I don't have any automated way to export them. After the race, in the replay, I click on the 'next lap' button and enter each time into a spreadsheet manually. I always enable all the details in the replay settings. I can't remember if that's required to see the lap times, but I think it might be.
Same for tire tread levels, btw. I click to the lap in the replay where the car is in the pit, then eyeball the tread levels to the nearest 5%.
These were the tire tread levels at the end of each stint for my tests yesterday, if anybody is interested:
Amazing work @Moose78! From your first analysis I was tempted by the 2 stopper as I agree the RH can get quite sketchy when worn and wanted to avoid that, but I do quite like the idea of being on fresher tyres at the end of the race and also having fewer times when I'm having to nurse very worn tyres. I think its custom slip stream for this as well so could make the 1 stopper even more viable if you can stay with people on RM for the first stint. Based on last one there will also be a lot of people going for M-M having not noticed the compound change.
Now that I've done my basic tire tests and identified some viable strategies via simulation, I'm trying to understand the differences between 1-stop and 2-stop strategies. I did a single full 30-lap test race yesterday for two representative strategies: 18RH-12RM (1-stop) and 14RM-8RS-8RS (2-stop).
They came out pretty close overall:
Strategy
Opt time
Best time
Avg time
Total time
18RH-12RM
1:28.779
1:28.922
1:30.901
45:27.031
14RM-8RS-8RS
1:27.929
1:28.089
1:30.892
45:26.747
But how they get there is quite different. If I set up a virtual race between the two strategies, the gap between them looks like this: View attachment 1549132
Lap
18RH-12RM - Lap time
18RH-12RM - Cumulative
14RM-8RS-8RS - Lap time
14RM-8RS-8RS - Cumulative
Difference - Lap time
Difference - Cumulative
1
1:31.885
1:31.885
1:31.275
1:31.275
0:00.610
0:00.610
2
1:30.406
3:02.291
1:29.746
3:01.021
0:00.660
0:01.270
3
1:30.323
4:32.614
1:29.399
4:30.420
0:00.924
0:02.194
4
1:30.518
6:03.132
1:29.989
6:00.409
0:00.529
0:02.723
5
1:30.576
7:33.708
1:29.607
7:30.016
0:00.969
0:03.692
6
1:30.371
9:04.079
1:30.515
9:00.531
-0:00.144
0:03.548
7
1:30.661
10:34.740
1:29.885
10:30.416
0:00.776
0:04.324
8
1:30.843
12:05.583
1:30.248
12:00.664
0:00.595
0:04.919
9
1:30.396
13:35.979
1:30.069
13:30.733
0:00.327
0:05.246
10
1:30.706
15:06.685
1:30.301
15:01.034
0:00.405
0:05.651
11
1:31.563
16:38.248
1:29.947
16:30.981
0:01.616
0:07.267
12
1:30.739
18:08.987
1:30.527
18:01.508
0:00.212
0:07.479
13
1:30.609
19:39.596
1:30.369
19:31.877
0:00.240
0:07.719
14
1:30.689
21:10.285
1:44.739
21:16.616
-0:14.050
-0:06.331
15
1:31.717
22:42.002
1:32.222
22:48.838
-0:00.505
-0:06.836
16
1:31.370
24:13.372
1:28.871
24:17.709
0:02.499
-0:04.337
17
1:31.328
25:44.700
1:28.520
25:46.229
0:02.808
-0:01.529
18
1:45.633
27:30.333
1:29.247
27:15.476
0:16.386
0:14.857
19
1:33.289
29:03.622
1:29.080
28:44.556
0:04.209
0:19.066
20
1:28.923
30:32.545
1:29.667
30:14.223
-0:00.744
0:18.322
21
1:28.922
32:01.467
1:30.261
31:44.484
-0:01.339
0:16.983
22
1:29.807
33:31.274
1:46.165
33:30.649
-0:16.358
0:00.625
23
1:29.442
35:00.716
1:31.806
35:02.455
-0:02.364
-0:01.739
24
1:29.155
36:29.871
1:28.327
36:30.782
0:00.828
-0:00.911
25
1:29.410
37:59.281
1:28.089
37:58.871
0:01.321
0:00.410
26
1:29.369
39:28.650
1:29.531
39:28.402
-0:00.162
0:00.248
27
1:29.502
40:58.152
1:29.217
40:57.619
0:00.285
0:00.533
28
1:29.457
42:27.609
1:29.170
42:26.789
0:00.287
0:00.820
29
1:29.410
43:57.019
1:29.587
43:56.376
-0:00.177
0:00.643
30
1:30.012
45:27.031
1:30.371
45:26.747
-0:00.359
0:00.284
You can see how the 2-stop strategy on the RM tires immediately pulls away from the 1-stopper on RHs. When the 2-stop goes in for the first pit stop, they come out 6s behind. They have nearly caught up to the 1-stopper just as the 1-stopper goes in for their first pit on lap 18. The two stay separated until the 2-stopper goes into the pits a second time on lap 22. This is where things get interesting. The 2-stopper comes out just behind the 1-stopper. The 2-stopper gets by the 1-stopper on lap 25, but their lead shrinks as the tires wear out towards the end of the race.
I find myself leaning towards doing the 1-stop. In the early stages of the race on RH tires, I don't really have to worry about getting held up behind a driver on harder compounds, and I might even be able to hitch a ride in the slipstream of the drivers using softer ones. Towards the end of the race, I'll be defending rather than attacking. Even if I just let drivers on faster compounds by without a fight, I might be able to stay in their slipstream and mount an attack at the very end when their RS tires are dying.
There are risks, of course. Being on the RH tires at the beginning of the race increases the likelihood of getting punted off in one of the many hard braking zones by drivers on softer tires, who may not be prepared (or willing) to slow down enough to avoid contact.
The risks for the 2-stop are more about getting held up. On the RS tires especially, I only have 2-3 laps where the tires are actually faster than RMs. After that, they are on-par or slower. If I get into traffic during that window, the tire-compound advantage just evapourates, and I'd still have to contend with the slow laps at the end of each stint.
That's how I'm seeing it, anyways. What are the rest of you thinking?
If I start on the front row or 2nd row with much higher pace in front (ie low chance of being held up) I'll start on softs. I will do as many laps as I feel comfortable with (not great at tire saving, might not make it to 8 laps) and then do two more stints of mediums to be safe. Exact timing might also depend on tactical decisions, ie potential undercut or avoiding traffic.
If I start further down the grid it depends on how I judge my pace against the field. If I'm not really in contention then I will go H-M and change tires when it'll be necessary, maybe 18-12.
If I had a bad qualifying with potential pace for a stronger finish I might start on mediums and then probably go for a M-M-S, M-S-M or even M-S-S strategy. If I realize that the field is actually stronger than me I might pivot to M-H trying to undercut 2 stoppers and somehow defending against them when they catch up.
Recap:
Good pace, good quali: S-M-M
Good pace, bad quali, race going well: start on mediums, then some combo of softs and/or mediums
Good pace (or so I thought), bad quali, bad race pace: M-H
Bad pace: H-M
Tire info from 2025 GTWS Round 1 (London) of which this round is based on (note that event ran with 4x tires and this round is 5x. The suggested strategy there did forecast S-S-M and M-M-S (albeit with conservative pit numbers, not accounting for high-skill tire saving plus slightly different wear rate):
Could be. Or maybe they just wanted to try each of them out.
BTW, I included all the possible 3-compound combinations in my simulations. The best of them was 7RS-9RM-14RH and it was 7.5s slower than the my fastest ones. I would not recommend it for race day.
Not done testing on hards, but stated quali in error on hards. they just felt like worn softs..fortunately there was enough time to pit and still get a couple of quick laps in. Assuming the hards grip up more when up to temp (don"t have a temp app) or is that as good as they get?
Tried a lobby race and went for M - S - S. There were A and A+ drivers who started on the M and were faster than me. They switched to RH on lap 13/14 whilst I went for RS - started catching them but not by a great enough margin to make the 2nd pit not put me back further
After a custom race check up I noticed that with my skill 12 laps for RM is max (maybe 13 but this would be super risky and running on almost red) and 7-8 for RS. So I think I'll go with 12 RM, then dependable on position and how race evolves 8 RS and then 10 RM (or vice versa). For now I lean towards two pit stops.
Need to check how far I can go with RH, how car handles, lap times etc. so then maybe I would try like 22 RH and 8 RS or 18 RH and 12 RM. One pit stop is around 30 seconds saved.
Let's see, it should be fun, love RB's and longer races when pit stops and tries plays important part. Not too mention some hot blooded lads can quit in a middle of a race so higher chances for better position for the persistent drivers
Yeah that would work just aswell, possibly a bit better.
I noticed in my 2nd run a few of the guys did the 2 pit stops, and they did finish first and 2nd, but were also already a bit quicker than everyone else already.
Just don't be like the guy who crossed the line first, but went M-M so copped a 2 minute penalty.
This is one of the reasons I always try to do the first slot of the day. Get in there while there are still some drivers who don't understand the requirements yet.
I was pretty much decided on doing the 1-stop RH/RM, myself. Now I'm convinced. Nice to see it working out for you, @Thorson1987!
I've been doing most of my practice races against the AI with an 18RH-12RM strategy. It works fine against the AI, but I'm not sure about starting on the RHs in a race against human drivers. Those first couple laps are bound to be frantic in these cars. Trying to navigate the track on RH tires feels like it is asking for trouble. I'm thinking if I qualify near the front (top 3), I'll start on the RMs. Anywhere further back, I'll take my chances on RHs.
GT2 EMEA 1st Slot Low A/S lobby 270 points up for grabs
Qualifying you have enough time to do 3 flying laps, but you need to exit and restart after the 2nd flyer as otherwise the RS are too worn to be fast. Got in a 1.26.808, which was a bit faster than I managed in practice. That got me 2nd on the grid, with pole doing a quite frankly ridiculous 1.25.766.
Decided to go for a 1 stopper and starting on RM as thought starting on RH would put me under a lot of pressure. Race start and P1 starts pulling away as expected. I get myself a little bit of space ahead of P3 as they are fighting in a group. The gap slowly starts closing and I lose 2 places, but get them back as they are on RS and have to pit. P1 then spins out giving me the lead, then slowly starts gaining back on me. They pit on L13 and come out on RS, then I head in on L14 for RH in P7.
An incident ahead of me gets me up into P5, then more pit stops get me back to 2nd. The gap to P1 is growing up to about 15s before the pit, luckily they spin just before pitting so I'm now comfortably in the lead. P2 starts gaining on me though and the last 3 laps on the RH required some seriously careful throttle control and sympathetic driving and P2 gets past me. Was hoping they had done a RM - RM but nope, they take home the win and I come home for 263 points which I am very happy with. Only 1 person didn't do the compound change and only 1 person DNF'd.
I think consistency beats pace here, the TC safety net saved me from a few nasty incidents but probably lowered my pace a bit. Quite a few people had spins, especially on their last lap before the pits, including the driver who had Q1 - they were a second a lap faster than everyone else but span 3 times.
Just did my race, GT2 lobby, B bar is just coming up to half full.
Qualified 10th, finished 4th, 5th at the line promoted after someone didn't change tyres.
Was going to start on the medium for flexibility bit decided to go on the hard. I rarely do but I put the TC on 1 just for a bit of security.
Lap 1 and 2 were a disaster. Got rammed off the first hairpin, was last, over took 15th but was rammed again right at the end of lap 2. My first two laps were a 1:50 and a 1:49.
After that I aimed to be consistent and make no mistakes. I got one 0.5sec penalty but that's all. I kept trundling away the laps, in a duo with one Czech on mediums. Slowly started reeling people in as they pitted, and I knew from Moose's work were much too early, eg. A couple of fellow hard starters coming in Lap 12ish. One guy came out of the pits and decided to push to pass and run me wide that cost me about 3 seconds even though on a different strategy I had no interest in fighting. I decided to pit lap 17, was back down to 13th, then took the places back as the ones ahead pitted. I didn't do great on the first two laps on the mediums and was just pushing too hard. I settled in then though. Was the fastest person on track at this point with a lot of purple sectors. Had a bit of a fight towards the end with a German guy who was closing in fast, crossing the line for the penultimate lap 0.8 ahead, but he span off at the tricky uphill corner turn 14 and so I just cruised home, can't remember race time for me but around 46.05 I think.
Finished 16 seconds behind the winner, which was so annoying as the first two laps even if being really generous cost me at least 25 seconds, but more like 30. I won't run again though the X2019 is hard work! Wasn't above making small mid corner corrections or braking to avoid a potential spin, have to pick the battles 😂
Well, that was a turn around after last weeks fiasco!
...Though, I missed th 09:00 (was having a panic on the 1st chicane and doing a tyre test there in a lobby and lost track of time)🤦♂️
A 249? group, with 10x A drivers!!!!!
No battle in Quali, 1st out the door, had the quali lap of my life and did a mid 27, .5 off pole and got me 4th (ahead of all those A's). My best fueled affected/soft time.
Tempted to do M,S,S but last minute decided to stick to the plan I've practices: 12M,18H
P2 went wide lap1
L6, P2 in front tyres were shot and pitted L7
P1 pitted L9
..I'm in the lead!! (again thinking - shall I switch to a 2x S)
Came out of pits in 3rd.... long slog now on hards to the end.
On review ,Guy behind was on aging hards and fortunately holding up those behind.
Lap25, I'm back in the lead as those ahead did their 2nd stops.
Pole guy (Cotton G) came past on fresh Hards, L26 like I had a handbrake stuck on.
GT2 EMEA 1st Slot Low A/S lobby 270 points up for grabs
Qualifying you have enough time to do 3 flying laps, but you need to exit and restart after the 2nd flyer as otherwise the RS are too worn to be fast. Got in a 1.26.808, which was a bit faster than I managed in practice. That got me 2nd on the grid, with pole doing a quite frankly ridiculous 1.25.766.
Decided to go for a 1 stopper and starting on RM as thought starting on RH would put me under a lot of pressure. Race start and P1 starts pulling away as expected. I get myself a little bit of space ahead of P3 as they are fighting in a group. The gap slowly starts closing and I lose 2 places, but get them back as they are on RS and have to pit. P1 then spins out giving me the lead, then slowly starts gaining back on me. They pit on L13 and come out on RS, then I head in on L14 for RH in P7.
An incident ahead of me gets me up into P5, then more pit stops get me back to 2nd. The gap to P1 is growing up to about 15s before the pit, luckily they spin just before pitting so I'm now comfortably in the lead. P2 starts gaining on me though and the last 3 laps on the RH required some seriously careful throttle control and sympathetic driving and P2 gets past me. Was hoping they had done a RM - RM but nope, they take home the win and I come home for 263 points which I am very happy with. Only 1 person didn't do the compound change and only 1 person DNF'd.
I think consistency beats pace here, the TC safety net saved me from a few nasty incidents but probably lowered my pace a bit. Quite a few people had spins, especially on their last lap before the pits, including the driver who had Q1 - they were a second a lap faster than everyone else but span 3 times.
Another one of those 61 minutes joke races. I'm not really mad but it clearly shows that PD doesn't even know their own product. Just make it 28 laps.
For GT1 it does t matter and aliens might even finish the race within an hour but 90% of the players have to wait an hour or for the next afternoon window (where I don't have time).
Regarding the race:
GT2 EMEA top split for 256 pts.
Q8 with 27.5, PB in about an hour of practice was 26.7, so ok I guess.
Elected for 18H-12M, would turn those around if I could do it again. Hards are terrible, navigating traffic tough (at least for me). Without traffic easier. Also drivers on faster compounds behind don't have any patience.
Got spun in lap 1 and then had 2 more spins on my own because I had not practiced the hard tires before.
Still got 9th, also because 2 drivers in front didn't know the rules.
This is one of the reasons I always try to do the first slot of the day. Get in there while there are still some drivers who don't understand the requirements yet.
I was pretty much decided on doing the 1-stop RH/RM, myself. Now I'm convinced. Nice to see it working out for you, @Thorson1987!
I've been doing most of my practice races against the AI with an 18RH-12RM strategy. It works fine against the AI, but I'm not sure about starting on the RHs in a race against human drivers. Those first couple laps are bound to be frantic in these cars. Trying to navigate the track on RH tires feels like it is asking for trouble. I'm thinking if I qualify near the front (top 3), I'll start on the RMs. Anywhere further back, I'll take my chances on RHs.
GT2 - North America - 12 PM EDT - 247 points available (top split!) - Door #8 - Q8 (1.27.621)
In qualifying, I buggered up my first flying lap coming out of the curved tunnel at T6. I got on the gas too soon and ran myself right into the wall. I reset immediately, but that left me with one shot at a good lap. I was able to put one in that was less than a tenth off my best in Free Practice, but that still landed me in the middle of the pack.
Decided to start on RHs for an 18RH-12RM one-stop. The first couple laps had the expected chaos, but somehow none of it touched me. Crashes and penalties ahead and behind promoted me to P5 with a comfortable buffer all around. As the laps went on, the buffer grew on both sides. I wasn't surprised to see the leaders take off, but it was weird that the nobody caught up to me. I can only guess they were too busy fighting amongst themselves to hit a good pace.
I pitted for RMs on lap 18, as planned. Came out in P8 to clean air with the nearest car 4-seconds ahead. Now that I was on the softer tires, I was gaining on them by nearly a second per lap, but they pitted just as I was about to catch them.
Several other cars ahead went in for a second pit, too. When all the pitting was done on lap 22, I found myself in P2, 12 seconds behind the leader, who was also doing a RH-RM one-stop, and 8 seconds ahead of an RS runner behind.
The car behind was predictably gaining on me on every lap. By the time we reached lap 26, they'd cut the gap to 3 seconds. I was hoping the wear on their RS tires would begin to slow them down to my pace, but they kept coming. On lap 29, they caught me and blew by (pictured above). Down to P3.
I had no chance to catch them on the final lap. The next closest car behind was another 5 seconds back, so I crossed the line in P3. Podium, baby! 247 points, and a 4.2% increase to my DR B progress, which is now at 98.8%. I'll take that any day.
Ugh! The only reason I used my main account for this season instead of alt one is because I only had wide-body one in my alt account, which I knew I wouldn't be able to use in the race. I wanted to put a custom livery on my car, but it seems that's not going to be an option.
I have had to miss most of this Exhibition due to summer holidays, and my pace has suffered some. Grand Valley is also an Achilles Heel of mine, and with the combo of the X2019, my expectations against GT2 competition were low. That was almost certified when I turned in a crummy qualifying of 1:31 on RS, landing me 15 of 15. I learned on replay after the race that I was relying far too much on exiting turns in a low gear. The excessive wheelspin from takeoff in 2nd consistently left me slower than the pack on exits, and more unstable.
It went better than expected. A one stop 18H to 12M allowed me to gradually build up confidence right when I needed it.
With minimal mistakes despite my slow pace, I gained through the ranks to finish 8th, gaining one on finish after someone misunderstood the tire rules.
GT1 9PM EDT Door 12 Q8 with a 1:28.4 — can confirm the softs are cooked after 2 flying laps, exit and restart or you're just burning time.
Went 12 RM → 18 RH, one stop. Lap 1 was absolute carnage
picked up 4 spots just by staying out of it, then gave two of them back to a couple guys who wanted them way more than I did. Not fighting that on lap 3 of 30.
Pit cycle shook out and I came out P6, crept to P4. Ran the hards home steady — agree with the earlier reports, the last few laps on the RH need some real throttle care. P2 found that out the hard way at the final hairpin on the last lap (worn rears + uphill + full throttle = physics lesson). P3.
145 points, best round of the season for me. @Moose78 tire data was spot on — thanks for doing the homework so the rest of us didn't have to.
On to Suzuka and the Abarth. That one's going to be chaos.
