Car
Grand Touring Garage 1970 Ford Mustang Trans-Cammer
All tuning modifications permitted.
Power restricted to 503bhp.
Weight at 1470kg.
Racing Hard tires only.
No Aids except ABS.
Tire/wear and Fuel use is ON except for Tours Speedway (due to no pit lane)
Mechanical Damage is OFF to prevent lag.
Visual Damage is OFF to prevent lag.
Fuel Consumption and Tire Wear is ON but turned off for road courses.
Grip Reduction is set to REAL.
Slipstream is set to WEAK.
Boost is OFF.
Mics are ON.
Finish Delay is 1 minute.
NO CAUTIONS - use this as an extra motivation to RACE CLEAN.
Race Start Procedure
All starts are rolling starts.
For the Road Courses, you must take a parade lap behind the pole car.
For the Ovals, by default we will use the double-file rolling start with no parade lap.
Changes Explained from Season 1
New Car & Tires
Through popular feedback, we have changed the car to the Trans-Cammer from the 'Vette. It was found the 'Vette was far too nimble for its own good on the Ovals in large packs of 12+ cars. The car would be far too loose in the corners and the tire compound didn't help. For the Road Courses, the car was susceptible to oversteer and the grid was although full of experience, we couldn't quite adapt to the car and the feel of it being grippy at times but sliding out of control at other times.
The Ford is 320kg heavier and even less powerful. The car has no aerodynamics by default so no 'I was running full aero to save tires' nonsense. The car has more of a stocky feel making it more adept to a stock car championship. It feels very tame but also wears out tires so much so Road Course events this season will include tire wear this season. Additionally, it understeers on losing tires on road courses which without doubt is favourable by most of Season 1's loyal.
Team Effort
I believe it was Litchi who first made the excellent point on 'not being afraid to give other drivers responsibility as we all want to help out in some way.' I have done just that with the appointment of Furinkazen as co-host. Furinkazen is a familiar face to nearly everyone on GTP let alone GTP Leagues and is a very popular guy. He's improving all the time in his NASCAR career and he is also a very credible host with strings of successful series. He's even starting to speak less.
Stewards
Season 1 featured a lot of incidents. Some due to lag, some due to poor driving. This was surprising to many considering the quality of the drivers in the field. Thus, this season sees the introduction of a Stewards Panel. Furinkazen will lead the Panel with a wealth of stewarding knowledge from his TOCA series. Additionally, Matty will also be a steward after he has been an influential steward in the IndyCar Series. Furinkazen will detail more on this below.
Race Structure
Races went fairly smoothly last season but the finale was pushed back a week due to PSN being down. This season will see the exact same Race Structure as last season that made Season 1 so successful but with 1 more Road Course. Road Courses now have tire wear which brings that into play more than ever. I hope this will be a popular decision.
Registration Structure
Despite getting 26 drivers to sign-up, we did suffer turnouts of 9-10 drivers at Indianapolis and SSRX. This season I hope we can get more drivers involved as there was a spark of interest during the end of last season. So I hope drivers can be explicit if they are 'full-time' or 'part-time' can make use of 'Team' or 'Independent Reserves' on offer.
Race Start Procedure
Drivers have asked me why I don't do parade laps on ovals. On ovals, I like drivers to be seperated by more than a car length so we don't have lap 1 crashes but a bit of breathing space to loosen some nerves.
Season 1
The
Drivers' Championship was won by JoeOfTheFire (Juan Pablo Montoya).
The
Teams' Championship was won by Juan Less Jet Dryer comprising JoeOfTheFire (Juan Pablo Montoya) and RFLX_Niop (Jamie McMurray).
Independents' Championship was won by Chqr (Denny Hamlin).
And finally the
Road Championship was won by JoeOfTheFire (Juan Pablo Montoya)
Here is the Season 1 Thread
Driver Entry Profiles
#11 - Chqr - Ministry of Speed Racing - Independent
S1 Championship Finish: 6th
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 15 / 0 / 2
Best Finish: 2nd @ Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Chqr returns to Thunder this season as the reigning Independents' Champion. Somewhat surprisingly, he managed to win it by two points over arch-rival Furinkazen in the final race of the season. He pushes on in his Nationwide career with a decent start to a very star-studded field this year. By sacrificing speed for tire life, he made it work in Season I but will lightning strike twice for him this time around?
#12 - Tom_97_COD - Pinball Wizard - Independent
S1 Championship Finish: 17th
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 3 / 0 / 1
Best Finish: 2nd @ Daytona Superspeedway
The IndyCar giant returns to Thunder but this time as an Independent. With an unfaltering talent for Nascar, he booked his seat with 3-Time, RFLX_Niop in the Sprint Cup Series. He is a true Nascar all-rounder who enjoys many a series on GTPlanet. With part-time excursions into Season 1 of Nationwide, he's been able to dominate and win races at his own little temple of Daytona Superspeedway. If it wasn't for some poor luck to the start of this season, he could've won the Great American Race. Not to worry as there's much to look forward to from him in Thunder.
#15 - GTP_Akmuq - Juan Man and his Jet Dryer - Team
S1 Championship Finish: 16th
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 4 / 0 / 1
Best Finish: 2nd @ Laguna Seca
The talented Irishman is back again for some Thunder Fever. Currently sitting firmly in a Sprint Cup seat alongside Team Owner, Furinkazen, he's looking very good to make the Chase. He has a proud history of talent on Road Courses and word has it he's even won a title or two in TOCA Series but NASCAR is a completely different ball-game which he has competed in since the 1st Season of Sprint Cup. With 5 Road Courses this season, he'll be looking at picking up the Road Championship Title on offer once more in his part-time duty this season.
#17 - mattymc1996 - McMotorsports - Team
S1 Championship Finish: 8th
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 12 / 0 / 1
Best Finish: 2nd @ Daytona Superspeedway
Matty has truly grown out of his mould and become a very well established driver. Currently driving in the Sprint Cup under RedPartyhat who picked Matty over upcoming stars, OwensRacing, Grinols and mustardaddict. That's testament to the amount of talent Matty has and he thoroughly deserves to be where he is. Having found his feet at the top level, he'll be looking at making even bigger strides in 2012 after a very successful IndyCar campaign earlier this season too.
#18 - Knelly - Death Knell Motorsports - Independent (Part-time)
S1 Championship Finish: 14th
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 3 / 0 / 2
Best Finish: 2nd @ Motegi Superspeedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway
When I gave him the title of 'Sprint Cup Veteran,' sure as hell did I mean it. Knelly is a true veteran of Nascars and has been around the block a fair few times and know's his trade very well. That's proven with his part-time performance in S1. 3 starts, 2 podiums and those starts were all in the 16 driver competitive finale. That's just a microcosm of this guy's history. With even more experience in IndyCar, DTM and even TOCA, the guy almost has everything but his beloved Sprint Cup title.
#20 - smuffyatfcp - Smuffy Motorsports - Independent (Part-time)
S1 Championship Finish: 21st
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 1 / 0 / 0
Best Finish: -
smuffy continues to prove his class in the Nationwide division in S2 after finishing 4th in S1. With an S1 Nationwide Owners' Championship, he is a true team player. He doesn't drive, he races and smuffy has been around these parts long enough to show everyone what he's made of. Personally, in racing with him in various public online rooms, he can easily grab a machine and formulate a race winning strategy in moments.
#24 - neljack - McMotorsports - Team
S1 Championship Finish: -
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 0 / 0 / 0
Best Finish: -
neljack entered the Nationwide S2 fray a few weeks ago as a rookie and another of the TOCA graduates. His smooth driving line and well-mannered etiquette has earned him personal praise from the current host, MULE most recently at Motegi. neljack is a tremendous driver who is very quick, loyal and never gives up. A bubbly personality with a very well establish driving ability has led him to form his own Spec Championship and has lots to live up to in this season's Thunder as one of the more exciting rookies.
#28 - droptop2001gt - TripleF Racing - Independent (Part-time)
S1 Championship Finish: 20th
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 1 / 0 / 0
Best Finish: -
The father, or should I now say the grandfather of the GTP Nascar Leagues on GTPlanet has been here since records began. He isn't just good at hosting, he can drive and is fully worth of his place as the Sprint Cup host. A marksman for the ovals, he's starting to become the more 'attentive ACDC' and surely it isn't too long before Niop will be de-crowned. In an Oval filled Chase, he should be more than capable of proving the critics wrong and giving us some Davey Allison magic. Thunder could be an indication of Drop's S4 Sprint Cup season. I personally look forward to welcoming him during his part-time schedule.
#29 - Carbonox - TBD - Independent (Looking for a teammate)
S1 Championship Finish: 3rd
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 11 / 2 / 5
Best Finish: 1st @ Daytona Superspeedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Flying Fin enters Thunder II as a Sprint Cup Team Owner from being a Nationwide Rookie not too long ago. That's simply credit to the guy's undisputed driving ability as he's able to put his Touring Car talent to the NASCAR big-time leagues. Having won the Nationwide Owners' Championship, he has plenty of silverware in his cabinet already. Carbonox is one of the fastest drivers on the grid and this is proven in his successful running of the Suzuki Swift Spec Series where he has really shown his colours. For me, Carbonox was the guy I was always aspiring to be when I first made it on GTPlanet and the TOCA Series. He still is.
#42 - Joe - Juan Man and his Jet Dryer - Team
S1 Championship Finish: 1st
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 15 / 0 / 9
Best Finish: 1st @ Daytona Superspeedway, Indianapolis Road Course, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (twice), Suzuka East Road Course and High Speed Ring
Well, you don't need me to say anything about him because I'm sure you've heard of him. A true NASCAR giant and one of the few GTPlanet NASCAR Legends to have ever graced this beautiful forum. Its a pleasure to have him in this series because of the elevation in standards we all must arise to. A lifelong oval competitor, he's won nearly everything worth winning apart from a Sprint Cup title. Of course, he who stands in his way is RFLX_Niop and although he beat him in S1, will lightning strike twice for Joe?
#48 - RFLX_Niop - TBD - Independent/Team (Looking for a Teammate)
S1 Championship Finish: 2nd
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 13 / 3 / 4
Best Finish: 1st @ SSRX, Daytona Superspeedway and Motegi Superspeedway
If there ever is someone you never want to see if your rear-view mirror, RFLX_Niop is probably mine. The American time and time again separates the legends from the boys. He is probably the undisputed greatest GTP Sprint Cup Driver alive and amply for this season picks the #48 number. With 3 Sprint Cup Titles, surely there isn't much more he could want on his GTPlanet CV but there is. If it wasn't for a lot of unfortunate incidents and bad luck in Season 1, he could've easily ran away with the title in Season 1 but credit to him he battled on to take 2nd and support fellow avenger, Joe to the Teams' Championship title. Of course, he'll be definitely be looking for one better this season.
#54 - Furinkazen - RPM - Team
S1 Championship Finish: 5th
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 13 / 0 / 4
Best Finish: 3rd @ SSRX (twice) and HSR
The old-favourite, Furinkazen is on a fine vein of good form. So much so he's even landed a Sprint Cup seat this season to his disbelieve. Even more so, he's a Team Owner. That's testament to how much things can change in a matter of days on GTP NASCAR Leagues and he now sits in the Sprint Cup Series as a likely Chase contender. What's more, he's making ground in his own Truck Series and has already taken a couple of podiums there. Known for his line being as 'smooth as a baby's bottom' for a DS3 user on the ovals, he'll be looking to push on and make his mark on the Teams' Championship this season.
#62 - Cowboys965 - Dennit Racing - Independent
S1 Championship Finish: 15th
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 6 / 0 / 1
Best Finish: 3rd @ SSRX
Cowboys is starting to put pedal to the metal on his GTP NASCAR Career with a fine start to his Second Nationwide campaign and with team support from Team Owner, Carbonox, he seems to be doing well under the flying fin. With excursions in the 3rd Season of the Sprint Cup, he is very capable of running with the big boys and with a long-term contribution to IndyCar, he's definitely not short of experience. With an eye for the ovals and a setup or two for the road courses, he looks set to Shake and Bake.
#72 - FraiserCrane - Radio Doctor Motorsports - Independent
S1 Championship Finish: -
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 0 / 0 / 0
Best Finish: -
Fraiser has been around GTPlanet for a fair few and he should be able to turn left very well indeed. With wealthy experience in Endurance and Sportscar Series, I expect him put that to good use in Thunder this season. As a Nationwide Rookie, he's slowly climbing up the ladder to bigger and greater things and may Thunder just be the start of them.
#85 - FlyingFox_85 - RPM - Team
S1 Championship Finish: -
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 0 / 0 / 0
Best Finish: -
One of the most loyal Truck drivers on GTPlanet, FlyingFox is nearly always seen in a truck. So much so he's been taken under the wing by Furinkazen in their own team, RPM and he's proving his worth there this season too. As a result, an invite was in order and here he is lining up on the grid in the #85. Much is expected of the young man who has yet to venture into the Nationwide Series but I'm not sure that's not too far away now. With a win and some podiums on his wishlist, anything can happen in Thunder to make that happen.
#88 - ACDCROCKS123 - TBD - Independent
S1 Championship Finish: -
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 0 / 0 / 0
Best Finish: -
Well, if the field couldn't anymore spectacular, it has. ACDC is just about the complete package when it comes to oval NASCAR racing. He turns up infrequently and seems to win whenever he wants. He can run either groove seemlessly and runs as if he's in his own little race. The swagger he races with is just impressive. Of course, he enters Thunder with a 'Full-Time Entry' which I certainly hope he takes up and I for one would love to race with him. He's been around for a while now but he's definitely the one to the watch. What's more? He's a rookie to Thunder.
#89 - Nater_racing21 - Realtree Motorsports - Independent
S1 Championship Finish: 7th
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 11 / 0 / 3
Best Finish: 2nd @ Daytona Superspeedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Motegi Superspeedway
8 months into 2012 and he now seems a familiar face on GTPlanet but it wasn't too long ago, Nater was making his first babysteps on to the scene. The now turned, iRacer enjoyed a fabulous start with wins in IROC and podiums in the Trucks too. His talent was so notable, he even got call-ups for the Sprint Cup where he in effect looked as if he was going to retire. Well, he's back for S2 after a solid S1 campaign that I'm sure he'll be looking to build upon. The only wall stopping him? His connection.
#93 - Chrisjohnson93 - TBD - Team (Looking for a Teammate)
S1 Championship Finish: -
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 0 / 0 / 0
Best Finish: -
Chris enters Season II of the Thunder Series with an invite from Furinkazen who has recognised his notable talent in the Truck Series. A new face to NASCAR Leagues, he's adapted well to the harsh environment of 800brakehorsepower turbocharged trucks. After being thrown in the shallow end, he's taken up Furinkazen's offer to swim over into the deep end which is of course Thunder. I will expect Chris to fare strongly this season after seeing his touring car ability first hand in the TOCA series. Much yet to be seen from him.
#38 -Jahgee1124 - Emms Emms Racing - Independent Reserve
S1 Championship Finish: -
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 0 / 0 / 0
Best Finish: -
Jahgee is a new face to GTP NASCAR but his commitments in SNAIL series have shown him to be a credible racer. Thus, he has the opportunity to prove himself here as an Independent Reserve. Much is expected of the American who surely like all his fellow nationals in the series can drive stock cars.
#43 -GTP_LancerEvo7 - East Coast Motorsports - Independent Reserve
S1 Championship Finish: -
Starts / Wins / Podiums: 0 / 0 / 0
Best Finish: -
LancerEvo7 similarly is a new face to the GTP NASCAR scene and with an entry as an Independent Reserve, he'll deservedly get track time. As an experience PURE driver, he is selectively chosen to join us this season and I expect him to do very well indeed.
Only a minute to go. *sigh*
