2021 FIA Series Race Discussion

[RacingGrandpa]

Haha I had fastest driver for Ferrari at Monza when I was the only Ferrari there, but when I was at RBR and WAS the fastest Ferrari (out of two) - no mention of it!


Isn't that just more to do with slowing the car down more than you usually would as you go into a corner though? As in it's still pretty much one move but you just keep slowing down to a speed much slower than you need to, as opposed to being halfway around a corner, off the brakes and then slamming them back on where there's no need, because that's simply a brake check

Yes, over slowing at the apex is to prevent the other driver get a run on you on the straight after the corner. And what you described is indeed brake checking.
That being said if you are in a battle for position you might need to adjust your trajector in the curve, and you might need the brakes to do that.
Driving half a meter behind another driver going around s corner is risky at least. Expecting the other driver to have the exact same brake point and trajectory as you have, especially if in another car, is downright dangerous. If you know the other driver well it's possible. But it's better to be one and a half car length behind, not only does it make it easier to avoid accidents, it also makes it easier to capitalise on openings.

But, hey, you know all of this

 

[ShiftingGears]

Did I say Brands would be a disaster? I just realised next manufacturers is at Blue Moon Bay.

People need to be predictable or give me warning signs they'll do something dumb otherwise I'll run into them.

 

[afc5150]

@Geauxgreddy I was both sad and happy to see you go off on lap 2

Thanks for the shout out, it means a lot to me to be recognized as a clean driver who isn't going to try anything sketchy.

 

[Groundfish]

Good morning!
Yesterday evening I decided to enter up at Big Willow. It was nice to see some friendly faces and teammates out on the track. My race was a story of traffic. One. Dodge. Viper. Traffic. I started 13 in my gorgeous BMW M4.
I picked up some spots early, there was fun close racing. The main storyline for me though was first stint behind a Viper which I finally got past I think lap five where he succumbed to pressure and ran wide the final turn. Sadly it was not the last I would see of him. I pitted in off medium to hard lap 7-8? Anyhow he just got in front of me on pit exit. So now we are on the RH and I’m trying like heck to get by but I’m not going to touch the guy...Well he stacked up traffic I ended up running wide on the final turn around lap 11-12 and a pack was close behind. I believe @roamingbard13 overtook in the 86 in the group came around turn 1 and approaching the technical bits next the VIPER who was the holdup just inexplicably ran off.
Another car ran off. It was weird. Anyways at some point I switched back to the medium, came out in seventh and chased down a Cayman by the final turn to grab sixth and 164 pts. Fun race overall, I’ve never raced the guy in the Viper that was holding us up before, what do I expect qualifying 13th, shoulda practiced a bit.
Oh, qualifying was weird. I waited went out got one flier but then couldn’t decide next lap if I oughta pit for fresh tires ended up in turn 1 but didn’t notice a Viper on a flier behind. He raged on me pretty hard signaling slowing trying to hit me but ghosting then tagging me in chat. I apologized but it was quite an outburst over nothing. I should have been paying attention though...Anyways he also ran off in race, lacked pace, wasn’t the fastest lobby!
All in all good GTS times with friends and teammates, although I think one had some very bad luck a few times.
I’m not sure If I will participate at Brands or not, I think the cars nice to drive there so I might join in we will see. All in all I ran my race and made it through the desert...

Cheers

 

[Trone_Colby]

Well...

I did win at Big Willow last night in the Jaguar.

The thing is, I was racing all by myself.

At the end of qualifying, there was a black screen for 30 seconds (yes I counted afterwards).

When the the lobby came back up, 18 people dc’ed. Leaving me and another racer. I was at pole (1:18.1) and I reckon P2 didn’t qualify.

The event did start and at introduction, I see P2 is in the pits...another bad sign. The race starts and I guess P2 was stuck because he never left the pit area. I wonder if that’s where they started him because I did review back and he never left the pit during qualifying.

He left or dc’ed mid race. Basically I did an FIA hotlap, as my wife said to me last night. She saw it all go down.

I do have the whole video but it kept messing up at rendering. I’ll fix that later.

 

[roamingbard13]

Oh, qualifying was weird. I waited went out got one flier but then couldn’t decide next lap if I oughta pit for fresh tires ended up in turn 1 but didn’t notice a Viper on a flier behind. He raged on me pretty hard signaling slowing trying to hit me but ghosting then tagging me in chat. I apologized but it was quite an outburst over nothing. I should have been paying attention though...Anyways he also ran off in race, lacked pace, wasn’t the fastest lobby!
All in all good GTS times with friends and teammates, although I think one had some very bad luck a few times.

Both of these Vipers are the same dude. His internet connection was barely hanging on and he was lagging all over the place when I was near him. Combined with his tendency to send it, I'm not surprised he ended up off the track a bunch.

And yes, the 86 is quite good at carving up those first two sectors. I made a ton of passes there last night in both races. Getting a great exit coming out of that weird hairpin/whatever in Sector 2 was a requirement since whoever I passed was going to be hot on my ass around to T1, lol. Pushing to get a great exit cost me in a couple of cases, as you noted.

I picked Toyota primarily because of this race, and the increase in tire wear multipliers this season. I think the 86 will be great at Interlagos, too, with the x8 multiplier.

 

[GTWolverine]

I like the track a lot but the SLS was not the choice car. I was on the podium in the last slot top split when a well known driver intentionally took me out of the race while being a pitstop down.

When is this guy going to be banned from the game? I see him do this every single FIA night.

Spoiler

I wasn't even the only driver he took out that race. He got someone else earlier too. He knows how to game the system too, no penalty to him both times.

I often end up in the same race as him. He doesn't really game the system, he just wants to take people out more than he hates getting penalties (I've seen him get plenty). Word of advice, do NOT touch him; if you're not bump-drafting him, he'll see it as you trying to shove him off (even though you clearly weren't trying to), and he'll send you off at the first chance. Also, best way to pass him is to just stay close behind until he makes a mistake. Yes, you'll get held up, but this it's better than the alternative. If he starts near me, and it's a strategy race, I'll usually run the slower tire first just to stay out of his way as much as possible, or at least not waste my fastest tires fighting him.

 

[Groundfish]

I picked Toyota primarily because of this race, and the increase in tire wear multipliers this season. I think the 86 will be great at Interlagos, too, with the x8 multiplier

I’m looking forward to Interlagos also in the M4. I almost chose Ford with plans just to race there, but I think M4 will be almost as good. That will be a good one to do well, people are going to have lots of troubles with tires.
The yellow line is great there. If you know the line and brake early and gently there it flows very nicely. That will be a fun race .

ushing to get a great exit cost me in a couple of cases, as you noted

No no. I wasn’t talking about you, sir. The bad luck bit was another friendly in the race. He got stuck in traffic etc. You looked good out there.
And those were 2 different Viper. The holdup was dna some such. I was too polite with him.

Edit: funny to see guys complaining about that one mad guy, I’ve gotten into it with him too.
Total idiot. I’ve sent him to audition for Baywatch a couple times now and will do it every time. If this alt gets enough points in a week or so I will fix his sorry wagon.

 

[KosmoKazi]

Watching it back, I guess what I did was clipped the curb on the late apex attempt to get under the Atenza, on that last turn. He did well to drive it deep into the corner and keep me from getting under him, and I was lucky to save it for 7th.

Was pretty happy to get the Viper on the first part of the lap, after stalking him throughout the final stint on H's, waiting for an opportunity, and thought I surely had the Mazda in the final turn, but it wasn't to be. Still a solid result.

2020/21 Exhibition Series - Season 2 - Round 3
Manufacturers Series
Race #3 - Gr4 / Willow Springs International Raceway: Big Willow

The Cayman seemed to have the pace to make this round a good opportunity for points. I put in a decent amount of practice, though I had a hard time nudging my fastest lap down under the 1:16.6 that I put up eventually.

Was way too conservative on my qualifying lap, but with only five minutes, I knew I had to bank at least one reasonable one. But a pathetic 1:18.3 was only good enough for 13th starting position. The plan was to still stay clean, keep it on the tarmac, and hope for a solid top-10 with the points that come with it.

Fun to be matched with @CurbHog too, though it was a bummer to see him have trouble with serial offender that I was worried about myself, when I saw the lobby names.

Started on the M's, with the intent to stay on the track while the chaos ahead of me gifted me a few spots. Was able to get up to 4th place by my second pit stop, when I put on the H's for the last five laps. Came out in 7th, behind a Viper and an Atenza, the Mazda was impossibly slow and held me up on the first stint, so I was surprised to see it in 5th position in the closing laps. Credit to him for a solid one-stop strategy playing out well, I suppose.

I simply kept the pressure on the Viper until the last lap, as he seemed to be working with ragged tires, so he'd either make a mistake or I could wear him down until the last lap. I did finally get him in the first big sweeper on that last lap, setting me up perfectly for the 5th place by simply getting around that slow-as-molasses Atenza.

But after 17.5 laps of very careful driving, I got impatient, and he drove a great defensive line on the inside exit of the last turn, which played right against my very early brake and late apex attack, so in desperation I swerved to the outside, but dropped a wheel... the classic mistake at Big Willow. I saved it and kept it pointing forward to the finish line, but I lost that 6th place I had earned and then another to the traffic behind. A solid 7th finish, but I was sooo close to the top 5 spot, and disappointed that my plan and execution of it was so close to perfect. That's racing. Well done to the Atenza driver, he played it perfectly.

Still tipped my DR to a new all-time high, and the points I earned will probably come in to play before the final count, so satisfied with the result... but MAN! Hate it when you make a little mistake. And if I had qualified better, I would have easily been ahead of the guy, so you get what you earn in racing, as long as no one plays dirty, anyway. Such a fun challenge.

[Picture will be added later]

Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport '16
Qualified: 13th
Race Finish: 7th (133 pts) (best of the season so far)
Door #10 (+700 DR) (and a new all-time high DR!)

 

[rhcpeppers]

I wasn't sure how good the Genesis would be at Big Willow, but I enjoyed the race and it turned out well. I qualified 8th and finished 6th for 52pts, with a clean race bonus and using a 7M/7M/4H pit strategy. I was VERY patient on the first two laps (cold tires bit me at Monza so wanted to learn from that), and didn't challenge a few aggressive drivers that wanted to get by me early. I was in 10th or 11th for a while, but once I found my rhythm I was able to drive smooth and consistent laps the rest of the way, passing those early challengers later in the race. Tires held up really well (I used BB +3 for the race).

I spent a lot of time practicing for this one and have gotten much more comfortable at Big Willow now. The quirky hairpin at the top of the hill is where I made the most improvement in practice. That one was always really awkward for me, but I finally found a consistent way to get through there, and even noticed that it was a place where I gained some time on those ahead of me in the race.

Whenever I can get 50+ points that is a good result for me so the practice paid off.

 

[Geauxgreddy]

I like the track a lot but the SLS was not the choice car. I was on the podium in the last slot top split when a well known driver intentionally took me out of the race while being a pitstop down.

When is this guy going to be banned from the game? I see him do this every single FIA night.

Spoiler

Great job in the Merc. Wish I had your pace. Shame about that guy. Of all the people you had to meet up with in that situation...

 

[KiepeYai]

Good morning!
Yesterday evening I decided to enter up at Big Willow. It was nice to see some friendly faces and teammates out on the track. My race was a story of traffic. One. Dodge. Viper. Traffic. I started 13 in my gorgeous BMW M4.
I picked up some spots early, there was fun close racing. The main storyline for me though was first stint behind a Viper which I finally got past I think lap five where he succumbed to pressure and ran wide the final turn. Sadly it was not the last I would see of him. I pitted in off medium to hard lap 7-8? Anyhow he just got in front of me on pit exit. So now we are on the RH and I’m trying like heck to get by but I’m not going to touch the guy...Well he stacked up traffic I ended up running wide on the final turn around lap 11-12 and a pack was close behind. I believe @roamingbard13 overtook in the 86 in the group came around turn 1 and approaching the technical bits next the VIPER who was the holdup just inexplicably ran off.
Another car ran off. It was weird. Anyways at some point I switched back to the medium, came out in seventh and chased down a Cayman by the final turn to grab sixth and 164 pts. Fun race overall, I’ve never raced the guy in the Viper that was holding us up before, what do I expect qualifying 13th, shoulda practiced a bit.
Oh, qualifying was weird. I waited went out got one flier but then couldn’t decide next lap if I oughta pit for fresh tires ended up in turn 1 but didn’t notice a Viper on a flier behind. He raged on me pretty hard signaling slowing trying to hit me but ghosting then tagging me in chat. I apologized but it was quite an outburst over nothing. I should have been paying attention though...Anyways he also ran off in race, lacked pace, wasn’t the fastest lobby!
All in all good GTS times with friends and teammates, although I think one had some very bad luck a few times.
I’m not sure If I will participate at Brands or not, I think the cars nice to drive there so I might join in we will see. All in all I ran my race and made it through the desert...

Cheers

I think i was behind you all race long stuck in that viper train with @roamingbard13 behind me, it was fun and close , nobody did anything stupid ,

 

[MCL1974]

I like the track a lot but the SLS was not the choice car. I was on the podium in the last slot top split when a well known driver intentionally took me out of the race while being a pitstop down.

When is this guy going to be banned from the game? I see him do this every single FIA night.

Spoiler

what a complete and utter *****

 

[MCL1974]

I am putting it out there . . . I chickened out for Round 3. I ran several practice races online/offline and felt good but ran a few yesterday (since I enjoyed a nice day off) and wrecked every single time on the last turn - something was off yesterday. Upon review of every race I also noticed it would take me 14-18 seconds to get back on track and up to racing speed usually in P20 and several seconds from the pack.

I usually say race Big Willow because everyone can go off and suffer the same fate but yesterday was an off day for me and I just wasn't feeling this race. Anyone else ever have these thoughts?
.

quite often, and odd enough had some of my best races when deciding to go and race anyway......

 

[MCL1974]

Not my finest hour............


The most difficult part of the race was spotting braking points after all the boards were wiped out by Narnia tourists, there's not much around the circuit to measure them by apart from the occasional tuft of green!

for this particular race i put the brake and corner indicators back on, that is a big help in case the boards are wiped out......

 

[T_702_Balone]

when/ why did AT become so popular? fourth slot from last night, I was the only one using MT

 

[Pigems]

when/ why did AT become so popular? fourth slot from last night, I was the only one using MT

It’s just a replay glitch, it shows everyone in AT.

 

[CurbHog]

Race 3 - Big Willow - 13 minute race edit. (Cameo by @Master Weasel )

 

[Metalgear9493]

Top split Oceania win. Was a really scrappy race, but a fun one though!

 

[Kermit_2142]

I had a really fun race and am now over my fear of the never ending sand. What a great little circuit to race around in Gr4. 👍

 

[HaydenFan69]

I had a really fun race and am now over my fear of the never ending sand. What a great little circuit to race around in Gr4. 👍

I still think the track is too fast for that category. But I had a lot of fun. I was driving super nervous the entire time, but that was mainly due to never getting comfortable with the car.

 

[Hasnain282]

Almost went off at the last corner on my first lap and messed up the timing to get a 2nd lap in on fresh tyres so ended up starting pretty far down the field. Went for a 2 stop in the race and apart from losinga few seconds going wide at Omega, I don't think I could've done too much better given the pace I had. In the end nothing special, hopefully better next time.

 

[HaydenFan69]

Broke 43 seconds at BMB. I know once I get more consistent and comfortable with T1 (think I drove 15-20 laps, I know I can shave at least 2 tenths.

Do notice running a ghost NSX, I am down on speed at the end of the front straight. Probably 5 mph before braking. Not too significant, but enough to make me worry if I get stuck out of the draft in the race.

 

[crusselz]

Broke 43 seconds at BMB. I know once I get more consistent and comfortable with T1 (think I drove 15-20 laps, I know I can shave at least 2 tenths.

Do notice running a ghost NSX, I am down on speed at the end of the front straight. Probably 5 mph before braking. Not too significant, but enough to make me worry if I get stuck out of the draft in the race.

What manufacturer are you signed on with?

Ran a 42.7 in the Atenza, but I reckon slipstream is all that will matter in the next round. So no matter what car you're in, once you lose the tow, you're done for.

 

[HaydenFan69]

What manufacturer are you signed on with?

Ran a 42.7 in the Atenza, but I reckon slipstream is all that will matter in the next round. So no matter what car you're in, once you lose the tow, you're done for.

McLaren.

I've set the 43s. lap as a baseline due to nobody on my friends list besting it. Many driving the cars in the top 10.

 

[Ashthebash]

Sooo, a little late but a manufacturers review.

Think I did Monza and didn't mention it... have wiped it from my memory

Big Willow

Up until last Friday night, I had never raced against real people at Big Willow in any way, shape or form and the most I'd been on it was the Hamilton Challenge. I had initially written it off as one not to bother with, worried the long fast corners would be detrimental to the Ferrari (like at Alsace) but fortunately it was only T2 it really suffered so I got practicing and in I went.

For once - I ran more than once! Starting in the 8pm (4th) slot

Reason being the first race! Qualifying was mayhem in the first run with a car park forming in the final corner, managed a clean second run for 9th. I started the race on hards intending a one stopper, and it was going well until T1 on L8. Now I know Big Willow has a terrible pit exit, I don't know what the etiquette is there, if any, but I'd assume that you don't come straight onto the racing line if anything is coming as you have so much speed differential until after T1 apex. So I exit the final corner behind an NSX, gaining on him in the tow, another NSX emerges from the pits, lets the NSX ahead of me through and moves wider into the 0.5s gap between us, which quickly becomes zero as he unghosts, I abandon stage right, and very luckily got reset with a cost of just 15s! Ended up 14th. Annoyingly though I was on for a strong result, running 8th with a medium stint to come and plenty ahead still needing to use hards until that pit incident.

So I went again

Entered the final slot alongside @Lost Sheltie and it was a much more serene affair. Four FF cars took the four top positions on the grid and effectively cleared off along with a Merc driven by a guy who really should be knocking on the door of top split, I clocked the same time as in my first race but it was enough for 6th this time and ran a one stop again, starting mediums. Unfortunately from my perspective, it was just one of those scrappy races where you make a lot of little mistakes, costing a couple of tenths here and there. I'd hurt my tyres too much to do the planned 9/9 so pitted L8 and got overtaken around L13 by Sheltie in the Toyota who certainly ran a very strong final stint. Other than that, not much happened, came home 7th for 211pts.

On to Blue Moon Bay for complete carnage, looking forward to taking the Gr.4 around Interlagos after that though, think it might be a little too twisty in the middle for the FF cars to dominate so much

 

[fako]

Guys! Did someone try honda + Brands Hatch?

in my test we don't need pits (no tire wear consume and no refuel).
It's so boring...

 

[Mistah_MCA]

Guys! Did someone try honda + Brands Hatch?

in my test we don't need pits (no tire wear consume and no refuel).
It's so boring...

Yup, easy no stop race, but you want to qualify as high up as possible. The narrow track + few overtaking spots will likely produce a ton of fighting for position.

 

[LVS_1986]

Guys! Did someone try honda + Brands Hatch?

in my test we don't need pits (no tire wear consume and no refuel).
It's so boring...

I did it too, I noticed that you should take weird line to go fast...

 

[crusselz]

I did it too, I noticed that you should take weird line to go fast...

One thing I have learned about myself, is I'm terrible with road cars on this game. Brands Hatch and that integra... not one I would do well with.