That's a one and done on slot 1. I guess I didn't need to take the day off after all, but it probably still was worth it though, being able to go in on slot 1 with a clear head rather than coming in frenzied after work.
That said, the Corvette does not suit Fuji one bit as I feared. This race was a massive struggle. I can't see myself finishing in the top half unless I'm in a much lower DR lobby, and even then...
I started P14 with a 1:40.915. My first lap didn't quite hit the marks and carry speed properly, and then when I had a better run on the second one I got too aggressive through sector 3 a couple of times and had to catch the car so it wasn't an improvement. I'd have been mid-pack at best though, and in all honesty I'd probably have been bullied all the way back out of it if I'd started there.
I dropped back to P15 (last place as someone disconnected before qualifying started) at the start of lap 2. There was a Supra hanging around my rear right, and I ended up leaving far too much space at the apex at turn 1. Definitely my biggest disadvantage in VR is people hanging around that close - I feel compelled to give a wide berth because I just can't track it most of the time with the tools available.
I'd hoped I'd be able to get away faster taking the wider line, but nope. Watching a Supra of all things manage a tight apex whilst you're slowly doing HGV-radius turning circles is a sight to behold. I swear, the Corvette doesn't understand what turning means.
A Genesis had spun out at 100R after being pit manoeuvered by a Lexus, so back up to P14. I ended up in a 3-way fight for P12 coming out of sector 3 and bumpdrafted the Lexus past the Supra down the main straight to take P13.
The start of lap 3 was... interesting. A Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and a different Genesis up ahead were 3-wide heading into turn 1. The Ferrari outbroke himself by about 10-15m I reckon and took himself off the left to avoid a collision. The Genesis didn't brake until after the 100 board and ended up disappearing off to Narnia. A+ lobby, folks.

Up to P11.
I followed the Lexus around for a few laps, although I wish I could have communicated to him that I was willing to work together to try push back up. He was constantly going defensive.

He picked up a track limits penalty then put his foot down too hard and spun it coming out of turn 6, so P10.
I ended up fighting with the Supra for a while after that, and once again I felt amazed at how bad the Corvette's handling is in comparison. He was pushing all the buttons to slow me down, sticking his nose where I'd feel compelled to then leave space when I didn't need to because I can't track him. What amused me though, was even when he got around under me, the Corvette's acceleration would make him fall behind again. I never thought I'd be doing that to a Supra of all things.
The Ferrari that went off on lap 3 caught up and joined the fight a while later since we were really slowing each other down. I picked up a track limits penalty at Coca-Cola on lap 9 and fell back behind, but then caught back up from their fighting.
I ended up getting a decent run out of the final bend to get alongside the Supra, and (to my great amusement) outran it to the finish line to steal P11 back by 22 thousandths even though the Ferrari was giving him the tow the whole way. I'm definitely looking forward to Tokyo now if the Corvette can do that, I won't lie.
That was worth 158 points which I'd normally not be happy with, but I'm not seeing myself get better on this one. Not with my tank of a car.