2021 FIA Series Race Discussion

[mobilmasher]

If it's allowed it's not cheating. In the wet I use tc1 in the Ford GT. This race is total concentration, first you have to reign in your right foot and secondly you have to race the track without worrying about the competition, just be aware of them.

 

[C_Raccoon23]

Went for a shakedown at Spa with the Lambo... worst idea ever. Everyone saying MR cars are favourites for this race but I think it´s just "all MR cars that are not Lamborghini" At this point I´m not sure if it´s me or if this is really impossible. The car understeers really bad, so I slow down more and more and then the RPM are so low that at the slightest touch on the gas the tail is all over. Tried TCS 1 after unsuccesfully running TCS 0 as always but it was pretty much the same. I´m on a dualshock, that´s probably not helping but this round is really anoying.

I can relate. I was with Lamborghini last time we had Spa wet back in July last year. It took me more than one attempt just to get 7th and that wasn't until I decided to use TC. Here was my race for reference. Interestingly, this round was only 8 laps versus 13 in the one tomorrow.

 

[OJBrit]

So managed to get the car under control mostly today and get a 2:51 which is about 10-12 seconds off the top guys so quite happy with it.
Went in to a practice race. Thanks to @LVS_1986 for hosting.
Here are my thoughts.

This is all about keeping your car on the track. Sounds simple, but it's not worth fighting another driver unless you can handle it. Let them go and you'll probably see them facing the wrong way at some point.

People will get frustrated and quit. Stay in there and you can get a decent result. We had 13 people qualify and only 4 finish.

You will probably go off at some point. It's not the end of the world. I had 1 accident on lap 10 (see below) but otherwise kept it on the road. I did go wide in Rivage a few times, but keep patient and you won't spin it.

If you can get a rhythm then the speed will follow. I was able to keep within sight of drivers way faster than me for most of the race. I was able to do my practice time in the race so it's just about concentration.

Car: Hey, you're in a Renault at Spa right?
Me: Yeah.
Car: Oh look Radillon. Do you want to do an impression of Kevin Magnussen?
Me: Not really, I'd rather keep driving.
Car:


What do you think of my impression? Ratings out of 10 please.

This shouldn't be as bad as feared. If I can tame the race, so can you.

 

[ii_Biggles_ii]

I have been practicing at Spa the last few days and not sure if the last time we had a wet race there if the intermediates where the tyre for the race? Based on practice this time I'm running wets. I managed to string together quite a few laps without running wide or spinning my Alt-account in the Alfa C4 but in the WRX on my main account it's a nightmare so I'm guessing MR cars are not too bad, I can't remember if the race the last time was in the Nations and one-make. Anyway if you are thinking of doing the race turn down the Fuel mix as I know that helped a lot the last time in the wet and if you manage to stay on the track you will make up lots on places as once you go off it take forever to get going again. It well worth having a go in the wet as it so seldom features in the game.


Edit:
Forgot to say I was 8 seconds quicker in the C4 on the first lap than the time I set in WRX to that point, that how much easier it is to keep on the track/

 

[foolsgold74]

So managed to get the car under control mostly today and get a 2:51 which is about 10-12 seconds off the top guys so quite happy with it.
Went in to a practice race. Thanks to @LVS_1986 for hosting.
Here are my thoughts.

This is all about keeping your car on the track. Sounds simple, but it's not worth fighting another driver unless you can handle it. Let them go and you'll probably see them facing the wrong way at some point.

People will get frustrated and quit. Stay in there and you can get a decent result. We had 13 people qualify and only 4 finish.

You will probably go off at some point. It's not the end of the world. I had 1 accident on lap 10 (see below) but otherwise kept it on the road. I did go wide in Rivage a few times, but keep patient and you won't spin it.

If you can get a rhythm then the speed will follow. I was able to keep within sight of drivers way faster than me for most of the race. I was able to do my practice time in the race so it's just about concentration.

Car: Hey, you're in a Renault at Spa right?
Me: Yeah.
Car: Oh look Radillon. Do you want to do an impression of Kevin Magnussen?
Me: Not really, I'd rather keep driving.
Car:


What do you think of my impression? Ratings out of 10 please.

This shouldn't be as bad as feared. If I can tame the race, so can you.

Yeah I can't get under 2:51 either. Set it yesterday using auto gears and so far have only managed to match it using manual. But I'm more consistent (I.e. can manage 2 laps without binning it) using manual gears. I'm sure it's the way to go.

But the yeetle being FR and short wheelbase is ill suited to this event.

I will have at least one go tomorrow. Stay out of trouble, don't race anyone and certainly don't worry about letting MR cars past. I'm playing with house money after Sardegna anyway.

 

[05XR8]

So managed to get the car under control mostly today and get a 2:51 which is about 10-12 seconds off the top guys so quite happy with it.
Went in to a practice race. Thanks to @LVS_1986 for hosting.
Here are my thoughts.

This is all about keeping your car on the track. Sounds simple, but it's not worth fighting another driver unless you can handle it. Let them go and you'll probably see them facing the wrong way at some point.

People will get frustrated and quit. Stay in there and you can get a decent result. We had 13 people qualify and only 4 finish.

You will probably go off at some point. It's not the end of the world. I had 1 accident on lap 10 (see below) but otherwise kept it on the road. I did go wide in Rivage a few times, but keep patient and you won't spin it.

If you can get a rhythm then the speed will follow. I was able to keep within sight of drivers way faster than me for most of the race. I was able to do my practice time in the race so it's just about concentration.

Car: Hey, you're in a Renault at Spa right?
Me: Yeah.
Car: Oh look Radillon. Do you want to do an impression of Kevin Magnussen?
Me: Not really, I'd rather keep driving.
Car:


What do you think of my impression? Ratings out of 10 please.

This shouldn't be as bad as feared. If I can tame the race, so can you.

Can you take the players around you though? Probably not.

Not discouraging anyone from doing the race tonight. I'm still up in the air with which alt do I run.

I have an alt/other family member's accounts, with Hyundai, Mitsubishi and Subaru. Either of those should be fun to drive in the wet. Might run it tonight. Might not.

Taming the track is not the problem though.

 

[Ashthebash]

I'm looking forward to tomorrow, I'll be honest I really like the test of restraint and patience in wet races and the Ferrari is easily the most murderous car I've used in the wet! If I can survive the 13 laps plus qualifying without leaving the track backwards then we might have a good result to report 👍

 

[GerseyCX]

Did about an hours practice for Spa Wet. The conditions seem very difficult. Seems like something changed to make wet racing more extreme since last time Gr3 did Spa Wet. It a long race and think the smoothest most consistent drivers will be rewarded. Should be a great GTSport Challenge.

 

[Michelin Man]

Only doing 3 rounds this season just for the racing, to keep me in the loop so to speak. It's quite refreshing to not care about points really, and with Saturdays race being my last this season, I'll be going in for the enjoyment factor.

Wet Spa is the highlight, so I expect it to be fun as per the 2020 main season. I know the wet physics aren't to everyone's taste in GTS, but quite frankly I'm not bothered by how realistic or not it feels, because it's great entertainment. Since its about the only time the NSX is considered even close to "META", the pressure is on to deliver a result the car is capable of! That starts with not bottling qualifying, like I've done consistently in my 2 races prior...

Initial practice says it's the more slippery of the two wet weather settings. This time however, low-lying sun won't be a visibility issue like previously. For the most part it'll be about staying on track, even if the temptation to Drift everywhere is great at times . Best of luck to those racing this combo 👍.

 

[Seth_Logan]

I won't be doing the curcuit of SPA myself, those of you who are and need to keep pace according to @Mistah_MCA 's advice (patience and 9001% focus) here is a Spotify list that hopefully let's you start of all mindful, concentrated and towards the end let's you speed up and take home the win!

If you manage to do so before the ending of the list you will have done so in 34:16,000

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6xt2W8exaMv97vVU3jie4S?si=x_sqFjlHR3ev3DsfyJ-LBg

Riders on the Storm - The Doors
Traffic - Tom Yorke
Dardevil Theme - John Paesano
Cars - Gary Numan
When the Rain begins to Fall - Jermaine Jackson & Pia Zadora
The Boys are Back in Town - Thin Lizzy
Roadgame - Kavinsky
Winning - The Sound

 

[KosmoKazi]

Feeling optimistic about Spa. Ran a 2:46.5, with some other close times to back that up, in the RSR. Trying to remain zen and get a top 5... been a while since I’ve had a good finish in an FIA race, need one!

One thing I’ve noticed is that the physics in the wet are more to my liking... you can work the front tires against the rear tires, like I like to. On dry pavement there is some weird modeling that doesn’t allow you to drive the front end against the rear, with the brakes in the turns. But in the set, you can work them while applying throttle, to the rears, and turn the car. That’s how I like to drive a car hard IRL and the game doesn’t model it correctly normally. But in the wet... seems to work better. Good luck, all.

 

[Norrin Radd]

I won't be doing the curcuit of SPA myself, those of you who are and need to keep pace according to @Mistah_MCA 's advice (patience and 9001% focus) here is a Spotify list that hopefully let's you start of all mindful, concentrated and towards the end let's you speed up and take home the win!

If you manage to do so before the ending of the list you will have done so in 34:16,000

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6xt2W8exaMv97vVU3jie4S?si=x_sqFjlHR3ev3DsfyJ-LBg

Riders on the Storm - The Doors
Traffic - Tom Yorke
Dardevil Theme - John Paesano
Cars - Gary Numan
When the Rain begins to Fall - Jermaine Jackson & Pia Zadora
The Boys are Back in Town - Thin Lizzy
Roadgame - Kavinsky
Winning - The Sound

You need "Just another hit and run"- Def Leppard

Logged on with no clue what the race was, don't really do well at Spa and not sure that rain the way it's done here is a good thing. Lack of grip is one thing, but it goes a bit far IMO. Still missing racing so going to have a try, Aston is not going to be fast in my hands so after a few laps decided that this is just going to be a race where I only think about keeping it on the track. Not going to qualify though as I really don't want anyone worse than me behind me at the first corner.

 

[Pennyb12000]

Does a pre qualifying time make any difference who you are grouped against in the race?
I am C rated, the Spa crace has made me question if setting a pre race time would group me with drivers closer to the top of C drivers, whilst not setting a time would possibly put me against drivers lower in C?
Tia

 

[pennanton]

Sorta weird they'd give us such an unbalanced race for Manu. Feels like this should be a Nations.

 

[Ashthebash]

Does a pre qualifying time make any difference who you are grouped against in the race?
I am C rated, the Spa crace has made me question if setting a pre race time would group me with drivers closer to the top of C drivers, whilst not setting a time would possibly put me against drivers lower in C?
Tia

No. I rarely set a free practice time anywhere near what the people I usually race do, haven't set a time at all for this one. You'll just get grouped according to SR/DR

 

[Norrin Radd]

Does a pre qualifying time make any difference who you are grouped against in the race?
I am C rated, the Spa crace has made me question if setting a pre race time would group me with drivers closer to the top of C drivers, whilst not setting a time would possibly put me against drivers lower in C?
Tia

Don't quote me, but I don't think it makes any odds. It matches you SR first, although how I'm not sure it splits it more than by letters but how many splits it makes I have no idea, then DR. You might have noticed that having high SR gives you all drivers around your level, but if you drop down especially really low like SR C or D you get a much bigger difference in players DR

 

[Norrin Radd]

Didn't check my Ozzy boys stats, due to being continually bumped back last time I'm C/S so in a race all Cs. Think setting a quali might be worth it, but only if I'm close to the front so going to go out last (hopefully as 5 mins doesn't give a lot of space with a 3 min lap) try and keep an eye on times and quit if too many are well above me. Well shouldn't have bothered I suck at this. Great having a race where you don't need to change tyres after quali. Well I got bored and quit, racing in the rain just isn't for me. Was sitting about 15th for 5 laps and nothing was happening, even when close overtaking is hard and it's just too easy to make silly mistakes.

Good luck to everyone else but I've decided no more rain for me it's just no fun.

 

[RacingGrandpa]

You need "Just another hit and run"- Def Leppard

Logged on with no clue what the race was, don't really do well at Spa and not sure that rain the way it's done here is a good thing. Lack of grip is one thing, but it goes a bit far IMO. Still missing racing so going to have a try, Aston is not going to be fast in my hands so after a few laps decided that this is just going to be a race where I only think about keeping it on the track. Not going to qualify though as I really don't want anyone worse than me behind me at the first corner.

Since you run an FR you could try (in free practice) to run ABS weak, if you have a BB to the resr, it prevents the front wheels from locking up as easily.
Also, Fuel map 2 or 3 might work better than TCS in corners, then FM1 on straights.

 

[05XR8]

Not quite understanding the wet physics in this game. Totally wrong. How can my car be ice skating at 20km/h? These wet Michelin racing tyres, should be pumping the water out like a hydrant.

Edit: How silly is this in Free Practice?
Inters, TCS 0 - 2:59.1
Wets, TCS 3 - 2:49.181

You can skip to the end for the results. No surprise with drivetrains of the top six cars. Guess tonight's event is realistic.


Edit2: Starting 10/20 in the M6. Noone I know in this room. Highest starting FR, is an RX-V in 3rd. A WRX in 8th. Couple Beetles, a Genesis, Me. Then, down the bottom half are a Vantage, WRX, Beetle, WRX, GT-R an RC F and an AMG GT3, WRX and a 458 P20.

 

[Tidgney]

I've done some time trial, now time for some racing, lets see what happens!

 

[Rangeraus]

Finished near the back in slot 1 and slot 2 after botching qualifying and later spinning, so lost a heap of DR.

Slot 3 I got a decent lap in qualifying (still 0.5s down on PB) which was somehow still good for P4 on the grid which I held for 306 points.

Not really a fan of running slots until you jag a decent result as many people do, but it worked for me tonight.

 

[LVS_1986]

So, in lobby with @Zorz, quali starts and disconnection... Its a sign

 

[Tigerhawk87]

Practice may have been a good idea for this one!
Qualified 16th and finished 12th for 80 points.
All spots made up courtesy of others binning it or getting binned. My fastest lap was the last lap which highlights how long it took me to get into it! But, pleased all the same to get round without major catastrophes. The Jag is a tough slog and wasn't expecting much out of this race. It was dominated by 911s. May as well go again. My points won't matter barring a minor miracle but want to do a little better

 

[foolsgold74]

Think winning the last round and a few podiums on daily race C in the last few days moved me up into a higher split than normal. Messed up turn 1 in qualy and ended up with 2:56 for Q9.

But pole was 2:46 and I have only just managed a 2:50 in practice.

Anyway got mugged at Turn 1 and went from 9th to 15th. Up to 14th a lap later when someone binned it. Then had a good 5 lap battle with a Porsche and a Peugeot until one of then had a wobble and I got through. They proceeded to battle each other and I finished p12, 19 seconds ahead of them and 20 seconds behind 11th. Was pretty boring but I got some good practice with manual transmission.

I ran consistent 2:51s and 2:52s all race other than one lap where I spun out at the bus stop and the last lap when I was looking to see if the leader had finished instead of looking for my braking point

But even then I wasn't catching anyone ahead. At the end the winner had a fast lap of 2:45 and everyone ahead of me had a 2:49 or under. So just a split too high i guess. But 2:45 seems quick in B/S?

Still got 51 points for p12 which was the exact same as I got for p5 at Dragon Trail 2 races ago.

Won't go again. Too much like hard work

Haven driven a couple of racing cars (admittedly not group 3s!) on a race experience day a few years back on a very wet cold day, I can't say I'm very impressed with the wet track physics in this game.

 

[OJBrit]

Mucked up my entry to Eau Rouge in my qualy run. Managed to stop myself running wide and get a penalty but was at least 20mph slower through Radillion than normal which I would have carried up the Kemmel. Coming through Stavelot and I went purple by 0.6 seconds. Crossed the line with pole by 0.2 which is where I stayed.

No issues at the start, but the Austrian was able to take Eau Rouge better and flew past me along the Kemmel Straight. The South African in the 458 was able to do the same the next lap. I was in third then able to chase down the 458 as he kept going tentative through Pouhon and Fangne. I was able to power underneath him through Pouhon one lap only for him to breeze past me out of Paul Frere Curve. One lap he got twitchy through there and I got past him but he tapped me on the rear quarter heading into Blanchimont. I caught the slide easily but lost out to him. I had a good tactical battle with him but it did allow the Italian behind in the 911 to close the gap to 6 seconds. Then lap 9 the car just went on the exit of Paul Frere despite doing nothing different to before. I was able to spin 360 against the barrier but as I got going the car went round again. (Looks like that might have been down to the front offside damage.) I got off the grass down in 9th. I had to be patient and was able to pass the cars ahead as they made small mistakes and got back to fourth. I was around 4 hundredths of a second of setting the fastest lap with my only sub 2:50 lap of the week.
However the gap was too great to get back onto the podium and 4th is where I finished.

So happy with that. Lost the podium which was annoying but it's still a good result for my afternoon's efforts. I also managed to calmly drift around Stavelot 2 and Pouhon at points.
Also whilst posting this I notice I am back up to B with this result.
1 and done.

 

[AfraidRacer]

:censored:ing hell that was an awesome race, Q6 with a 2:48, finished in P5. 131 pts. All that practice with @Ashthebash paid off, kept it consistent all race and didn't spin.

 

[Zorz]

I definitely need a shower after that race, I am absolutely drenched in sweat!

I was wondering what happened to you @LVS_1986. I hung around in the pits for a big space in qualifying and saw someone get the pit bug then vanish, then realised it was you.

I thought I had reasonable pace going into this from my practice times (could set 2:47s) but it turned out that was very average for a ~37K lobby. Before going in, I had said to @Stoobert that I'd be happy with a 2:49 in qualifying, very happy with a 2:48 and over the moon if I managed to do a 2:47. I set a 2:47.887... and then qualified P10. Plenty of low 2:47s and 2:46s...

Lap 1 was completely orchestrated by the Jaguar that started in P8. It was struggling so hard right from the get-go that it created a very tightly packed train behind it. I made an overtake on the Nissan in front of me at the first turn of the Bus Stop and the Jaguar lost it a bit at the second turn so I moved up to P8 with a couple of people who were behind me slipping through the chaos as well. It had been so slow that a 7 second gap to P7 had emerged from lap 1 alone.

A Peugeot was all over me for lap 2 before getting past down the Kemmel Straight on lap 3. The traction difference MR cars have over FR in the wet is insane, I simply couldn't mount a defense at all. An Alfa Romeo then got past me coming out of the Bus Stop on the following lap, and that's where the real fight started. After it got past me it went very wide at La Source and then we're suddenly both on top of each other. Unfortunately for me, it started struggling and the cars behind were closing in on us from a 2.5 second gap. Even whilst trying to stay behind and follow, I found myself having to make unintended moves that turned into side-by-side fights because it was going sideways, braking far earlier than I would etc.

It eventually made a big enough mistake at Pouhon for me to get past, but our fighting had allowed another Alfa Romeo who didn't set a time and started at the back (yay... people doing last-to-first challenges in FIA... definitely not meant to be there since it set the fastest lap of the race which was in the 2:45s!!) to get past both of us heading towards Stavelot. That Alfa then ran wide through Stavelot, and going around it as it rejoined the track slowed me down enough to let a Chevrolet catch up and then get past me at the Bus Stop.

The Chevrolet then started having an absolute mare at Les Combes, which forced me to take avoiding action and the first Alfa got past me again. Noticing a pattern yet? The Chevrolet overshot Fagnes and I finally managed to free myself from the Alfa a bit later on lap 9 as it made a mistake before Pouhon, allowing me to get alongside, overtake into it and then pull away. (That was nerve-wracking in the wet, yikes.)

Since I managed to hold it together for the almost 37 minutes exactly that it took for me to finish in P9, I'm calling that a roaring success even though the 122 points I got aren't high enough to count towards my season. That was a really tough test of skill and I managed to survive being at my limit the whole way, coming away with a CRB too. 👍

 

[Tigerhawk87]

Second attempt much improved from the first. All the better for the experience.
6th for 119 points. Very unexpected, I'd written this one off as an event I wouldn't pick up meaningful points.
Qualified in 6th, a huge improvement on the previous quali of 16th.
Starting right before the chicane so knocked the TCS up full. Upon hitting the straight I took it off again, forgetting that I'd be using TCS 2 in the wet. Duh! Thankfully already had a nice gap to 7th because I went sideways and almost into the wall after the hairpin but managed to survive and not lose a position somehow.
A Dane and an Italian were doing battle up ahead and the Italian promptly departed stage left before eau rouge. Was a little nervous catching the Dane but ended up having quite a nice battle for a few laps after overtaking. Presumably the Italian had been acting up and received some ad hoc justice.
In the end the Dane passed me after an error and got enough of a gap that I couldn't trouble them for the remainder of the race. I also had a sizeable gap to 7th so came home happy in 6th.
Again my fastest lap came late in the race (anyone else doing this?) and was almost a second faster than my practice times.

 

[Stoobert]

I went in to this race kind of semi-confident in that hours of practice in the pocket rocket I had some consistency and what I thought was decent pace.

In reality, I cocked up qualifying by running wide at the bus stop starting me P13 (so at least I didn't start in the bus stop complex), and a decent run down to La Source and good exit set me up to be with the pack in front. Naturally though, attempting to do Eau Rouge and Radillon in a car that is notorious for understeer in the wet, on cold tyres in the dirty air of the slipsteam meant that I was going straight on. Luckily I didn't get a penalty, but lost a couple of places from that. At the end of the lap towards Blanchemont I completely missed my braking point as I couldn't see from the spray in front (note to self, wet races aren't good on bumper cam, use bonnet cam for better visibility) and lost a few more places.

I got my composure back and went nearly the rest of the race wihtout incident (the odd lock-up here or there, but nothing concerning) and actually managed 6 laps in the race that were a second or more faster than in practice. Unfortunately this was still nearly 3 seconds a lap slower than those in MRs in front (I thought I was doing well on a 2:48, but 2:45s were the order of the day in this lobby) so even though I made up 2 places and finished 11th, I don't feel I am anywhere near on pace for a better result.

This is again another combo type that has OP settings and you're SOL if you aren't in them (Alfa/Renault last year pre-nerf, FFs recently, Jag now for Group 4).

 

[xxPinkyKissxx]

So, in lobby with @Zorz, quali starts and disconnection... Its a signView attachment 998865

Sorry to see it was your turn this week! (Lucky it wasn’t final lap )