DS3 novice here. After about 20 tries, I quit most in the first 3 laps. Finished lower than 5th every time. Then finally...
TCS: 4 (doesn't need any more than that with SRF)
Active Steering: No
ASM: No
Skid Recovery Force (SRF): On [like GTR at Sierra, there to help with rain, here to help with extreme tyre wear?]
Steering sensitivity: 5
Bentley EXP Speed 8 2003
Oil change
Chassis reinforcement
@Highlandor tune for
Bentley with suspension (ii) and a few alterations.
Geared for 350km/h in the slipstream. Will cross 330km/h by itself eventually. You can set for more top speed than this but it would just make me crash into cars and barriers when passing at the end of banked sections.
Changes
Damper extension: 4 2 [think I got this wrong by mistake, lol]
Toe: -0.10 -0.20 [less twitchy]
Brakes: 5 4 [original is 4 5 but this makes turn 1 entry almost impossible!]
LSD: 7 15 7 [TS030 and other LMP tunes have values like this, works for me]
Gearing
[Tranny trick but can't remember what parts I had installed when I did it. Final gear was a large number before changing Max Speed.]
1: 2.975 [help AI pull out of pits]
2: 1.575 [change down to this while entering hairpins but short-shift to 3rd for max torque after the apex]
3: 1.275
4: 1.050
5: 0.875
6: 0.750
Changed up just as it got into the red from 3rd to 6th. Bogs down in 5th if you let it rev any higher. Even earlier changes might be better?
350km/h is rev limiter in 6th. You'll barely get over 330km/h outside of tow.
Power
790bhp straight line for last 30% of rev range.
122kgfm in the middle, halving at an even gradient by max revs.
Limiter: 73.2%
Turbo: High RPM Range Turbo Kit
Body
Full downforce.
Strategy
Go very easy into any turn you often crash at.
For me, this means take an inside-inside-inside line at the turn 1 hairpin. Keep off the banking and brake straight, while still on the oval course. Ease the brake and turn only gently. Coast all the way to the apex, then throttle.
If you also have a 'bogey turn' just brake early and coast through it!
Start
Tyres: Racing Medium
Pit 1
End of lap 5. 8:20 into race as I crossed start/finish line.
Types: Racing Medium
Fuel: 45 litres [random amount, a bit longer than the tyre change]
Track position going in: 1st by less than 10 seconds.
Track position going out: 6th, rammed by TS0
20 but it was square into the gearbox. No penalty and no skid - lucky.
Rear right tyre was at 2 so I
took it very easy with the steering exiting left onto the final 2 sections of banking.
Think I had just over 30% fuel remaining.
Didn't take the proper pit exit because it looks ultra narrow, approaching from a bad angle and control is handed over without notice and too late to use it.
Pescarolo pitted end of lap 8, I was about 2 seconds behind. Phew, turn 1 would have been hectic!
Probably best to stay behind until the straight between hairpins towards the end of infield if you catch on main straight?
Mistake!
Start lap 10 I think about updating the highlights. BAD IDEA! Lose focus into the right-handed hairpin. Brake 10m too late, go 30m into the grass! Slither back to track.
Rejoin at 15:10 into race. Was 37 seconds in the lead.
By the back oval section I'm 31 seconds ahead.
That tiny mistake cost 6 seconds!
You have to drive careful here! It's counter-intuitive but mistakes cost BIG.
Out of fuel!
Coming to end of lap 10, see rear right tyre and front right tyre on 3.
I've used the tyres better this time, probably thanks to running in clear track.
Had already spotted fuel was in the red but it finishes as I exit the final banking which leads to pit entry!
Time is 16:20 into the race. Time for 2nd stop!
Fuel: 50 litres is what I'll do at Pit 1 next time.
Pit 2
End of lap 10. Sorry missed time, would have been about 16:35 as I crossed line.
Tyres: Racing Medium
Fuel: 80 litres [20 + 45 = 65 after Pit 1 but needed 70. Refill with that
plus 10 more to be safe]
2nd place
Lap: 11 approaching bus stop chicane.
I'm just over 5 seconds behind the leader.
The sun rose at the start of this lap 11.
Mistake!
I'm gaining massively on the leader. Then, inevitably, throw it away at the exit of the 2nd left hairpin!
Went onto the yellow kerb, slipped off it and span the car. Rookie error, especially in an endurance race.
Keep focus and don't use all the track limits. Silly Ben!
11 seconds behind as I get onto the banking again.
1st place!
Lap: 13. Time is about 21:30 into the race.
I don't see it happen but at the split exiting onto the main straight bus stop chicane, I'm 30 seconds ahead!
Traffic
Catch up to a Peugeot 908 and an Audi R8.
Try to coast in the tow to save fuel...nearly crash entering the bus stop chicane! Skip between kerb and barrier...and breathe again.
23:00 into the race. 32 seconds ahead.
OK, just keep it simple I think.
Crash!
Lap: 15, time is 23:30 into the race
Jaguar XJR-9 slides wide at the end of wiggly exit of turn 1. Spins back across the track into the side of me.
Guess what? 5 seconds ramming penalty! At least it's a hairpin...
I should have brake, let it spear across the track, then continued.
Like a real race.
Time Up - Mistake!
Flashing red catches my attention as I brake into final left hairpin. Run wide but just barely stay on the tarmac.
Glance across -
all tyres are at 3! Except rear left, which is at 5.
Fuel enters red
Lap: 15, exiting bus stop chicane. Time is 24:30 into the race.
Probably only needed fuel 70 to 75 litres at pit 2, the maths would indicate.
Win by 35 seconds!
Time split at the line is -30.something seconds.
1) Bentley Speed 8 '03 [me]
2) Pescarolo C60 Hybride - Judd '05
3) Bentley Speed 8 '03 [team-mate Bob]
4) Courage - Judd GV5 '04
5) 908KDi FAP - Team Peugeot To...
Patience is a virtue. So is perseverance!
. .......I still think the same...
It wasnt hard with the Sauber and GT-One but with these two, sheesh.
) i might have been able to do it. I guess i'll try again later.
