DiRT 3 Event of the Week (23): CLOSED

  • Thread starter Wiegert
  • 529 comments
  • 37,185 views
Okay I've waited long enough. It's time to play this game.


Edit: Okay I've had enough. Played around in each car and realized I only got 1:54 with the Delta becaus of how stable it was compared to the Impreza or Celica. That would mean I would best that time if I got better control of the subbie since it accelerates faster. So about an hour earlier I had set a time of 1:53.4xx, only to have sat for another hour waiting for a good run that includes the jump at the end... all that only to bring my time down to 1:53.25 (Impreza).

What I want to share is the use of the environment.

-When you make the first right bend into the section where it looks like the road is blocked off on one side (the area just before the first hairpin), you can get around that easier if you turn earlier, letting your car slide into the deep snow to help slow you down. There's another patch of snow just ahead you can use to help brake faster for that hairpin.

-Once you get through the fency area, there's that section where there's a ditch on the left, followed by a patch of snow on the right, and then another dip into deeper snow on the left. There's a trick to getting through this really fast. First, you dip your left wheels into the slope causing it to grip tremendously, and throw your car only so slightly to the left, this should upset the balance of the car throwing it to the right. Then drive in the area between the road and the deep snow. It'll steer your car left immediately. The less flight you take and the less snow you drag through, the faster.

-That icy patch on the road where you will descend into a dip making a right turn is tricky. However, I found that if you don't accelerate when you land the jump, floor it and then turn sharp (where you are roughly in the middle of the road), you can get lots of traction using the banked curve and literally carve through that if you do it right.

-Entering the village, I cut into the snow on the left aiming for the checkpoint sign, and then avoid going too deep in the following snow bank. Before you make that little jump into the intersection, I swerve hard to the right a split second before jumping so the car points about 30 degrees into the turn already and I sled my way through the snow while avoiding the incident of driving in the deep snow for too long.

-Won't comment on the big U-turn on the stone bridge; I got it right once, and never got it again afterwards. On the left turn up the hill following that I brake and throw the car in early to let it drop to 2nd gear and power through that avoiding the bush.

-Once you passed the overhead bridge, made that left turn, there's that bump. If you slid into the left turn and ended up on the left hand side, you can get around this bump smoothly if you quickly point the car to the right (because the next turn is a right turn) and just drive over it. Keep in mind not to hold the wheel for too long because that bump in an instant gives your front tires a sudden change of traction and that will whip your car out sideways if you steer for too long.

-As for the rest of the turns, don't cut into the banks. I've tried too many times and it's not really worth it. On the last turn, if you can time it right and got the right amount of speed, you can cut the last turn by jumping over the loose snow. If you can do this, you won't get held back by the snow. Be careful avoiding the first and last set of 2x4s laying about. I've hit those on 3 really good runs and they it has destroyed all my efforts.



 
Last edited:
1:53.474 - Impreza



I should start off by saying that I pretty much hate driving the Impreza on this stage, and that I only really gained more than 2 seconds over my old time because I turned earlier on most if the corners (as AOS instructed) and the fact that it gets the power down more when exiting corners which meant I could carry more speed over the entire stage.

The Impreza didn't maintain enough stability on the section between the wide right-hander after the first hairpin and the right turn after the bump just before the village. I could get through there easily in the Delta, but the rear end of the Impreza loved to step out enough to make the car fishtail halfway through that section, and getting the entry speed and car direction correct before the jump is key too. I also had more trouble exiting the village because as I turned right just before the jump in preparation for the right turn, the right side would bounce higher than the left, which meant that the landing threw the car off balance and I ended up facing in the wrong direction. It did however manage to negotiate the rest of the stage better than the Delta did, but I really didn't think it was a bearable to drive.

My third fastest run in the Impreza was on course to beat AOS' time (possibly), but I ended up going wide on the hairpin just after the U-turn which slowed me right down. That amount of understeer meant I ended up in the snow on the exit of the corner, plus that was the first and only time such a thing happened to me on this stage. :grumpy:


I would give the other cars a try, but I really need to rest after getting next to no sleep last night (being ill sucks).
 
Last edited:
The Impreza didn't maintain enough stability on the right turn after the bump just before the village. I could get through there easily in the Delta, but the rear end of the Impreza loved to step out enough to make the car fishtail halfway through that section

There's a way around this. :P
 
New Times:

Impreza - 1:55.233 (Likes to bounce and flail a bit, but is the only one I feel in control of.)
Delta - 1:56.991 (Stable, but almost overly so.)
Escort - 1:57.244 (Had the same issue as every other Ford for me, floating rear-end usually resulting in fishtails.)
Celica - 1:56.173 (Very loose, lucky to get this time.)
 
2:02:094 - Delta HF

I've been very busy lately and hadn't had a lot of time to spend playing Dirt3, but I've managed to do 5 laps last Sunday. I'm sure to grab the last place, but I still got a top 5 finish right :)?

I'm still working on the single player right now, but I hope to tackle tomorrows time trial more often than the last one.
 
New Times:

Impreza - 1:55.233 (Likes to bounce and flail a bit, but is the only one I feel in control of.)
Delta - 1:56.991 (Stable, but almost overly so.)
Escort - 1:57.244 (Had the same issue as every other Ford for me, floating rear-end usually resulting in fishtails.)
Celica - 1:56.173 (Very loose, lucky to get this time.)

I felt the Impreza and Celica were the loosest rides available, however they had more potential power through corners than the Delta and Escort. The latter 2 were more stable, making it easier to tackle corners, but that's about all it can do. Once you can take corners stably with the former 2, they will easily rule out the other two on straightaways.
 
1:52.442 – Celica GT-Four



Probably should have gone with my initial plan and use the Celica first. :lol:

This car feels so much more comfortable to drive than the Impreza, although the Celica doesn’t pull away quite as fast as it on some of the slower speed corners. It has noticeably more grip as well, but the lower ride height does make it harder to control on bumpier parts and areas with deeper snow. I think my latest run was better than my previous one in general really.

I nailed pretty much every corner on the stage, apart from the right turn after the village. Basically I turned the car more than I normally do before the jump, and cut the right-hander faster than before, although the car lost stability and as I exited I ended up putting half the car onto the snow bank on the left side of the road. This actually caused the car to bounce violently twice, and no doubt that I lost some time because of it, but I still beat my Impreza time by more than a second. I have to say that it feels better to drive than the Delta too, plus the gear ratios are far better suited for this stage.


Once you can take corners stably with the former 2, they will easily rule out the other two on straightaways.

I decided to give the Escort another spin after setting my time in the Celica, and after the first few turns before reaching the bottom of the hill I was about 3 car lengths behind my ghost. both the Escort and Delta are easier to handle, but they can't compete was the other 2 when it comes to straight-line speed.
 
Didn't have much time to DiRT this week. Used the WRX as it seemed popular and got in about 10 runs.

1:54.099 - WRX
 
Haven't tried the 80s class cars in any event yet, so might as well try them now, and it turns out the stage I picked this week was the one AOS selected exactly one year ago in the first EotW.

I remember this was a bitch to get a fast time on in the S2000 class, plus the 80s rally cars are much slower and more difficult to control. So it should provide a decent challenge.
 
Oh man. I loved playing this one because I would try riding the inside tires on the bumpy edge of the cliff hoping it would pull me through the turns faster. Wouldn't do that IRL. :lol:
 
Opel Manta 400 - 1:48.160
Ford Sierra RS 500 - 1:47.483
Renault 5 Turbo - 1:46.479

The Manta is a bit tail-happy, and it may simply wash-out mid turn, but overall a decent car, just kinda slow. The Sierra was a nice surprise as it was nicely composed throughout the stage, only slipping out where it was expected and coped well with the terrain. Only real issue was the powerband is rather high, so acceleration at low revs is poor, especially with it's long second gear. The Renault has a stiff suspension, so corner clipping is met with sudden jolts if anything changes majorly, but it is still more nimble than the competition. While the gearbox feels the same as the Sierra's, overall acceleration is better, and it holds it's speed especially on the tarmac sections, just be mindful of the mineshafts in the middle of the road.

My baseline run:
BMW M3 Rally - 1:47.639 - What's there to say? It's an M3 for the dirt, and it's a great car. It is, unfortunately in this competition, my 80's main. I just did this one for fun.
 
1:46:706 - Renault 5 Turbo

It's the only car I've tried so far and I ran it with AT. Still not good enough to go with MT, gotta keep improving my dirt3 skills.
I'm gonna try the other cars as well, but I doubt I'll b faster with any other car than the Renault 5 Turbo, because I like it the most out of the 80s car class.
I think I can still shave off a good half second from my current PB, but it will take some effort I guess.
 
1:45.384 - Renault 5 Turbo



First half of the stage is easily tougher to get through than the last half. 80s rally cars on bumpy terrain makes it challenging to keep the car in check, plus throttle control and staying off the bumpier parts of the road help greatly. The right-hander just after the tight left hairpin can be cut of course, but it's tricky to get the car through there fast consistently. Sometimes I would end up swiping the tree on the inside, or spin halfway through the turn, or just balls up the exit and fly over to the other side of the road where the banking is higher.

Avoid spinning the car on the latter hairpin turns and you should get through easily, and try to prevent sliding where possible because these RWD cars are obviously far more temperamental than the majority of 4WD vehicles in DiRT3.

The Manta happened to be slow overall on this stage which wasn't what I expected. I was actually hoping it would be the fastest car in the class after seeing some of the previous results (even though I dislike driving it). The Sierra is relatively stable and rides well, but lacks power out of the corners. I can still post a decent time with it though, but the Renault 5 Turbo outmatches it power-wise, even though it's more likely to lose grip on certain corners.


Oh man. I loved playing this one because I would try riding the inside tires on the bumpy edge of the cliff hoping it would pull me through the turns faster. Wouldn't do that IRL. :lol:

I remember trying that the first time I played on this stage, but after a few tries I decided it wasn't worth the risk. I didn't gain any time from doing so either if I recall.

I play on Auto myself; too lazy to change gears. :P

And yet you post such fast times without using manual? Yeah right. :lol:
 
Sierra RS500 1:45.294
I'm not done yet.

I will take this time to say how much I hate driving Midships offroad.

But I got pretty damn comfortable in the Sierra.

1:43.988..... Automatic...:P
 
Last edited:
No gear changes? Where's the fun in that? :P

I would try using Automatic for this but I'd be shocked if I end up beating my current time.


I wanted to give the Sierra another go when I try and set a time later. It's normally my 80s car of choice, and I did set my first quick time on this stage with it (1:46.6xx), but I wasn't giving it my best shot, admittedly.
 
PSN: driftking18594
Time: 1'45.764
Car: Renault 5 Turbo
 
1:43.954 - Renault 5 Turbo



The Sierra is hell to drive fast on this stage. It's either tons of understeer that results in the car going off into a rock or whatever, or loads of overseer which occurs when you try to counteract the understeer. The pace of the Sierra is far lower than the Renault 5's whenever I try both cars here. The 5 has better traction overall, but it's prone to oversteer so I just knock it up an extra gear in the first few corners to maintain that traction without losing speed or stability. The entry into that right turn after the tight hairpin is where I made up more time. Cut onto the cambered dirt section on the inside a little later than in my previous attempts, and got a smooth, rapid exit as a result.


Also, looking back at previous weeks, I get the impression that I can't drive any Ford quickly at all. I'm just terrible when it comes to setting a decent time in the Fiesta (any class), RS200, Sierra, and I'm not that fast with the Focus either. :lol:
 
Last edited:
The Sierra oversteers more than I like, but it usually oversteers when I turn so I'm expecting it, and I can overcome it by letting go of the accelerator before it happens. It's how I avoid getting any on the first turn. I think we're learning more about the cars than the track here.

So I take it most of us have cut into the dirt slopes on described turn by Wiegert? I've been taking those all the time, and I love taking it because it's easy to tackle, don't have to worry about skidding nor braking.

What about the 2 turns after the gateway that sits just before the turn around the small windmill tower? I'm not braking through it, but I'm turning early with no accelerator initially, and cutting close to the tree. My idea is to take a line that is as straight as possible and I do this by reducing my chances of skidding, without relying on brakes to slow down. Unsure if it's the faster way to go, but I think it might be.

Are you guys cutting through the last turn? On one of my runs, I did cut into the bumpy puddle, and got out of it as if there were no bumps on the surface, so I've been trying to replicate that, but even my submitted time didn't include a smooth exit.
 
Last edited:
Don't think I'm going to make it this week :( I'll see if I can get a couple of runs in on Thursday morning, just to keep up the ritual :)
 
What about the 2 turns after the gateway that sits just before the turn around the small windmill tower? I'm not braking through it, but I'm turning early with no accelerator initially, and cutting close to the tree. My idea is to take a line that is as straight as possible and I do this by reducing my chances of skidding, without relying on brakes to slow down. Unsure if it's the faster way to go, but I think it might be.

I'm slowing down for that without braking, turning in early (but not so much that I end up driving over the raised bank that appears on the inside after the turn), and I was trying to stay close to the tree on the inside of the next corner, but I found that my times weren't much different when I stayed further right on the road. I tend to get a faster run up the hill if I stay a little further away from the inside of the corner too, because of the flatter and grippier surface.

Are you guys cutting through the last turn? On one of my runs, I did cut into the bumpy puddle, and got out of it as if there were no bumps on the surface, so I've been trying to replicate that, but even my submitted time didn't include a smooth exit.

I haven't cut the final turn at all. Not even on my fastest run, but I did put part the car onto the rougher patch of dirt on the inside during an earlier run, and I came out of that smoothly.
 
I haven't cut the final turn at all. Not even on my fastest run, but I did put part the car onto the rougher patch of dirt on the inside during an earlier run, and I came out of that smoothly.

Say Whaaaa? I think I did that in the past and never came out of that in one piece. It's not a smooth curve at all. :indiff:
 
Say Whaaaa? I think I did that in the past and never came out of that in one piece. It's not a smooth curve at all. :indiff:

Seriously? I can pull that pretty easil. Helped greatly as the Renault WOULD NOT cut that final turn for me.
 
Kinda surprised at the lack of competition recently. Hopefully this week we'll see more times being set.


I have the next 2 events planned as well. Normally I choose them a couple of hours before I make it known in the thread, but I tried a few out last night and decided that having those ready a couple of weeks in advance would be easier to do rather than just before the deadline on Friday.
 
Back