- 1,230
- Michigan
- KosmoKazi
Nations Race at the Nurburgring
After reading about the dynamics of the races in Asia and Europe earlier in the day, and after running my personal fastest lap with the Porsche 996, debated switching plans to run the GT40 and instead trust the Porsche to be a better race car.
But the Porsche was just too squishy for me, and I really felt confident in the Ford. So threw the white/black livery on it, and entered the first slot. Got door #2, darn it, but was just hoping for a positive result and some fun.
Was surprised to see a bunch of Miatas in the field, but the rest was mostly the mix of Toyotas and GTs that I expected, along with only one 996.
Was grateful that I was released for the qualifying lap second, only behind a guy in an SFR that I know is pretty quick, so I managed a gap to him on the out lap, thinking it would be safe to qualify with just him in front of me. But some moron in another GT40 had to pass me at the end of Dottinger, just as I was set up for a nice clear run. And of course, he and the SFR tangled in the first sector, where the speed differences put them right on top of each other until contact slowed the Toyota until he was then holding me up. And then I got a track limits penalty trying to ride his bumper safely, costing me another second or so. The guy causing the trouble of course earned pole, with the clear track ahead of him.
Qualified 6th as a result, when I would have likely been top-3 without the shenanigans. Why can't people respect the gap in qualifying?!? especially at a track like this?
Then the idiot causing trouble in the qualifying lap proceeded to bin it into the gravel on the first lap, just before the bridge. Of course. And so then with dirty tires, he held up a few going into the Foxhole, until he was then on mine and another guy's bumpers causing more trouble for the rest of the long two laps.
Including when he nearly pushed me into the gravel, which would have ended any prayer of a worthwhile finish, just after the last flugplatz in the back... thank god for the great brakes on the GT and my awareness, as I clamped down and kept it just out of the gravel. He was good enough to yield there and apologized after, but man, apologies don't pay FIA or DR points.
I eventually got past him on lap two, when he had to serve an inevitable penalty, allowing me to earn 5th place for the race. Nearly caught a Toyota heading into the last turns, but couldn't get an overlap to try the pass, and wanted to respect the guy after never seeing him until after Dottinger.
Happy with the result. Earned what may become useful FIA points before it's over, nudged the DR up to a new high, earned a CRB and also Fastest Lap.... and enjoyed the challenge. Surprised to see my best FP lap still in the top 100, too, so feeling good about my pace. Too tired to run the alt, though, as it takes so much concentration. Would love to run another car, though, just out of curiosity.
Good luck to everyone else. Love that track. Fun combo, on sports tires and in N-class cars!
After reading about the dynamics of the races in Asia and Europe earlier in the day, and after running my personal fastest lap with the Porsche 996, debated switching plans to run the GT40 and instead trust the Porsche to be a better race car.
But the Porsche was just too squishy for me, and I really felt confident in the Ford. So threw the white/black livery on it, and entered the first slot. Got door #2, darn it, but was just hoping for a positive result and some fun.
Was surprised to see a bunch of Miatas in the field, but the rest was mostly the mix of Toyotas and GTs that I expected, along with only one 996.
Was grateful that I was released for the qualifying lap second, only behind a guy in an SFR that I know is pretty quick, so I managed a gap to him on the out lap, thinking it would be safe to qualify with just him in front of me. But some moron in another GT40 had to pass me at the end of Dottinger, just as I was set up for a nice clear run. And of course, he and the SFR tangled in the first sector, where the speed differences put them right on top of each other until contact slowed the Toyota until he was then holding me up. And then I got a track limits penalty trying to ride his bumper safely, costing me another second or so. The guy causing the trouble of course earned pole, with the clear track ahead of him.
Qualified 6th as a result, when I would have likely been top-3 without the shenanigans. Why can't people respect the gap in qualifying?!? especially at a track like this?
Then the idiot causing trouble in the qualifying lap proceeded to bin it into the gravel on the first lap, just before the bridge. Of course. And so then with dirty tires, he held up a few going into the Foxhole, until he was then on mine and another guy's bumpers causing more trouble for the rest of the long two laps.
Including when he nearly pushed me into the gravel, which would have ended any prayer of a worthwhile finish, just after the last flugplatz in the back... thank god for the great brakes on the GT and my awareness, as I clamped down and kept it just out of the gravel. He was good enough to yield there and apologized after, but man, apologies don't pay FIA or DR points.
I eventually got past him on lap two, when he had to serve an inevitable penalty, allowing me to earn 5th place for the race. Nearly caught a Toyota heading into the last turns, but couldn't get an overlap to try the pass, and wanted to respect the guy after never seeing him until after Dottinger.
Happy with the result. Earned what may become useful FIA points before it's over, nudged the DR up to a new high, earned a CRB and also Fastest Lap.... and enjoyed the challenge. Surprised to see my best FP lap still in the top 100, too, so feeling good about my pace. Too tired to run the alt, though, as it takes so much concentration. Would love to run another car, though, just out of curiosity.
Good luck to everyone else. Love that track. Fun combo, on sports tires and in N-class cars!
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