2021 FIA Series Race Discussion
- Thread starter GTPNewsWire
- 9,031 comments
- 1,673,909 views
- 367
- Netherlands
Quite unnerving hitting the brake at the end of the straight and the car still travelling full speed for half a second!
Not holding much hope for the race tonight. Can't keep the tire wear down enough on the Vette and losing a lot of time at the end of each stint. If i was sensible i'd skip this race, but i've realised that this race and Le Mans are the only races i can enter using the Gr.3 car (after missing Catalunya too) and that was the main reason i picked Corvette, for the Gr.3 car. doh!
ah, I made my decision on that type of strategy too. But my eyes were glazing over the GR4 races, which suited my calendar better. If all goes well I'll be able to do all GR4 races and Sardegna A with the GR3 Jag. There won't be much practice with it until that last slot. Even the Nations races in GR3 won't be driven with the Jaaag but Porsche (to finally find out just what te fuss is all about with that 911)
Good luck! have fun!
- 5,511
- Druids Bend
- Z4E_Midnight85
Not sure if you use the cones, but basically I brake aiming at the single cone turning point, then hard right as I reach it. I think we're talking about the same line, but I always find it quite slow out of the corner and usually get destroyed on the straight, or taken out by dive bombers on the apex.
- 2,027
- Bristol, UK
- OJBrit
True, maybe he lost it this week. He also used a big bright building at Catalunya too.Surely there is a slight discolouration in the grass on the other side of the track to use? This grandstand is far too big for Tidgney's style(though the lighter markings on the road at Goodwood a couple of weeks ago were really useful).
Maybe but I don't use cones so can't verify that. The other line requires you to go tighter so you would either be slower to rotate the car enough or risk going wide on exit. Both would not be quicker IMO.
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- 281
- Malawi
- crusselz
Did a practice lobby. To see what kind of times I could do and what the tyre wear is like.
Felt incredibly far off the pace. Lapping in the 38's. Couldn't break in to the 37's at all.
Even in the Mazda, I've come to accept, I'm hopeless at tyre management. Will go with a 12M/8S and see how that goes.
All the best to everyone who plans to run.
EDIT: This is probably going to be one of those races where quali ends up a slipstream farce.
Felt incredibly far off the pace. Lapping in the 38's. Couldn't break in to the 37's at all.
Even in the Mazda, I've come to accept, I'm hopeless at tyre management. Will go with a 12M/8S and see how that goes.
All the best to everyone who plans to run.
EDIT: This is probably going to be one of those races where quali ends up a slipstream farce.
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- 5,511
- Druids Bend
- Z4E_Midnight85
- 1,720
- Australia
Jumped into slot 3. Did it again 🤬🤬🤬Asian slot 1. Door 6, 150pt lobby. Long story short, I drove well EXCEPT for tapping do not refuel on my pit stop.
I will probably go again in a later slot to see if I can get the points I should have got in that run.
🤬
What an idiot! I’m going to try one more time. Midnight slot, can’t go worse, can it?
!
- 434
- London
- 1,478
- United States
- equus_ferrum
I think I and a few others have noticed this as well.
Also, with the Corvette, you can short shift massively and not lose much speed. I'm shifting as soon as I see the red bar creep in, and I'm still hitting the same top speed at the end of the front straight as I am when I shift at the optimum point. I typically need to add only about 1 lap of fuel when I pit.
- 508
- Singapore
Nations - Gr.1 at Spa
I had high hopes going into this race, as I had run this combo in Daily Races back in January (10 laps, Hards only, no stop). However, I had to work off the rust in last week's Race C as I had not driven the LMPs in a while.
Race 1
Strategy: 1H-12S
Starting position: 12th
I elected to dump the Hards on lap 1. I ended up jumping up to 7th by Pouhon through mistakes from other drivers. I dropped to 9th in the pits, which was surprising as I had expected more drivers to go for the no stop. I ended up being caught and passed by a 908 and 2016 R18 before jumping back up to 9th after the Softs starters had pitted. I got 119 points, but I felt dissatisfied with the result and went in again.
Race 2
Strategy: 1H-12S
Starting position: 17th
Qualifying was a nightmare, as I got a track penalty running wide out of Les Fagnes and ruined both flying laps as a result. The race itself was no better, as I braked too late on cold Hards into Les Combes, running off and getting tag-team spun to the back by a 919 and a 2016 R18 that had also gone off. I spent the race languishing in 15th, which became 12th on the final lap. Obviously, I went again.
Race 3
Strategy: 12S-1H
Starting position: 9th
With the inside line into La Source, I decided to start on Softs to try and snatch a few places through the Turn 1 mayhem. The tactic worked, as I was 2nd out of La Source behind a 2016 R18 that had the same idea. Our joy was short-lived, however, as the penalty system decided it did not like our big-brain play. The R18 got a 2 second contact penalty, while I inexplicably got slammed with TWO separate 2 second contact penalties. A combination of fatigue and disbelief at the ridiculous penalty resulted in me forgetting to downshift while I served my 'penalty', dropping to 16th. However, my slow entry speed into Le Combes proved to be a blessing in disguise:
As it turns out, throwing 12 LMP1 cars going full speed into a narrow, twisting chicane is a recipe for disaster. With my slow entry speed and the inside line into Les Combes, I was able to make up 5 places from cars spinning or running wide and recovering. I then mugged a LM55 after Malmedy while another Toyota took the scenic route around Rivage, putting me back up to 9th.
Video of the race start:
I spent the rest of lap 1 duelling with a 908 over 8th, which became 6th as Hard starters pitted. I tried a dive into La Source, but ran wide on exit and dropped to 8th with a track penalty.
I don't get why La Source has track penalties for running wide. Running wide onto astroturf already ruins exit speed; track penalties just add salt to wounds.
Fortunately, I was able to make up those two places with a couple of clean divebombs into the Bus Stop:
My next target was a 919 that had dropped away from the frontrunners. A mistake at Pouhon allowed me to reel in my quarry, but my first attempt at a pass on lap 6 failed after I ran into his rear through Raidillon. My next attempt on lap 7 worked, as I mugged the 919 through Kemmel.
After pulling away from the Porsche, I was left in no man's land as 4th was well out of reach. I dropped from 5th to 7th taking the mandatory Hards, but I had enough of a gap over 8th to drive conservatively and secure a more respectable 135 points.
Manufacturers - Gr.3 at Fuji
Strategy: 9M-11S with refuel
Livery designed by Raychii_DvR9
A surprising number of people messed up the opening lap, with excursions and spins at TGR and Coca Cola. However, my gains from their mistakes were short-lived, as I slipped back down to 12th over my Medium stint. I boxed for Softs and fuel on lap 9, putting me in 11th after everyone had served their stops. The only notable event on my Soft stint happened on the final lap, as the Aston in 12th caught up to me, but took a track penalty for running wide at Coca Cola.
I made the mistake of leaving the door wide open into turn 13, resulting in a sector-long fight between me, the Aston and a AMG that had me take a very tight line through the final corner, completely killing my exit speed. I would have finished 12th...had I judged the width of my Citroen correctly and not accidentally bump-drafted the Aston serving his penalty. I finished 13th for 93 points.
I ran this race only purely to put points on the board after skipping Maggiore and to set a target for future races. One and done.
I had high hopes going into this race, as I had run this combo in Daily Races back in January (10 laps, Hards only, no stop). However, I had to work off the rust in last week's Race C as I had not driven the LMPs in a while.
Race 1
Strategy: 1H-12S
Starting position: 12th
I elected to dump the Hards on lap 1. I ended up jumping up to 7th by Pouhon through mistakes from other drivers. I dropped to 9th in the pits, which was surprising as I had expected more drivers to go for the no stop. I ended up being caught and passed by a 908 and 2016 R18 before jumping back up to 9th after the Softs starters had pitted. I got 119 points, but I felt dissatisfied with the result and went in again.
Race 2
Strategy: 1H-12S
Starting position: 17th
Qualifying was a nightmare, as I got a track penalty running wide out of Les Fagnes and ruined both flying laps as a result. The race itself was no better, as I braked too late on cold Hards into Les Combes, running off and getting tag-team spun to the back by a 919 and a 2016 R18 that had also gone off. I spent the race languishing in 15th, which became 12th on the final lap. Obviously, I went again.
Race 3
Strategy: 12S-1H
Starting position: 9th
With the inside line into La Source, I decided to start on Softs to try and snatch a few places through the Turn 1 mayhem. The tactic worked, as I was 2nd out of La Source behind a 2016 R18 that had the same idea. Our joy was short-lived, however, as the penalty system decided it did not like our big-brain play. The R18 got a 2 second contact penalty, while I inexplicably got slammed with TWO separate 2 second contact penalties. A combination of fatigue and disbelief at the ridiculous penalty resulted in me forgetting to downshift while I served my 'penalty', dropping to 16th. However, my slow entry speed into Le Combes proved to be a blessing in disguise:
As it turns out, throwing 12 LMP1 cars going full speed into a narrow, twisting chicane is a recipe for disaster. With my slow entry speed and the inside line into Les Combes, I was able to make up 5 places from cars spinning or running wide and recovering. I then mugged a LM55 after Malmedy while another Toyota took the scenic route around Rivage, putting me back up to 9th.
Video of the race start:
I spent the rest of lap 1 duelling with a 908 over 8th, which became 6th as Hard starters pitted. I tried a dive into La Source, but ran wide on exit and dropped to 8th with a track penalty.
I don't get why La Source has track penalties for running wide. Running wide onto astroturf already ruins exit speed; track penalties just add salt to wounds.
Fortunately, I was able to make up those two places with a couple of clean divebombs into the Bus Stop:
My next target was a 919 that had dropped away from the frontrunners. A mistake at Pouhon allowed me to reel in my quarry, but my first attempt at a pass on lap 6 failed after I ran into his rear through Raidillon. My next attempt on lap 7 worked, as I mugged the 919 through Kemmel.
After pulling away from the Porsche, I was left in no man's land as 4th was well out of reach. I dropped from 5th to 7th taking the mandatory Hards, but I had enough of a gap over 8th to drive conservatively and secure a more respectable 135 points.
Manufacturers - Gr.3 at Fuji
Strategy: 9M-11S with refuel
Livery designed by Raychii_DvR9
A surprising number of people messed up the opening lap, with excursions and spins at TGR and Coca Cola. However, my gains from their mistakes were short-lived, as I slipped back down to 12th over my Medium stint. I boxed for Softs and fuel on lap 9, putting me in 11th after everyone had served their stops. The only notable event on my Soft stint happened on the final lap, as the Aston in 12th caught up to me, but took a track penalty for running wide at Coca Cola.
I made the mistake of leaving the door wide open into turn 13, resulting in a sector-long fight between me, the Aston and a AMG that had me take a very tight line through the final corner, completely killing my exit speed. I would have finished 12th...had I judged the width of my Citroen correctly and not accidentally bump-drafted the Aston serving his penalty. I finished 13th for 93 points.
I ran this race only purely to put points on the board after skipping Maggiore and to set a target for future races. One and done.
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- 1,720
- Australia
Slot 4. Midnight. Door 19, qualified 4th and then pole disco’d so it became 3rd.
This time I remembered fuel. Race was relatively clean at the pointy end. I ran an 11m9s strat. By the time I pitted I was 3rd on track with a WRX and GTR in front of me. The WRX and I both pit lap 11, the GTR lap 12. The Vantage is a thirsty beast so I rejoin after the pit in p10. The next 9 laps I overtake 5 cars on medium tyres and set about chasing down 3rd (GTR) and 4th (RXV) a few seconds up the road. By lap 20 my tyres are struggling but so are the GTR’s. I round the final turn about a second behind. I get a good run but it’s not THAT good. Finish p5, 102 points. Pretty much what I would have had if I’d remembered fuel in my first race.
- 434
- London
Thanks, i'm still shifting too late obviously! I need about 4 laps of fuel. Shifting around the gear number on the bar.
- 1,478
- United States
- equus_ferrum
That's actually where you want to be shifting if you're trying to go as fast as possible. Revving it past that point actually slows you down as it puts you outside of the car's powerband. The only time you want to rev the Gr.3 car all the way out is if you're purposely trying to burn fuel, or in an oval race because the oval BoP not only gives you a lot more hp, but it also changes the shape of the powerband so that the car has to be revved out in order to perform its best.
- 120
- Essex, UK
Good luck everyone in the EMEA. I will be somewhere in the C/S race. Stay clean, try to bring it home.
- 422
- Detroit
- Razgriz2118
Are people able to bump draft at Fuji without getting a penalty?
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- 1,478
- United States
- equus_ferrum
Yes, but apparently light contact in the corner is a penalty (maybe, depending on how the system is feeling that day).
- 108
- United States
- 2,502
- Scotland
- stpatty
Started 16th. Finished 16th. Could see as high as Zorzil in 8th at one point before I got 1 second for the smallest tap possible on someone at the chicane - it all went to hell from there. Got 0.5 for track limits at turn 2 on the next lap (hint: you shouldn't get a penalty for over-running a kerb when there's a big lip on it that slows you down), then got 2 seconds for divebombing someone at turn 1 a few laps later when a bunch of people (including noted alien Jm-Brea who seemed to have suffered a DR reset) were coming out of the pits and I didn't know where I was - my fault.
I was considering going again because I felt the race was going well until I got my first penalty, but by the end of my 10 laps on softs I was going backwards. Some result for @Michelin Man though, well done.
I was considering going again because I felt the race was going well until I got my first penalty, but by the end of my 10 laps on softs I was going backwards. Some result for @Michelin Man though, well done.
- 2,447
- United Kingdom
- Hasnain282
Not sure how I'll fare in this one, but the race could be chaos
- 626
- East Yorkshire
- Zorzil
In with @stpatty and @Michelin Man (although I didn't realise it immediately!). Sorry for not saying hi. 
I got out of the pit lane first in qualifying, kinda glad I did. I caught too much kerb on the start of sector 3 and well...
The Citroen's back end took the invitation to go exploring the moment it heard the throttle had been touched. However since I got out first, I had just enough time to quit back to the pit lane and still get 2 flying laps in. I started P6 behind @Michelin Man.
I was caught off guard a little by the start. I was expecting people to be fuel saving to shorten their pit stops but it felt like I was moving forward much faster than expected despite shortshifting a little myself. I went off line to try to avoid contact but accidentally clipped Michelin Man a little on the apex. Sorry about that - I held off to make sure I didn't take the position from you whilst you recovered.
From there, my fear of getting my elbows out in MR cars got the better of me for the first few laps as I dropped back a bit. I'd get overtaken and then be on a line I didn't feel comfortable with which caused me to quickly lose the slipstream to the car that just passed. That repeated a couple of times until I finally got some space and fell into a rhythm.
I went 10S/10M, finishing P8 for 144 points. I spent the last 5 laps or so desperately trying to hold a gap against a Hyundai who likely went Mediums first and had steadily been closing on me after the pit stops. He/she got into my slipstream on lap 19 and I had to go full defensive on lap 20. In the end I pipped it over the line by 0.062 seconds.
One-and-done, that was pretty much all I could hope for. My best custom race had the pace for P4 or so, but that's very very different to the real thing!
I got out of the pit lane first in qualifying, kinda glad I did. I caught too much kerb on the start of sector 3 and well...
The Citroen's back end took the invitation to go exploring the moment it heard the throttle had been touched. However since I got out first, I had just enough time to quit back to the pit lane and still get 2 flying laps in. I started P6 behind @Michelin Man.
I was caught off guard a little by the start. I was expecting people to be fuel saving to shorten their pit stops but it felt like I was moving forward much faster than expected despite shortshifting a little myself. I went off line to try to avoid contact but accidentally clipped Michelin Man a little on the apex. Sorry about that - I held off to make sure I didn't take the position from you whilst you recovered.
From there, my fear of getting my elbows out in MR cars got the better of me for the first few laps as I dropped back a bit. I'd get overtaken and then be on a line I didn't feel comfortable with which caused me to quickly lose the slipstream to the car that just passed. That repeated a couple of times until I finally got some space and fell into a rhythm.
I went 10S/10M, finishing P8 for 144 points. I spent the last 5 laps or so desperately trying to hold a gap against a Hyundai who likely went Mediums first and had steadily been closing on me after the pit stops. He/she got into my slipstream on lap 19 and I had to go full defensive on lap 20. In the end I pipped it over the line by 0.062 seconds.
One-and-done, that was pretty much all I could hope for. My best custom race had the pace for P4 or so, but that's very very different to the real thing!
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- 1,230
- Michigan
- KosmoKazi
Not expecting a great result tonight at Fuji in the 911 RSR... it's just not got the grunt for that long straight, I'm not great on Softs, and Fuji is one of my worst tracks. If I was the type to sit out races strategically, I probably would, but I'm not that type.
Best I could muster in FP was a 1:37.7 and that isn't going to get me a good starting position. Once I lose the draft after inevitably messing up that horrendous S3 one time, it's game over, unless I have some particular advantage in tire wear and/or fuel consumption. But probably not enough to offset my pace at this vexing track. Good luck to all the other GTP and TPC guys.
With my ill-fated no-stop ruining an otherwise good run at Barcelona, and the horrendous lagging issues preventing anything other than the disaster that occurred at Lago Maggiore, it's adding up to a rough start to the Manufacturer's Series season for me.
If I have time for a run on the Alt, will see how the McLaren does at the same track, but it'll still be the same driver... so...
Best I could muster in FP was a 1:37.7 and that isn't going to get me a good starting position. Once I lose the draft after inevitably messing up that horrendous S3 one time, it's game over, unless I have some particular advantage in tire wear and/or fuel consumption. But probably not enough to offset my pace at this vexing track. Good luck to all the other GTP and TPC guys.
With my ill-fated no-stop ruining an otherwise good run at Barcelona, and the horrendous lagging issues preventing anything other than the disaster that occurred at Lago Maggiore, it's adding up to a rough start to the Manufacturer's Series season for me.
If I have time for a run on the Alt, will see how the McLaren does at the same track, but it'll still be the same driver... so...
- 434
- London
Race pretty much went exactly how I predicted it to
In with @Tigerhawk87 and @GTMW_Colin and put it in 7th spot with no slip which I was fairly happy with. Had a decent start and was up into 5th by lap 3. 4 cars in front were on Softs and they pulled out a big gap. I had broken slipstream from behind too so had a little gap but then as expected, my tires started to wear and I got got caught by a couple of Medium runners behind me. I probably pitted a lap too late too as I was into the high 1:41s on my last Mediums lap, staying out longer than everyone else. At least I led the race for a lap
Came out the pits in 10th and quickly caught and passed an Evo. Caught up to the back of a Mazda but I eventually couldn’t compete against its superior tire saving and it pulled away final laps. I’ll take 9th though. Don’t think I could do much better than that.
- 2,027
- Bristol, UK
- OJBrit
🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
2nd Gr3 race I have had to quit in a row.
I did well and qualified 4th. However I broke a little too late into Coca Cola and went wide. I was then tapped midway through Toytoys 100R and pushed wide allowing the offending Spaniard alongside. He then decided to take Advan as if I wasn't there and of course we both spin. What an idiot!
I start to make some progress as others fall off. Then people pit and they are obviously that bit faster on good tyres. But that doesn't stop them being stupid. I am obviously slower around Dunlop due to my tyres. Again they take the corner as if I'm not there and clean drive through my back quarter putting me round again. This just takes enough off my tyres to make my car completely unstable through the rest of sector 3 meaning I bin it at the uphill right. When I do make it to the pits I press do not refuel because again I am angry and annoyed.
I just quit.I will have to go again as I will want some points. Why can't some people drive?
- 108
- Ireland
View attachment 1009051
Race pretty much went exactly how I predicted it to
View attachment 1009053
In with @Tigerhawk87 and @GTMW_Colin and put it in 7th spot with no slip which I was fairly happy with. Had a decent start and was up into 5th by lap 3. 4 cars in front were on Softs and they pulled out a big gap. I had broken slipstream from behind too so had a little gap but then as expected, my tires started to wear and I got got caught by a couple of Medium runners behind me. I probably pitted a lap too late too as I was into the high 1:41s on my last Mediums lap, staying out longer than everyone else. At least I led the race for a lap
View attachment 1009052
Fun race and good to be in with some familiar names, even if the only time I saw @xxPinkyKissxx was on the race introductions!
I qualified 12th and finished 10th. Had a few calamities at the abominable chicane which makes me think I could do a little better (although I definitely gained positions after a group of 4 or so cars had a bit of a booboo) so may go again. Had scored better in previous rounds so no harm done.
- 2,447
- United Kingdom
- Hasnain282
Managed to put a decent quali lap in to put me P6. Decided to start on mediums and try and use the slipstream to keep up. Unfortunately I drove pretty poorly and no one was taking any prisoners so was down in like 15th once it all settled down. After that I couldn't really find the rhythm to recover, not helped by a penalty on my in lap. On to the next one I guess.
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