2021 FIA Series Race Discussion

[Groundfish]

These championships would be so much more intense and enjoyable if they went back to a system like this again! In this day and age, I struggle to understand how they can't program the difference between someone manually exiting an FIA session, or disconnecting through loss of/poor internet, and either allow reentry or deny based on that coding logic.

One and done just makes more sense imo, and is usually all I can commit the time to anyways.

I mean in racing you prepare, you practice, you test, you adjust, you strategize, you tweak, you test, and finally when the race comes, if you crash out lap 1 and break the car and DNF THATS IT!
THERES NO DO OVER!

 

[Erebus_9]

These championships would be so much more intense and enjoyable if they went back to a system like this again! In this day and age, I struggle to understand how they can't program the difference between someone manually exiting an FIA session, or disconnecting through loss of/poor internet, and either allow reentry or deny based on that coding logic.

One and done just makes more sense imo, and is usually all I can commit the time to anyways.

I guess the only risk is that that would give a lot more power to rammers and dirty drivers. Could ruin someone's entire season by taking them out while they're on track for a really good finish. PD would need to implement a system to ban those sorts from FIA races, something like the protest system iRacing has.

EDIT: Disco'd from the first Nations slot, just before matching. Not sure if I'll be able to make the second or third slots. Very frustrating... anyone else with the same problem?

 

[05XR8]

Saved myself from being disco'd. Out watching my eldest daughter playing field hockey. Good stuff.

 

[Erebus_9]

Saved myself from being disco'd. Out watching my eldest daughter playing field hockey. Good stuff.

Sounds a whole lot better than getting disco'd, that's for sure!

 

[ii_Biggles_ii]

Watched a few early races in the Nation's on twitch and everyone is stopping on last lap for Hard tyres so softs are goo for the race, I think i might just do it in reverse and get hards out of the way first and run on a clear track until it settles down.

 

[Erebus_9]

Watched a few early races in the Nation's on twitch and everyone is stopping on last lap for Hard tyres so softs are goo for the race, I think i might just do it in reverse and get hards out of the way first and run on a clear track until it settles down.

Have the Toyotas been competitive at all, or is it all Audis?

 

[FastOldHippy]

Have the Toyotas been competitive at all, or is it all Audis?

Yes, the TS050 is quite quick in the right hands. About 50/50 R18 and TS050 in my slot 1 race. R18 in top 3 spots.

 

[Erebus_9]

Yes, the TS050 is quite quick in the right hands. About 50/50 R18 and TS050 in my slot 1 race. R18 in top 3 spots.

Awesome, thanks. Couldn't get to grips with managing the R18's battery in my practice race, was much quicker with the TS050.

EDIT: Made it into the slot 2! Seems like the second split, and we've got 6 Peugeots, 8 TS050s and 5 R18s. Should be interesting.

 

[LeGeNd-1]

Audi is OP in quali due to more aggressive battery deployment, but suffers in race because of this (unless you're an alien at recouperating battery).

Toyota is slower in quali but easier to manage in the race (also don't need to worry about fuel at all).

I went in the Porsche, because it's my least used out of the three hybrids. It has the weakest hybrid so I was dead last in quali and really struggled to keep up with the Audi/Toyotas out of corners, but still managed to drag myself up to 13th due to various people spinning out/getting penalties. Would've been a bit higher if I didn't get taken out in the totally to be expected T1 melee

Peugeot 908 is an alternate choice. Very fast on straights, ok in corners, but obviously struggles for traction because of MR and lack of hybrid. Expert choice only lol.

I tested a few of the other VGTs like L750R, Hyundai and LM55. Very nice to drive but almost a second slower. It's a shame really, I wish PD would do a Gr.1 race with more restrictions (like the upcoming Nations German Battle).

Strat wise, if you're in the first 2 rows do 12S/1H. Otherwise do the reverse. Using softs in the pack is just a waste of time. The no stop Hards are also very risky because of how much time you waste in traffic with dirty air, so unless you're in top split where people know how to work together you're likely going to get eaten up by the soft runners.

And some motivation for the race


Funnily enough, the LMP2s are almost as fast as the new Hypercar class LMP1s. It's not just PD that gets BOP wrong sometimes

 

[OJBrit]

Watched a few early races in the Nation's on twitch and everyone is stopping on last lap for Hard tyres so softs are goo for the race, I think i might just do it in reverse and get hards out of the way first and run on a clear track until it settles down.

For me it will depend on where I start. Top 10 softs to hards. Below hards to soft.

 

[VulcanSpirit]

Have the Toyotas been competitive at all, or is it all Audis?

My fastest FP time so far is in the TS050 and I normally do well in it in lobby conditions with this combo. Some test lobbies I managed to get respectable qualifying times in (best a 1:56.2 if I recall correctly) and was able to overhaul an R18 multiple times during one race through battery usage.

Should have no problem running the majority of the race on Softs; the mandatory tyre requirement does feel a little forced, I have to say.

 

[Erebus_9]

Well, something's going wrong tonight. Game seems to have frozen at the Nation's theme - black screen as soon as the theme started playing. Out of all the bugs I've seen, this is a new one...

Would've been on for a good race. Qualified 7th in the Toyota.

 

[Redneckchef]

Got into a lobby with @Erebus_9 and some other friendly faces, as well as a couple known knuckleheads. Qualified p14 after dodging a blocking car and having to be aware of a 908 wanting to race during qualifying. But grid start so all good.

At the start biggest pain knucklehead in front spins out pushing me into the wall before we even get to La source, but it all works out ok as I come around the corner in p12. Running hards I just try to take it easy and settle in. Nope. Missile comes revenge launching through just as the pack bunches up at Les Combes. I get bounced a bit, but ok. The at the sweeping double lefts I take a shallow inside line and get bumped from behind pushing the car on my outside wide. I get 2 seconds penalty. Coming into the bus stop I'm ok, but barely tap the car ahead as they turn. No movement from them, just the slightest shudder on my DS4. They pit. Game gives me another 2 seconds for knocking a car off track. 1 lap 4 seconds of penalties.

I drop to p16. Climb a bit, but am behind knucklehead 1. I catch them, but they play solid defense and so I wait for 1 lap. Bad move as the front runners who pitted lap 1 catch us and as one catches me at Blanchimont they just run me off. For no penalty I might add.

Takes me till the last 2 laps to catch the guy again while dealing with Soft guys coming through. I screw up the Bus stop but still manage to run him down 3 seconds the last 2 laps. And finish p15 just 1 second behind him.

I hate this combo and am glad it was over. Felt I drove fairly decently but had some garbage luck. Lobby wasnt really dirty, just ugly and pushy.

Sad to see @Erebus_9 disco'd on the start, but it was a messy race.

My advice for anyone out there is to run the softs for 12 laps and 1 lap on Hards. Good Luck and good racing. I'm still waiting for something I can actually drive to hope to get my groove back.

 

[D_Dragline]

Second slot in Oceania. Door 15 in the 908 HDi.

Waited for everyone else to go in qualifying and then cruised on out lap to ensure clean air. Get to the bus stop and there’s a line of ghosted hybrids charging their batteries lol. Still managed to get clean air and qualified 7th with a 57.8.

Decided on a 1H12S strategy. Usual T1 mayhem and I got a penalty for being hit but stayed on track. Pitted from 12th at the end of the first lap along with about half the field. Came back out in 16th and put my head down to chase. Got a spot back immediately when the car in front served a penalty then got another spot down Kemmel in the next lap. 2 more back through Blanchimont and I was through the immediate traffic by the end of lap 3 and in p12. The next 5 laps were consistent and uneventful as I took around 1.5 seconds a lap out of the car in front. Lap 9 and I caught him right at the end of Kemmel as he served a penalty. I stayed left as he was going narrow but at the last minute he moved left and I tapped his rear. No serious effect but I copped a 1 second penalty. Got past him through Bruxelles and then hunted the next car 2 seconds up the road. Got him through Blanchimont and he was smart enough to let me by as the TS050 is a sitting duck on the straights.

4 laps left, p10. Caught the next Toyota at Blanchimont on lap 11. Same story, let me past, much appreciated. Got P8 on Kemmel on lap 12 and was 3.5s behind p7 and unsure how many in front still need to pit. Started the final lap 2 seconds behind p7 with the cars in front of him about 15 seconds ahead and bunched up after the pit stops. Less than a second behind coming out of Paul Frere for the last time it’s going to be tight. I catch him in the braking zone for the bus stop but can’t get overlap so yield. Cross the line in P8.

92 points, a super enjoyable race, one and done.

 

[Bourdais1993]

So... this was quite an exciting race consider the fact that:
1. I decided to switch from toyota to r18 today
2. I only got 1 shot since 5pm is the only time slot i can join the race

Blocked by a toyota in the quali and could start at p10. Started with the hards and sneaked into p8 after the t1 chaos. Switched to softs after lap1, blocked by the no stoppers in lap8, but eventually i was in p4 in the final lap. Tried to do a cutback to p3 at the very last turn, but failed due to lack of grip. Finished in p4...

This wasnt the best but definitely one of the most exciting race i had. Now i’m rushing to the football practice at night lol enjoy the race guys

 

[praiano63]

I"ll go with toyota
The R18 '16 trick is a joke. Braking out of the braking zone to gain performance around all the lap is broken law of thermodynamics.
Sure a game don't have to follow this rules .... , at least if it name is "Real racing simulator"
Being myself a joke fake racing driver , i would love to use this trick but i'm not able to perform this thing. Perhaps i'm just unskilled or my G29 brake pedal course is too short to to apply the good amount of pressure ....
Anyway , my Toyota is a real beast and even my grid position will be low , i'm sure i'll overtake some R18 during the 13 laps . Be aware !!

 

[Cherryturbo]

Is the R18 hybrid recovery “trick” actually a real life racing thing?

If not, why is it not frowned upon in the same way that “wall-riding” is?

Just curious.

 

[Hasnain282]

Is the R18 hybrid recovery “trick” actually a real life racing thing?

If not, why is it not frowned upon in the same way that “wall-riding” is?

Just curious.

I'm not sure about real life but I assume the teams would have their hybrid set up on a track by track basis to not have this issue of it just running out

As to why it's not frowned upon by others I can't say really but the way I see it, its basically doing lift and coast but instead of lifting to save fuel you're just holding the brake slightly to save hybrid energy

 

[D_Dragline]

I"ll go with toyota
The R18 '16 trick is a joke. Braking out of the braking zone to gain performance around all the lap is broken law of thermodynamics.
Sure a game don't have to follow this rules .... , at least if it name is "Real racing simulator"
Being myself a joke fake racing driver , i would love to use this trick but i'm not able to perform this thing. Perhaps i'm just unskilled or my G29 brake pedal course is too short to to apply the good amount of pressure ....
Anyway , my Toyota is a real beast and even my grid position will be low , i'm sure i'll overtake some R18 during the 13 laps . Be aware !!
View attachment 1007968
View attachment 1007969

KERS isn’t breaking any laws of thermodynamics. It’s an ingenious way to minimize the loss of energy from traditional braking systems. The theory behind harvesting charge while accelerating is sound.

 

[OJBrit]

It's not the same as wallriding because it does not beat the penalty system and is maximising your car's performance by simply charging the battery. You still have to put the effort in, all around your lap and fairly to boot.

 

[Erebus_9]

Before I get into it - do people mind the length of these write-ups? I'm enjoying writing these after each race, but if people (or the mods) feel they're a bit long I can dial it back.

After two disconnections, I managed to get into a race, and it was very eventful. Third and final slot in Oceania, back in my usual second split. Door number 9 in a room full of second split regulars.

I went with the TS050 and ended qualifying up 11th out of 20. Decided to go for a 12S/1H strategy despite being so far down. This grid position was actually a blessing in disguise, as I ended up avoiding the most chaotic start to an FIA race that I've ever seen. Was absolutely pumped that this move worked out so well.

​

But then, at the very next corner, the new penalty system came into play as I tried to take the lead. Even though I did give the spot back, I personally feel this was fair. Aggressive, definitely, but fair. Not a penalty to me, but hey, I'm biased here and open to other opinions. Thoughts?

​

After serving the penalty, I dropped back to 3rd, and by Lap 3, 4th had passed me. At the end of Lap 4, I picked up another penalty - this time for cutting the first part of the bus stop a little too much. Dropped back to 5th after serving that one. Then, on Lap 7, I had to look away from the screen for a split-second. Before I glanced away, though, I didn't realise I wasn't quite going straight...

​

Don't even know what I was thinking with that one. Anyway, we move on.

Lap 9 comes around, and I get a great run out of La Source. I've raced against the guy ahead many times before, and trusted him enough to try an overtake through Eau Rouge. In hindsight, even though it came off cleanly, it wasn't the best idea to get ahead of an R18 right before the Kemmel Straight. He got alongside into the next corner, I tried to stay with him and things got a little messy...

​

Handed back the spot and continued the battle, now for 6th. Got back past cleanly later that lap, and even though he got back up the inside going into the Bus Stop, the acceleration of the TS050 got me back ahead before the hairpin.

​

Then, at the end of that lap, the bus stop struck again, as I took way too much kerb in the second half it and came very close to doing a 180. I settled back down into 7th for the final laps of the Softs. While pitting for Hards, two cars on the reverse strategy got by, and I came out of the pits in 9th, still right behind the green R18. Any potential of a last-lap battle was immediately lost, though, as I braked far later than the Hard tyres could handle. In the end, the 1 second penalty put me back another spot, into 10th place for a pretty disappointing 111 points.

Battling was fun, but the result wasn't what I was hoping for. Just like the kart race, some silly mistakes cost me a shot at good finish. If I've got time during next week, I'll practice races more than qualifying just to make sure I'm consistent come race day. It gets frustrating to have good pace only to throw it away in the race - mistakes happen, sure, but I want to know I did the best I could.

 

[RacingGrandpa]

I mean in racing you prepare, you practice, you test, you adjust, you strategize, you tweak, you test, and finally when the race comes, if you crash out lap 1 and break the car and DNF THATS IT!
THERES NO DO OVER!

Accept if you get discoed it's the equivalent of you doing all that and when lining up to race on the grid you are suddenly standing in your driveway...

 

[Barry R]

I'm attempting nations in the 908. I don't mind the Toyota but my pace isn't great, the Audi was never considered as I'm not a great battery saver.
If I don't qualify high I'm starting on the hards (which means I'm starting on the hards ) and hopefully pitting on lap 1 will give me clean air to make more use of the softs. I suppose I will know in an hour

 

[OJBrit]

Well that has to be my best race ever on GTS. The lobby was for the most points I have come across.
Door 13, lucky me.
Went out of the pits last. Set a time which was my fastest of the week across both Daily C and Nations practice. Set a 57.9 which put me 2nd .8 behind 1st and 1.8 ahead of 3rd.
Didn't get the best start. I removed TCS a little early due to not wanting to bounce off the limiter. Still got a better start than those behind as nobody was in my radar in the braking zone. Didn't stop someone floating past my inside on the way to the outside of La Source. I was then in no mans land for a couple of laps as the leader pulled away and I gapped the cars behind. However a Spaniard got into 3rd and started to close the gap, mainly due to the fact my exits from La Source seemed to be a few tenths behind everyone else. Lap for and I managed to hold a slide at Pouhon. (Don't ask me how, I do not know.) From there I made no mistakes as the car and I were 1. Eventually the Spaniard made a few mistakes I guess as he dropped back a few seconds. Nothing really happened until lap 12 when me and the leader pit only for the Spaniard to carry on. If he was one stopping then he was fast. He did no stop but was on softs. He only dropped to 8th but easily threw away a podium. As it was I took 2nd for a career best 71 points.

Been a good week for FIA with 2 2nd place finishes.
I congratulated the Spaniard for his pressure he gave during the race. I'm impressed I put it aside and made no mistakes.
Gained around 1,300 DR too.
Lets hope next week is just as good.

 

[Zorz]

I just got processed by the meatgrinder alongside @AfraidRacer. That was awful.

I realised I was going to have my qualifying completely compromised by a German who started P20 by a clear mile, and since I had a train behind me I quit and went back to the pits during my outlap for clean air. Unfortunately, that meant I lost my chance for 2 quali laps and the one I did was a bit messy so I started P11. That far back, I decided to start on the Hards and get them out of the way.

The start, good god. Everyone on the outside moved over to the right so approaching La Source was absolute hell whilst forced to run almost touching the wall. I somehow moved up to P7 in the chaos but picked up a penalty for tapping someone at the apex. I then got a track limits penalty because cold Hards and dirty air in Group 1 up Eau Rouge/Raidillon is not a good combination.

From there, I got punted at Bruxelles and was given a "forced another car off the track" penalty for the pleasure just to add insult to injury... I'm sure you can all guess how this race went. Feels like the penalty system is beyond hyperactive again. The frustration then led to me pushing too hard and picking up several track limit penalties throughout the race.

I had a clear run on a French driver in an Audi coming out of La Source on lap 12, was not at all amused when he/she started weaving to stop me passing up into Eau Rouge. Things turned even more aggressive on lap 13 heading to Blanchimont as he/she tried pushing me off when I managed to get another run out of Stavelot. I somehow finished P10, picking up a position on the line from a Toyota with a penalty.

Debating whether to go again. Seeing the finish race time I've got the pace to compete for a good result if I can get a clean race but surviving the start is just playing the lottery - particularly with your SR. Thankfully I only lost 6 in all of that.



EDIT - I went again, that went even worse. I started P7 on the Softs, but in the turn 1 chaos I got pushed onto the kerb and the car just went into spin mode trying to get off of it. By the time I was pointing the right way I was 20 seconds or so off the back.

Somehow didn't come last though...

At this point I think I'm just going to keep trying until I can actually survive turn 1, because the whole race seems to be completely dependant on that.



EDIT 2 - Mixture of race 1 and race 2 this time. Started P11 on the Hards, managed to get to the outside in the lead up to turn 1 thinking that would help but nope. Still got rammed hard from behind, and the car spun again the moment I touched the power whilst on the kerb. Didn't take as long to recover it this time, but this is just ridiculous.

This perfectly describes how today has gone:


Ended up recovering to P13 blasting out laps on the Softs whilst only barely losing pace with the leader. I'm probably just going to leave it there, I'm tired now.




EDIT 3 - This is getting ridiculously long now. So I decided I would go again, partially out of spite because I don't like going down without a fight. Qualified P11 again, started on the Hards. But this time I decided I'd turn the TCS up to 4 for turn 1 instead of turning it off just in case I got pushed onto the kerb again. And I did - but the TCS saved me. I still ended up P20 after turn 1 but at least I was right behind everyone rather than miles off.

Finished P7 for 151 points. Since I finally got to run flat-out with a much less severe time loss, I'm OK with that. 👍 Would have been P9 except an Omani driver who had gone 12S/1H was really going at it with the Russian in front of me after he emerged from the pits and they took each other out at Bruxelles on the final lap.

 

[Adam Barber]

Well qualified poorly and started in 12th. Lap one was interesting to say the least but somehow came out of it ahead. I started on the Soft tyre and workedbmy way up to 6th by the time I pitted. Came back out in 7th position where on the last lap was clumsily shoved out the way by a Mazda VGT at Camus to finish 8th. One and done for me, good luck everyone else.

PS_App_20210501_025101

• Adam Barber
• May 1, 2021

8214575684868145168_0

• Adam Barber
• May 1, 2021

 

[Sean YZF]

1st attempt started ok, qualified 4th in the Audi, been driving it all week and I'm used to the handling now. Wished everyone good luck. Grid of mainly R18's couple of TS050's and two porsche hybrids. Grid start, I go around P2 who had no traction, P3 had jumped the start so just me & P1 into 1st corner give each other room.... AND I end up 18th as taken out by ??? who knows, ha. Try to pick up places but a random French guy decides they don't like me and takes me out, twice so I take him out, pit, have a sip of beer & decide to go for fastest race lap, missed by 0.1 sec, bugger
Going 1 more time & going to start on hards.

 

[Groundfish]

Accept if you get discoed it's the equivalent of you doing all that and when lining up to race on the grid you are suddenly standing in your driveway...

Yes.
I think they should issue each player the chance to enter again say 3-5 times or so for the season in case of disconnecting.
A “wild card” right to re enter.
I think having only one chance means peoples speed will be represented more correctly. Controlled speed. More pressure.
The decisions would mean so much more opposed to “might as well dive and risk penalty because if it doesn’t come off there’s 3 more slots anyways”
I think that’s bad.

Edit I don’t think I have much chance at Spa without tire wear or strategy. I don’t have the sprint pace there...:::sigh:::

 

[praiano63]

KERS isn’t breaking any laws of thermodynamics. It’s an ingenious way to minimize the loss of energy from traditional braking systems. The theory behind harvesting charge while accelerating is sound.

I'm not saying this. Just that the way it's interpreted by the game is wrong.
When you put a very light pression without almost slowing your car , just before the braking point , this can't be converted in such huge amount of energy .
Less friction = less energy/ power converted. The game is showing the same convertion. That's wrong.

Just my humble opinion.

 

[OJBrit]

The frustration then led to me pushing too hard and picking up several track limit penalties throughout the race.

Some of those were really harsh.

Haha - Really?