My performance during this set of weeklies has been rather underwhelming to say the least. I've only come out with 3 out of 5 victories but boy, have I worked my ass off for the ones I only got P2 and P3!!! All in all, a mix of several frustrating moments spiced up with some exciting battles.
Japanese Clubman Cup 550 – Tokyo Expressway
Thankful for the chance of bringing out of the garage one of my first acquisitions in GT7, a cherry-red Integra Type R, tuned to the recommended 550PP. I love everything about this car; plus Tokyo at sunset was the perfect backdrop for our meet-up since our last time together.
European FR Challenge 550 – Brands Hatch Grand Prix
Took out my Aston Martin DB5 tuned at 550PP and made an effortless and joyful ride in the late afternoon, right on time for my date at the bar.
Shaken, not stirred.
Special Event – Red Bull Ring
I get no love from driving this e-cars, but at least the sound and handling of my slightly tuned Hyundai Elantra N is bearable. Easy win. Off to the next event.
WTC600 – Road Atlanta
For f... sake!!!! How is this race so difficult!!! Granted, being a fairly average virtual driver coupled with the fact that I have, for the last 2 weeks, run all the events at 'hard' difficulty level, was the recipe for some
die, rinse, repeat a la The Edge of Tomorrow, but it's ridiculous how the top bunch launch on the straights while, for the most part, park the cars in the middle of the chicane and certain turns. As others have already mentioned, it's no small feat to catch up with the rabbit 25 seconds behind with only 5 laps to go, but as soon as I grounded my expectations and focussed on a top 3 finish, I actually started enjoying the close racing and tried a bunch of different cars, all tuned to 600PP.
My best two results came with a Toyota 86 GRMN (P3) and a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI GSR (P2), both of them on Sport Medium tires, although I never could run a lap below 1'30" in any of them.
The race with the Toyota 86 was particularly full of big moments;
a dive 3-wide into turn 6 and a
last-stand defense of my hardly fought P3 at the last chicane, when a wolfpack came like crazy after me on the back straight.
Gr.1 Prototype Series at Suzuka
I never stood a chance on this one, as I got to run it on dry weather. Besides, the level of aggression of the AI cars took me surprise, as I didn't remember them being so adamant about ramming everything on their way, just to keep their lines. This resulted in far too many tries to finish this race.
I wanted to stick to a Gr.1 car, so I tried my trusty 900PP Porsche 919 as it's one of the prototypes with good-enough in-cockpit visibility (the reason why I can't drive the Toyotas or the Audis). Racing Soft tires and full blast FM1 for a 1-stopper at lap 5. Unfortunately the Peugeot was P1, out of my reach some 15 seconds ahead after all pitstops and just had to settle for P2, avoiding any costly errors on the last lap to keep the 3s gap to the car behind me while riding on worn out tires.
Ready for next WC!
