2021 FIA Series Race Discussion
- Thread starter GTPNewsWire
- 9,031 comments
- 1,682,092 views
- 1,230
- Michigan
- KosmoKazi
Agreed, and it's a light stab and then I add throttle again well before the late apex, to carry the car as far to the right before Spoon 2, where I try to brake a little earlier and get the car to rotate before the apex so that I can be early on the throttle with a bit of yaw already in place, left front hooking the curb, to carry all that speed on the exit and long straight before 130R.
- 1,720
- Australia
Slophy and WRX are both solid choices. If you can tame the 4C (I can’t) it will be very quick.Hi everybodyIm trying to forget 2nd round Manu(gr4 Lancer is a piece of ****)
My question is which car for Nations? Please dont troll me with Lancer
Anything that’s nimble will be competitive.
- 1,492
- United States
- equus_ferrum
Hi everybody
My question is which car for Nations? Please dont troll me with Lancer
...and the Lancer is also a good choice (I'm using the WRX though).
- 224
- United States
I caught so many people at 130R when I was mid pack making sure to keep it tight through spoon Easily .4 gain instead of going wide. The 86 is pretty decent through there. I'm able to enter in fourth, down to third and keep the rpm just right so it pulled hard on exit.
I could also maintain great speed through the esses at the front of the track in fourth on decent tires.
Observation wise some of the lower ranks would benefit from not trying to carry so much speed through corners. It may feel "fast" but the clock says different.
GR4 is proving to be quite the learning curve. It seems I need to be much earlier on inputs to get the momentum where i need. I was able to click of some 2:09's in race and had a few 2:08 optimums in testing but didn't have time to piece it together.
- 1,230
- Michigan
- KosmoKazi
The game rewards optimal entry speeds big time. Overcook it and your overall pace will always suffer. There is no 'grabbing the car by the scruff' and making speed. It's a pretty confined model that makes you stick to the optimal lines and entry/apex speeds. The tire model is just not sophisticated enough otherwise.
What I really like to do is note top-10 or @Mistah_MCA guide min corner speeds and target those when practicing. It's the best way for me to be assured I'm on top of the best pace I can manage.
First sector at Suzuka is one of my strongest points in GT Sport. I am often 'purple' in that sector throughout FIA and Daily races, no matter the combo. You can really carry a ton of speed in T1 and square it off into T2, and backing up the entries into the esses to the point you can throttle through the apex will give you tons of speed and keep your tires in good shape. The entry into Dunlop is one of the most challenging and rewarding ones because if you get it right, it's flat, but if not, it's about 0.3-0.4 sec lost in some instances.
I'm a 'feel' driver IRL so it's really an adjustment to 'play the game' using a wheel at home and without the g-forces. I like to make speed by keeping all four tires balanced at their optimum, given each's task in a corner, but the game just doesn't allow that, without the actual forces and sensory inputs you get in a real car.
You have really good pace... hope to be able to race together sometime (and learn).
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- 2,522
- Scotland
- stpatty
I only ever really get this on the first lap when my tyres are cold and when I've qualified high, so it's a nice combo. Don't get it as much as I used to though, once you get back to doing races regularly you should be able to control it better.I seem to have a bad habit of getting anxious shakes in my legs during FIA races which sometimes screws up my trailbraking and unfortunately it got me a bit tonight. Lots of sliding through Degner 2.
Isn't it slower off the line though ?
I believe I remember last time we had FIA there (my DR was much lower), it was WRX vs EVO and I chose the latter. I got pole but was down to 3rd at the 1st corner. I ended up winning the race but I never knew if I either screwed the start or it was the car's fault.
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- 1,492
- United States
- equus_ferrum
- 224
- United States
I'm starting to notice more and more when you get it right you can feel the line or window in the game. Especially under trail braking. It's an odd sensation and throws me off because I still have bad habits and I'm late on inputs.
Mistah does a great job with braking points. They always seem spot on for good pace. Tidgney does a good job too, and I notice he uses alot of side track markers like trees and such. I can see it helping especially in tight traffic. I tend to use alot of marks or shadows on the track surface and it's burned me in traffic if I'm too close.
I'm always up for practice, man. Most of the guys in my Sunday session aren't doing FIA so it's been quiet and I think your pace is a little closer to me so it should be constructive. I still have a lot to learn. If I have a lobby open feel free to jump in.
Gr3 next week should be interesting. I like the single tire but the pace feels blistering compared to Gr4. Lol
- 517
- Singapore
Said that I'll finish last season's race reports by the end of last week, proceeds to post them nearly a week later. I sure know how to stick to a schedule.
Nations - Alsace TT Cup
I had no luck with the first four races as I kept getting mired in traffic on my Hard stint, so I had to go into the last slot.
Strategy: 5H-7M with no refuel
Starting 8th on Hards, I knew that I could shortshift at the current gear number on my Hard stint to avoid needing to refuel. After losing one place off the line, I tried to stay in the slip as much as possible while fuel saving. Hitching a tow off the two Medium runners that passed me after I dropped away from the leaders also helped.
After losing the slipstream for good, I was in 11th with a healthy gap to 12th and the Mediums runners ahead pulling away. Left in no mans' land, I could run my own race in peace while continuing to fuel save.
An early stopper on lap 3 put me up to 10th before I pitted on lap 5 for Mediums only, coming out 14th amidst a pack of Hard runners.
With the tyre advantage, I swiftly dispatched the duo ahead before enjoying another stay in no mans' land while leapfrogging people in the pits.
My next target was the #8 that had done the inverse of my strategy: 7M-5H with refuel. I gradually reeled him in lap by lap, finally reaching him at the start of lap 10. By this point, we were 5th and 6th.
I briefly considered a move into the 90 degree right, but decided not to go for it. He ran wide, enabling me to get alongside through the right kink.
He responds by taking the inside into the medium speed left, but is forced to make a slow exit as a result, allowing me to close in again.
Then he makes a fatal error into the Big Bank: he left the inside wide open. I took full advantage and gunned it up the inside, forcing him to take the long way round while I claimed 5th and took it to the line for 162 points.
Nations - Laguna Seca Gr.3
Not wanting to bother with fuel saving for this race, I elected to take the RCZ for my flat-out approach to this race.
Race 1 went well until I ran off the Corkscrew on lap 10 and sabotaged my chance at a useful result. Despite that mistake, I still finished 8th, so an improvement on my 149 points from the Gr.2 RBR was very much doable.
Strategy: 5M-12S with refuel
For Race 2, I found myself starting 13th despite posting a lap close to my Race 1 qualifying.
I had a good start off the line, gaining three places until I got out of shape through the Corkscrew, dropping back down to 12th. It was still a net gain (courtesy of someone spinning round for forcing an optimistic move into the Corkscrew), but it was not a great opening lap.
I retook one place the following lap off a fellow Peugeot getting turn 6 wrong and spinning, before outbraking a Mustang with a track penalty into the final corner for a net 10th. Annoyingly, he insisted on fighting all the way to the penalty line, much to my chargrin.
Meanwhile, a fast but inconsistent driver in 2nd binned it at turn 6 too, plummeting down to second-to-last before spinning into Rainey and quitting.
The Mustang and I broke away from the pack behind and I pitted on lap 5 from 9th while the Mustang continued on. Taking Softs and fuel, I emerge in 17th with a sizable gap to a FT-1 in 16th. Just as I caught up to the Toyota at the end of lap 8, he promptly dived into the pits. With a clear track ahead, I put in the laps while jumping those serving their stops.
By the start of lap 12, I was up to 7th, but I now had to contend with a Subaru that had exited the pits behind me on fresh Mediums.
I managed to hold him off with my worn Softs until he braked a little too late into the Corkscrew on the penultimate lap and ran into my bumper just as I was turning in.
I managed to save the car as I had TCS on and pulled away from the Subaru, taking 6th for 168 points. To the Subaru's credit, he apologised after the race.
Manufacturers - Fuji Gr.4
Strategy: 9S-11S
I had originally planned to skip the Manufacturers Finale as I had plenty on my to-watch list that evening, but I decided to run the final slot just to try my luck.
I promptly get punted into turn 1 by a Merc that had outbraked himself on cold Hards, sending me down to 19th ahead of said idiot. I was furious, but I would end up turning my wrath on an even bigger idiot later on....
Taking 18th off a Lexus spearing off at turn 14, I set about trying to salvage something from my disastrous start.
I caught up to a trio comprising a Lexus, a Subaru and a Merc at the end of lap 3. An attempt to make a pass down the home straight failed as the three had formed a slipstream train, but I was able to follow the Merc and Subaru through turn 1 as they went up the inside of the Lexus, giving me 17th.
I lingered behind the pair for a lap before captialising on the Subaru muscling his way past the Merc at turn 1. I immediately followed up by taking the inside into turn 3 to pass the Subaru.
I pulled away from the duo and caught up to a pack of four busy fighting a few laps later, with a Peugeot breaking off from the pack to dive into the pits. Now reaching the end of my stint, I catch a Mazda napping into turn 6 and dove up the inside. He turned in on me, but I managed to get away with 12th in hand.
Pitting on lap 9 for new Softs, I came out 18th behind the Peugeot that had stopped earlier. As I crossed the line to start lap 11, a Hyundai pulled out of the pits. Noting his exit and assuming that he would stay on the inside into turn 1, I hit my braking point as planned only to see the Hyundai suddenly swerve across the pit exit line and directly into my braking zone. What happened next was... predictable.
Unsurprisingly, the blur sotong in the Hyundai got punted for his total lack of awareness and wound up ploughing into the unlucky Peugeot. The Peugeot and I ended up getting ahead of the Hyundai while he was floundering about.
After passing someone in the pits, I caught up to a trio of Hard runners, including the Merc that had punted me off at turn 1 lap 1. With the tyre advantage, I made mincemeat of all three before setting off to hunt down 10th, who had a massive lead on me but was clearly on dead tyres.
As it turned out, 10th was a Corvette running a no stop on Mediums. Despite his tyres being toast, he beat me to the line by 3.4 seconds, leaving me to settle for a useless 11th for 121 points, two places short of my target. Oh well.
Results
I finished within the top 200 for Nations and the top 400 for Manufacturers. Solid results all round.
Nations - Alsace TT Cup
I had no luck with the first four races as I kept getting mired in traffic on my Hard stint, so I had to go into the last slot.
Strategy: 5H-7M with no refuel
Starting 8th on Hards, I knew that I could shortshift at the current gear number on my Hard stint to avoid needing to refuel. After losing one place off the line, I tried to stay in the slip as much as possible while fuel saving. Hitching a tow off the two Medium runners that passed me after I dropped away from the leaders also helped.
After losing the slipstream for good, I was in 11th with a healthy gap to 12th and the Mediums runners ahead pulling away. Left in no mans' land, I could run my own race in peace while continuing to fuel save.
An early stopper on lap 3 put me up to 10th before I pitted on lap 5 for Mediums only, coming out 14th amidst a pack of Hard runners.
With the tyre advantage, I swiftly dispatched the duo ahead before enjoying another stay in no mans' land while leapfrogging people in the pits.
My next target was the #8 that had done the inverse of my strategy: 7M-5H with refuel. I gradually reeled him in lap by lap, finally reaching him at the start of lap 10. By this point, we were 5th and 6th.
I briefly considered a move into the 90 degree right, but decided not to go for it. He ran wide, enabling me to get alongside through the right kink.
He responds by taking the inside into the medium speed left, but is forced to make a slow exit as a result, allowing me to close in again.
Then he makes a fatal error into the Big Bank: he left the inside wide open. I took full advantage and gunned it up the inside, forcing him to take the long way round while I claimed 5th and took it to the line for 162 points.
Nations - Laguna Seca Gr.3
Not wanting to bother with fuel saving for this race, I elected to take the RCZ for my flat-out approach to this race.
Race 1 went well until I ran off the Corkscrew on lap 10 and sabotaged my chance at a useful result. Despite that mistake, I still finished 8th, so an improvement on my 149 points from the Gr.2 RBR was very much doable.
Strategy: 5M-12S with refuel
For Race 2, I found myself starting 13th despite posting a lap close to my Race 1 qualifying.
I had a good start off the line, gaining three places until I got out of shape through the Corkscrew, dropping back down to 12th. It was still a net gain (courtesy of someone spinning round for forcing an optimistic move into the Corkscrew), but it was not a great opening lap.
I retook one place the following lap off a fellow Peugeot getting turn 6 wrong and spinning, before outbraking a Mustang with a track penalty into the final corner for a net 10th. Annoyingly, he insisted on fighting all the way to the penalty line, much to my chargrin.
Meanwhile, a fast but inconsistent driver in 2nd binned it at turn 6 too, plummeting down to second-to-last before spinning into Rainey and quitting.
The Mustang and I broke away from the pack behind and I pitted on lap 5 from 9th while the Mustang continued on. Taking Softs and fuel, I emerge in 17th with a sizable gap to a FT-1 in 16th. Just as I caught up to the Toyota at the end of lap 8, he promptly dived into the pits. With a clear track ahead, I put in the laps while jumping those serving their stops.
By the start of lap 12, I was up to 7th, but I now had to contend with a Subaru that had exited the pits behind me on fresh Mediums.
I managed to hold him off with my worn Softs until he braked a little too late into the Corkscrew on the penultimate lap and ran into my bumper just as I was turning in.
I managed to save the car as I had TCS on and pulled away from the Subaru, taking 6th for 168 points. To the Subaru's credit, he apologised after the race.
Manufacturers - Fuji Gr.4
Strategy: 9S-11S
I had originally planned to skip the Manufacturers Finale as I had plenty on my to-watch list that evening, but I decided to run the final slot just to try my luck.
I promptly get punted into turn 1 by a Merc that had outbraked himself on cold Hards, sending me down to 19th ahead of said idiot. I was furious, but I would end up turning my wrath on an even bigger idiot later on....
Taking 18th off a Lexus spearing off at turn 14, I set about trying to salvage something from my disastrous start.
I caught up to a trio comprising a Lexus, a Subaru and a Merc at the end of lap 3. An attempt to make a pass down the home straight failed as the three had formed a slipstream train, but I was able to follow the Merc and Subaru through turn 1 as they went up the inside of the Lexus, giving me 17th.
I lingered behind the pair for a lap before captialising on the Subaru muscling his way past the Merc at turn 1. I immediately followed up by taking the inside into turn 3 to pass the Subaru.
I pulled away from the duo and caught up to a pack of four busy fighting a few laps later, with a Peugeot breaking off from the pack to dive into the pits. Now reaching the end of my stint, I catch a Mazda napping into turn 6 and dove up the inside. He turned in on me, but I managed to get away with 12th in hand.
Pitting on lap 9 for new Softs, I came out 18th behind the Peugeot that had stopped earlier. As I crossed the line to start lap 11, a Hyundai pulled out of the pits. Noting his exit and assuming that he would stay on the inside into turn 1, I hit my braking point as planned only to see the Hyundai suddenly swerve across the pit exit line and directly into my braking zone. What happened next was... predictable.
Unsurprisingly, the blur sotong in the Hyundai got punted for his total lack of awareness and wound up ploughing into the unlucky Peugeot. The Peugeot and I ended up getting ahead of the Hyundai while he was floundering about.
After passing someone in the pits, I caught up to a trio of Hard runners, including the Merc that had punted me off at turn 1 lap 1. With the tyre advantage, I made mincemeat of all three before setting off to hunt down 10th, who had a massive lead on me but was clearly on dead tyres.
As it turned out, 10th was a Corvette running a no stop on Mediums. Despite his tyres being toast, he beat me to the line by 3.4 seconds, leaving me to settle for a useless 11th for 121 points, two places short of my target. Oh well.
Results
I finished within the top 200 for Nations and the top 400 for Manufacturers. Solid results all round.
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- 5,762
- USA
- TPC_Raccooon23
- CRaccoon23
Americas Manufacturers Round 2 - 210 points, Door #7
A bit late with this race report, so I’ll try to keep it brief.
I was once again joined in this lobby with @KosmoKazi, as well as @Q8Racer7.
Qualified P7 after going off at 130R, which was quite frustrating. I could've started in the top 5 if I hadn't screwed it up, but it still wasn't as bad as my qualifying at Dragon Trail last round at least. I decided to start on Hards.
The first half of the race was almost like pulling teeth. The WRX felt similar to the Veyron going through the esses on Hards. Although thanks to 4WD, I did have an edge exiting the hairpin after going under the bridge. Because of how much I was struggling with the car, @KosmoKazi, who was on Mediums, soon caught up to me. A wheel went slightly off at the esses on lap 6, allowing @KosmoKazi an opportunity to get around me, which I think was for the better as I was just holding him up.
My Hard tire stint mercifully came to an end on lap 9 when I went into the pits for Mediums and I came out in P9. Got back up to 7th on lap 12 from those who pitted later. Things were going smoothly until lap 14, when I encountered a Viper on Hards that was clearly struggling. I was pretty much on this guy's bumper for two whole laps but he went wide exiting the esses, allowing me to finally slip past. For the remainder of the race, I was able to defend my position from a 650S.
A bit late with this race report, so I’ll try to keep it brief.
I was once again joined in this lobby with @KosmoKazi, as well as @Q8Racer7.
Qualified P7 after going off at 130R, which was quite frustrating. I could've started in the top 5 if I hadn't screwed it up, but it still wasn't as bad as my qualifying at Dragon Trail last round at least. I decided to start on Hards.
The first half of the race was almost like pulling teeth. The WRX felt similar to the Veyron going through the esses on Hards. Although thanks to 4WD, I did have an edge exiting the hairpin after going under the bridge. Because of how much I was struggling with the car, @KosmoKazi, who was on Mediums, soon caught up to me. A wheel went slightly off at the esses on lap 6, allowing @KosmoKazi an opportunity to get around me, which I think was for the better as I was just holding him up.
My Hard tire stint mercifully came to an end on lap 9 when I went into the pits for Mediums and I came out in P9. Got back up to 7th on lap 12 from those who pitted later. Things were going smoothly until lap 14, when I encountered a Viper on Hards that was clearly struggling. I was pretty much on this guy's bumper for two whole laps but he went wide exiting the esses, allowing me to finally slip past. For the remainder of the race, I was able to defend my position from a 650S.
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- 1,996
- United Kingdom
- jdeviant1983
Had stayed away from the Mustang all game as I had just assumed loud on the straights, useless in the corners but to my surprise it's recently become one of my favourites to drive. Good acceleration and straight line speed of course, but very agile in the corners and carries speed exceptionally through turn in to exit. Clocking a 1:12.583 for Autopolis in some runs this morning, half a second up on the Corvette and TT and a good while ahead of the M4 and Viper, I'm going to go with this for todays races.
Not quite decided on the livery yet (and god help me on GT7 I will make sure to note who made what and give proper credit)
Not quite decided on the livery yet (and god help me on GT7 I will make sure to note who made what and give proper credit)
- 2,783
- New Plymouth
Just ram 2 slots of Nations in Oceania. Both a total mess. Slot 1 I did a messy qualifying, but got a great start and drove well. Made a few minor mistakes and then got into a tight battle. Which ended up with me taking out the guy in front while thinking I had made a solid move and left space. Upon review I didn't. So drama ensued. But cleared up in a very messy fashion as we watched the replay.
Second slot I again have a dodgy qualy but get a good start. I'm battling to get into the top ten when I start trying trying play nice instead of being aggressive. Nearly every move ended up pushing me backwards and then a guy was unghosting on the racing line, I swerved to avoid him when he swerved to get off the line, and promptly dropped to near slow and lost 2 seconds. Ended up dropping yet another spot to end up p15 or so. Dropped from 128 points first slot to 115 or so second slot, but was better sorted as I didn't accidentally wreck anyone this time.
This race sucks, creates chaos and is a mess. But if you get a solid start you can have a good race for decent points. Just have to be far more aggressive than is normally acceptable to make stuff stick and really brings out the worst in people.
Second slot I again have a dodgy qualy but get a good start. I'm battling to get into the top ten when I start trying trying play nice instead of being aggressive. Nearly every move ended up pushing me backwards and then a guy was unghosting on the racing line, I swerved to avoid him when he swerved to get off the line, and promptly dropped to near slow and lost 2 seconds. Ended up dropping yet another spot to end up p15 or so. Dropped from 128 points first slot to 115 or so second slot, but was better sorted as I didn't accidentally wreck anyone this time.
This race sucks, creates chaos and is a mess. But if you get a solid start you can have a good race for decent points. Just have to be far more aggressive than is normally acceptable to make stuff stick and really brings out the worst in people.
- 1,720
- Australia
Final slot in Oceania was the most toxic FIA I have been in for a long time. I was in the same lobby as @pennanton and managed Q17 because it was a strong lobby and I am slow on this track.
Didn’t matter much as I got punted to Narnia at T1 and the replay makes it very clear it was deliberate. DFL by a couple of seconds. Made my way back up to the back of the pack and cars were going off everywhere. Just an extraordinary amount of punting, shoving and diving.
I sat behind 3 cars belting the absolute life out of each other and eventually took advantage of their battle to get past all three at the first hairpin. Then the 4C among them pushes back past on the sweeping left hander. I tack on to his tail and we do a lap in formation before I get punted at the final hairpin and into the back of him. That triggers the most petulant tantrum from him I have ever seen in the game. He punts me, drives me off, brake checks me and pit maneuvers me non stop for the last 2 laps. And this is an A+ driver in an SR99 lobby.
I will post video later, but it was utterly extraordinary. When I watched the replay there were at least 4 drivers who spent the whole race driving as dirty as possible. Shameful.
Didn’t matter much as I got punted to Narnia at T1 and the replay makes it very clear it was deliberate. DFL by a couple of seconds. Made my way back up to the back of the pack and cars were going off everywhere. Just an extraordinary amount of punting, shoving and diving.
I sat behind 3 cars belting the absolute life out of each other and eventually took advantage of their battle to get past all three at the first hairpin. Then the 4C among them pushes back past on the sweeping left hander. I tack on to his tail and we do a lap in formation before I get punted at the final hairpin and into the back of him. That triggers the most petulant tantrum from him I have ever seen in the game. He punts me, drives me off, brake checks me and pit maneuvers me non stop for the last 2 laps. And this is an A+ driver in an SR99 lobby.
I will post video later, but it was utterly extraordinary. When I watched the replay there were at least 4 drivers who spent the whole race driving as dirty as possible. Shameful.
- 1,996
- United Kingdom
- jdeviant1983
Well it's a good job I ran a couple of Interlagos races while waiting for this to start as the practice came in useful as well as acclimatising to the ruckus.
Qualified 9th but there was 3 tenths to pole, with not much more time to find and no real way to stretch your legs, the opening laps were total chaos. Interlagos but squished really tiny 😂
After the rough and tumble and the race spaces out it's pretty much a slog to the finish, not the most flowing or interesting of tracks at all.
Looked like a spanish 1-2-3 (no comment) until one of them span it out with a lap or so left, so I jumped to 3rd, happy to grab that and move on.
Qualified 9th but there was 3 tenths to pole, with not much more time to find and no real way to stretch your legs, the opening laps were total chaos. Interlagos but squished really tiny 😂
After the rough and tumble and the race spaces out it's pretty much a slog to the finish, not the most flowing or interesting of tracks at all.
Looked like a spanish 1-2-3 (no comment) until one of them span it out with a lap or so left, so I jumped to 3rd, happy to grab that and move on.
- 2,938
- Derby, UK
- TPC_Abarber95
Well that went surprisingly well. Qualified in P3 0.001 behind second and 0.068 behind first. I was purple going into the last corner but outbraked myself very slightly. Start went well as a was on the inside I managed to get into second place quickly. From there I had a really good and clean race long battle with the Frenchman who started P2 for second place. Second overall at the end for 164 points.
- 627
- East Yorkshire
- Zorzil
Today's race felt a little like a story with an unexpected redemption arc and an appropriately-themed livery.
I was off the pace in qualifying, just couldn't hook it all up. I'd managed a 1:11.2 in free practice but my consistency was very shoddy. I was almost about to start near the back until I did a 1:11.716 for P14. I had a fantastic launch off the line and gained a few positions, then immediately lost them all again at turn 1 after receiving a small hit with me on the outside.
I had my fears about this one looking at the combo and the comments others have made above, but having never actually raced on Autopolis Short before I wasn't 100% certain what to expect. But yeah, it's an all-out melee. If you haven't done it yet, be prepared to get your elbows all the way out. There will be divebombs, there will be pushing. It's going to be a fight for survival... which is where my Squid Game livery comes in.
I managed to work my way up to P9 by the start of lap 4 due to incidents happening all around on the way and then a big gap emerged behind. That became P8 at the start of lap 5 after a Spaniard in a Subaru overshot the last hairpin and then did a beautiful ghosted pirouette back across the track.
Fast forward to lap 9 and the gap behind vanished due to a Portuguese driver in another Subaru that appeared to have been pushed off in the sector 2 complex and then rejoined the track sideways right in front of me (see YouTube thumbnail below). In a way I'm kind of glad the penalty system isn't working because I imagine it would have hit me hard for being the last person to make contact with the Portuguese driver even though I was an innocent bystander. I lost a couple of positions from that too.
I eventually got them back though, finishing P6 in the end for 162 points. One-and-done for sure. And then the real mystery, I got a clean race bonus after all of that as well!
New PB on my DR too, 43.6k. 
I was off the pace in qualifying, just couldn't hook it all up. I'd managed a 1:11.2 in free practice but my consistency was very shoddy. I was almost about to start near the back until I did a 1:11.716 for P14. I had a fantastic launch off the line and gained a few positions, then immediately lost them all again at turn 1 after receiving a small hit with me on the outside.
I had my fears about this one looking at the combo and the comments others have made above, but having never actually raced on Autopolis Short before I wasn't 100% certain what to expect. But yeah, it's an all-out melee. If you haven't done it yet, be prepared to get your elbows all the way out. There will be divebombs, there will be pushing. It's going to be a fight for survival... which is where my Squid Game livery comes in.
I managed to work my way up to P9 by the start of lap 4 due to incidents happening all around on the way and then a big gap emerged behind. That became P8 at the start of lap 5 after a Spaniard in a Subaru overshot the last hairpin and then did a beautiful ghosted pirouette back across the track.
Fast forward to lap 9 and the gap behind vanished due to a Portuguese driver in another Subaru that appeared to have been pushed off in the sector 2 complex and then rejoined the track sideways right in front of me (see YouTube thumbnail below). In a way I'm kind of glad the penalty system isn't working because I imagine it would have hit me hard for being the last person to make contact with the Portuguese driver even though I was an innocent bystander. I lost a couple of positions from that too.
I eventually got them back though, finishing P6 in the end for 162 points. One-and-done for sure. And then the real mystery, I got a clean race bonus after all of that as well!
New PB on my DR too, 43.6k.
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- 2,522
- Scotland
- stpatty
Based on my one race the last time this came up and my two attempts today it's clear that qualifying well is the most important thing you can do. Or if you start somewhere down the order just wait for people to take each other out, so it's no big deal.
Started 13th in my first attempt, one place ahead of the guy who was on pole the last time at this race. Survived turn 1 then going into the hairpin I got excited and just went clean off the track on my own. Went down to 20th and then a few laps later hit a guy having a moment at the final corner to put me at even more of a disadvantage to the cars around me. I ended up finishing 9th with 6th basically right in front of me, so it was obvious there was more pace to come. I was #2 in this race, the field was mostly split between Subarus and Megane Trophies with a few randoms thrown in.
Second attempt I was #17 and it was a 278 point race, which might be the highest I've ever been in. Started 14th and I made up one place at turn 1, with another on the exit. Made up another through the next corner. Got up to 10th by the end of the lap, then the Brit I passed at the last corner decided to go for a move into turn 1, slowing us both down and cutting us off from slipstream of the group ahead.
That didn't matter of course because it's a short track and Gr.4, so separation is practically impossible. On lap 5 I ended up back in 10th with the Brit and a Spaniard in front of me. Both of them were pretty clueless in the race - the Spaniard went as defensive as possible at near enough every corner, the British guy put his cars in places that served no purpose. The long left hander after the hairpin? Why not try and go round the outside of me, you're not going to get past and you're only slowing me down. gg.
Start of lap 6 the Spaniard goes very defensive into turn 1 and as I move across to the left I clip the grass and end up overtaking him with a skid. We squabble a bit for a few corners and by the end of the hairpin I'm back in 9th. I go up to 8th by the end of the lap as someone really gets sent to the Shadow Realm at the last corner. At the end of lap 7 the Brit goes wide at the last corner on his own and we're finally free - he ended up finishing last, and the tyre wear on his Subaru was awful.
On lap 8 the Spaniard forces his way through at the start of sector 2, but 5th and 6th are fighting enough that it's clear we're going to be within range. By the end of lap 8 we're all close and going into the last corner they're all slow enough that a French guy in an Alfa sends it up my inside. At the start of lap 10 I'm in 9th with 5th a bit further ahead, and three wide in front of me for most of the lap, although one of them had a penalty which got rid of him by the end.
At the end of lap 11 I got up to 7th through the last corner. At turn 1 on lap 7 I got bumped from behind into the Spaniard in front but there were enough cars for the resulting concertina to not lose me any ground. By the start of lap 13 the Alfa was pretty clear in 5th and the Spaniard was going very defensive into turn 1. We survived and then as he went defensive into the start of sector 2 he did what I had done in my first race, missed his braking completely and went off the track. Went down to 13th. I was quite happy at this point, although looking back at the replay he wasn't quite as stupid as I accused him of being in the post-race chat.
I ended up cruising home in 6th for my best ever non-SSRX points finish:
My advice for anyone still to race: Just don't drive like a dick and you'll probably be fine. It seems like as time goes on more people will drive the Subaru (I think there were 16 of them in my second race) but I really prefer the Renault, it's noticeably better in the middle sector and first corner, so bear that in mind.
Started 13th in my first attempt, one place ahead of the guy who was on pole the last time at this race. Survived turn 1 then going into the hairpin I got excited and just went clean off the track on my own. Went down to 20th and then a few laps later hit a guy having a moment at the final corner to put me at even more of a disadvantage to the cars around me. I ended up finishing 9th with 6th basically right in front of me, so it was obvious there was more pace to come. I was #2 in this race, the field was mostly split between Subarus and Megane Trophies with a few randoms thrown in.
Second attempt I was #17 and it was a 278 point race, which might be the highest I've ever been in. Started 14th and I made up one place at turn 1, with another on the exit. Made up another through the next corner. Got up to 10th by the end of the lap, then the Brit I passed at the last corner decided to go for a move into turn 1, slowing us both down and cutting us off from slipstream of the group ahead.
That didn't matter of course because it's a short track and Gr.4, so separation is practically impossible. On lap 5 I ended up back in 10th with the Brit and a Spaniard in front of me. Both of them were pretty clueless in the race - the Spaniard went as defensive as possible at near enough every corner, the British guy put his cars in places that served no purpose. The long left hander after the hairpin? Why not try and go round the outside of me, you're not going to get past and you're only slowing me down. gg.
Start of lap 6 the Spaniard goes very defensive into turn 1 and as I move across to the left I clip the grass and end up overtaking him with a skid. We squabble a bit for a few corners and by the end of the hairpin I'm back in 9th. I go up to 8th by the end of the lap as someone really gets sent to the Shadow Realm at the last corner. At the end of lap 7 the Brit goes wide at the last corner on his own and we're finally free - he ended up finishing last, and the tyre wear on his Subaru was awful.
On lap 8 the Spaniard forces his way through at the start of sector 2, but 5th and 6th are fighting enough that it's clear we're going to be within range. By the end of lap 8 we're all close and going into the last corner they're all slow enough that a French guy in an Alfa sends it up my inside. At the start of lap 10 I'm in 9th with 5th a bit further ahead, and three wide in front of me for most of the lap, although one of them had a penalty which got rid of him by the end.
At the end of lap 11 I got up to 7th through the last corner. At turn 1 on lap 7 I got bumped from behind into the Spaniard in front but there were enough cars for the resulting concertina to not lose me any ground. By the start of lap 13 the Alfa was pretty clear in 5th and the Spaniard was going very defensive into turn 1. We survived and then as he went defensive into the start of sector 2 he did what I had done in my first race, missed his braking completely and went off the track. Went down to 13th. I was quite happy at this point, although looking back at the replay he wasn't quite as stupid as I accused him of being in the post-race chat.
I ended up cruising home in 6th for my best ever non-SSRX points finish:
My advice for anyone still to race: Just don't drive like a dick and you'll probably be fine. It seems like as time goes on more people will drive the Subaru (I think there were 16 of them in my second race) but I really prefer the Renault, it's noticeably better in the middle sector and first corner, so bear that in mind.
- 688
- Croatia
- NekoPuffer_PPP
A rather monotonous yet oddly stressful race. All I had to do was be consistent...my biggest weakness...but I managed.
Qualified 4th, got through T1 on the outside and got into 3rd by some miracle. A good start off the line and late braking did the trick, plus a little luck of course... The Evo messed up the 2nd corner so I jumped up the inside, staying on their side into the hairpin, 2nd place easily secured. I made a mess of the final corner and the leader just managed to get away from me...and I was unable to catch them for the rest of the race. I got the fastest lap of the race though, on lap 7.
Overall largely unexciting but I'm happy with the result.
TV Cam:
(livery in video description)
Qualified 4th, got through T1 on the outside and got into 3rd by some miracle. A good start off the line and late braking did the trick, plus a little luck of course... The Evo messed up the 2nd corner so I jumped up the inside, staying on their side into the hairpin, 2nd place easily secured. I made a mess of the final corner and the leader just managed to get away from me...and I was unable to catch them for the rest of the race. I got the fastest lap of the race though, on lap 7.
Overall largely unexciting but I'm happy with the result.
TV Cam:
(livery in video description)
- 2,360
- UK
- TPC_Watto
I was in this race. Kinda. Qualified 7th, pushed off at T1 and down to 19th. I was going to finish 16th until coming up to the last corner of the penultimate lap and there's no less than 4 cars in the gravel. Finished 12th minimising the DR loss.
My day so far : 3 times 17th, disco'd 4th slot which is a pity because @Hasnain282 was there!
Shared the track (well, not really close) with @Lost Sheltie in the 1st slot, congrats on your podium !
Pushed off track in the first 3 slots while in 5th-8th. Guys just can't stand being overtaken... Let's hope the last slot will be good to me !
Shared the track (well, not really close) with @Lost Sheltie in the 1st slot, congrats on your podium !
Pushed off track in the first 3 slots while in 5th-8th. Guys just can't stand being overtaken... Let's hope the last slot will be good to me !
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- 1,072
- Behind you
Looks like I made the right decision to avoid this, but good luck to all those masochists trying.
- 2,463
- United Kingdom
- Hasnain282
Went in with about 10 mins practice so wasn't expecting much. Only 13 people made it in which was probably fortunate for me. Qualified P10, there was more time in there probably but I wouldn't say I made any major mistakes in the lap.
In terms of the race I was barely keeping up though it was a pretty clean race for the most part but it was only P9 in the end
Replay
In terms of the race I was barely keeping up though it was a pretty clean race for the most part but it was only P9 in the end
Replay
- 2,034
- Bristol, UK
- OJBrit
Well this was a waste of time in the end. At the end of each of my 3 qualifying laps I went P12 and that is where I started. I got a good launch and was P9 going into turn 3. Along came the wrecking balls and I was nudged wide and round the car went. DFL.
Luckily others came into misfortune and I gained places in the next laps. I got stuck behind a RCZ. I caught through the twisty bits but lost out along the straight. This allowed a fellow Megane to close. The punted me at the penultimate corner and I was forceful back through the last corner. They barged me narrow granting me a penalty. I went off again and could not make up the time and was barged again for luck in the final corner of the race. P20 in the dirtiest race I have experienced for some time. Of course the idiot Frenchie and South African ran before I could let them know my displeasure. Bring on the Manu. Urgh!
Luckily others came into misfortune and I gained places in the next laps. I got stuck behind a RCZ. I caught through the twisty bits but lost out along the straight. This allowed a fellow Megane to close. The punted me at the penultimate corner and I was forceful back through the last corner. They barged me narrow granting me a penalty. I went off again and could not make up the time and was barged again for luck in the final corner of the race. P20 in the dirtiest race I have experienced for some time. Of course the idiot Frenchie and South African ran before I could let them know my displeasure. Bring on the Manu. Urgh!
Went again, got pole, finished 5th after being pushed into the gravel at T1 lap 11 by a french guy, making me lose 3 spots (2 to 5).My day so far : 3 times 17th, disco'd 4th slot which is a pity because @Hasnain282 was there!
Shared the track (well, not really close) with @Lost Sheltie in the 1st slot, congrats on your podium !
Pushed off track in the first 3 slots while in 5th-8th. Guys just can't stand being overtaken... Let's hope the last slot will be good to me !
He used the "Sorry" codec after the race which led to this amusing dialog:
"If you're sorry, wait for me"
"I was gonna do it but you fell too far back"
"What a great logic"
"That's racing it happens bye"
244 points and I'm unhappy, I had the pace for 300. But I also have to say that I don't know how to defend without losing too much time, I'm always scared of a divebomb so I park it on the apex, compromising my exit speed :/
Good luck to the guys in America, good night to the others!
- 726
- Rotterdam
- mcl-1974-2
Manu going to be a rough one too! The first and especially the last corner at Sardenga can cause a lot of havoc and the track limit penalty at the last corner section will also provide a nice target for punters; all they have to do is put one in the gravel there and the victim will likely get a 2 to 4 second penalty as a nice bonus. The track itself is a lot of fun though, provided you get some free space. I did a lobby race earlier today and went from 7th to 3rd and all i had to do was avoid any carnage, and there was quite some of that. The first lap and a halve were quite tough, after i had a bit of a gap to the cars behind me i could just settle and concentrate on my laps and slowly get away, not being able to keep up with the guys in front of me.
I am preparing myself for a very aggresive race, and it might be a fun one too. Then again it might very well be a horrible one...
- 895
- Due West of Europe
- 255
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
Nations Cup at Autopolis short, decided to use the Megane Trophy. I was 4 and a half tenths quicker in TT than when we had this same combo in the official season, and half a sec off the top 10 stars, so pace was decent.
CSA Slot 1, door #10 on split 2, worth 252 points. Qualifying was a big mess, first lap I lost a lot of time as the two guys ahead start battling for position during their flying laps...
Second lap, guy in front slams the brakes in the middle of the racing line after a mistake, I ran into him, get an SR down and my lap ruined. Was again held up in my final lap, and to make things worse, I just cut the final turn and invalidated the lap. Qualified P15, disaster.
Gained a place off the line due to the good start of the Megane, then picked up a few more by just being careful and letting other drivers fight for the same piece of track and tangle with each other in the first corners. Then gained a few more from incidents ahead or drivers going off.
With the top 5 gone, I was now in a 4-5 car group battling for 6th. Tried to work together but there was one Brazilian who kept trying to outbrake everyone every corner. 2 or 3 times I had to move out of the way to avoid getting punted and he then wiped out another guy that was next to me... Luckily, I then managed to drop him off my slipstream.
A Brazilian in another Megane passed me as I went a little bit wide into the final hairpin, and we then both passed a WRX up to 6th and 7th. I wanted to remain in his slip and battle at the end, but I ended up just losing it and was just unable to get it back. Gap remained at around 9 tenths to 1.1s, I was as quick as him, but not quicker, so I didn't manage to catch him.
P7 at the end, 189 points. Even though I lost many seconds stuck in traffic which I shouldn't have with a good qualifying, the top 5 were probably quicker than me, so I don't think I could have finished a lot higher up.
While I think I could have scored more, decided not to go again this time. Checked out a little bit of Fraga's stream and he was racing slot 2 against many of the guys I had just raced, so I was likely to either be in top split (where it would have been tough to improve my points) or in a much lower rated split 2 (where I would have had to win or so). Considering this race is quite carnegy and the splits situation, I think it was a good choice.
On the bright side, being a bit disappointed with close to 200 points is not something that would have happened a few months ago, so making good progress.
CSA Slot 1, door #10 on split 2, worth 252 points. Qualifying was a big mess, first lap I lost a lot of time as the two guys ahead start battling for position during their flying laps...
Second lap, guy in front slams the brakes in the middle of the racing line after a mistake, I ran into him, get an SR down and my lap ruined. Was again held up in my final lap, and to make things worse, I just cut the final turn and invalidated the lap. Qualified P15, disaster.Gained a place off the line due to the good start of the Megane, then picked up a few more by just being careful and letting other drivers fight for the same piece of track and tangle with each other in the first corners. Then gained a few more from incidents ahead or drivers going off.
With the top 5 gone, I was now in a 4-5 car group battling for 6th. Tried to work together but there was one Brazilian who kept trying to outbrake everyone every corner. 2 or 3 times I had to move out of the way to avoid getting punted and he then wiped out another guy that was next to me... Luckily, I then managed to drop him off my slipstream.
A Brazilian in another Megane passed me as I went a little bit wide into the final hairpin, and we then both passed a WRX up to 6th and 7th. I wanted to remain in his slip and battle at the end, but I ended up just losing it and was just unable to get it back. Gap remained at around 9 tenths to 1.1s, I was as quick as him, but not quicker, so I didn't manage to catch him.
P7 at the end, 189 points. Even though I lost many seconds stuck in traffic which I shouldn't have with a good qualifying, the top 5 were probably quicker than me, so I don't think I could have finished a lot higher up.
While I think I could have scored more, decided not to go again this time. Checked out a little bit of Fraga's stream and he was racing slot 2 against many of the guys I had just raced, so I was likely to either be in top split (where it would have been tough to improve my points) or in a much lower rated split 2 (where I would have had to win or so). Considering this race is quite carnegy and the splits situation, I think it was a good choice.
On the bright side, being a bit disappointed with close to 200 points is not something that would have happened a few months ago, so making good progress.
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- 1,492
- United States
- equus_ferrum
Slot 1: Once again I was immediately thrown in Top Split, as door #20. I qualified 17th, which was honestly higher than I was expecting...
The WRX was actually a sitting duck in the middle of the pack like that, because it has to brake so much earlier for the corners than the 4C and Slophy. It's especially noticeable at the hairpin, and I'm completely defenseless there. If I hug the inside, I get punted because the car behind isn't expecting someone to brake so early; if I stay on the racing line, I lose position anyway since the car behind can likely throw it up the inside by being able to brake so much later. Ultimately I ruined my own race by running wide out of T1 and ended up finishing 19th and last of the cars running, but at best I might've had 15th so it didn't really make a difference.
Slot 2: Skipped
Slot 3: I entered a much reduced Top Split this time as door #7. Some of the names in this race were normally noticeably quicker than me, but there were enough people at my DR or lower that I figured I could still get a decent finish. In qualifying, I was the 4th car to be released onto the track, and by the end of the lap had made my way to the front to be the first to start their timed laps. Fortunately I'd broken the slipstream to those giving chase, and after everyone had done their first laps, I was on pole. For the rest of the qualifying session, no one could beat my time - not even me 🤣 , although someone did close to within 0.098s.
At the start, the 2nd and 3rd place qualifiers BOTH jumped the start, and another WRX that started 5th jumped up to 2nd by T1. The resulting gap after the start meant I'd already broken the slipstream and went unchallenged for the rest of the race to do a repeat of the result I got the last time we raced this combo earlier in the year: a 3rd slot, lights-to-flag win-from-pole in the WRX (though I didn't get fastest lap this time). 2 Slophies in 2nd and 3rd were lapping slightly faster than me, and brought the gap down from over 2s to just over 1s at the finish. Truth be told, in addition to the great start, I also got lucky that the biggest threat to my chance at a win ended up tangling with the 2nd-place WRX and got dumped down the order early in the race. If it hadn't been for my 309-point result at last week's SSRX lottery, this would've been my best ever points haul under the current points system (my last win at this combo was worth "only" 246). My DR is also at an all-time high at 63.5k, which probably means I'm now doomed to being stuck in Top Split in Nation's for the rest of eternity, where even the drivers in the middle of that DR range are easily 10k higher than me...
The WRX was actually a sitting duck in the middle of the pack like that, because it has to brake so much earlier for the corners than the 4C and Slophy. It's especially noticeable at the hairpin, and I'm completely defenseless there. If I hug the inside, I get punted because the car behind isn't expecting someone to brake so early; if I stay on the racing line, I lose position anyway since the car behind can likely throw it up the inside by being able to brake so much later. Ultimately I ruined my own race by running wide out of T1 and ended up finishing 19th and last of the cars running, but at best I might've had 15th so it didn't really make a difference.
Slot 2: Skipped
Slot 3: I entered a much reduced Top Split this time as door #7. Some of the names in this race were normally noticeably quicker than me, but there were enough people at my DR or lower that I figured I could still get a decent finish. In qualifying, I was the 4th car to be released onto the track, and by the end of the lap had made my way to the front to be the first to start their timed laps. Fortunately I'd broken the slipstream to those giving chase, and after everyone had done their first laps, I was on pole. For the rest of the qualifying session, no one could beat my time - not even me 🤣 , although someone did close to within 0.098s.
At the start, the 2nd and 3rd place qualifiers BOTH jumped the start, and another WRX that started 5th jumped up to 2nd by T1. The resulting gap after the start meant I'd already broken the slipstream and went unchallenged for the rest of the race to do a repeat of the result I got the last time we raced this combo earlier in the year: a 3rd slot, lights-to-flag win-from-pole in the WRX (though I didn't get fastest lap this time). 2 Slophies in 2nd and 3rd were lapping slightly faster than me, and brought the gap down from over 2s to just over 1s at the finish. Truth be told, in addition to the great start, I also got lucky that the biggest threat to my chance at a win ended up tangling with the 2nd-place WRX and got dumped down the order early in the race. If it hadn't been for my 309-point result at last week's SSRX lottery, this would've been my best ever points haul under the current points system (my last win at this combo was worth "only" 246). My DR is also at an all-time high at 63.5k, which probably means I'm now doomed to being stuck in Top Split in Nation's for the rest of eternity, where even the drivers in the middle of that DR range are easily 10k higher than me...
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