Since your car shopping. The McLaren F1 has the highest top speed on the straights in the class. With a top speed of 176 mph unassisted at Monza No chicane. She's old, so the 26 year old suspension is the penalty. The Ford GT and Peugeot VGT are the closest you'll find for top speed. Both have their own issues.
The pros are saying it's the McLaren F1 is the best car for this track. I just wish I was a better driver. Apparently the Daily Race B this week is a 4 lap Gr.3 race at Monza No Chicane. Tires are RM instead of RS but, still how did they know.
I don't know how they got a McLaren around that fast. IMO, It's one of those cars like the F458, Either you can do it or you can't. I can say my F458 GR3 skills aren't the best anymore since it had been so long I was out of racing and only raced tuner leagues. At least the BoP gives me a chance😆
I can't do the cockpit view. Too much obstruction and the angle isn't great for corner entry. I use the front bumper view. Downside of that is no visibility to cars around you so I turn on the radar if I need to.
Monza has been my best track despite I tend to like stop go style tracks. Racing the No Chicane version was an idea of Rinsky's last year but, though there were to many speed tracks on the Gr.3 schedule and change it out for another track. I put it in this season for chance he might be able to race a few races with us.
I don't see my post, but to clarify I can hit :39s but am not consistant. I'm consistent low 1:40:250> for race pace.
Feels like your an owl with a neck brace doesn't it.I drive in hood/roof view with radar on at all times too. I tried cockpit view and I was actually faster in that view but it's too difficult to see other traffic, maybe I should mighta been getting used to it.
The only reason I am mentioning this is because I would like to see a good battle at Monza, even if I finish last, I just want to have to fight for it.
Interesting observations and consistent with what I've found as well. I primarily use auto trans, but I have noticed over the past few months that getting through certain corners in a higher gear gives me faster lap times. While I am not controlling the actual gear shifts, I use the AT to help inform me if I am taking the corners at the appropriate speed. For example, if the car shifts down to 2nd in the Lesmos or Ascari, then I know I slowed down too much for those corners. When I get through those corners with the AT only going down to 3rd, then I know I've braked appropriately and will have a faster lap time.
.I spend a lot of time practicing in traffic because everyone can focus on just driving and make fast laps but being fast in traffic makes the difference IMO. Not many put the time in and just worry about making fast laps. That's the FuknDingDong that plows you in the corners🤣 By no means am I saying we have an issue with this. Just in general what I found paying attention. So I should have said what you just pointed out; since I'm in traffic I drop to 2nd to roll through the corner. I keep the rpms just high enough to pop into 3rd on exit and get that rocket effect I referred to w/o having the back end break loose. I upshift/hit the gas just as I hit corner exit. It then pulls me just to the outside rumble strip. (Like your pointing out, if I don't time that shift/gas PERFECTLY, even one time, you will pull away from me.) If I take either Lesmos in 3rd for corner roll, it always pulls me too far out and I go past the rumble strip into the sand OR my exit has no speed. When I tested, every car had this same issue. Is it me? The car? Or just fatsone? I hate driving fastones car so I don't know if I could hold 3rd or not. Not trying to brag on this, but I have raced here so many times, driving it again after so long was like 2nd nature, I hit all my Brake/shift points etc. I was kind of surprised. I pulled out some old spread sheets to see what my times were back then and I'm about 4+ sec. faster. I would expect it due to racing a F458 vs a F360. This is why I like having segment times to focus on new race lines of needed. But w/the grip thing in TT, these will be inaccurate as I've found out.
This is helpful advice for me. I started manual shifting regularly last December after the last race of our 2020 season. Admittedly I'm still learning some do's and don'ts. I'm still slower than I was with automatic shifting. Even my driver's rating shows it. While I feel I've got upshifting pretty much down. I still struggle learning were and when to downshift.Interesting observations and consistent with what I've found as well. I primarily use auto trans, but I have noticed over the past few months that getting through certain corners in a higher gear gives me faster lap times. While I am not controlling the actual gear shifts, I use the AT to help inform me if I am taking the corners at the appropriate speed. For example, if the car shifts down to 2nd in the Lesmos or Ascari, then I know I slowed down too much for those corners. When I get through those corners with the AT only going down to 3rd, then I know I've braked appropriately and will have a faster lap time.
I know I should just move to manual trans, and I have given it a good effort at times, but I find that my hands are just too tired after the race when trying to shift gears on the DS4. Probably sounds strange, but AT is just more fun for me
I do most of my practicing against AI or in convenient Sport Mode events. One because it's much less boring. Two because I'm a terrible at run hot laps. I make time by trying to be consistent, staying on track, and not hitting things. I rarely ever post fastest times.
Thats how I prefer to pass if there is time, just follow the guy in front and everytime he looks in the mirror I am there just waiting for him to make a mistake or run wide.
I'm definitely up for some practice before the lobby opens. I've improved to be consistent with the 1:39s but I still don't feel like this track is 2nd nature for me yet. I'm still making careless mistakes and slowing too much for corners probably mostly because I practice at 1am after doing a 10 hour shift of work in front of a computer. I hope to be fresh and rested for practicing Saturday morning and for the race of course. Long race will require serious focus. The long straights can take that focus out of you real quick. It's imperative that you exit all of the corners on this track with as much speed as possible to carry down these loooong a$$ straights.
I'm not fluid is the correct word for my shifting yet. It's still not second nature to me yet. Even after 11 months of manual shifting. It takes a long to gain the skills needed to be good at racing. Well except for the gifted drivers. Still gives me great respect for real race drivers.
Never said Monza was an easy track. Even without the 40 mph first chicane. Monza is not the most grippy track to begin with. The long straights allow tires and brakes to cool a little too much. Making it easier lock up under braking.
that 1st corner without the Chicane and the last corner really tear up the tires if you're not as smooth as possible. Pretty sure the heavy braking is part of the problem too. Hopping on some practice tonight if any of you East Coasters are night people. See you tomorrow!
The heavy braking theory would work if you saw a similar amount of wear at Le Mans. Which you don't, Le Mans is a very low wear race track. It's why I to change tire wear to x10 for the mixed class Special we ran at Le Mans in August. I would Monza a moderate tire wear race track. If it's not the driving then it most be the pavement. Whatever type of pavement they use for Monza is very abrasive.
Monza is almost all right hand turns, especially the high speed corners, Curva Grande, Lesmos 1 & 2, and the Parabolica are all high speed right hand turns.
