The B-Spec Nurburgring 4 Hour Challenge.
Clearly, I am either mad, insane, or both.
I decided I would use a
NASCAR to attempt the Nurburgring 4 Hours, in B-Spec, to track AI patterns. Seems im a little mad already.
So. After alot of fine tuning so that the car works on the Nurburgring, the car ends up with about 820BHP, weighs 1.8 tonnes, and looks, well, the same if im honest.
Car: Ford 2011 AJ Allmendinger #43 Fusion
Tune: End Sport
PP: 642
Drivers:
T. Savage - Class 32
E. De La Fuente - Class 28
C. Magnani - Class 27
R. Ferrari - Class 27
Opposition
Race Start
Accelerating away from the start.
FT565 pulls away quite rapidly.
Savage at the race start
Lap 1: 8:53.093 - After getting stuck for the first 10 corners, eventually get past the FT565 and cruise to a 29 second lead at the end of lap 1. Pit for RH, no fuel, rejoin 4 seconds ahead. Fastest lap of the race.
Forced out wide by the BNR34 GT-R V-Spec
Overtaking the S2K GT1.
From another angle.
Onto the Nordschliefe for the first time.
Lap 2: 9:17.925 - Massive spin out into gravel trap after Flugplatz. Pit again along with S2K GT1 and Nismo Z33. Rejoin 12 seconds ahead of FT565, change Savage to De La Fuente, no fuel, RH tyres.
The actual spin out. Not pretty at 125mph.
My first pitstop.
S2K GT1's first pitstop, with the Nismo Z33 coming in behind.
The battle of the Tuners..
The FT565. Last time I saw it during the race.
Lap 3: 9:28.506 - De La Fuente decides to stay out. 27 litres of fuel left, 3/4 tyres. Uneventful lap.
Lap 4: 9:33.846 - Tyres 1/4, 12 litres of fuel left by 2nd Karrusell. Pit in and change to RH, refuel to 100 litres and change De La Fuente to Magnani. FT565's tyres are shot and is re-overtaken by the S2K GT1. CT230R and midfield pit as per norm. Emerge from pit fully fuelled 17 seconds clear of S2K GT1. FT565 emerges 2:30 behind in 5th, with midfield cars following behind.
Lap 5: 10:31.072 - To my delight the S2K GT1 starts to fall behind again and decides to pit in. Pull out 17 second lead in first 7 sectors. 380RS Super Leggera & FT565 duel fiercely for most of the lap. By Bergwerk my tyres amazingly look new, impressive for a 1.9 tonne car
Also noticed the ass of the car is dented from the spin on Lap 2. Magnani stays out, seems the relaxed AI prefers a 2 lap strategy. Gap stands at +1:20.534
Lap 6: 9:31.023 - S2K GT1 rejoins in 5th, behind the battling Nismo Z33, FT565 & 380RS Super Leggera. Uneventful remainder to the lap, S2K GT1 overtakes 380RS Super Leggera, and that's about it to be honest. I pit in again 00:57:30 into the race. Change from Magnani to Ferrari, RH tyres, and I'm away again.
Lap 7: 9:46.300 - For whatever reason I now have a strange urge to buy an FT565. No clue why. I notice my pace has changed over Flugplatz; was 121mph, now 96mph, explains why the tyres are lasting so long. FT565 retakes 2nd place, followed by the closing in S2K GT1.
*toilet break*
S2K GT1 takes 2nd place as the First hour ends:
Positions as of 1 Hour, Lap 7:
1st - Myself
2nd - Amuse S2000 GT1
3rd - 2007 HPA Motorsports FT565 Twin Turbo
4th - Nismo Fairlady Z (Z33)
5th - HPA Motorsports Stage II R32
6th - HKS CT230R
7th - Mine's BNR34 Skyline GT-R V-Spec
8th - Amuse Nismo 380RS Super Leggera
9th - Mine's BNR34 Skyline GT-R N-Spec V
10th - Nismo Skyline GT-R R-Tune (R33)
11th - Nissan Gran Turismo Skyline GT-R
12th - Nismo 400R
Rest of the lap was uneventful, bar a duel between the 380RS and the BNR34 V-Spec.
Lap 8: 9:35.432 - Lead over the S2K GT1 is the size of the GP/D circuit, or about 1:30. By half way around the lap, I realise the top 4 cars will all pit. Meaning that even though I have to refuel, I will maintain a healthy lead. Despite the fact the S2K GT1 was lapping in 9:40.xxx, and I was 9:46.300. By the time I pit the S2K GT1 is just rounding Dottinger-Hohe, with the FT565 on shot tyres 12 seconds behind him. Ferrari changes for Savage, race continues as per norm. Nismo Z33 overtakes FT565 at final corner.
Lap 9: 10:24.952 - FT565 has dropped to 6th after pitting. S2K GT1 emerges into a battle with the non-pitting 380RS. After calculating distance, lead is about 1/5 of a lap. CT230R dies half way round, letting the FT565 past in the progress. 380RS's tyres also die and falls behind, into the grasp of the Nismo Z33. The Gran Turismo GT-R and the 400R meanwhile at the back have stayed 15-25 seconds apart for 5 laps now. At 01:27.xxx, I finally pass onto my 10th lap. Seems a NASCAR may win, unless something strange happens. 380RS and the CT230R pit, eventually.
Random photo I took proving I was actually using the #43 Fusion.
Lap 10: 9:29.682 - 01:30 mins into the race now. Best B-Spec race I have done so far. Very uneventful lap now that the field has spread out. Pit in, change from Savage to De La Fuente, RH tyres, no fuel, nothing unusual.
Lap 11: 9:48.199 - S2K GT1 is in 2nd, +1:56.536, FT565 is 3rd, +2:34.135. However, the S2K GT1 pits in at the end of the lap, diminishing that lead rapidly. Once again, dull lap, only thing to note is that 3rd, 4th & 5th are all 10 secs apart, and none are pitting. I fear this race will probably become pretty abysmal from now on. Shame really. The Gran Turismo Skyline GT-R is in 11th, +6:59.662, and the 400R is in 12th, +7:29.195. Should be lapping them in the next 7laps or so. Fairly relaxed lap by De La Fuente overrall, although the sight of the bruised ass from lap 2 is driving me nuts.
Lap 12: 9:32.429 - S2K GT1 pits. Very large lead now. Seriously considering racing my Gold Chrome S2K GT1 here also. The FT565 sneaks past while it's in the pits, and the Nismo Z33 just sneaks past. Could be an interesting battle for 3rd. Lead over the FT565 has increased to +2:38.847. The FT565's smugness is short-lived, however. It, and the Nismo Z33, both relinquish position to the S2K GT1, on fresher tyres. Mind you, it took the S2K GT1 the whole lap before they gave up. Not a bad effort. To watch the battle was probably the best action I'd seen since Lap 2. Seems I am a fan of lap 2. Heh. Anyway, I make my Fuel stop, another set of RH, and De La Fuente switches for Magnani's 2nd stint. The FT565 and Nismo Z33 pit, and we pass the half-way mark, 2 hours in.
Positions as of Half Distance, 2 Hours, 12 Laps completed:
1st - Myself
2nd - Amuse S2000 GT1
3rd - Nismo Fairlady Z (Z33)
4th - 2007 HPA Motorsports FT565 Twin Turbo
5th - Amuse Nismo 380RS Super Leggera
6th - HKS CT230R
7th - HPA Motorsports Stage II R32
8th - Mine's BNR34 Skyline GT-R V-Spec
9th - Mine's BNR34 Skyline GT-R N-Spec V
10th - Nismo Skyline GT-R R-Tune (R33)
11th - Nissan Gran Turismo Skyline GT-R
12th - Nismo 400R
Not that much of a difference, to be honest.
Lap 13: 10:26.370 - I order Magnani to speed up a little. Hopefully won't damage the tyres too much. Nothing else happens anywhere, the 400R however, did seem to have a fairly long pitstop. Only 20 seconds behind lapping my first car now
Lap 14: 9.28.918 - Lead over the S2K GT1 is now at +2:02.988. I go for a food break, so I missed the remainder of the lap. Judging by the positions, the midfield did seem to pit, however. Quick check said my lead was +2:34.442.
Lap 15: 10:05.491 - I have no idea what happened on this lap, as I was too busy eating. All I know is that Ferrari was on his 1st lap of his 2nd stint. Oh, and I also lapped the 400R at last on the back straight, apparently.
Lap 16: 9:32.702 - When I return I am happy to find that I have a +2:50.860 lead over the S2K GT1. As I have seemingly run away with it, there seems to only be the battle for 2nd, between the S2K GT1, Nismo Z33 & the FT565. But the battle for 5th is a heated exchange of blows between the 380RS, BNR34 GT-R V-Spec, CT230R and the Stage II R32. Also, I lapped the Gran Turismo GT-R just before Dottinger-Hohe, albeit I pit and change from Ferrari to Savage, for his 3rd and final stint. No fuel, just RH's again.
Lap 17: 9:40.488 - S2K has run away with 2nd place. It had a 20 second lead over the Nismo Z33, which with the FT565, pitted in again. I also quite quickly re-lap the Gran Turismo GT-R. The 380RS has also pulled away, leaving the other 3 to squabble over 6th place. Later on in the lap, I realise the S2K GT1 is +3:00.244. Last places car that isn't lapped in the BNR34 N-Spec V in 10th, +8:27.184. Lap remained quiet for me after that.
400R briefly rose to 11th while overtaking the Gran Turismo Skyline GT-R, but lost it while it was in its box.
Lap 18: 9:23.137 - Just noticed the 400R and Gran Turismo GT-R will be lapped by the S2K GT1 on about Lap 22. 1:11 mins left, by the way. Once again, uneventful. Savage's work is now done. Changes to De La Fuente for his third and final stint. RH tyres, refuel, and away to the 3/4 distance mark we go. S2K GT1 and Nismo Z33 were trading blows up to Dottinger-Hohe, but the Z33 pitted. The S2K GT1'sead is restored. S2K GT1 crossed the line +4:10.055, Nismo Z33 in +4:12.201, and the FT565, which is now alone in 4th place, in +4:58.236.
Lap 19: 10:25.701 - Decided I want my drivers to go slightly harder in the final sectors, so I can get hopefully back into the 8:xx.xxx by the end of the race. Car looks tired by this point. Once the Nismo Z33 exits the pits, we pass the 3/4 distance mark. 1 hour to go.
Positions as of 3 hours of distance, 18 laps completed:
1st - Myself
2nd - Amuse S2000 GT1
3rd - Nismo Fairlady Z (Z33)
4th - 2007 HPA Motorsports FT565 Twin Turbo
5th - HKS CT230R
6th - HPA Motorsports Stage II R32
7th - Amuse Nismo 380RS Super Leggera
8th - Mine's BNR34 Skyline GT-R V-Spec
9th - Mine's BNR34 Skyline GT-R N-Spec V
10th - Nismo Skyline GT-R R-Tune (R33)
11th - Nissan Gran Turismo Skyline GT-R
12th - Nismo 400R
The top 4 statistically will not change during the remaining hour. It could go to either the CT230R, 380RS Super Leggera or Stage II R32, as the BNR34 GT-R V-Spec has dropped off the groups pace entirely. The bottom 4, of the BNR34 GT-R N-Spec V, Nismo R-Tune, Gran Turismo GT-R and 400R are highly unlikely to change. Nothing out of the ordinary from me, but we pass onto the 20th circulation, at last.
Lap 20: 9:33.986 - 52 mins remaining as of typing. I've decided to double stint Ferrari, as I couldn't decide on a good strategy at the start, this is the result. I drive yet another clean lap. S2K GT1 is now +3:22.512, Nismo Z33 is at +3:58.425, and the FT565 is +4:26.480. The CT230R loses 6th to the Stage II R32, as it had a shorter pitstop. The BNR34 GT-R V-Spec has also caught up, which means the non-pitting 380RS has pulled away, for now. S2K GT1 is 11.5 secs behind the lapped 400R, at Bergwerk. I pit in, and lap the stationary Nismo GT-R R-Tune, which was taking fuel on, as I wasn't. Magnani takes over from De La Fuente for his 3rd stint.
Lap 21: 9:45.166 - 43 mins remaining as of typing. Not much happened. FT565 pitted, S2K GT1 closing gap on lapped 400R, Nismo Z33 maintained a steady pace, and I got bored of the bent ass of my car. Like this #43 Fusion NASCAR alot now. Oh, and the 2 BNR34 GT-R's are pretty close on track now.
Lap 22: 9:31.655 - 31 mins left as of typing. Much of the same if I'm honest. Magnani is readying for his pitstop, and Ferrari is not going in, yet. I want fresh legs for the sprint finish, so Savage will take over at the fuel stop, with another set of RH's. Half a lap lead on the S2K GT1 now, +4:22.654. Stage II R32 and CT230R overtake the 380RS whilst it's in the pits. Me, all alone now, pit in for the penultimate time. The S2K GT1 has lapped the 400R and the Gran Turismo GT-R, too.
Lap 23: 10:12.402 - 24 mins left as of typing. Should have 2 more laps after this, 1 more for Savage, 1 for Ferrari on the RS tyres. Anywho, lead over the S2K GT1 is up to +4:34.651. CT230R is duelling with the 380RS, but as the 380RS is on fresher tyres, it passes cleanly with pretty much ease. Stage II R32 is about 20 secs up the road from those 2. S2K GT1 has seemingly 1ast pitstop, as does the rest of the field. I have a few moments off track toward the end of the lap, but nothing major otherwise. Savage continues onto his final lap of his 4th stint.
Lap 24: 9:17.155 - 14 mins left as of typing. Savage sets fastest opening 4 sectors since the first lap, 3 & 3/4 hours ago. S2K GT1 makes its final pitstop too. Stage II R32 is also making it's final pitstop, as is the Nismo GT-R R-Tune. S2K GT1's last lap in anger was a 9:58.276, +4:20.525. The Nismo Z33's strategy has let it down at the last min. I will be on my 25th lap before the 4 hours pass, so he will have to stop. Unfortunately for him, it means he has to sacrifice the 2nd place he just stole off the S2K GT1. Funny how I ruined an AI's race without even technically racing
I push Savage hard toward Dottinger-Hohe, where Ferrari must now perform his magic. The FT565, 380RS, CT230R & both BNR34 GT-R's have to pit one last time.
Lap 25 - The Final Lap: 9:56.158 - 5 mins left as of typing. Disaster. Typical. I accidentally hit OK, so De La Fuente is back in the car with RH tyres and a full tank of fuel. Ffs. So, while I sprint home, the S2K GT1 is waiting for the Nismo Z33 to pit, and from there, it and the FT565 will do battle, for 2 mins. 3:32 left. I spin off and crash at the exact same place, with the same driver, as I did on Lap 2. Still pushing though, despite the cars ass being even more dented. The Nismo Z33 and S2K GT1 pull onto the straight with 2:03 left. It's S2K GT1 takes back 2nd with 1:21 left, I exit Bergwerk with 1:00 left. The race will pass 04:00:00.000 while I am at the Karrussel. Which it does. I refuse to let De La Fuente pit, and force him to finish the race. The 400R is the first car to cross the line after the 4 hours, followed by the 380RS. The CT230R & the Stage II R32 follow. I am at this point travelling down the back straight. I then pass through the final chicane for the 25th time, and take the win.
The NASCAR, designed and tuned by Me, won. I was so surprised it's ridiculous. Especially the margin I won by, on B-Spec!
Here are the final results. One observation I noted is the fact that the FT565 missed the finish by a few seconds. If it hadn't it would have came 2nd. But it didn't, and you will not see one of GT5's major flaws.
Classified Final Results:
1st - Myself - 04:03:11.983; 26 Laps
2nd - Amuse Nismo 380RS Super Leggera; +1
3rd - HKS CT230R; +1
4th - HPA Motorsports Stage II R32; +1
5th - Mine's BNR34 Skyline GT-R V-Spec; +1
6th - Mine's BNR34 Skyline GT-R N-Spec V; +1
7th - Amuse S2000 GT1; +1
8th - Nismo Fairlady Z (Z33); +1
9th - 2007 HPA Motorsports FT565 Twin Turbo; +1
10th - Nismo 400R; +2
11th - Nismo Skyline GT-R R-Tune (R33); +2
12th - Nissan Gran Turismo Skyline GT-R; +2
I love how wrong that is.
Because PD has clearly not installed individual tracking for the exact lap location on timed endurance races, the final results are very, very wrong. As you can see, the top 3 cars behind me, all came at the back, only ahead of the lapped cars. Somethings up, if you ask me. Here are the actual results.
The Actual Final Results
1st - Myself - 04:03:11.983; 26 Laps
2nd - Amuse S2000 GT1; +1
3rd - Nismo Fairlady Z Z-Tune (Z33); +1
4th - 2007 HPA Motorsports FT565 Twin Turbo Audi TT; +1
5th - Amuse Nismo 380RS Super Leggera; +1
6th - HKS CT230R; +1
7th - HPA Motorsports Stage II R32; +1
8th - Mine's BNR34 Skyline GT-R V-Spec N1 Base; +1
9th - Mine's BNR34 Skyline GT-R N1 Base; +2
10th - Nismo Skyline GT-R R-Tune (R33); +2
11th - Nissan Gran Turismo Skyline GT-R; +2
12th - Nismo 400R; +2
Fastest Lap of the Race:
Lap 1 - 8:53.093
Drivers:
T. Savage - Class 32 --> Class 33
E. De La Fuente - Class 28 --> Class 30
C. Magnani - Class 27 --> Class 30
R. Ferrari - Class 27 --> Class 29
Car after race, progressing with Oil Change. You can see the PP dropped from 642 to 635.
Best B-Spec race I've ever done, even though I picked a car that should have easily won (it did, but I thought it would be closer. I wrote this after the race, now im typing a day later). I would recommend this to anyone who has not done it yet.
The Techy Specs.
Ran entire race on Racing Hard tyres.
Followed a 2 lap pit stratergy from Lap 3 onwards.
Ran with about 100 Litres, 82 Litres, 44 Litres, 21 Litres, 100 Litres, etc.
Apologies for any parts of this that are difficault to make sense of. I typed the individual laps up during, and the lap after that specific lap. So some parts I did during the race, some parts I did after, some parts I added now. Some car names I believe are incorrect. "N-Spec V" refers to the "GT-R N1 Base", the "GT-R V-Spec" is the "GT-R V-Spec N1 Base". Once again, apologies for any inconvinience this may have caused. For any further information, just ask me. Thanks for reading
Im going to do this again, but have absolutely no idea what car to use. Not really bothered if I win, to be honest.
Im debating over:
Suzuki GSXR/4 Concept
Honda Insight '99
Mazda Lantis Turbo R '93
Toyota SERA '91
Tesla Motors Tesla Roadster
All have been tuned by myself for the Ring, but I have no idea what to use currently. Suggestions for other cars also welcomed.