2021 FIA Series Race Discussion

[KosmoKazi]

Got punted from 3rd in the Four Brothers on the last lap, by an impatient dude who saw fit to plow over me there. 8th. So discouraging. In a 38k lobby. Would have been my best FIA points in the manufacturers series but at least I got positive Dr and maybe useful FIA points still. But dammit what’s wrong with people.

 

[Geauxgreddy]

2021 FIA Manu Rcae 5 - Gardens 2
Slot 1, DR A+/A SRS
Door 13

Honestly, I didnt think I had a chance to crack the top 10 in this one. Practice was ok, my fuel saving was abysmal, my tire saving is pretty bad, I still struggle follwing in the slip with load cell pedals, and I caught traffic on the way home from work so barely had time to drop in a few practice laps.

So when tye lobby opened up and I had Unlucky Door 13, I figured that was par for the course!

Ends up, the clouds do have a silver lining. Qualified top 10, saved just enough fuel, and was just kind enough to my tires to get the fastest lap and a top 5! Not to mention, I had a pretty clean race. So that is always welcome.

 

[Barra333]

Got myself online last night for my first FIA race in a little while. Not exactly brimming with confidence though - I turned my first ever lap of this layout at 21:20 for a 21:40 race slot.
Ended up 5th on the list in a B/C lobby, but door 1 thanks to the 9800 DR I was rocking. My first quali lap was as clean as I could hope for, though I did get held up in the chicane. Aborted lap 2 as I was on the bumper of someone across the start finish line.
Started 4th on hards and tiptoed through the first sector and survived to the hairpin, only to be punted into the worst type of spin - a 180, leaving me looking at the field. Thanks to the ghosting, I could get it turned around relatively quickly and hit the start/finish line in 13th at the end of lap 1. After a few wildly inconsistent laps in part to my inexperience at the track and others' impatience, I could only make up to 11th before the pit stops started. Went in on lap 10 with only a dribble of fuel left and topped up to about 90L (my BMW is quite thirsty). A few more inconsistent scattered with silly mistakes meant my progress was not as good as it could have been, but finished 7th in the end, only 5sec off 3rd. RIP to the guy in the Jag who ran out of fuel somewhere between the hairpin and chicane on the last lap too.
Considered going again in the 23:00 slot to utilise my experience gained, but didn't fancy a midnight bedtime.
Checked after the race and found that my FIA account is now sporting a DR B rating after just 18 races. This account will never reach the 38k DR that my main has, but I think mid-high B is about where my true Gr3/Gr4 pace is.

 

[MidnightRun85]

After all my practice and research to improve my lap times with the hope of having a good race here, I couldn't even find the time (or the energy) to make an appearance! Ah well, hopefully with the races moving to Saturdays I'll be able to get more chances to score some points!

 

[Lewmatic]

Qualified 5th and started on the hards. Glad I didnt have to deal with the mid pack craziness looking back at the replay. Pitted for mediums on lap 10 and fuel saving was going real well. Kept a good smooth pace in the top 4 and didnt push the revs hard until the last couple of laps. Ended the race finishing in 2nd, really happy with my results.

 

[MIE1992]

When it shows my ranking within North America, is it really referring to North America, or does it just say that while it’s actually referring to both North and South America? Y’know, since they re-merged the regions. I ask because I feel like in 2020, my ranking in “North America” was higher than for Season 1 of this year, and I think that’s because “North America” referred to the USA and Canada, whereas in 2021, my region also includes Central and South America.

EDIT: Also, during last night’s round, I was really hoping to go 12H/6M, but I had to pit for fuel and ended up doing 9H/9M. I’m also currently ranked 73rd among over 100 Hyundai drivers, which I think is great considering I’ve only done one race so far. As I do the remaining rounds - barring the Gr.3 race at Tsukuba - I’m positive I’ll rise through the ranks once again.

EDIT2: I also likely was almost 1:20 behind the leader because I did spin out at one point on the first turn of a lap; I somehow braked too late. Still, 15th out of 20 doesn’t seem bad considering I hadn’t touched my PS4 in a little over a month.

 

[mobilmasher]

When it shows my ranking within North America, is it really referring to North America, or does it just say that while it’s actually referring to both North and South America? Y’know, since they re-merged the regions. I ask because I feel like in 2020, my ranking in “North America” was higher than for Season 1 of this year, and I think that’s because “North America” referred to the USA and Canada, whereas in 2021, my region also includes Central and South America.

EDIT: Also, during last night’s round, I was really hoping to go 12H/6M, but I had to pit for fuel and ended up doing 9H/9M. I’m also currently ranked 73rd among over 100 Hyundai drivers, which I think is great considering I’ve only done one race so far. As I do the remaining rounds - barring the Gr.3 race at Tsukuba - I’m positive I’ll rise through the ranks once again.

EDIT2: I also likely was almost 1:20 behind the leader because I did spin out at one point on the first turn of a lap; I somehow braked too late. Still, 15th out of 20 doesn’t seem bad considering I hadn’t touched my PS4 in a little over a month.

For Manufactures it includes both North and South Americas, for nations it is only North America (USA and Canada)

 

[KosmoKazi]

So thanks to a debacle of a Daily Race A this week, where I was ram-rodded and pinballed into SR A (-31 points!) through no fault of my own, I decided to race in the FIA race at DTG on my alt, to restore it to A/S (99). Much easier to do so than run a ton of Dailies and risk a reset from more of the same.

Enter: FIA SR Rehabilitation Series GP at DTG

Jumped into the McLaren, which I haven't really liked racing, but found it actually really nice at this track, in the ten minutes of FP I got in before a late NA slot after I ran my real race on the the main account (and also after a power outage that kept me from racing in the first slot). Not far off of the Porsche at all, which was encouraging. Didn't know if the fuel would be an issue, though.

Was matched in a lobby of all C/D DR / A SR drivers... this was going to be interesting! Took pole by 2 seconds with one relatively conservative but solid lap. Kept the mediums on, thinking strategy was not an issue here... and pulled away from the start to build a lead through the first double-apex.

After a brief scare when my TV turned itself off (hit option/auto-drive, turned it on, and was still in the lead, albeit with no gap to second now), was able to build a 18 second lead when I pit halfway for tires and fuel (though much more of a lead, when that guy pitted first, as the next car back was 40-some seconds behind me). Managed fuel a little, just for the heck of it, but mostly needed to refill it all the way, and then headed back out to a 19 second lead after my stop.

Interesting that many of the lapped drivers were courteous and signaled or moved aside as I came past... even though they are ghosted. Mostly respectful as I made my way through.

Crossed the finish line after lapping 8th place, 37 seconds ahead of 2nd! The fun part:

Earned 22 DR (for a win!)
Earned 26 FIA points
Got 31 SR points, landing right back on 99

So, ended the night at a new all-time high DR of nearly 45k, and back at max SR, ready for more racing without worries.

Baby seal clubbing.

 

[FractalSalt]

If you are at all ambivalent about participating in the FIA events, I urge you to participate anyway. Just consider driving for an unpopular Manufacturer.

(I'm placing the bulk of this post in a spoiler format, due to relative length)

Spoiler

I am, as of this writing, the number one ranked driver for Ford in the state of Nevada. In Gran Turismo Sport. In the FIA Manufacturer Series.

And for the second week, I have defended that title.

But not merely that.

I have gone from the 186th ranked driver for Team Ford to being the 121st ranked driver. Not in the United States. Not in the Americas. Worldwide.

Last week, I won the title with 21 points.

This week, I ran my point total up to 59 points.

Now, some will say that I am one of three drivers in the entire state of Nevada driving for Ford in the Manufacturer Series. And they would further say that the other two drivers clearly stopped driving after the first two weeks.

What a very hurtful, unproductive, and accurate thing to say.

It is true that there are three people in Nevada signed up to drive for Ford this season. And it is true that I appear to be the only active driver for Ford over the last two weeks.

But that’s not all.

(I am also one of 27 drivers in the State of Nevada who are participating in the Nations Cup. Seriously, it’s 27.)

Turns out, there are just over 275 Ford drivers in this Manufacturer Cup season. Worldwide. Dozens of these drivers haven’t won a single point.

I picked Ford on a whim. Mustangs are fun. I decided that I would learn a car, and I’d start with the Mustang. I had no idea that my choice of Manufacturer would cause me to fall ass-backwards into becoming the number one ranked Manufacturer Series Ford driver in the state of Nevada.

I am also the number one ranked Ford driver in Clark County, Nevada. Where you will find the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area. And I am also the number one ranked driver from the “Generation 50” age group in Clark County. Try not to seethe with jealousy. It’s unhealthy.

Clearly, I could have chosen a Manufacturer with a faster car. But the entertainment value that goes with being in such a small group of drivers far exceeds any fleeting tactical advantage that I might have sacrificed.

I’m not sure how I will proceed going forward, but I am inclined to select yet another unpopular Manufacturer to continue to exploit this “small pond” effect.

If I had opted to drive for Toyota, my point totals might be a bit higher but there is no reason to believe my point totals would be substantially higher. I’d just be one of many drivers of Toyotas with a “Gentleman’s C” driver rating.

My regional ranking in the Manufacturers Series is 2,942. If I were driving for Toyota, my ranking wouldn’t be much higher, since my driving skill is clearly the more limiting factor to my ranking than my choice of car.

If you are a seasoned GT Sport driver capable of sustaining a Driver Rating of A, then this is not meant for you. In the case of A rated drivers in GT Sport, the choice of car actually becomes a bottle-neck.

For me? Not so much.

My goal for this season is to see how many points I can rack up driving for Ford while participating in the Bull Durham portion of the GT Sport ecosystem. Maybe I will crack the top 100 ranking of Ford drivers. Maybe I will crack the top 10. All of these goals represent tangible improvements in my driving skill. None of these goals would be realistic if I were driving for Toyota.

This “medium fish in a small pond” approach will not appeal to everyone, clearly. It is my hope that more people participate in these online events. I believe it makes for a healthier ecosystem of drivers.

I challenge you to become the highest ranking local driver in the Manufacturer Series, regardless of your actual driving skill. Just pick the right “wrong” car for you.

 

[Odiesback]

2021 Manufacturers Series - DT Gardens II

19:00 Slot

Door: #5
Qualified: P3
Finished: P3

Strategy: 9M/9H - FM1 most of time

Decided on Mediums to start since I was up front and would make things easier to keep up.

Trying to be precise and no mistakes. Clean overtake after few corners on first lap. Kept P2 until pitting for Hards and lots of fuel (12% left). Came back in 5th and hot myself back in second. Lost position to a Porsche on Mediums and was able to keep safe distance from car behind to the end.

After the race I congratulate the guy behind me and he replied with it would have been nicer if I hadn’t pushed him against the wall… I was like what?? - then in the replay I saw what he was talking about: he came out of the pit and as I was approaching T1 with two cars right behind, I did not see him going for the turn at a much lower speed… so I bumped into him… and then he hit the rails… not sure who’s right but it was a long straight and I was watching for traffic when I came out to rejoin… well, it’s fine now and wish it hadn’t happened since it was otherwise a super clean race. 1200+ DR and 165 points.

 

[mobilmasher]

If you are at all ambivalent about participating in the FIA events, I urge you to participate anyway. Just consider driving for an unpopular Manufacturer.

(I'm placing the bulk of this post in a spoiler format, due to relative length)

Spoiler

I am, as of this writing, the number one ranked driver for Ford in the state of Nevada. In Gran Turismo Sport. In the FIA Manufacturer Series.

And for the second week, I have defended that title.

But not merely that.

I have gone from the 186th ranked driver for Team Ford to being the 121st ranked driver. Not in the United States. Not in the Americas. Worldwide.

Last week, I won the title with 21 points.

This week, I ran my point total up to 59 points.

Now, some will say that I am one of three drivers in the entire state of Nevada driving for Ford in the Manufacturer Series. And they would further say that the other two drivers clearly stopped driving after the first two weeks.

What a very hurtful, unproductive, and accurate thing to say.

It is true that there are three people in Nevada signed up to drive for Ford this season. And it is true that I appear to be the only active driver for Ford over the last two weeks.

But that’s not all.

(I am also one of 27 drivers in the State of Nevada who are participating in the Nations Cup. Seriously, it’s 27.)

Turns out, there are just over 275 Ford drivers in this Manufacturer Cup season. Worldwide. Dozens of these drivers haven’t won a single point.

I picked Ford on a whim. Mustangs are fun. I decided that I would learn a car, and I’d start with the Mustang. I had no idea that my choice of Manufacturer would cause me to fall ass-backwards into becoming the number one ranked Manufacturer Series Ford driver in the state of Nevada.

I am also the number one ranked Ford driver in Clark County, Nevada. Where you will find the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area. And I am also the number one ranked driver from the “Generation 50” age group in Clark County. Try not to seethe with jealousy. It’s unhealthy.

Clearly, I could have chosen a Manufacturer with a faster car. But the entertainment value that goes with being in such a small group of drivers far exceeds any fleeting tactical advantage that I might have sacrificed.

I’m not sure how I will proceed going forward, but I am inclined to select yet another unpopular Manufacturer to continue to exploit this “small pond” effect.

If I had opted to drive for Toyota, my point totals might be a bit higher but there is no reason to believe my point totals would be substantially higher. I’d just be one of many drivers of Toyotas with a “Gentleman’s C” driver rating.

My regional ranking in the Manufacturers Series is 2,942. If I were driving for Toyota, my ranking wouldn’t be much higher, since my driving skill is clearly the more limiting factor to my ranking than my choice of car.

If you are a seasoned GT Sport driver capable of sustaining a Driver Rating of A, then this is not meant for you. In the case of A rated drivers in GT Sport, the choice of car actually becomes a bottle-neck.

For me? Not so much.

My goal for this season is to see how many points I can rack up driving for Ford while participating in the Bull Durham portion of the GT Sport ecosystem. Maybe I will crack the top 100 ranking of Ford drivers. Maybe I will crack the top 10. All of these goals represent tangible improvements in my driving skill. None of these goals would be realistic if I were driving for Toyota.

This “medium fish in a small pond” approach will not appeal to everyone, clearly. It is my hope that more people participate in these online events. I believe it makes for a healthier ecosystem of drivers.

I challenge you to become the highest ranking local driver in the Manufacturer Series, regardless of your actual driving skill. Just pick the right “wrong” car for you.

I've been a loyal Ford driver throughout the entire FIA series, right from the beginning. At present I am 2nd in Florida out of 20. 19th for Ford regionally. Having a goal to get into the top 10 for Ford is rather lofty, even for me. I admire your determination to achieve your goal. We need more competitors with your determination to get Ford back to the World Finals. Best of luck and have fun.

 

[Seth_Logan]

If you are at all ambivalent about participating in the FIA events, I urge you to participate anyway. Just consider driving for an unpopular Manufacturer.

(I'm placing the bulk of this post in a spoiler format, due to relative length)

Spoiler

I am, as of this writing, the number one ranked driver for Ford in the state of Nevada. In Gran Turismo Sport. In the FIA Manufacturer Series.

And for the second week, I have defended that title.

But not merely that.

I have gone from the 186th ranked driver for Team Ford to being the 121st ranked driver. Not in the United States. Not in the Americas. Worldwide.

Last week, I won the title with 21 points.

This week, I ran my point total up to 59 points.

Now, some will say that I am one of three drivers in the entire state of Nevada driving for Ford in the Manufacturer Series. And they would further say that the other two drivers clearly stopped driving after the first two weeks.

What a very hurtful, unproductive, and accurate thing to say.

It is true that there are three people in Nevada signed up to drive for Ford this season. And it is true that I appear to be the only active driver for Ford over the last two weeks.

But that’s not all.

(I am also one of 27 drivers in the State of Nevada who are participating in the Nations Cup. Seriously, it’s 27.)

Turns out, there are just over 275 Ford drivers in this Manufacturer Cup season. Worldwide. Dozens of these drivers haven’t won a single point.

I picked Ford on a whim. Mustangs are fun. I decided that I would learn a car, and I’d start with the Mustang. I had no idea that my choice of Manufacturer would cause me to fall ass-backwards into becoming the number one ranked Manufacturer Series Ford driver in the state of Nevada.

I am also the number one ranked Ford driver in Clark County, Nevada. Where you will find the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area. And I am also the number one ranked driver from the “Generation 50” age group in Clark County. Try not to seethe with jealousy. It’s unhealthy.

Clearly, I could have chosen a Manufacturer with a faster car. But the entertainment value that goes with being in such a small group of drivers far exceeds any fleeting tactical advantage that I might have sacrificed.

I’m not sure how I will proceed going forward, but I am inclined to select yet another unpopular Manufacturer to continue to exploit this “small pond” effect.

If I had opted to drive for Toyota, my point totals might be a bit higher but there is no reason to believe my point totals would be substantially higher. I’d just be one of many drivers of Toyotas with a “Gentleman’s C” driver rating.

My regional ranking in the Manufacturers Series is 2,942. If I were driving for Toyota, my ranking wouldn’t be much higher, since my driving skill is clearly the more limiting factor to my ranking than my choice of car.

If you are a seasoned GT Sport driver capable of sustaining a Driver Rating of A, then this is not meant for you. In the case of A rated drivers in GT Sport, the choice of car actually becomes a bottle-neck.

For me? Not so much.

My goal for this season is to see how many points I can rack up driving for Ford while participating in the Bull Durham portion of the GT Sport ecosystem. Maybe I will crack the top 100 ranking of Ford drivers. Maybe I will crack the top 10. All of these goals represent tangible improvements in my driving skill. None of these goals would be realistic if I were driving for Toyota.

This “medium fish in a small pond” approach will not appeal to everyone, clearly. It is my hope that more people participate in these online events. I believe it makes for a healthier ecosystem of drivers.

I challenge you to become the highest ranking local driver in the Manufacturer Series, regardless of your actual driving skill. Just pick the right “wrong” car for you.

I love your spirit and at the same time it makes me sad that out of millions of copies of the game sold only what 10-13k (incl. alt accounts) actually play in FIA. On the positive side I do have a feeling people that still play take better care of each other (at least in FIA) than before. The penalty system is easy on us all. Frankly the damage a person could do in a given race is much greater, than what I'm currently witnessing.

Maybe I'll join you in the Ford next season. Up for grabs are also: McLaren, Ferrari and Hyundai to name less popular choices.

 

[05XR8]

Should move to Australia. Even less players. My ranking in State and Manufacturer notwithstanding, I've always been 1st in my area(Newcastle- just lonely me)) and age group(40s, now 50s).

 

[Norrin Radd]

Should move to Australia. Even less players. My ranking in State and Manufacturer notwithstanding, I've always been 1st in my area(Newcastle- just lonely me)) and age group(40s, now 50s).

It's horrible when you get someone else in your area though, well it was for me he's too good I can't beat him. I'm still top in my age bracket though.

 

[Redneckchef]

It's horrible when you get someone else in your area though, well it was for me he's too good I can't beat him. I'm still top in my age bracket though.

I spent well over a year almost completely unchallenged in my area. Then the hot young driver in the region decided to race GTS regularly and he's been whipping my butt handily since. New goals and challenges, but no 2 ways about it, they are flat out faster than me on most any track in any car and on any day.

 

[Mohamed30_]

Been a remarkably brilliant campaign for the Gr.4 Scooby so far, but today wasn't to be its day, unfortunately. Mixing in one of my weakest circuits with heavy tyre wear multipliers lead to a difficult pair of races, though there was some promise in that I managed to set a 1:37.181 on trial runs using brake balance -3 (just over 1.1 seconds off @TRL LIGHTNING's best in the same test lobby).

17:00 Manufacturers
@Ashthebash reckoned that many would be skipping this round, though I found myself on a full grid along with my teammate and a lot of other players I had met before. Thought to use the same BB setting that bagged me that 1:37.1, but in practice was only able to secure a 1:37.760 and 13th place. Teammate fared much better with a 1:37.235 and 5th, which begs the question... do I have a qualifying curse? Whenever I set a promising lap in testing, I always seem to find a way to not match that in the real thing and be worse off for it. I didn't realise that I was this close to starting near the front until I checked the times on the grid formation, which only added to my disappointment.

Anyway, we start on Hards, as we did multiple times in testing, and the first handful of laps turn out to be rather okay. Followed the #20 Mercedes around, saved fuel and drove as carefully as I could on BB -5 to make sure that the tyres would last the whole stint. Surprisingly, I found the WRX to drive much better on Hards and managed to close in on the group of cars fighting for 8th. The #7 Ferrari was having connection issues which he later explained was affecting his concentration, and I briefly got in front of him as he served a track limits penalty. The key word being briefly....

On Lap 7, the second of the two Vipers in front (#4) launches over the sausage kerb and into the barrier entering the final esses. The #15 Ferrari gets held up and I dive up the inside, over the exit kerbs, in avoidance. Lost a good chunk of momentum as a result which, coupled with a bout of understeer, saw opportunities for the McLaren, #7 and #20 to pounce. Took this as another chance to save fuel, and on Lap 9 made a bold move around the outside of the #7 work as he understeered at Turn 7. Refuelled to 80% and took on Mediums, though the #7 had better pace and was able to get back past on Lap 11.

We both catch up to the #19 Aston Martin, who is struggling on Hards after initially starting 4th. Escaped another massive accident at the esses after the #19 jumps up the sausage kerb and spins, but twice understeered off the road on Lap 14, the first instance at Turn 9 picking me up a penalty. As my tyre wear increased, so did my annoyance, but I kept on it to follow the #3 Mercedes as we both reeled in the #20. Second-to-last lap, I send the Scooby up the inside of Turn 1 and reclaim 13th. Missed out on another spot when the #3 picked up a Turn 9 penalty, only to serve it with a two-tenth gap to spare.

View attachment 1073829

And so ended a challenging and middling run; the first time this year I've had actual problems getting the Gr.4 car competitive in Manufacturers. But we're not done yet...

19:40 Manufacturers
Had the motivation to try the 19:40 slot to see how much different a proper qualifying lap could make. For this, I was delighted to meet Ashthebash once again and had the good fortune to have two other WRXs providing backup in a lobby where only 18 of the 20 allocated players made it to the track. Felt like I was struggling more with finding the right brake balance in qualifying this time, which made my lap feel a lot scrappier than in the first attempt. Still, despite changing from 2 to -2 part-way round, the lap was a more promising 1:37.250, seven tenths down on the pole-sitting Lancer Evo and good enough for... 7th. Okay, I'll take that!

All I had to do now was to switch to Hards and follow the Union Jack-touting Ferrari (this time #14) until we were in a position to make some gains in the second stint...

Then on Lap 1, I repeated the same mistake I made in the 17:00, where I messed my braking up and understeered through Turns 3-5. The #14 is long gone and the #18 WRX is hot on my tail. Good enough reason to let him sail through down the straight to let him have a chance of taking Subaru some decent points home. It was with that in mind that I started defending hard from the train of cars lead by the #16 Toyota, where the Scooby's strong traction out of corners again came in handy.

My dam started to crack on Lap 4 when the green #13 BMW gets a strong run from Turn 2, forcing me to back out and give him 8th place. It cracked further on Lap 6 when the #10 Aston muscled me onto the orange turf through Turns 5-6, taking the #7 Hoonigan Subaru with him. Now I was at risk of dropping out of the Top 10 entirely with the #17 Cayman following behind, and with the added distraction of severe lag attacks affecting the Portuguese #1 Mercedes sitting in 5th. Held on until the pitstops; despite the pressure, fuel-saving was still optimal enough to make up gains on the Aston.

At the final corner on Lap 10, the Aston crashes out of 10th place, which I spent the rest of the race trying to protect from the #9 Megane Trophy who pitted later for fresher Mediums. Covered every apex as much as I could, growing more frustrated with the tyre wear and the brief moments where the Megane seemed to get caught out by my earlier braking. Sensed the Megane was having a good run down the start/finish straight on Lap 16, which was when I decided it wasn't worth fighting any more. Nursed the Scooby home in 11th ahead of the Toyota, which itself had to serve a penalty just before the fateful pass was made.

View attachment 1073828

An exhausting combo and one I'm happy to see the back of for a while. Qualifying came together at last for the 19:40, but it wasn't enough to get around the harsher tyre wear that made the Gr.4 WRX really struggle during both races. Some of the manoeuvres I experienced from others were quiet forceful, and the connection issues affecting a number of drivers did give me some cause for concern in places. A maximum of 240 points was up for grabs had I maintained 7th to the flag, but alas, it wasn't to be.

Some consolation for the Subaru camp is that two of my teammates finished 2nd and 9th respectively, which at least proves that the Gr.4 car can get good scores in this combo with the right drivers. Don't think it can keep up at Monza or Fuji, though, so I'm sad to say that this might be my last showing with the pink Scooby for now. Hopefully in two weeks time, the stars will align again and I can have a couple more good blasts in the Gr.3 machine....

Just to let you know i served a 0.5 penalty on my lap :/ i shouldve easily done a mid or high 36 because i was doing those in practise but yh quali nerves got the better of me haha

i shouldve got a easy p3 or better but we lost slip because the aston decided to pointlessly battle every lap :/ and i got robbed of my p3

 

[FractalSalt]

2021 Manufacturers Series - Season 2 - Round 5

(This will be presented in spoiler format, due to length.)

Spoiler: Event One

Event One

I start in Position 11.

This event is worth 7 points. If you make the podium, you get 7 points. If you come in last, you get one point. This event is populated entirely D-List drivers.

I’m just fine with the low stakes.

After an unremarkable first lap, I go into the first turn of lap 2 in 13th position, and emerge from the turn punted into 19th position.
I spend the first ten laps latching onto slipstreams and exploiting the mistakes of other drivers. Nobody likes being overtaken in general, of course. They hate being passed by a Mustang.

My strategy is very basic. Just drive clean, spirited laps until I pit at the end of lap 10. Worry about my position after that. I am short-shifting for fuel economy. The Gr4 Mustang responds well to short-shifting, in my experience. I’m on hard tyres, so I’m not worried about super-fast laps. I’m just trying to stay on my line and shoplift slipstreams.

Lap 10. I go into the pit in 4th position. I emerge from the pit in 10th position. Medium tyres notwithstanding, the tyres are cold and I’m mindful of that.

It’s a slipstream desert for me until well into lap 13, and my lap times reflect this. Slipstreams remain elusive. It is lap 15 before I can get hold of another slipstream.

Lap 16. I find myself in 5th position, largely due to inexplicable pitting decisions by my fellow D-List drivers.

Lap 18. I’m still in 5th position. I’m latched onto a Corvette’s slipstream. Provided I don’t make a large mistake, I’m looking like I’ll be finishing 5th, and taking home 3 or 4 points. (Swimmin’ pools. Movie stars.)

The final turn. I’m not expecting any drama at all. The only way I am going to overtake the Corvette is if the driver makes an unforced error. Which they do.

Third position seems intent on pitting, and fourth position makes the aforementioned unforced error. I cross the finish line in third.

And I am then promoted to second position because someone ahead of me incurred a one-minute tyre penalty.

In a matter of seconds, I go from 5th to 2nd place.

7 points for me. There is much rejoicing.

Spoiler: Event Two

Event Two.

I start in Position 4.

The drivers are a mix of C and D rated drivers.

I don’t remember the exact point awards.

After the first turn, I am able to latch onto the slipstream of Position 2, because apparently it wasn’t good enough for Position 3. I overtake Position 3 like they were a bot.

Position 1 picks up a penalty going into the hairpin.

After the Chicane of Woe provokes a series of unforced errors from my fellow drivers, I come out of the final turn in first position.

I’m on hard tyres in a Gr4 Mustang. I have no illusions about being able to hold onto the lead, so I just focus on clean laps.

Lap 3. A Mistubishi is closing in on me. They bump into me going into turn one, but there is no actual punt. (On replay, it looks like a legit mistake and not a malicious punt attempt.) At the Chicane of Woe, Three-Diamonds McGee gets aggressive and insists on trading paint. We both emerge from the last turn with our momentum largely in tact.

Lap 4. I am somehow still in first position. Three-Diamonds McGee loses their composure going into turn one and uses the walls and guard rails to ex-foliate their car.
I find myself being pursued by a Lexus.
Going into the hairpin, the Lexus gives me a love tap and takes the lead from me. I latch onto their slipstream and try to hold onto it as best I can.

Lap 6. I am losing my hold on the Lexus slipstream. Only unforced errors from them will save me now.

Lap 7. The Lexus continues to stay just out of slipstream range. Perhaps I can catch them after I pit. There are several Mississippis between third place and me. A great time to drive clean and avoid mistakes. I’m still on hard tyres, so fastest lap time is not a concern just yet.

Lap 8. The Lexus slowly expands its lead against me. I slowly expand my lead against 3rd position.

Lap 9. A small but crucial unforced error from Lexus places me in slipstream range. Lexus pits at the end of this lap, handing me the lead.

Lap 10. I’m in first position. I drive a clean lap. This is a good time to refrain from any big mistakes. I’m still in first position when I pit.

Lap 11. To my astonishment, I am still in first position when I leave the pit. I am mindful of the fact that I’m on cold tyres.

Lap 12. Tyres are warmed up. Still more focused on avoiding unforced errors than record lap times. This is my fastest lap of the race.

Lap 13. Still in the lead. There are a bunch of Mississippis between me and 2nd position.

Lap 14. The only thing that will preserve my lead for the next five laps is to avoid penalties. I actually find myself closing in on the 17th place driver.

Lap 15. Still in the lead. I overtake Seventeen going into the hairpin. Seventeen, for reasons known only to themselves, attempts to punt me in the hairpin. They plant themselves into a wall and I continue.

Lap 18. Three drama-free laps later, I cross the finish line in first position with the Fastest Lap and a Clean Race Bonus. There is much rejoicing.

Spoiler: Event Three

Event Three

I start in Position 5.

This is a race of mostly C-List drivers.

Lap 1. An unremarkable lap. I hold onto 5th position, but I am unable to latch onto a slipstream.

Lap 2. I fall to 7th position coming out of the hairpin, but at least I have a slipstream now. Joy.

Lap 3. 8th position. Then 10th. Then 8th again. Then 9th. Oh look, another Mustang!

Lap 4. 10th position. The only fuel saving strategy I’m employing all day is short-shifting.

Lap 5. 10th position. I’m losing my grip on slipstreams. After the hairpin, the pod of cars in front of me decide to go three wide, turning the entire track into a low pressure system. These same drivers also generously provide me with a nice wide slipstream coming out of the final corner.

Lap 6. Someone pits at the end of lap five, so I’m in 8th position now. I latch firmly onto the slipstream of the pod before me as of turn one. I fall ass-backwards into 5th position due to what I take to be a very advanced pit strategy from my fellow drivers.

Lap 7. I have slipstreams, but there is no connection to the lead pod of cars. I very nearly lose my slipstream due to an error at the hairpin. Four drivers pit, leaving me in 2nd position at lap’s end. Dang.

Lap 8. I’m in 2nd position, but there are so many Mississippis between me and the BMW holding 1st position. So many Mississippis. There are more Mississippis between me and 3rd position, as well.

Lap 9. This lap is a slipstream desert for me. I endeavor to drive a clean, spirited lap. The BMW in 1st position pits, and I find myself in the lead. For the moment, anyway.

Lap 10. My last lap on hard tyres. I’m still in 1st place when I pit.

Lap 11. I find myself in 5th position as I leave the pit. I’m on cold tyres, so I’m not feeling particularly frisky. The other Mustang has momentum coming out of the Circle of Life, and I move aside and let them pass. This seems appropriate since we are on the same team. I latch onto the other Mustang’s slipstream, of course.

Lap 12. Slipstreams are fun. Two drivers pit ahead of me, and I find myself in third position.

Lap 13. My slipstreams pitted, so there’s that. Coming out of the Chicane of Woe, I am able to latch onto the slipstream of the BMW who pitted in Lap 9. The lead driver pits. This places the BMW in the lead, and I’ve got a pretty firm grip on their slipstream. For the moment, anyway.

Lap 14. I am in 2nd position. I fully expect the BMW to pull away from me. But they don’t. At the time, I am convinced that this is because they are on hard tyres, but the replay shows that they are on medium tyres. They are employing aggressive short-shifting. Possibly for the purpose of fuel economy.

Lap 15. 2nd position. I am snuggled up with the Beemer’s slipstream. 3rd position is many Mississippis behind us. We lap the driver in 17th position.

Lap 16. At this point, it sinks in that if the Beemer could break away from me, they would have done so by now. I keep things clean and prepare to exploit a mistake.

Lap 18. The Beemer holds their lead, and I ride their slipstream to a 2nd place podium finish.

Spoiler: Event Four

Event Four

I start in position 17.

This is a stronger group of drivers. A mix of B and C ranked drivers. I temper my expectations accordingly.

Lap 1. Cold hard tyres and at the back of the pack. I just drive my line.

Lap 2. Position 16, which is now last position. More points for me! Then I’m in 15th position. I’m latched onto slipstreams and driving my line.

Lap 3. I’m in 16th position again. Wait. 15th position.

Lap 4. I trade 15th and 16th position back and forth a time or two.

Lap 5. The four slowest drivers have formed a pod. A fifth car joins us after the hairpin.

Lap 6. The slow pod breaks up like a hair band from the 70s. I’m in 13th position and looking for a slipstream as a solo artist.

Lap 7. I have latched onto the slipstream of the Lexus in 12th position. Drivers begin to pit.

Lap 8. 9th position. I’m in slipstream territory again. Two more drivers pit, and I find myself in 7th position.

Lap 9. I’m in 8th position again. That was quick. Oh, 7th position again. This is a pit lap for several drivers, and I find myself in 4th position.

Lap 10. 3rd position struggles with something and goes full ghost. I am now in 3rd position. But there is no slipstream for me. I am in 3rd position when I pit.

Lap 11. I emerge from the pit in 9th position. I have medium tyres, but they are also cold. I drive my line. Oh, look! A slipstream!

Lap 12. I have 9th position and a slipstream. I hold my line through the Circle of Life and come out of it in 8th place. I wasn’t attempting an overtake, the 8th position driver just lost a lot of momentum.

Lap 13. 8th position and a firm grip on a slipstream. An unforced error from another driver puts me in 7th position going into the Circle of Life. A driver ahead of me pits, promoting me to 6th position. I overtake a Viper on turn one, and it’s 5th position for me.

Lap 14. Again, I gain a position in the Circle of Life (the big multi-apex turn after going under the bridge). I don’t consider this part of the track to be a traditional overtake opportunity. The driver in 4th position takes the turn too wide and loses momentum. I just drive my line and fall ass-backwards into 4th position. Weird. The two lead drivers chose to pit at the end of this lap, and I find myself in third position.

Lap 15. 3rd position and slipstreams just out of reach. A Beemer overtakes me going into the hairpin. I latch onto their slipstream. For a moment, anyway.

Lap 16. 4th position, and the Beemer’s slipstream is now just out of reach. I drive my line. I emerge from the Chicane of Woe with a firm grasp on the slipstream of a different Beemer.

Lap 17. 4th position and a good slipstream. I manage to overtake the Beemer (no, not that one. The other one.) before the hairpin. I’m now in 3rd position, but 2nd position (The original Beemer) is well out of slipstream range. I drive my line.

Lap 18. I hold on to 3rd position to the finish line.

Spoiler: Event Five

Event Five.

I start in position 12.

I am feeling a bit fatigued. I’ve had four very good races, so this race is just insurance.

Lap 1. I drive my line. I’m in 14th position. Then 13th position. Then 12th position. Plenty of slipstreams.

Lap 2. 12th position. I gain a position at the hairpin. Muscle memory is now well established and, in spite of my fatigue, I am hitting braking points very accurately.

Lap 3. 11th position. Plenty of slipstreams. I gain a position at the hairpin again.

Lap 4. 10th position. I’m struggling to get hold of a slipstream. Then I’m in 11th position. I now have a slipstream, so there’s that.

Lap 5. 11th position. No one has pitted yet.

Lap 6. 11th position still. A driver pits and I am promoted to 10th position.

Lap 7. I’m now in 10th position, but no slipstream.

Lap 8. Still in 10th position. Still no slipstream. A driver pits and I am promoted to 9th position.

Lap 9. After the hairpin, I find myself again in slipstream range. So many drivers ahead of me pit that I am promoted to 3rd position.

Lap 10. 3rd position is good, but it would be better if I had a slipstream. I am still in 3rd position when I pit.

Lap 11. I emerge from the pit in 5th position. The slipstream of 4th position is just out of reach. I’m in 6th position out of the hairpin. A driver pits, so I am promoted to 5th position again.

Lap 12. There is some network connectivity issue on this lap and we lose at least one driver. I emerge from the hairpin in 6th position and the network issue appears to have been resolved.

Lap 13. 5th position, with a side of slipstream. I’m in 4th place out of the hairpin.

Lap 14 and 15. 4th position, and a firm grip on the slipstream of a Ferrari in 3rd position. The Ferrari driver tries to shake me. (During the replay, I discover that the Ferrari is on hard tyres.)

Lap 16. I incur my only formal penalty in all five races. I’m pleased that I was able to drive 90 laps of this course and get just one such penalty. This takes pressure off of Guy Ferrari. I pay the piper at the end of the lap.

Lap 17. 4th position. I am aware that I’m making more mistakes so I just try to drive a clean, spirited line. And I hold on to the slipstream before me.

Lap 18. 4th position. I’m just trying to drive my line and keep hold of slipstreams. I’ve had some very good races and fourth place is looking really good to me. After the final turn, 3rd position (now a Toyota 86) loses some momentum and it looks like an overtake opportunity for me. The Toyota then proceeds to drive erratically to block me from overtaking them. I am not interested in this drama, so I slow down and cross the finish line in fourth place.

And I am instantly promoted to second position.

The 3rd position driver? The vigorous defender of their hard-earned podium position? They incur a one-minute tyre penalty.

As does the 1st place driver.

TWO drivers ahead of me failed to drive on hard tyres, and lost their podium places for it.

Once I realized this, I did a literal LOL.

 

[05XR8]

Used the alt so I wouldn'ty be disappointed if I disco'd. Started 16th. Finished 6th. Nearly got wiped out by someone being too eager on the run past the airport. I was up the inside out of the banking and about to overtake the lead S2000. Anyway, able to gain back the slip, 1.7 seconds behind the lead pack.

A 993 stayed back I decided to make a run st the start of the final banking. Went high, but players were pushing and my opening disappeared. The 993 snuck below everyone for the win. A Fugu Z finished P2 and a '69 Vette finished ahead of me.

Lots of carnage on the bankings. Be careful.

The Supras are super slow at the start. I passed the back half the field before the uphill. No slipstream. Used the slip uphill and was basically staying out of it, to be there for the end.

 

[D_Dragline]

Oceania first slot. I ran the 993. Door 18 in what I think was second split. Typical Route X meme race. Screwed qualifying when I tried to go around a guy who braked in the out lap and ended up In the wall. Spent my flying lap towing a Supra and qualified 13.

Race was relatively uneventful except for a Crown Athlete that just pushed its way into the train whenever and wherever it wanted. For a brief moment on the last turn the seas parted and I thought I might be able to get a run to the pointy end, but alas a nudge from inside and I lost the chance to dive into a gap. Finished p10, 0.3 off the winner.

Fugus, 993s and the Athlete filled the top spots. A word of warning though, the 993 is a bit unstable and the last turn is VERY stressful in it as it is easily turned around.

147 points will do me. One and done.

 

[Erebus_9]

Oceania first slot, door 2 in third split in the 993. Should've done some DR grinding to get into split 2! I nearly got wrecked in qualifying; not sure what happened but all of a sudden in the first corner I was sliding towards the outside wall and flying through the air. I somehow saved it, stayed within drafting range, and ended up qualifying in 4th, right behind @ClanFever who I'd been bump drafting from the start.

The Supra in 2nd got left behind at the start, and I quickly settled in 3rd place behind Clan. By the time we were headed down the back straight on the final lap, over half the field behind us had wrecked - 8th was 10 seconds behind the top 7. I figured I'd try and make a play for the win, and dropped to the back of the train along with Rossmo who'd had the same idea. Sadly the slingshot didn't work out too well, and I only made it back up to 4th. Top 3 was unchanged from the start of the corner. Should've just stayed in line!

161 points in the end. Not amazing but I'll probably just take them. Seems like I was lucky in having a clean race.

 

[ShiftingGears]

Getting pole is straightforward if you set your outlap up properly but winning means you'll likely have to be in the same team as three or four other players so that they form a train behind you that no-one else can pass.

 

[Redneckchef]

Missed opportunities. Got in as door 18 in top split second slot. Do a solid qualifying and start p6. Form a line quickly and despite some shuffling and dodgy contact bumping down the back straight, including 1 guy spending half the straight trying to pit me in order to steal slipstream, I come out looking ok.
Heading into the final turn I've been getting shuffled back a little, but still in spot to look for a top ten, and possibly my first 200 score when I get a bit of a run. Try to cut inside of @Rangeraus on one of chances he isnt disconnected and I do it just as he is pulling out as well. I end up clipping his rear just enough to spin him. Ruined his race and dropped me from the pack as well.
P13, 152 points and a real sour taste left in the mouth.
Sorry ranger.

 

[Erebus_9]

Went again in the second slot. Ended up Door 9 in the second split, again in the 993.

In qualifying, I set myself up a fair way behind a train of 993s, but still in the draft. My strategy worked out, and much to my delight I qualified 3rd behind a Crown and another 993!

The other 993 and I leapfrogged the Crown off the line, who settled behind me in 3rd. Then, the Crown decided to two-wide, which soon resulted a Porsche getting loose, with this being the outcome:

Unlucky...

I pushed on at the front, sitting behind the lead Porsche all the way through Lap 1.

I really just intended on sitting behind the leader all the way to the end, but it didn't really work out that way. See, the lead 993 had no idea how to hold a line, slowly drifting left and right even on the straight. I expected them to go high at the first corner, but for some reason they stayed low. I received a lucky bump from the Crown, went high, and soon got through to the lead with the Crown still pushing me, and a Megane in behind it. Behind us, chaos ensued, with cars fanning out to three and four-wide. Somehow, no-one wrecked, and we still had 10 cars up front.

Entering the last corner, I was... pretty worried, to say the least, I knew the 993 was unstable, and if anyone tried to make a move and got it wrong I could be careening into the wall. But, the top 3 in my first race didn't get overtaken in the last corner, so I was hopeful it'd work out for me as well.

And guess what, it did! The Crown and the Megane kept on pushing me all the way to the line, fending off an attack from a Porsche who came from back in 9th. I got the victory!!

Absolutely stoked with 210 points! Pretty sure that's my second-best result ever, after the BMW M3s at Bathurst last year.

Check out my stream and you'll see how excited I was. Who cares that it's a meme race, points are points and an FIA victory is an FIA victory!

 

[RX8 Racer]

The quintessential SSRX Experience:

 

[Raptor013]

Well that was a total Steve Bradbury I pulled off tonight.

Started in P2 after picking the wrong Porsche (wanted to run the 993 but selected the 930), managed to avoid the Turn 1 crash after the top 6 broke free of the rest of the pack.

Entered the final turn in 2nd, went too early and dropped back to 4th (which would have been fine) and then the two leaders came together, sending one into the outside wall and the other into the car in P3 as they were trying to get clear.

Avoided the chaos and was able to steal the win as P2 crossed the line sideways.

 

[Erebus_9]

The quintessential SSRX Experience:

Only missed out on someone hitting the pit wall.

Can someone edit in the commentary from this clip?



Edit:

Well that was a total Steve Bradbury I pulled off tonight.

Started in P2 after picking the wrong Porsche (wanted to run the 993 but selected the 930), managed to avoid the Turn 1 crash after the top 6 broke free of the rest of the pack.

Entered the final turn in 2nd, went too early and dropped back to 4th (which would have been fine) and then the two leaders came together, sending one into the outside wall and the other into the car in P3 as they were trying to get clear.

Avoided the chaos and was able to steal the win as P2 crossed the line sideways.

Wow, what a lucky finish! Well done on the win. The "they're all in the fence" clip works even better with yours, considering it was the top 3 wrecking!

 

[Raptor013]

Only missed out on someone hitting the pit wall.

Can someone edit in the commentary from this clip?



Edit:



Wow, what a lucky finish! Well done on the win. The "they're all in the fence" clip works even better with yours, considering it was the top 3 wrecking!

Yeah, I was in shocked silence for a few moments after crossing the line. Couldn't believe what had happened.

 

[tankuroded]

My stats for the Route X Nations race (all with 993 RS CS):
Attempt 1 (#14): 4th start/10th finish (got hit by a sandwich Big One at backstraight)
Attempt 2 (#15): 11th start/10th finish (marked as a clean race, somehow)
Attempt 3 (#14): 11th start/3rd finish

Like the New Year's Eve SSRX race, I still can't catch the lightning in a bottle that was my "hole in one" first ever Sport Mode win here (from last year's Nations Cup race). (Also every time I do an oval Sport Mode race I always wish NASCAR comes back to GT...)

 

[stpatty]

If anyone is in any of my races today, I'll work with you. I don't care about winning, I just want a good result and someone sensible to work with to get it. Qualifying, the race, I'll bump you round the whole time.

 

[Baka_Marimo]

Tried out the S2000 and found that it accelerates quite a lot bet better than the Supra but I'm not sure it would be able to keep up with the Porsches. Those just zoomed away from the rest of the grid at the very beginning.