Bridgestone Tour. FINISHED!

[Kermit_2142]

Balls deep

 

[El_Beardo]

Alright guys, proposals for a follow up series below. Track schedule will not change, as they'll both be Asia centric. Fuel/tyre multipliers will remain x1, as I really do like the full length sprint race format.

1. Aston Martin Asia Cup.
Aston Martin Vantage Gr.4.
BoP - 410bhp (103%) - 1350kg (100%)
All races on Racing Hards.

2. Audi R8 LMS Cup.
Audi R8 LMS Gr.3.
BoP - 550bhp (94%) 1225kg (100%)
All races on Racing Mediums.

Ballast.
To hopefully try and keep things interesting/close at the sharp end, I'm proposing a ballast system, as follows.

1st place + 3% weight.
2nd place + 2% weight
3rd place + 1% weight.

Ballast will continue to be added, to a maximum of 105%.

Should a driver with ballast finish off the podium, the ballast will be removed for the next race. However, to discourage intentional 4th place finishes, the scoring system will run as below.

1. 35
2. 30
3. 25
4. 20
5. 18
6. 16
7. 14

Feedback on the ballast system is encouraged. As are your thoughts on which car you'd all prefer to use for a season.

Personally, I'm liking the idea of the R8. But, that's mostly because I've only tested the Aston at one circuit.

 

[RacingGrandpa]

I'd happily run the R8 for a race or two but for a series I would prefer the Aston.
Ballast is a great idea, similar to many real race series.

 

[Kermit_2142]

Your series, your rules....

I like the idea of ballast, as long as it’s not overly harsh on the fastest guys (ie max, mistah and co) as I don’t think it’s fair. However I think I would say if you did go the ballast route, if finish off the podium you only lose 1% of ballast at a time, not the whole lot in one go??. That would create a more consistent car and stop a driver yoyoing from 1st to 4th???

As for car preference I’ll race anything to be honest; however my concern with the r8 is the way it’s setup it’s less than friendly by PD. Maybe you could allow tuning so at least people could make it more reliable/easier to drive if they wanted??
The vantage gr4 I’m not a huge fan of, the group 3 is a tonne of fun though.

Looking forward to Laguna in 2 weeks and the next season, I’ve had a blast racing with you guys

Edit: instead of adding weight, you could give everyone outside the top 3 more power 1% per position all down the grid...
Also think I’m correct that the field has been closer using gr3, where gr4 has ended up more spread out...
You could allow partial tuning, for example suspension and lsd only. That would keep cars even but tuneable

 

[RacingGrandpa]

I missed that little thing, gr4.... In that case the R8

 

[El_Beardo]

I'd happily run the R8 for a race or two but for a series I would prefer the Aston.
Ballast is a great idea, similar to many real race series.

I like the idea of ballast, as long as it’s not overly harsh on the fastest guys (ie max, mistah and co) as I don’t think it’s fair. However I think I would say if you did go the ballast route, if finish off the podium you only lose 1% of ballast at a time, not the whole lot in one go??. That would create a more consistent car and stop a driver yoyoing from 1st to 4th???

As for car preference I’ll race anything to be honest; however my concern with the r8 is the way it’s setup it’s less than friendly by PD. Maybe you could allow tuning so at least people could make it more reliable/easier to drive if they wanted??
The vantage gr4 I’m not a huge fan of, the group 3 is a tonne of fun though.

Your ballast removal idea is pretty good. Especially if it's a staged removal. 4th removes 1%. 5th removes 2%, and so on.

Concerns about the R8 are noted. I'd like to stay away from tuning, as not everyone is good at setup. Trying to keep things open to as many people as possible.

Only reason I picked the Gr.4 Aston, is that it ties in nicely with the AMAC series from 07-09. I am happy to run the Gr.3 Vantage. If that makes the AMAC option more appealing. Wiki tells me the car initially runs 600+hp, before GT3 BoP. That could provide some very interesting racing once the tyres are half a race old . .

 

[Kermit_2142]

You could run a couple pre season events, test a few cars out etc.

 

[El_Beardo]

One thing to point out. PD kill the Gr.4 Aston with BoP. Adding power makes it decent fun.

You could run a couple pre season events, test a few cars out etc.

This is a good idea. I'll run a couple through the week, to get some testing down.

 

[Kermit_2142]

Yh tbf I’ve only driven the Aston with bop on.
I’m not sure how you’d ballast part time drivers either.
Plenty to think about!!!

 

[El_Beardo]

I’m not sure how you’d ballast part time drivers either.

If their position dictates ballast, they receive ballast in the next race they do. I think. Unless they're just wildcarding one race . .

But yeah, plenty to think about. This series has given me a lot of insight into things.

 

[DelboyD]

I agree with @Kermit_2142 your series, your rules.

I like the R8. It is twitchy though, even on the mediums. Having said that, I think most people kept it on the road at Fuji a couple of weeks back.

I rarely use the GR4 Aston. Wouldn’t be against a one make series in it though.

Ballast is a good idea. Could tighten things up at the front a little, but we should still have the fastest drivers at the front. The BTCC is good fun to watch, but their ballast rules are too heavy in my opinion.

 

[DelboyD]

I’ll give the GR4 Aston a run at Suzuka with your suggested BoP settings tomorrow morning.

 

[El_Beardo]

Ballast is a good idea. Could tighten things up at the front a little, but we should still have the fastest drivers at the front. The BTCC is good fun to watch, but their ballast rules are too heavy in my opinion.

This is my only concern with ballast in GTS. We can only add a percentage of weight, which really limits things.

Thinking about it, if I do go down the ballast route, I may cap things at 3%. You win, then you carry the full ballast until you lose it. 5% on the Gr.4 Aston, as an example, takes it to about 1420kg.

 

[DelboyD]

This is my only concern with ballast in GTS. We can only add a percentage of weight, which really limits things.

Thinking about it, if I do go down the ballast route, I may cap things at 3%. You win, then you carry the full ballast until you lose it. 5% on the Gr.4 Aston, as an example, takes it to about 1420kg.

The weight amending tool is limited. There is power to play around with too. It could take a season of racing to work out how best to apply ballast!

Looking back on your Bridgestone season so far, there have been battles all though the field at most races. So any ballast rules you introduce for a series don’t need to be too drastic (assuming you have the same drivers joining it).

 

[Kermit_2142]

Just watched the replay, some great battles down the field, worth a watch 👍

PHOTOOOOOOSSSSS;

 

[Mistah_MCA]

That race had me so tired for the rest of the day. It's not often that a race has me stressed out, but this was definitely one of them!
@Kermit_2142 was like a boss-level challenge lol.

 

[DelboyD]

Sunday morning drive at Suzuka in the GR4 Aston. 10 laps in and I'm in the low 2:11s when starting on full tanks. BB at +1 (just a guess as thought it would need some help in the corners).

Car is better with this BoP setting than PD's setting. Gear ratios feel quite long. Car feels stable, even at the hairpin. Not too bad in sector 1. Feels like it needs to be driven smooth. Car is heavy, so I think drivers would feel the success weight ballast if it was added.

 

[Kermit_2142]

That race had me so tired for the rest of the day. It's not often that a race has me stressed out, but this was definitely one of them!
@Kermit_2142 was like a boss-level challenge lol.

I’m really surprised with the result to be honest. My practice didn’t go great and I would’ve taken a top 5 before the race started. Was a great battle, I was watching the radar more than where I was going the 5 laps as I was sure you were just playing with me . P2 in the bag though, happy days!

 

[DelboyD]

Second set of 10 laps of Suzuka in the Aston after walking the dog. BB now at +3. Adjusted my wheel settings slighty too. Car feels better - less understeer. Now into the 2:10s. Starting the race with less fuel, like the Bridgestone Series, would help.

Suzuka. Fuji. Autopolis. Kyoto. Throw in a couple of Tokyo tracks too.

I think a one make series in the Aston using Asian tracks would be good.

Tsukuba prolly too tight for both the Aston and the R8.

 

[Harmy2010]

What ever the cars and track I am happy to join in as long as the start times of the races are after 9pm UK time.

 

[El_Beardo]

Speaking of start times.

Does anyone have any issue starting the final round's quali session 15 mins early?

Edit. Provisional times below.

Lobbies will open at 22:30 UK time. (14:30 PST - 17:30 EST)
Quali will begin at 22:45 UK time. (14:45 PST - 17:45 EST)

 

[O604]

I will not make the last race, sorry.

Reading the above about ballast handicaps made me think. Lately what I do for quick practice with AI is pick a tire compound to even things out. For example, if AI is on RS I use RH. So in a lobby, if faster drivers are on RMs and slower drivers on RS would be about a 2s/lap handicap, which is about the difference between DR A+/A and DR B/C.

 

[AudiMan2011]

Round 9 onboard.

 

[El_Beardo]

Hey guys. I'll be holding practice sessions for the final round every night next week, starting Monday.

 

[El_Beardo]

Just to confirm, guys, we'll be starting quali 15 mins early for the final round, as @Drex124 has a pretty hard finish time.

There will be a 5 minute break between the sprint race, and the main race.

 

[Mistah_MCA]

I asked PX7-Infinite to create a livery for the final round of this league, and he really delivered. Can't wait to use this bad boy!

 

[El_Beardo]

I asked PX7-Infinite to create a livery for the final round of this league, and he really delivered. Can't wait to use this bad boy!

View attachment 923438 View attachment 923437

I need to up my livery game . .

 

[RacingGrandpa]

I need to up my livery game . .

Me too. A major upgrade is definitely needed

 

[The_Tullster]

I need to up my livery game . .

I use the KISS principal (keep it simple stupid).... you may have noticed the theme even though I've only done a few races this series .

 

[Pigems]

Is it the Honda or a Toyota? Or are both allowed?