Back again after more than three years!
This is a very good AI lineup, probably the best I have ever faced (only 89 A-spec points!

Toyota 7 Race Car 840hp, 620kg
BMW V12 LMR Race Car 839hp, 900kg
Nissan R92CP Race Car 1001hp, 900kg
Minolta Toyota 88C-V Race Car 965hp, 850kg
AMG Mercedes CLK-GTR Race Car 837hp, 1000kg
BMW McLaren F1 GTR Race Car Stage 4 Turbo, 902hp, 950kg
As usual, each set of race tyres (Super hard, Hard, and Medium) must be used for 25% of the race. Since the race is very short with only two pitstops, I need to think carefully about how long I want to stay on each set of tyres.
Laps 1-20
I start on Super-hard tyres, aiming to run until about one-third race distance on them.
I get by the Mercedes easily but then struggle for grip as the other AIs vanish into the distance. I hit the wall on the exit of turn 1 on lap 5 which costs me about 2 seconds and by the end of lap 10 I am 15s behind the leading Minolta. The Toyota 7 had the honor of leading the first 8 laps.
I realise very quickly that the BMW McLaren is completly out of its depth on this circuit as the Minolta breezes past me on lap 16, followed by the R92. They have so much more grip and downforce in the corners that it is not funny.
Laps 21-40
I get lapped for the second time on lap 30 and also get lapped by the Toyota 7. In turn, I lap the Mercedes, so you can tell that the field is already spread out! So much for a close race.
I pit on lap 31 after a stint of 31-32s laps. I switch to hard tyres, hoping for a drastic improvement in lap times.
I improve my laptimes by a second on average, which is still nowhere near fast enough to challenge the Minolta or R92, who must be comfortably in the 28s. I occupy myself with a good battle with the Toyota 7, whilst the two leaders pit within a couple of laps of each other around lap 40.
Laps 41-60
The battle with the Toyota 7 continues until he pits around lap 48. The BMW has the best tyre durability, pitting after lap 50 for his only stop of the race.
My hard tyres go off after only 20 or so laps but I stretch my stint out to 25 laps so I can change to R3 tyres for the remainder of the race. I have to do three pitstops, however.
When I rejoin, I am 4 laps down on the Minolta.
Laps 61-100
The last part of the race is frustrating as I have to pit on laps 75 and 89 as my R3 tyres refuse to go the distance. I have been thoroughly outclassed.
Race Result:
Minolta Toyota 88C-V Race Car
Nissan R92CP Race Car + 1 lap
BMW V12 LMR Race Car +3 laps
Toyota 7 Race Car +3 laps
BMW McLaren F1 GTR Race Car +6 laps
AMG Mercedes CLK-GTR Race Car +10 laps
Fastest Laps:
Minolta Toyota 88C-V Race Car 29.171
Nissan R92CP Race Car 29.190
Toyota 7 Race Car 29.641
BMW McLaren F1 GTR Race Car 29.687
BMW V12 LMR Race Car 30.367
AMG Mercedes CLK-GTR Race Car 32.683
Analysis
I need a faster car with more downforce and much better tyre durability. Simple as that.
Last edited: Dec 31, 2011