- 24,120
- Midlantic Area
- GTP_Duke
Like 68 Cuda, I also ran parts of this race recently.
Using a pretty-much-full-build Mugen S2000, at 380 hp, I ran the first race at Grand valley a month or so ago. Then I got distracted by the Pro Vitz series and the PD Cup, and finishing Rally mode, not to mention some OLR... anyway, it's been a while. So the first race commentary is going to be a little thin.
Grand Valley Speedway - 10 laps
I started without qualifying, on T3 tires. The built S2000 runs very very comparably to the Elise/Exige 190, and has a little more muscle than the ZZS. The Griffith leaves it in the dust on the straights, and while corners are in my favor, the Mugen S2000 is easy to slide on hard tires, which can really kill time.
As expected, the Griffith left the gates and ran away, while I clawed my way through the pack. By lap 2 I managed to take the lead from the Griffith at the Little Hairpin, and hold onto it until lap 6, when he passed me again on the last strength of his tires. The Griffith led the field into the pits on lap 7, with others following on 8 and 9 (fire that crew chief!). This gave me the lead, and left the slow-but-steady little ZZS steaming along in 2nd place. The Griffith came charging back in the last few laps but I held out to take the win with the ZZS in tow. He in fact caught up a lot at the last lap because 10 laps on this loooong track had pretty much killed my tires.
Margin: +0':4.936", Tommykaira ZZS
Total: 20':32.608", 10 laps
Fast lap: 2':00.051"
Average: 2':03.260", with no pit
Trial Mountain Raceway - 10 laps
Fast forward to a month + hiatus from the little S2000 that could. Without changing oil, tires, suspension or gearing, I jumped onto the grid in 6th place. I was cold on the car and GT3 in general, so my intial start was not great. It took me several laps to work my way up to 3rd, since there are so few good passing opportunities on this track (for me, anyway). The little bugeyed ZZS was also giving me a very decent run for my money. I eventually took 2nd away from the Elise 190 somewhere around lap 6, inheriting the lead shortly after that when the Griffith pitted from a few seconds in front of me.
That joy was short lived, however, as the Griffith reemerged from the pits and came back to claim his barstool from me... I held out without pitting (only the Griffith and the Boxster got tires, I believe), but the Griffith muscled on by and I finished second by about 8.low".
Hopefully the Mugen has some extra power available, because I'd like to come back and win this one in it.
Cote d'Azur - 10 laps
After racing in the chilly northern mountains, the field headed to the sunny south of France for the finale at Monaco. I like this track, and I knew the Griffith's power advantage would be negated. Despite the sceduled length of 15 laps, I stuck with the T3s.
Starting from 6th, I stayed right when the field merged left on the green flag. Easing to the inside and braking as late as possible for the first turn, I squeaked my way into 3rd at the bottom of the hill. Surprisingly, it was the Elise 190 in the lead, followed by the MS version (who had decided to make an appearance, replacing the Boxster). Holding a tight line, I took the MS Elise at the Casino turn, then led her a merry chase down through the switchbacks. I made a clean pass on the 190 at the Box Chicane, taking the lead halfway through lap 1. The MS Elise passed her lower-output sister shortly after, and stayed a few seconds behind me.
From then on, I really drove conservative laps in order to keep the T3s in shape for the whole race. Though my lap times were not spectacular, I steadily widened the interval each lap. Monaco is one of those tracks where knowing when to be slow can really make you a lot faster. At the halfway point my tires were yellow with a hint of orange, so I stayed with the same strategy, incrementally widening my lead each lap. The Griffith and the S2000 pitted on lap 9. On the last lap, I could see the S2000-V ahead of me through the back half of the course - I was just a few seconds from putting him off the lead lap. The T3s were still up to the task, although nearly exhausted, when I crossed the line with the MS Elise a distant 2nd.
Margin: +0':14.485", Motorsport Elise > +1':44. 860", S2000-V
Total: 26':38.619", 15 laps
Fast lap: 1':44.485"
Average: 1':46.574", with no pit
If I can gain about 1.5"/lap at TMR, I can win it in this car. Maybe if I qualify, and get warmed up before running it...
Using a pretty-much-full-build Mugen S2000, at 380 hp, I ran the first race at Grand valley a month or so ago. Then I got distracted by the Pro Vitz series and the PD Cup, and finishing Rally mode, not to mention some OLR... anyway, it's been a while. So the first race commentary is going to be a little thin.
Grand Valley Speedway - 10 laps
I started without qualifying, on T3 tires. The built S2000 runs very very comparably to the Elise/Exige 190, and has a little more muscle than the ZZS. The Griffith leaves it in the dust on the straights, and while corners are in my favor, the Mugen S2000 is easy to slide on hard tires, which can really kill time.
As expected, the Griffith left the gates and ran away, while I clawed my way through the pack. By lap 2 I managed to take the lead from the Griffith at the Little Hairpin, and hold onto it until lap 6, when he passed me again on the last strength of his tires. The Griffith led the field into the pits on lap 7, with others following on 8 and 9 (fire that crew chief!). This gave me the lead, and left the slow-but-steady little ZZS steaming along in 2nd place. The Griffith came charging back in the last few laps but I held out to take the win with the ZZS in tow. He in fact caught up a lot at the last lap because 10 laps on this loooong track had pretty much killed my tires.
Margin: +0':4.936", Tommykaira ZZS
Total: 20':32.608", 10 laps
Fast lap: 2':00.051"
Average: 2':03.260", with no pit
Trial Mountain Raceway - 10 laps
Fast forward to a month + hiatus from the little S2000 that could. Without changing oil, tires, suspension or gearing, I jumped onto the grid in 6th place. I was cold on the car and GT3 in general, so my intial start was not great. It took me several laps to work my way up to 3rd, since there are so few good passing opportunities on this track (for me, anyway). The little bugeyed ZZS was also giving me a very decent run for my money. I eventually took 2nd away from the Elise 190 somewhere around lap 6, inheriting the lead shortly after that when the Griffith pitted from a few seconds in front of me.
That joy was short lived, however, as the Griffith reemerged from the pits and came back to claim his barstool from me... I held out without pitting (only the Griffith and the Boxster got tires, I believe), but the Griffith muscled on by and I finished second by about 8.low".
Hopefully the Mugen has some extra power available, because I'd like to come back and win this one in it.
Cote d'Azur - 10 laps
After racing in the chilly northern mountains, the field headed to the sunny south of France for the finale at Monaco. I like this track, and I knew the Griffith's power advantage would be negated. Despite the sceduled length of 15 laps, I stuck with the T3s.
Starting from 6th, I stayed right when the field merged left on the green flag. Easing to the inside and braking as late as possible for the first turn, I squeaked my way into 3rd at the bottom of the hill. Surprisingly, it was the Elise 190 in the lead, followed by the MS version (who had decided to make an appearance, replacing the Boxster). Holding a tight line, I took the MS Elise at the Casino turn, then led her a merry chase down through the switchbacks. I made a clean pass on the 190 at the Box Chicane, taking the lead halfway through lap 1. The MS Elise passed her lower-output sister shortly after, and stayed a few seconds behind me.
From then on, I really drove conservative laps in order to keep the T3s in shape for the whole race. Though my lap times were not spectacular, I steadily widened the interval each lap. Monaco is one of those tracks where knowing when to be slow can really make you a lot faster. At the halfway point my tires were yellow with a hint of orange, so I stayed with the same strategy, incrementally widening my lead each lap. The Griffith and the S2000 pitted on lap 9. On the last lap, I could see the S2000-V ahead of me through the back half of the course - I was just a few seconds from putting him off the lead lap. The T3s were still up to the task, although nearly exhausted, when I crossed the line with the MS Elise a distant 2nd.
Margin: +0':14.485", Motorsport Elise > +1':44. 860", S2000-V
Total: 26':38.619", 15 laps
Fast lap: 1':44.485"
Average: 1':46.574", with no pit
If I can gain about 1.5"/lap at TMR, I can win it in this car. Maybe if I qualify, and get warmed up before running it...
