car dependent. I would say if your car is getting loose under braking then start pushing the BB towards the front.

39.6 in the Citroen in the full Wet territory.

 

[Talon16]

In Free Practice, it starts dropping below the second tick on lap 17. That seems to be the earliest point that IMs will be faster than Ws.

While the track is that wet, there is practically no tire wear. It is only once the track starts drying out that the W and IM tires start wearing. But in Free Practice, there is never any tire wear, so there's no good way to test how long the treads will last.

FWIW, the level only dropped to the first tick for me around lap 30.

I remember going IMs in my race for a couple of reasons.

Advantages:

1) If you take slicks, the computer drives SO SLOW on pit exit (which is still wet of course). It's brutal.
2) Of course IMs have better pace until the track really dries out and get off the dying Wets sooner.
3) Yea, the RS runners will have much better pace in the last X amount of laps, but if they want to pass you can hold the dry line and they'll have to go onto the wet line with is insta-death for them.
4) High probability some will spin off and crash while on slicks for some free spots.

Disadvantages:

1) The RS tire is seconds (?) faster per lap once the track dries out. You will be a sitting duck. Contrary to #3 above, I got out of someone's way because I was worried about getting hit he was so much faster. If the slick runners are braking 50m+ later they may punt you pseudo-by accident.
2) IMs start dying really quickly once the track dries out.
3) Contrary to #3 above again, I was having to drive off-line to keep the IMs from going full red before race end (this was in the Ferrari keep in mind which is horrid on tires).

I remember doing this race twice, once in the EMEA (A+) and once in the US (A+) and I think I went IMs both times (definitely did on the US race).

All that being said I don't recall what position I came out of the pits vs finishing so I am not sure if it was positions gained or lost getting the IMs, although I am 95% sure it was gained. I qualified Q8 and finished P5 (I don't recall which place I started in EMEA but finished P2) but I specifically recall some RS runners fighting late and spinning out. I hate to rely on other's mistakes but that is definitely part of the thought process on crazy races like this. Could be one of those if you think you'll come out in traffic do the IMs; if you think you'll come out on a clear track, wait some more laps and do the RS.

YMMV.

 

[Moose78]

I can't drive at all on the Red Bull track in the rain. The car skids when braking, and I know I probably shouldn't floor it, but it's hard to get the joystick to 90%. Increasing the ABS to a stronger setting helped a little. What brake balance and TCS settings do you use? I also tried "rim shooting" on the outside of corners, which helped somewhat, but I still can't find the right pace. What's your average lap time in heavy rain?

There are some good tips in @Tidgney's guide from when this combo was a time trial:



A few things have changed since then -- BoP changes and a reduction in the amount of slipperiness on the racing line when it is wet -- so you might not be able to replicate the same lap times, but I'd say the general approach to doing a lap is still valid.

 

[Wilsonson]

Full edit: seems like qualifying will be full wet as well. Could anyone confirm please?

 

[Moose78]

Just to be clear: qualifying will be dry right?

In January it was wet. I'd expect it to be the same this time. Of course, we won't know for sure until the first slots in the Asia-Oceania happen.

 

[FlapJackFlash]

GT2 EMEA 1st slot mixed A/B lobby

Qualifying was dry! Took me by surprise and I hadn't done much dry running practicing so could only Qualify 14th (14 on the doors though).

Weather was then the expected 100% surface wet and large rain. Was hoping it would catch some people out with the tyre change but didn't seem to sadly. Started putting my wet practice to use and for the first 10 laps or so was the fastest car on the track but annoyingly couldn't make it count that much but got myself up to 8th with P1 only 3-4 seconds away.

There was then much close racing from 3-8th with lots of swapping (and a little bit of contact but nothing too terrible). As the track started to dry I got myself into 4th with 1st having pulled away and 2 - 6 all started trying to tyre save by cooling the tyres on the wet line. A few pitted but I thought I could make the W tyres last, along with the 2nd and 3rd. By Lap 26 2 cars had caught me up and looks like they were on fresh IM so sailed past to finish P1 and P2, the rest of us fighting until the end, where 3rd, 4th and me all picked up a penalty on the last corner, but 4th lost it a bit on the exit so managed to being home 4th for 138 points.

Think I could have done better if I qualified higher or made more of my wet pace (or maybe switched to IM), but not willing to go again!

(Setup I used was TC at 2 and BB -3 as Porsche is a bit rear heavy in the braking)

 

[Bondwhar]

Qualified 4th and went W to start. Sadly got punted off on lap 5 which is annoying as up to that point it was a very close and clean race.
Eventually cleanly got 6th back but Wets really struggling. Pitted lap 21 for IM and exited 9th. Very dry line and managed to get 8th with 7th & 6th in sight. Never managed to take them as out braked myself and left too much to do. Finished 8th in the end.
Great fun but if I do go again might try for RS on lap 21 with TC up to 4.
Choices choices eh! 😛

 

[Hiponiak]

After a race winner and top 6 went for no pit strategy. When I checked replay no. 1 had some still a bit of tires left, 2nd went on full red with front left tire. Wonder if it’s even doable using pad?
I managed to get 9th, pitted while I was six, changed from wets to intermediate on 18th lap.
I think I’ll go for it again and with no pit strategy or go as far on wets as possible and for few last laps change to rm’s or rs as couple of last laps it was around 1/3 (sometimes above, sometimes below) of wet bar.

 

[Moose78]

Watching an early EMEA GT2 stream, it looks like this a repeat of the race in January. The moisture levels drop faster than in Free Practice, hitting the first tick on the moisture gauge around lap 19 or 20. It looks like a W-to-RS is viable, so I think I'll give that another go.

I just finished a long session in Free Practice, switching to RSs on lap 29 to practice driving on the slowly drying racing line. I'm feeling pretty confident now that I know where the actual dry racing line is relative to where the assist says it is, and can get the car around the track without spinning.

Good luck to everybody who has yet to race!

 

[MetalApe]

I did the first Asia Pacific GT1 race, I finished 4th with a 18W10I strategy, the winner did similair, stopped a lap or two later which did enable me to close in a little, but he was just too fast to beat. Second and Third did a no stop on Inters. I'd guess that was the best strategy as they were close behind the winner, who had driven a good solid race up front all the way.

 

[Hdbd04]

Going this round I didn't that much hopes since this week was too busy to do some effort of a test. But nonetheless I've seen from my friend's stream and around here that it would be advisable to pit in for lap 21.

Qualifying wasn't too bad. A good position to start and work with. Eventually after a few laps, I've managed to be somewhere between P4-P6 in full wets. However, that was the only good part of the whole thing.

By lap 21, I've gave out my signal to pit-in. That didn't do so well when a Lexus decided to ignore my lights and slammed from my back, narrowly missing the entry. So, I've pitted in for softs and made my way out with a 3 second penalty for cutting the line. Even though I had no choice. Great...

That wasn't so bad when I've realised that I've ended up in P11 not only because of the shunt, but because I was one of the only three people in the lobby to pit in! The rest? They'd just carried on with their tyres from the start. The worst part? I could have done the same. That was a potential 190-172 points gone, with 126 points awarded instead.

And to add insult to injury, if you've been wondering why I've only got screenshots, I thought it was going to be saved when the game didn't give me a clear message nor chime (like in GT Sport back then) that the replay failed. I checked back in the settings that I had used 99.6% of the game's storage.

I don't think I'd want to join the last 11pm slot, because I want to play something else already. And I'm having doubts of joining Rd.5 because of commitments (including dealing with a growing Mini 4WD addiction). Honestly, I'm not that bummed out because it was funny looking back now, and bummed out because it would have been a top 5.

But despite all that, I had the fastest lap overall 😎

 

[VillaJ100]

Interested to see what the consensus is of the play between no pit, pit for inters (and when) or pit for soft (and when). I have a feeling pad will need to pit as the wets will be proper fried by the end

 

[ElectricNaz]

Interested to see what the consensus is of the play between no pit, pit for inters (and when) or pit for soft (and when). I have a feeling pad will need to pit as the wets will be proper fried by the end

Based on my lobby race yesterday, I think you're right.

I think pit early enough I.e. 21/22 to get the best of the inters and you'll be slightly better off. 23 or later and you may as well try and nurse the car around (if you can on a pad, I certainly can't).

I didn't see any value from my lobby on switching any time earlier than 22 in my opinion, admittedly after 5 or 6 cars had quit early so that plays a part

 

[Moose78]

I take it back. A W-RS strategy is not viable, at least not for me. I just tried it in the 10AM EST GT2 slot in the Americas. I fairly easily climbed my from Q10 to the lead while it was raining, but once I switched to RSs, I made so many mistakes going off the dry line that I threw it all away. The winner did a 15W-13IM. I'm going to go again. I think I'll give that strategy a try.

 

[MIE1992]

Seems like today's round is as wet as an otter's pocket, and I couldn't be more interested!

 

[nostradavor2]

if I'll have time to enter, my plan is to finish the race somehow

 

[TinleyPork]

This race showed me why nobody else is driving a Lexus. I don't think there's a slower gr.3 car out of turn 2 up that hill.

Low C lobby and the skills to match all around. Got punted twice by the same driver, ran into the back of a lambo early on whose approach speed into turn one I would describe as grandmotherly. I did everything i could to slow down in time but got a 2 second penalty anyway. Only one other .5 penalty so I managed to stay on the track for the most part but the car just felt slow compared to the field. Even in practice against the AI i was getting gapped on turn 2 so I knew I was going to be an also ran.

Regardless, I might try again here in a half hour, I think I can do better than the 20 points 10th got me if I'm not getting smashed off course multiple times.

 

[Talon16]

IM no stopper seems quite viable.

 

[MetalApe]

Just finished 3rd in GT1 with an IM no-stopper, definitely the way to go, all the top 3 did that strategy. One guy ran Wets all the way and I only got him on the last lap as his tyres lost grip.

 

[Skidude88]

Was on course for an easy 2nd, 21M 7S, on softs, held off passing a struggling lambo still on wets for a lap, he messed up on turn two and gave me a sniff of the dry line on the next straight, I got past. At hairpin ...he span me round, he did stop for me to get going, but I span round again when I finally got back on track. Rejoined in 13th, then span again on the next lap turn1.... Finished 7th🙆‍♂️

..Previous 2 races finished 11th, got turned round twice in each🤬

 

[ElectricNaz]

So, qualifying was a shock to the system.... Completely dry, had done very little dry practice, so was caught out. A+ lobby, started in lowly 13th, made a few mistakes and was lucky to get 13th tbf

Had a good start, until I was pushed off track after turn 5 by an Italian idiot, properly bumped off (he had 3 goes at it as well) so under braking for the left hander I was on the grass and had nowhere to go instead of into someone because zero grip. 3 second penalty sent me back to 13th on lap 2 ugh

Anyway I got into my groove, I love the wet, started taking positions. Was fighting with Hodgston for a bit but once I got clear, I could make some gains -

From lap 5 to about lap 17/18, I was lapping quicker than the leader, more than holding my own

Pitted end of lap 22 for inters. Absolutely the right decision. Came out of the pits behind those who had pitted earlier as I'd made a mistake (actually I should have potted a lap earlier) and I was down in 11th I think but I caught Hodgston and a couple of others. Made it up to 7th, should have been 6th but a lapse of concentration sent me slightly wide at turn 4 and I settled for 7th. Very happy, 196 points, in theory if I qualify better I could do massively better in the race based on pace (if I concentrate) but it's late and I'm gonna make pizza.