Manufacturer Series 2020/21 Exhibition Series - Round 1
Dragon Trail - Seaside / Gr. 3
Wow... people have either forgotten how to race, were pent up, or simply decided as GT Sport nears the end to abandon any sense of sportsmanship.
Was the filthiest lobby I've been in a this DR level in a long while, in Slot 1.
I was really looking forward to this first round... at a track that I've been successful in, driving the Porsche RSR that I won in at this track last season, it was going to be a good start to the new FIA season for me.
Didn't qualify super, I was just a little tentative but more importantly I didn't play the slipstream game, and I think that cost me. Started 12th, which made the tire choice decision hard... I usually like the softer set early, to get a few spots in the chaos and then keep the pace up when the fuel burn keeps the car lighter for the second stint on harder tires. The Porsche is usually easier on tires, which helps leverage that strategy by over-cutting, too. So chose the softs.
But on lap one, after giving people space to do whatever they're going to do on lap one, was ruined at the CoD because the idiot in front of me HIT THE BRAKES going through it. And not at the entry, where it might (debatably, at this level) make sense if you were being overly cautious, he did it AT THE APEX. And he did this only after foolishly putting himself two-wide entering the CoD complex... why can't people be smart?
So I was ghosted into the wall after making unavoidable contact with this moron, leaving me in last after I got back up to speed. I then proceeded to grind my way back up through the field, and did well to do so. Eventually I caught the pack where this same fool was holding everyone up with his moving chicane behavior.
I extended my run on the softs through lap 8 then pitted from fourth, for my required mediums. Had to pass a few others after that, to get back up to 8th as I entered the last lap. Dealt with a few dirty drivers swerving, etc. in the meantime, but survived most of that, eventually gapping them easily after clearing them.
Then on the last lap, this SAME MORON (who was a hundred yards ahead of me) completely loses it on his own in the first chicane set... and rather than being sporting... he PARKS IT on the apex to protect his spot, leaving me no choice but to hit him from behind and be blocked while he resumes race speed. Despite my urge to park him in the gravel at Larini, I instead pass him clean entering the uphill esses (even tough he again brake checks on the apex into those turns...). And because I was too kind to race him clean on the rest of the lap, his Jaguar was able to pull me on the penultimate straight and I lost the position to him before the last turn.
So I finished 8th, should have easily been top-5 when analyzing the results, and left with a sour taste in my mouth. Confronted the three dirty drivers in the chat after, including this guy (with support from others who saw their driving the same) only to learn these drivers were oblivious to the nature of their driving, based on their remarks. I asked him how many times he could ruin my race in one race (I counted at least 3), to which he claimed we were only racing clean all last lap.
Every time I got clear of the dirty drivers playing stupid games, I was able to run nearly 2 seconds a lap faster. That's how dumb people are, and how unfairly the blocking, slide job, brake checking, and foolish side by side garbage costs you, people.
I really wish people would race smarter and fairer. GTS is such a blast when everyone plays it fair, but when it's a glorified arcade game it's just a drag.
#3 / Q12 / R8 / 141 FIA points / about 300 DR
View attachment 1087724
Me, looking dejected at what would have been a great start to the season in a fairer lobby
View attachment 1087725
7th, 9th, and 12th are all dirty unfair unsporting drivers.
I easily had 5th place or better if not for what happened to me thanks to the Jaguar's tactics.
115pts isnt that bad, right?
