2014 Middle East Discussion

[sems4arsenal]

Today I went to the local nissan showroom to attend the second live event scheduled from the 20th of May till the 31st. While heading I expected to arrive at a congested showroom with flags, lights and big posters.
Well I arrived to an almost deserted showroom filled with nissan cars. A sales agent approached me "how may I help you sir?" I was looking around as if I lost something until I spotted the pod in the showroom corner. "Im here for the GT academy competition" -"the what?" -"the gt academy competition" -"may you ask in the second building sir, I have no idea what your talking about" -"thanks"
Followed the instructions and went to the other building, no pods visible there which means that the shutted one I saw earlier is the only available. Another sales person approaches me while I'm enjoying the Nissan juke's lines, -"I was told to ask here for the GT academy competition " - " the what? " but this time he called someone.
George who is the same guy responsible for the event last year went down from his office with a pen and paper leaderboard. He recognised me immediately.
-"are you gona make it this year? " - " that depends if you are going to call me later to tell me its been cancelled!" - " don't worry even if we do you still have the online option "
We went to tge the pod he started it up lol.
I sat in it and decided immediately to adjust the seat it turned out the lever has been torn out. So I had to improvise and sit a bit like grandma ( no offense grandma ).
The DFGT have been used for 3 events now since it's the same pod of last year. It has taken real banging the gear stick is broken if you try to use it the knob will end up in your hand lol.
You are given only 3 laps and one go which means you set your time and u will have to anxiously wait till the end of May to find out where you are placed on the leaderboard.
The car was the Gtr black edition '12 the circuit was Silverstone international the short one with the new finish line straight.
Tires: racing softs
Driving line: On
Active steering: off
TCS: 1
ABS: 1
SRF: off
I toped the time sheets again with a 1"02'746 not a competitive one but looking at the circumstances it's great lol.
I had to fill my info on the paper leaderboard that so many of the lap times been barred and written once sometimes twice for some reason.
I can't trust this event anymore my only bet is to do well online now .
I wanted to share my helarious experience with you hope you liked it

That's the same demo we had here in Egypt(not a GTacademy thing, it was a GT6 competition. Good luck and thanks for sharing.

 

[Shlagem]

That's the same demo we had here in Egypt(not a GTacademy thing, it was a GT6 competition. Good luck and thanks for sharing.

Well the same pod that I used was present at the sony gt6 competition. This one I assure you its gt academy I actually knew of it's existence through the official GT web site since the local publicity was an epic fail.

 

[sems4arsenal]

Well the same pod that I used was present at the sony gt6 competition. This one I assure you its gt academy I actually knew of it's existence through the official GT web site since the local publicity was an epic fail.

Yeah the Middle east GTacademy has still got lot a long way to reach the professionalism of other regions.

 

[mjdmzn]

Yeah the Middle east GTacademy has still got lot a long way to reach the professionalism of other regions.

Exactly!

 

[mhossam]

That's the same demo we had here in Egypt(not a GTacademy thing, it was a GT6 competition. Good luck and thanks for sharing.

Hey Sems,
Nissan Egypt are not even aware of what is 'GT' ,they don't even care! They only care about selling the new ugly Sunny model.

 

[sems4arsenal]

Hey Sems,
Nissan Egypt are not even aware of what is 'GT' ,they don't even care! They only care about selling the new ugly Sunny model.

Exactly, but I do have the old Sunny

 

[ToyGTone]

No one that i know knows what gt academy is, some don't even know what Gran Turismo is. They only plays Call of duty and just that right now... not knowing there's a ps3 sim driving game that can turn you into a racing driver.

 

[Shlagem]

In my country, people mix between F1 and Rally, i even heard someone saying "i was watching the F1 match".
Now that's for a start let alone moving to a higher level of knowledge where you expect from people to recognize the difference between GT\endurance and open wheel formulas.
No wonder I'm considered an alien in my country for having such a hobby. When someone accompany me in my car they would expect a hell of a ride, then the comments would be "My grandpa can driver quicker than you" or "look at him he fastened his seat belt like a newbie " Or telling someone that you enjoy doing go karts sessions and you try to beat your lap time in each visit they would reply " What it with you with all these toy cars you need to try the real thing, i do handbrakes on almost every turn in my beemer " who said anything about drifting?!

all in all this is a big sport with huge potential, i think if the awareness of it's categories and disciplines gets higher we are looking at a sport that can match if not exceed the popularity of basketball who knows maybe football.

 

[sems4arsenal]

In my country, people mix between F1 and Rally, i even heard someone saying "i was watching the F1 match".
Now that's for a start let alone moving to a higher level of knowledge where you expect from people to recognize the difference between GT\endurance and open wheel formulas.
No wonder I'm considered an alien in my country for having such a hobby. When someone accompany me in my car they would expect a hell of a ride, then the comments would be "My grandpa can driver quicker than you" or "look at him he fastened his seat belt like a newbie " Or telling someone that you enjoy doing go karts sessions and you try to beat your lap time in each visit they would reply " What it with you with all these toy cars you need to try the real thing, i do handbrakes on almost every turn in my beemer " who said anything about drifting?!

all in all this is a big sport with huge potential, i think if the awareness of it's categories and disciplines gets higher we are looking at a sport that can match if not exceed the popularity of basketball who knows maybe football.

less people to compete with

had my first session at round 3 due to finals, love the GTR bs the track borders are awfull, you get disqualified really easily

 

[Shlagem]

less people to compete with

had my first session at round 3 due to finals, love the GTR bs the track borders are awfull, you get disqualified really easily

some places where a little ridiculous i must say for example running a perfect exit at turn 2 will invalidate your lap as well as positioning your car far to the right at the entry of turn 4 which i usually do will invalidate your time as well!

Maximizing your exit is crucial in this event and the slow in fast out theory work wonders here.

 

[ToyGTone]

I wounder what is your time? Mine is gold but its not fast lap and using ds3 it made me even slower.

 

[sems4arsenal]

some places where a little ridiculous i must say for example running a perfect exit at turn 2 will invalidate your lap as well as positioning your car far to the right at the entry of turn 4 which i usually do will invalidate your time as well!

Maximizing your exit is crucial in this event and the slow in fast out theory work wonders here.

Indeed, hope Spa is more forgiving, I really like Bathurst but the invalidated laps get tiresome fast.

I wounder what is your time? Mine is gold but its not fast lap and using ds3 it made me even slower.

Add us up mate 👍

 

[sems4arsenal]

So final round, 2 weeks to the finish. They pick the top 16 right?

 

[Harb84]

So final round, 2 weeks to the finish. They pick the top 16 right?

Actually the period is 1 week for middle east and germany, they will take the top 14 from the online qualifier

 

[sems4arsenal]

Actually the period is 1 week for middle east and germany, they will take the top 14 from the online qualifier

Oh, so the deadline is the 9th? . Thanks for the headsup, I was taking it easy but need to somehow look for time and I still have finals

Impressive time Harb by the way.

SO would you guys know when is the dubai qualifier? I hope it is after the 18th

 

[ToyGTone]

but why one week? so that means i better get gold right now...

 

[sems4arsenal]

but why one week? so that means i better get gold right now...

Maybe because of Ramadan.

 

[Harb84]

Oh, so the deadline is the 9th? . Thanks for the headsup, I was taking it easy but need to somehow look for time and I still have finals

Impressive time Harb by the way.

SO would you guys know when is the dubai qualifier? I hope it is after the 18th

yes next monday is the last day for setting a lap time. at this rate, i think the cut off time will be somewhere in the 17s , your time is now in the middle 16s which could be safe, but you never know , you should keep on improving. it will require balancing between this competition and your exams which i wish you all the best in all of them man.

i doubt that the national finals will be before the 18th, that's too soon , but probably it will be just before ramadan, that's my guess.

 

[sems4arsenal]

yes next monday is the last day for setting a lap time. at this rate, i think the cut off time will be somewhere in the 17s , your time is now in the middle 16s which could be safe, but you never know , you should keep on improving. it will require balancing between this competition and your exams which i wish you all the best in all of them man.

i doubt that the national finals will be before the 18th, that's too soon , but probably it will be just before ramadan, that's my guess.

Really hope so, I think my time probably will be enough but I still want to break in the 15s, I have a big break between the 7th and the 18th so after the 7th I'll give it a proper go.

Thanks again Harb, a true gent as always

 

[Harb84]

that's ok sems

 

[sems4arsenal]

Is there a list to see who from the current top 14 are ineligible?

 

[sems4arsenal]

Managed an hour today, 1'16.274 . I know how to get in the 1'15s now just need to string my best sectors. Hopefully tonight since the electricity went off.

 

[Shlagem]

Is there a list to see who from the current top 14 are ineligible?

How does it work really? a silly question i know but do they qualify the best in the list or do they qualify the best from each country?

 

[sems4arsenal]

How does it work really? a silly question i know but do they qualify the best in the list or do they qualify the best from each country?

Just the ones who went to Silverstone last year won't be.

 

[Shlagem]

Just the ones who went to Silverstone last year won't be.

Let me rephrase my question.

Do you have to be among the top 14 or do they pick the leader of each country?

 

[Harb84]

Let me rephrase my question.

Do you have to be among the top 14 or do they pick the leader of each country?

Top 14 regardless to the country. If they were to pick the fastest from each country they would end up with 7. Referencing gran-turismo.com

 

[sems4arsenal]

Let me rephrase my question.

Do you have to be among the top 14 or do they pick the leader of each country?

Like Harb said, also need to pick up the pace Shlagem, you should qualify with ease.

 

[Shlagem]

Like Harb said, also need to pick up the pace Shlagem, you should qualify with ease.

My problem is the time and space. I'm moving my house and i only had about an hour or so tops with it.
I'm struggling at eau rouge, the last bit of les combes with those cones set on the exit apex are killing me , also at rivage (corner 11) the cones are just where i'm used to cross the apex, and you guys @sems4arsenal and nismo-bh are disappearing from that point onward .

 

[sems4arsenal]

My problem is the time and space. I'm moving my house and i only had about an hour or so tops with it.
I'm struggling at eau rouge, the last bit of les combes with those cones set on the exit apex are killing me , also at rivage (corner 11) the cones are just where i'm used to cross the apex, and you guys @sems4arsenal and nismo-bh are disappearing from that point onward .

It takes alot of practice to nail, just hit early 1'16s I'm sure you'll qualify then, good luck with your house

 

[BHRxRacer]

This.

This. Is. Frustrating.

I spent more than an hour trying to get a valid lap, couldn't do it. This track is perhaps one I'm really good at, but the cones at eau rouge, turn 9 and and 19 are in the middle of the ****ing racing line. Maybe 19 not so much. You get the point. I have to change my approach drastically. Can't be at 100% pace AND worry about cones in your traditional line at the same time.

I'm not far behind a 2:15.4 ghost until Pouhon anyway. I can get a 2:16 if I calm down. Hopefully tomorrow.

edit

This is also the first track where I'm actually faster with the (broken) DFGT than the DS3. Somehow the car feels too heavy with the controller. I couldn't take eau rouge flat at all and the change of direction is far too slow. I'll just settle for the damn wheel.

.

Top 14 regardless to the country. If they were to pick the fastest from each country they would end up with 7. Referencing gran-turismo.com

Really? Bahrain included? The organizers from the live event said they're not considering Bahrain online. If it's top 14 regardless of country I think I may have a chance.