Endurance Events

  • Thread starter daan
  • 592 comments
  • 132,124 views
Nurburgring 4h Endurance 200PTS

Pal Lineup #9
1. FPV F6 Typhoon '04
2. Fiat Coupe Turbo Plus '00
3. BMW M3 '04
4. Mazda RX-8 Type S (J) '03
5. Mercedes CLK 55 AMG '00
6. Suzuki GSX-R/4 '01 <<< Moi

Settings:
161BHP Settings Screen, 6000+ miles, NOS, N3, 85 Ballast, Aids 10, 10, 3

Now for this race as I was using no downforce, for me anyway driving aids came to the rescue. Without the GSX was as twitchy as hell and all over the place, was not brilliant even with them on but was considerably better. A more skilled driver probably could handle them not on. This lineup was chosen as there is no Opel Speedster, Lotus Elise 111R or Honda NSX which were main contenders in the previous lineups, this one offered some good cars but no real challenge which is what I prefer in an endurance race. :-) Overall this was the best choice for me, I had been looking for ages for a car that could win very easily, I even thought about getting the RAM out of retirement for this one at one point. :-/

Race itself as expected was very boring, got in front after 2 minutes or so and stayed there. Only real challenge in the race was lapping the 2nd place car which I did around lap 24 or 25. The Fiat was absolutely useless, never seen a car that bad, everytime I was near it he was off the track and generally all over the place. Also, for me anyway yet another Endurance race completed with the GSX, a quite superb car which always delivers when it matters.

Pit strategy was:
FPV F6 Typhoon '04 - Every 5 Laps
Fiat Coupe Turbo Plus '00 - Every 3 Laps
BMW M3 '04 - Every 5 Laps
Mazda RX-8 Type S (J) '03 - Every 5 Laps
Mercedes CLK 55 AMG '00 - Every 5 Laps
Suzuki GSX-R/4 '01 - Every 6 Laps, 35 Units Of Fuel

Best Lap: 7'55.284
Total Time: 4:02'15.900
MOV: +1 Lap
# Of Laps: 30
 
I just earned an interesting 200 points at the El Capitan endurance race. My aim was to win the race without pitting, and I found no other plausible way to do that besides using the GSX-R/4, which I kept absolutely stock, against a moderately slow field that comes up fairly quickly: the Corvette Grand Sport, the Cerbera Speed Six, the Viper GTS, the SL 65 AMG, and the Vantage. To avoid pitting, fuel consumption must be moderate, and this was the fastest car with little enough power to meet that criterion. Additionally, tire wear is very light, and the car has a lot of grip. So, to minimize the time spent on worn tires, I chose Economy tires, which were a realistic possibility because of the fast lap times they still produce on this car.

Unfortunately, the car oversteers quite a lot under the low-grip conditions, and because catering to that characteristic is by far the fastest way to drive the car, the rear tires wear much more quickly than the front ones do. That meant that the car was already becoming more skittish than it already was by the midpoint of the race. By the two-thirds point, lap times were becoming significantly inflated (by a few seconds), and the almost full-lap lead I had built was beginning to dwindle. By about lap 50, the situation was dire, and I was losing ten seconds per lap with a nearly uncontrollable car. Thankfully, however, I was able to minimize the damage just enough to eke out a victory, fourteen seconds ahead of the Cerbera and the Corvette (which essentially tied for second), albeit only after the Corvette pitted on lap 65, right after passing me for the lead!

I had planned to do a full race report because of the novelty of the concept, but the staggering number of wall impacts I suffered with a wayward car on red rear tires means that I consider the run too dirty to be valid. Installing a suspension and adjusting it to balance the car better, and thus negate the tire wear disparity between the front and the rear, would make this a much easier race to win, with the additional benefit of being likely much cleaner. For reference, before the rear tires melted, my fastest lap was a 1'58.6.
 
SuperSpeedway 150 Miles - 146 A-spec points
*Snip*
A better driver might be able to earn another 15 to 20 A-spec points, but I imagine that would be about the max without some wallriding.

I think 150 might be within reach, but I don't think the downforce can go down much more and still offer a chance at winning. Certainly not with the setup I tried for 150 on my 2nd attempt. Definitely have to do it with ballast, 5-10 more kg ought to take it over 150 and still be winnable. This setup is on the very edge of what I could win with though. Obviously there's still 20 seconds I could go slower by, but any downforce reductions or ballast increases are going to hurt a lot more on the R1 stint and probably slow you down too much in the first 30-40 laps to win.

Thanks so much for the inspirational posts here guys, :bowdown: I've never been fond of the oval racing,
sleepgo.gif
and it has been sitting waaaay down at 118 points, very much the lowest endurance point value in my game.
I ran a test race earlier this evening, with a setup which gave 149 A-spec points against the same lineup (#7 after reset) that you guys raced. When it became apparent by lap 75 that I was monstering the race, I reset, knocked off 2 extra downforce points and set the ballast to maximum.

No AI touches, 3 minor wall grazes and 1 heavy impact that almost resulted in a catastrophic spin :eek:, but no NOS, no wallriding and a ~16s MOV resulted. Turns out you were spot on GTsail290! 165 A-Spec points was the reward! :drool:

The complete report and setup is here.

Funnily enough I have the complete replay saved as it managed to record the entire race, which I can post here in MAX Drive format if anyone would be interested in seeing it? :D

:cheers:
 
Very nice Smallhorses!!

I knew a better driver than me could garner more points.:bowdown:

This car and track combination makes for a very interesting race.

Being so far behind after the first pit stop is quite a shock that we are not used to in races that we expect to win!

I'm glad others have tried it and enjoyed it as much as I did.

GTsail290
 
I had my first real attempt at the Roadster 4hr Endurance earlier, while it was not for 200pts I did get a respectable 160pts on my first try. Didn't really make any notes as was not expecting to win the race although I did save the replay, car setup was Smallhorses suspension & transmission setup setup for his 184pt run, against PAL lineup#2, stock power & 0 ballast, it was an easy race. Took what seems to be the common route and started off on N1 tires, pitting on lap 1 to change to N3 tires, even managed to get in 1st place before I had to pit. Had a big disadvantage to the 2nd place car as I could only manage 30 laps before needing to pit, he managed to stretch his rubber out to 43 laps. Won by nearly 2 laps in the end from the 2nd place car, great setup for that car and I will attempt the race again sometime after I finish the game for 100%.
 
Dotini's Ultimate Setup for the Roadster 4hr, 200 A-Spec Points​

The purpose of this setup is to set the standard for winning the Roadster 4hr for 200 A-spec points. It incorporates state-of-the-art developments in grid selection, chassis setup and race strategy. If correctly executed, you will win by the quite useful margin of 20 seconds with as much as 50% of the nitrous left unused. Other than a very light rub on the 1st corner of the race, there is no opponent car contact other than with the rapid 1800-RS.

I started with a well-used red Miata 1600 NR-A, manual shift, showing 113 horsepower on the parts/change screen. Ballast 161kg. After learning to lap the Tsukuba circuit in the low 12's without nitrous, I did a Preview of the Tsukuba 9hr, then entered the 2nd lineup for the Roadster 4hr. This field consists of yellow J-Ltd '93, white 1.8 RS, dark green VR, light blue 1800 RS, and light green SR Ltd.
http://www.gtvault.com/gt4/setup-view/s_sid::8082/MX-5-Miata-1600-NR-A-(NB--J)-Dotini2001/

HP: 113
Tires: N3/N3
NOS: 75
Brakes: 5/3
Springs: 9.3/10.5
Ride Height: 74/74
Shocks: 5/6 (Org)
Camber: 2.4/1.0
Stabilizers: 4/5
1st: 3.095
2nd: 2.310
3rd: 1.806
4th: 1.450
5th: 1.204
Final: 4.75
Autoset: 1
Aids: 0/0/0
LSD: 16-36-24 (increase these values if you want improved rear tire wear)
Ballast: 161 @ +20 (move this value to the rear (+) if you want improved front tire wear)
Rigidity: Yes

On N1/N3 at the start, very lightly ride the SR at turn one (you need him seconds later to help block the 1800 RS), then pull alongside the 1800 RS coming off turn 3. Guide him off onto the outside of turn 4 such that he halts at a projecting bale in front of the Dunlop bridge, falling to a distant 6th. Now feeling sweaty already, come in and change (to N3/N3).:D

Emerging from your pit in 6th, about 30 seconds back, fight back to 3rd position just in front of the 1800 and just behind the 1.8, some 9 seconds behind the leading J-Ltd. You should do this by lap 10, and have an environmentally friendly half tank of nitrous remaining. Use it only in 3rd gear coming off turn 1, and in 2nd and 3rd only coming off turn 7.

Now keep station, patiently blocking the 1800 RS. The only serious place he can get past is turn 8. He will pit around lap 38. Come in lap 39, take no fuel, and keep him behind you. If he gets by, you have the 1.8 and J-Ltd just ahead to impede him. Follow this pattern until your final stop on lap 155. You will still be in 3rd. Your car will easily go 40 laps, the race will be to 194, so now is the time to pass the 1.8 and J-Ltd and take the lead. The final stint will be about blocking the 1800 RS until he takes his final stop on lap 188. Cruise to a 20+ second victory over the J-Ltd.
 
Last edited:
Congratulations, Dotini. 👍 Did you utilize the shortcut at the hairpin to facilitate keeping the lead? And what remains for maximum points for you now?
 
Thanks for that thumbs up, Austin. It means a lot to me.

When I was station-keeping, which was most of the race, it was routine to take the normal line. I saved the shortcut only for the initial catching up, and thereafter for emergencies, of which I had only a few.

However, once I used the shortcut to physically intercept the escaped 1800 RS, and had an incredible collision wherein at one point I was turned 180 degrees backwards on the track, grill to grill with the 1800 RS, both of us pirouetting in unison!

I'm now shy of maximum points by 20 which, for me, is the hardest race of the game, the Tiburons at Autumn Ring.
 
Last edited:
Congratulations Dotini!

You have done it again:tup:

A wonderful write-up and excellant strategy tips:tup:

I am going to owe you big-time when I give this a try myself.:cheers:

I will first need some practice first though, since I am un-able to run 1minute 12second laps yet.

Great work
GTsail290
 
Thanks, GTsail290! It makes me feel good to help others defeat that bully, the 1800 RS.

Don't worry about getting too far below 1:13. The way I've worked this race, you spend most of your time in the mid 13's blocking the 1800 RS and observing the shapely (?) rump of the 1.8. Even during the catch-up phase using nitrous, my fastest lap was a modest 1:11.xxx.

As Jack Brabham, the fabulous Australian triple world Grand Prix champion once quipped, it's all about winning at the slowest possible speed.
 
Last edited:
Would like to thank the person who suggested using the GT-ONE earlier in this thread for one of the Le Sarthe Endurance races, I just used it on Le Sarthe II and had a very easy victory. Has taken it's toll however, on Monday I did 6 hours, Tuesday 8 hours and today did the remaining 10 hours and am in a worse state for it. Hands are so bad, they are currently moulded into the shape of the DS2, my arse hurts so bad I don't think I can get up and if I could i'm sure my back would snap and i'd be sat straight down again.:)

Did manage to do 445 laps, finished 21 laps ahead of the 787b, would have been more probably but I made so many mistakes through lack of concentration. Missed pit stops 3 times and ran out of fuel 3 times, once when I was about a quarter way down the main straight, lost 4 minutes there crawling to the pits at 50mph.

These 24hr races are killers, thankfully that was my 2nd and only 1 more to go, will probably be in a few weeks however when I am recovered.:)
 
Didn't see it mentioned, but the Motul Pitwork Z is capable of a 200 point win at Infineon Endurance. I'm currently in the middle of such a 200 pointer; just finished my 4th of 7 pit stops. (About one every 20.5 minutes, which works out to 14 or 15 laps.)

Running basically RoadHazzard's Pitwork Z setup with Stage 3 turbo that he used for the GT All Stars ( https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showpost.php?p=3281054&postcount=107 ), except with R1 tires and no ballast.

At the midway point, after we've each made 4 stops, I'm up about 30 seconds on the Nissan R92CP. You definitely need to drive pretty good to stay ahead of him, but no dirty tricks are needed, plus he's on pace to make 8 pit stops to my 7 pit stops, so I don't foresee it being all that close at the end... Fast lap so far has been a 1'22.218.

Edit: lineup was the first NTSC lineup after a restart which didn't have a Sauber. (I think it was the fourth.)


Second edit: Finished the race for about a 30 second win over the R92CP. Got tired and sloppy toward the end and the R92CP pulled to within about 2-3 seconds of catching me, but then with about 5 minutes left in the timed race, he pitted and I could just cruise home the rest of the way. Managed in the second half to improve my fast lap to a 1'22.190, but that was assisted by catching a draft off the Toyota GT-ONE from the Turn 11 hairpin up to the start/finish line.
 
Last edited:
Just attempted the Nurburgring 4 hours endurance for 200 pts.

Mazda RX8 Type S
No oil change, N2 tyres

Lineup:
Corvette grand sport
Subaru Impreza sedan
Fiat Coupe
Honda NSX type R
BMW M coupe
Mazda RX8

I thought it was going well, after the first half a lap i was 8 seconds behind the Corvette. But then the NSX got ahead and by the end of the 3rd lap i was a full minute behind, despite me lapping 8:20-22 every lap. By the end of the 14th lap i think i was 3 minutes behind (my good tyre life helped, but not much), and from there the best possible postion was 3rd behind the Impreza, so i just quit.

What can i say? The RX8 sucks. :sly: I want my 1 hour 50 minutes back.
 
Fresh off of finishing the Pan Euro Champ for 200 points each in my TVR V8S, I was inspired to try the car in the New York 200 miles Endurance race.

Turns out it's a great car to take against NTSC lineup #1. Here's the relevant setup to get 200 points:

TVR V8S '91 from used car lot, old oil. Chip, NA2. Standard non-power upgrades. 31 units ballast. Had nitrous (which I used for Pan Euro), didn't need it here.

Start the race on S1 tires; run 16 laps. Switch to S2 tires, run five segments of 12 laps each on the S2 tires. (So a total of five pitstops.)

The TVR Cerbera Speed Six presented the main competition. Margin of Victory was about 45 seconds.
 
There's an interesting way to win the Nurburgring four hour race that doesn't require unrealistically grippy sports tires. If you equip the 2003 Nissan 350Z with N1 tires and pit it against a grid (Focus, Fiat, Integrale, Skyline, and RS4) that is about tenth in the NTSC version, it can be offered 200 points while being fast enough to win. It's even possible to drive how you actually would in real life: keeping all four tires on tarmac and not touching grass or curbs. I haven't actually tried the race itself, but I did test in Arcade Mode, and the car is capable of 2'10 laps when driven as you normally would in GT4 and of 2'15 laps in the more realistic way I mentioned. I know that's fast enough to defeat this lineup because I used a stock '91 Acura NSX against it and, with laps around 8'03, was thirty-five seconds ahead of the Skyline (which should finish second) after three laps.
 
Last edited:
So. I made for myself a bit of a breakthrough tune for the beloved "Tofu Express", Bunta's Trueno. It uses NA3 (238 hp) and stock weight, S1's, FC tranny, all drivetrain parts, my suspension, etc.

First test was the El Capitan Endurance.

Grid was (as I can remember), The Shelby Series One, Corvette Z06, TVR Cerbera, SL65 AMG, and Mustang SVT Cobra R, for 200 points. Clicking off 1'56-1'58 lap times and pitting every 15 laps, I pulled off an (Estimated) 48-second win on the Shelby, lapped the SL65 3 times, and everyone else once.

Next up is seeing in Tofu Express can pull off a Nür 4 Hour win. Preliminary tests show it laps every five laps (Right around or below the 8-minute threshold) there and consumes around 31 units of fuel. 👍


Cheers
Jetboy
 
Last edited:
Seismica, I just tried the RX-8 on N2 tires in Arcade Mode, and it's actually capable of laps in the 8'07 to 8'08 range. That doesn't mean that it can win against your lineup, though, because you have to be driving very hard to reach those times and would probably crash fairly often, and the tire life would be compromised, too. Even if you could attain them every lap, being three minutes behind after fourteen laps means that you have to be thirteen seconds faster per lap, and these times barely meet that criterion. However, there are much better lineups than the one that you picked, and one without the Speedster, Elise, Garaiya, or either NSX and containing some lighter but slow cars like the Fiat, Focus, or Integrale would yield 200 points while letting you win easily (assuming those 8'08 lap times).

Edit: Against the field that I mentioned above, the 350Z will definitely win at Nurburgring. With my driving, the N1 tires will last for seven or eight laps, and driving with four tires on the tarmac (which is quite fun) will mean lap times one or two seconds faster than those of the Skyline, which pits every five laps. So I would guess that a reasonable margin of victory to expect would be about a minute and a half.
 
Last edited:
Seismica, I just tried the RX-8 on N2 tires in Arcade Mode, and it's actually capable of laps in the 8'07 to 8'08 range. That doesn't mean that it can win against your lineup, though, because you have to be driving very hard to reach those times and would probably crash fairly often, and the tire life would be compromised, too. Even if you could attain them every lap, being three minutes behind after fourteen laps means that you have to be thirteen seconds faster per lap, and these times barely meet that criterion. However, there are much better lineups than the one that you picked, and one without the Speedster, Elise, Garaiya, or either NSX and containing some lighter but slow cars like the Fiat, Focus, or Integrale would yield 200 points while letting you win easily (assuming those 8'08 lap times).

Edit: Against the field that I mentioned above, the 350Z will definitely win at Nurburgring. With my driving, the N1 tires will last for seven or eight laps, and driving with four tires on the tarmac (which is quite fun) will mean lap times one or two seconds faster than those of the Skyline, which pits every five laps. So I would guess that a reasonable margin of victory to expect would be about a minute and a half.

I don't think i could run a 350z under 8:14-15. (i'll have a go now) EDIT: Running 8:21s on N1 tyres... Maybe 3 seconds quicker with warm tyres and half empty fuel tank, but its not much quicker than my RX8...

EDIT: Err scratch that, i'm running 8:09s in the 350z on N2 tyres, over 10 seconds quicker than the RX8 on the same tyres. I didn't know N1 tyres and N2 tyres were so different :confused:
EDIT: I just ran an 8:14 in my RX8, these are not the same N2 tyres i used in the endurance... These feel much more grippy, and i'm smashing my record time with very little effort. Do test runs have different physics to races? Because it certainly feels like it.

I drive conservatively to keep good lines and save tyre life. If i push hard i just can't keep control of my car, i'm not that good lol.

I wasn't aiming for 200 points, i just wanted the endurance races to be challenging rather than B-speccing them in a group C car.

I might go out again in an Evo IV, but even that would probably be too easy.

I want something where it takes more than a couple of laps to ensure my victory.
 
Last edited:
EDIT: Err scratch that, i'm running 8:09s in the 350z on N2 tyres, over 10 seconds quicker than the RX8 on the same tyres. I didn't know N1 tyres and N2 tyres were so different :confused:
EDIT: I just ran an 8:14 in my RX8, these are not the same N2 tyres i used in the endurance... These feel much more grippy, and i'm smashing my record time with very little effort. Do test runs have different physics to races? Because it certainly feels like it.

I noticed the same thing: I was about five seconds per lap slower in the 350Z in the race than in Arcade Mode. I can attribute some of that to not pushing as hard, but even though the physics are the same, the tires are permanently in ideal condition with no wear turned on. At such a long track, a relatively small difference between green and "neutral" tires adds up to several seconds.
 
I noticed the same thing: I was about five seconds per lap slower in the 350Z in the race than in Arcade Mode. I can attribute some of that to not pushing as hard, but even though the physics are the same, the tires are permanently in ideal condition with no wear turned on. At such a long track, a relatively small difference between green and "neutral" tires adds up to several seconds.

Hmm, could it be due to the fact in the race it adds on 80 litres of fuel onto the weight of your car? Round the 'ring i suppose that makes around 3-4 seconds difference.
 
Actually, I think that time trialing models the car with a full fuel load, because I'm often able to do much faster times in a race on yellow tires with a mostly empty tank than I can when hotlapping.
 
I realise now a good linup is infact all i need to win. I had a go in a slightly faster car and still go blitzed by the Type R.

Had a go in the Mitsubishi CZ-3 Tarmac, stage 1 turbo, ballast, N2 tyres, and i couldn't keep up with the Vette Grand Sport which turned out to be the rabbit in this race (i had a flick through different lineups - this was the first one without a near impossible to beat MR car. I was 4 seconds a lap slower than the Corvette). I see now its not the car you pick really, its almost completely dependant on the lineup. With the right linup there are a lot of cars that can win.
 
Last edited:
I completed the Nurburgring 4 hour race in the 350Z.

  1. Nissan 350Z (Z33) '03: N1 tires, no driving aids, otherwise absolutely stock; 29 laps in 4:03'19.881 with a fastest lap of 8'16.739. Pitted on laps 9, 17, and 20.
  2. Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II (R34) '00: +3'50, pitted every five laps
  3. Audi RS4 '01: +4'40, pitted every four laps
  4. Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione '91: +4'50, pitted every three laps (with one costly stint of four)
  5. Ford Focus RS '02: +1 lap, pitted every three laps
  6. Fiat Coupe Turbo Plus: +2.5 laps, pitted every three laps

I made a concerted effort to drive without touching grass or curbs, and I generally avoided them, but I lost focus somewhat in the second half of the race and started to touch them more and more often. Lap 18, in particular, was a total disaster; I touched the grass five times. :ouch: Before then, I was probably putting one or two wheels in it once every three laps, and afterwards, the rate was probably worse than once per two laps. I went completely off of the track three times, once into the guardrail, ruining my hopes for a contact-free race. And I only successfully completed a couple of laps without at least grazing a curb, one of which was an 8'17.009 that I would prefer to consider my best lap. The tire life was unbelievable; even though N1s on this car feel like they have the grip of N2s on most, they lasted for eleven laps! Considering my tire-shredding driving, that's nothing short of incredible. Unfortunately, the fuel only lasted for nine of those laps, giving rise to the odd pit strategy. Because cold tires cost quite a bit of time, I chose to make one of my pit stops for fuel only so that I could push at least one of the sets through its entire useful life, rather than removing them when they were still green-tinged yellow. The car was quite a bit of fun to drive here, and I recommend it to anyone.

The results make clear that this is NTSC's "magic lineup" for this race. It appears after ten to fifteen enter/exits and gives so many points because of the lightness of the Ford, the Lancia, and the Fiat (all cars in this race are tuned to approximately 350 HP if they do not have that much already). But these "Three Stooges" :lol: (a term coined by jdw) pose no threat because of their three-lap pit intervals and, in the case of the two FFs, their erratic driving. Lap times almost eight seconds slower than mine would still suffice to win the race! Obviously, a lot of cars have the potential to meet that criterion.
 
There's a lot that original and interesting about your race here, Austin; the car you chose, the tires you chose, the lineup you found, your good ethics and a very nice report. A really outstanding race on the game's best track. It can't get much better. It inspires me to try it for myself.👍

Respectfully yours,
Dotini
 
Thanks. :) It really is fun, especially when you're in a low-angle slide in second gear and flicking through Adenaur Forst while just barely grazing the curbs. The exhaust note is nice, too, which IMO really is important for endurance races. The Garaiya, which is usually recommended for this race, has a lull-you-to-sleep boring engine sound. :yuck: And there's much more potential for speed in the 350Z than I found; driving through corners with half of the car on the curb and the other half on the grass, as is typical in GT4, can give you about five seconds per lap. By the way, Wikipedia says that the 350Z's fastest time on the real Nordschleife is 8'26, so clearly, either GT4's N1 tires are significantly better than the real car's stock ones, or having no fear of crashing is worth ten seconds (which is quite likely, actually).

I do prefer to keep 200-point races a challenge. Often, as nice as it is for there to be an "easy way out" in so many of these races, it's just more satisfying to try something different. I also don't have a PS3, an Xbox 360, or a gaming PC, so GT4 is the only way I have to simulate real driving. Too often, it doesn't do so at all, and so I try to seek ways of bringing it closer to reality. I really am jealous of those who get to experience the GT5 demo, particularly with a wheel - everyone is raving about the physics and the feel that it offers, while I have never been in a position to utilize such techniques as trail braking, left-foot braking, or even "squeezing" the throttle because GT4 is so forgiving. :indiff: But I'm not complaining about the game itself; the fact that I'm posting in the 200-point races subforum and finding new ways to earn those points speaks volumes about its depth and replay value. :)

By the way, I will post a video in a little while showing my lap 6, which was one of two or three that contained no curb touches. It was my fastest at the time, and is the fastest that I set while the replay was still recording, but it's still more than two seconds slower than the immaculate 8'17 that I mentioned. But it does demonstrate the kind of lap that I was aiming to record on every trip around the track, and to that end, it is useful.

Edit: Here's that video.

 
Last edited:
Roadster 4 hr endurance - for 200 A-spec points!

I've done it!

A mighty smackdown on the Mazda Miata 1800RS '00

My margin of victory was 1.253 seconds! Does it count?

I don't know if I have the energy left to write-up a race report, I'm too worn out.

I ran against lineup # 2 after the Tsukuba preview as suggested by Dotini:tup:, and basically used Dotini's tactics.:bowdown: A huge thank you is in order!!

I first ran and won the race for 192 A-spec points against a lineup that did not include the Mazda Miata 1800RS, to give me some practice.

My Mazda Miata 1600 NRA '04's length has been reduced by about a foot due to all the rear bumper impacts it has sustained!

Race Report:
Yesterday, I decided that it was finally time to have some fun at Tsukuba in a Miata, so I checked my garage to see what was available and found a slightly used Mazda MX-5 Miata 1600 NRA '04 that could use some track work. I loaded it on a cargo plane and flew to Tsukuba. When I got to the Tsukuba track there were already a number of Miata's ready to race so I gave the track stewards a check for my entrance fee and strapped on my race helmet. The other Miata's on the track were as follows:

Mazda MX-5 Miata J-Limited '93 (yellow)
Mazda MX-5 Miata 1.8 RS '98 (orange)
Mazda MX-5 Miata VR-Limited '95 (maroon)
Mazda MX-5 Miata 1800 RS '00 (black)
Mazda MX-5 Miata SR-Limited '97 (green)

I had my pit crew install N1/N3 tires, and prepared my Miata (which has dirty oil, 10,000 miles on the odometer, and 113 horsepower) with the following suspension setup:

Brakes: 8/12
Springs: 9.0/9.7
Ride height: 100/100
Bound: 3/4
Rebound: 5/6
Camber: 2.1/1.1
Toe: 0/2
Stabilizers: 3/4
Gearing was set so only 4 gears would get used
Ltd. Slip: 5/30/5
Ballast at 161kg and 15 to the rear

From the start I slide alongside the green SR-Ltd in turn one and pass so I can chase after the black 1800 RS Miata (my nemesis). In turn three I am able to lightly punt the 1800 RS aside and take over 4th place. I then chase the pack and pit at the end of lap 1 for N3/N3 tires. When I exit the pits I am 30 seconds behind the leading yellow J-Ltd.

On lap 10, I catch and pass the 5th place SR-Ltd in turn 3. I'm now 11 seconds behind the leading yellow J-Ltd. During lap 12, I cut the grass in turn 7 and pull out in front of the black 1800 RS and BLOCK down the straight. I'm now in 4th place and still 10 seconds behind the leading J-Ltd.

On lap 15, I catch and pass the 3rd place VR-Ltd in turn one. The black 1800 RS also passes the VR-Ltd and attaches itself to my back bumper. I now BLOCK/BLOCK/BLOCK for the next 24 laps.

During these blocking laps, the leading yellow J-Ltd pulls out a 15 second lead over me. On lap 39 I notice the black 1800 RS slide over to the right on the straight, so I cut in front and enter the pits as well. When I exit the pits, I am 43 seconds behind the yellow J-Ltd and in 5th place.

The yellow J-Ltd pits on lap 42. The race lead is taken over by the maroon VR-Ltd who now has a 26 second lead over me. The VR-Ltd pits on lap 44, so the yellow J-Ltd re-takes 1st place and has a 13 second lead over me. I now take up chase in earnest since my Miata's fuel load has been reduced and faster lap times are possible.

On lap 52, I catch and pass the orange 1.8 RS and take over 2nd place, now some 4 seconds behind the yellow J-Ltd. On lap 53, the black 1800 RS passes the orange 1.8 RS as well and regains its affinity for my back bumper. I just hold place for the next 23 laps with constant BLOCKING every lap.

On lap 77 I notice that the black 1800 RS moves to the right on the long straight, so once again I cut in front and enter the pits as well. I exit the pits in 4th place, 31 seconds behind the leading yellow J-Ltd.

The black 1800 RS falls back to 6th place because when it exits the pits, the green SR-Ltd sneaks by (my pit crew somehow mislaid the jack that they had "borrowed" from the 1800 RS pit box, so the pit crew for the 1800 RS had to change its tires by hand). The orange 1.8 RS pits on lap 83, so I pass it while its in the pits and take over 3rd place in the race.

The orange 1.8 RS comes out of the pits just behind me, so I now have a two car buffer back to the 1800 RS who has been following the green SR-Ltd. for the last few laps.

The yellow J-Ltd pits on lap 84 and gives up race lead to the maroon VR-Ltd. The yellow J-Ltd exits the pits just in front of me (by about 4 seconds). The maroon VR-Ltd now has about a 14 second lead over me. The VR-Ltd pits on lap 89, so the yellow J-Ltd Miata re-takes 1st place. I'm now 1 second back! And I have about a 5 second lead over the black 1800 RS who has still not passed the orange 1.8 RS.

I look back on lap 91 and see that the 1800RS has finally gotten by the orange 1.8 RS and is in hot pursuit. On lap 92 the black 1800 RS is once again glued to my back bumper. I'm back to BLOCKING/BLOCKING for the next 23 laps.

On lap 115, I notice my nemesis slide over to the right on the long straight, so I cut in front and enter the pits as well. I exit the pits in 4th place again and I am about 30 seconds behind the leading yellow J-Ltd Miata.

The orange 1.8 RS pits on lap 124 and comes out of the pits just in front of me. On lap 125 the yellow J-Ltd pits and gives 1st place to the maroon VR-Ltd. The VR-Ltd has a 12 second lead over me at this point. On lap 127 I catch and pass the orange 1.8 RS in turn one and take over 3rd place in the race.

By lap 131 I'm back on the rear bumper of the 2nd place yellow J-Ltd. The VR-Ltd pits on lap 133, so the yellow J-Ltd takes over 1st place, with me in second place, and the black 1800 RS just behind me in 3rd.

Its back to BLOCKING/BLOCKING for the next 20 laps. On lap 153 the 1800 RS veers to the right on the long straight, so I again, cut in front and enter the pits. I exit the pits in 4th place again, and still 30 seconds behind the leading J-Ltd Miata.

The orange 1.8 RS pits on lap 165, so I get to take over 3rd place in the race. The yellow J-Ltd pits on lap 166, so the maroon VR-Ltd takes over the lead of the race. I'm 8 seconds behind the leading VR-Ltd Miata, in third place just behind the yellow J-Ltd.

I just hold station behind the yellow J-Ltd, so the VR-Ltd pulls out a 15 second lead over me before it pits on lap 177. The VR-Ltd gets passed while its in the pits by the J-Ltd, me, and the black 1800 RS and falls back for good. I'm now in second place, just behind the yellow J-Ltd Miata again.

I BLOCK for the next 10 laps. On lap 188, in anticipation of the black 1800 RS's final pit stop, I use some NOS and pass the leading J-Ltd Miata and take the race lead! (for the 1st time in the race!) The black 1800 RS also takes this opportunity to pass the yellow J-Ltd, so it just re-attaches itself to my back bumper.

On lap 189 I've pulled over to the right at the end of the long straight (so I can see the black 1800 RS enter the pits) however, the black 1800 RS does not enter the pits, instead it pulls up alongside and we have rubbing duel thru turn 8. This leads to my biggest scare of the race because the black 1800 RS nearly spins me out, and I actually whack the inside wall before I get straightened out. I guess the 1800 RS did not like my blocking and other more devious methods of staying in front!

Finally, on lap 190, the tires on the black 1800 RS are giving up because I can see in my rear view mirror that it runs wide in turn 8 and allows the yellow J-Ltd to retake 2nd place as they cross the start/finish line. The yellow J-Ltd takes up the chase, but its a full 2 seconds behind me!

During lap 191, the black 1800 RS pushes the yellow J-Ltd out of the way so it can continue to chase me. However, this is its last gasp, since the black 1800RS finally pits on lap 191 and gets to watch the yellow J-Ltd , the orange 1.8 RS and the maroon VR-Ltd all stream by as it sits in the pits taking on tires and fuel.

For the next three laps I finally get to catch my breath, and just cruise to my impressive winning margin of 1.253 seconds over the ever-present yellow J-Ltd Miata. The race ends after 4 hours, 1 minute and 8 seconds, and I have completed 194 laps. My left side tires are orange but I think I could have gotten one more good lap out of them if it was needed. At the end of the race I have one bar of NOS left.

My best lap without NOS was about 1 minute and 13 seconds flat. I ran some laps in the 1 minute and 12 second range with NOS.

Respectfully,
GTsail290
 

Attachments

  • Roadster 4 hr endurance.jpg
    Roadster 4 hr endurance.jpg
    87.6 KB · Views: 48
Last edited:
Thanks SVX and Austin343 -

I don't really have anything planned for my next race. But I'm sure something will strike my fancy once I rest from the Roadster ordeal!

Merry Christmas all and happy A-spec point hunting!

GTsail290
 

Latest Posts

Back