Gran Turismo World Series (Manufacturers Cup Exhibition Season: Feb 5 - Feb 15)

[Roman_GT23]

Just watched Rory's video (eeries) 28 laps estimated 1hr race(the practice lobby I did was 16 so it was probably not A+ lobby settings), day into night, heavy damage, Renault turns into a psycho on 1/4 tank or less. Glad I chose to skip this one.

 

[Yard_Sale]

Bathurst last night was good fun, long but fun. The race settings worked well for making things interesting. Tyre wear wasn't a massive issue but there was still a strategy choice there on whether to double stint the tyres or not to gain track position, usually with the high wear it automatically favours whoever is best on tyres and can undercut everybody around them. The fuel was nice too, everybody could make it on 2 stops but you had to judge when to push and when to save. I entered 3 slots:

Attempt 1 (Slot 2 EU): S: 1st F: 1st - 272 points
This one was the least eventful but good fun nonetheless, ScottieSNR was in the lobby and his streams are always a one man party with a decent group in the chat. I didn't have time to do any practice when I got home from work so went in cold but luckily know the Porsche fairly well and we had Bathurst as a daily recently so qualified on pole by half a second and won, I tried to do some donuts at the end but they were a bit shoddy. The shame!

Attempt 2 (Slot 3 EU): S: 5th F: 1st - 279 points
I really enjoyed this one, it felt like a much faster lobby so I started a bit deeper in the pack but that opened up strategy options with saving fuel in the first stint and extending over the cars around. With a bit of short shifting and coasting into the chase I could get as far as lap 11 with a couple of push laps as the cars ahead stopped to jump one of the quick guys from qualifying, another lost out with a pit entry penalty and one of the cars ahead had stopped very early on lap 5 (I can only assume they had forgot to go to the toilet before it got started and made a emergency change).

That longer first stint meant the race was pretty much full pace until the end, shifting at around 90% the 911 uses around 10% fuel per lap, even better the Porsche comes alive as the sun goes down and presumably the track cools so I could slowly close on the leader and pass him by running a couple of extra laps with a light car after he stopped, I only needed 7 laps of fuel so gained a little there too. We exchanged tenths in the final lap so it was a really close and even battle, good fun.

Attempt 3 (Slot 1 NA): S: 16th F: 2nd - 279 points
I don't like to qualify on my alt account so started from the back, pole was taken by a Japanese player, also on alt account, who was 1.5s quicker than the first actual American. This was the same strategy as my second European race, no intention of racing anybody but to sit in and save fuel and only go for moves when cars were stopped in the fence which was good for 5 places. Again as other cars pitted and the road opened up I pushed on for a few laps which was enough to jump from 11th to 5th(!). The last few Americans were dispatched in the second stint and then I could try to chase down the leader but the 15 second head start was too much (at the finish it was just over 5). I didn't save the replay but suspect he had done the whole race on a single set of tyres.

Something different but good fun, the Nurburgring is going to be even better, bring on Saturday! 💪

I think PD knocked the multipliers and race distance out of the park with this one. Just enough to where there could be some real variance in viable strategies. Hopefully the official season is a culmination of these past, very entertaining exhibition seasons

 

[Talon16]

So I tried a couple more TT sessions and got very sporadic results. One it started raining about 80% through lap two, which caught me out on slicks. Tried to make it... didn't. That particular weather pattern would be rough in race: either you try and make it (which I didn't) or you pit for IMs and drive 80% of a dry Nord on them.

Then I switched accounts and tried again... dry as a bone with nothing coming close to the track.

Went back to original account, and definitely rain on the radar which would've hit eventually, but definitely not the wall that was there the first time. Also a big hole in the cloud so looked like it could hit, then go away over the course of five laps.

All three were different. If I exited and went back in, the weather was the same... but once I switched accounts it changed even when I went back to the original. Interesting.........

 

[Yard_Sale]

Jealous of you guys. Outta town this weekend, so I’ll be monitoring the action via my mobile device on YouTube.com and this forum. Good luck everyone and I’ll see y’all next season 😎

 

[tmtk]

Bit late with the report, but busy day today...

I clocked some 20+ FP laps on Tuesday and thought I got this (PB 05.7), but come Wednesday I just couldn't turn a semi-decent lap on the Mountain (very slow on the descent and the Dipper got me 90% of the times).

Had time for two slots only, around midday, EMEA, GT2, low B/S.

On the first one the qualifying was just terrible, the lap of 06.9 was good enough for P9 and running midpack here is not a prospect of a good race mostly. I got a so-so start, only reeled in by one Lexus, but after the uphill started we literally encountered a traffic jam at The Cutting, there was almost a standstill moment there. So the front just got away. The walled section was crazy almost every lap, people bouncing off the walls and each other, bonkers!
Drove around 11th when on lap 3 the AMG in front lost the rear at The Chase, started rotating sideways and I in the middle of kissing the apex had nowhere to go but just hit them making them veer off the track while I didn't make the exit and mowed some grass, plus ofcourse I got 3 secs penalty for the hit. It went downhill form there, a mixture of my own mistakes and additional penalties (cutting the esses) made me drop basically to the end of the race. With clean air I got some consistency. Reeled in some backmarkers, one of them shoved me off the track at The Chase few laps from the end (ofcourse they did not receive any penalty for that).
Finished 12th only thanks to some people quitting the race.

A side note: I think removing the penalty for hitting walls translated here to reckless and careless driving from most of the field. Last time around at Bathurst with the wall hit penalty people maybe not minded each other especially more, but at least minded THEMSELVES (the most important mind of all) resulting in steadier racing. That's what I think.

Second slot started a lot better. The quali lap of 06.2 was good enough for 2nd on the grid, so there was hope. Started well, but again, I was so slow once the track started going downhill. At The Dipper my rear started to step out (like almost always), I can save that most of the times, but in this very moment I got punted by Porsche from P3, spun completely and found myself boxed in the wall. Once I managed to turn myself in the direction of the race I was 13th. Started chasing the cars ahead and after that disaster it was surprisingly fine race, gained some positions thanks to quitting, misfortune of others and even some genuine passes to finish 8th (last not to get DR hit). Could be around podium for sure if it weren't for the lap 1 incident.
53 points are below my previous two results, so no gain for me.

Did some laps at the Nurburgring FP and for me it starts to rain in the middle of second lap. So in qualifying I would get dry outlap and half-moisture bar rain in the second half of the timed lap - that should be fun.


Don't wanna do multiple posts so some replies...

3. Smurf alt accounts. Strictly to club baby seals. I suspect there aren't too many that fall in this category, but there certainly are a few.

Ok, English is not my first language, but I seem to get most of the contents here, yet this combination of words is a mystery to me.
What is "club baby seals"?

you had me at "Butthole Surfers" (seen in an earlier pic) and Purple Rain.

I know right? It's the balance of it that does the job. Pretty much like Deicide and Culture Beat (in a more extreme ends though)

Every once in a while there’s someone over the age of 40 with a little bit of culture that gets my various bumper stickers 👍🏼

 

[praiano63]

For next Nordschleife Manufacturers , 8 random weathers . One 100% dry and 7 light rain for inter tires or 1 lap on slick before too wet.

 

[JDMKING13]

I think PD knocked the multipliers and race distance out of the park with this one. Just enough to where there could be some real variance in viable strategies. Hopefully the official season is a culmination of these past, very entertaining exhibition seasons

The race at Bathurst was extraordinary, offering an electrifying atmosphere and intense focus. While some may shy away from the heavy damage that can occur during such races, I personally find it thrilling as a GT1 driver. Despite losing a podium spot due to crashing, I greatly enjoyed myself. The experience of racing in the dark with lights bouncing off my cockpit put a smile on my face, but the sudden temperature drop caught me by surprise! Ultimately, while winning is important, the overall experience matters just as much for me.

 

[Eggstor]

Ok, English is not my first language, but I seem to get most of the contents here, yet this combination of words is a mystery to me.
What is "club baby seals"?

To beat up on the defenseless, as baby seals are defenseless.

 

[icycls]

Ran a custom race for the Nord, cloudy weather but no rain. I could only get 3.3 laps on a tank in the Audi. Don't think it is feasible to fuel-save your way to 5 laps? Even if I could, I'm a tire shredder and I was at 70-80% red at the end of 3 laps. No chance in green hell do I survive 5 laps on those tires. Let's just say, the audi does not inspire confidence at that level of wear.

Now, throw in some random rain and we might have to improvise a bit.

 

[JDMKING13]

What times are you guys getting? I’m terrible at this track! That’s why I’m so upset at myself for dropping 3rd at Bathurst… I’m at 8:04 right now but it’s sloppy. I def think I can get under 8 mins. I just need to watch the fast guys.

 

[911RSR]

What times are you guys getting? I’m terrible at this track! That’s why I’m so upset at myself for dropping 3rd at Bathurst… I’m at 8:04 right now but it’s sloppy. I def think I can get under 8 mins. I just need to watch the fast guys.

8:04? Lucky you! i did 4 laps yesterday and my best (only one without a trip to the countryside) was a 8:10.
I used the ghost from the fasted Porsche as a guide. That made clear i loose time in almost every corner.

There was no rain on my laps, but the tarmac on some spots looked quite wet. Espescially in the right hander after, i think it's called, "Pflanzgarten" (the jump after "youtube"-corner). in my first 2 laps i lost the car in that corner, although my line was ok.

If there is realy rain in the race, i'll stop the car and walk ...

 

[GlockPants]

So I tried a couple more TT sessions and got very sporadic results. One it started raining about 80% through lap two, which caught me out on slicks. Tried to make it... didn't. That particular weather pattern would be rough in race: either you try and make it (which I didn't) or you pit for IMs and drive 80% of a dry Nord on them.

Then I switched accounts and tried again... dry as a bone with nothing coming close to the track.

Went back to original account, and definitely rain on the radar which would've hit eventually, but definitely not the wall that was there the first time. Also a big hole in the cloud so looked like it could hit, then go away over the course of five laps.

All three were different. If I exited and went back in, the weather was the same... but once I switched accounts it changed even when I went back to the original. Interesting.........

I haven't done any FP sessions yet, but I recall the last time we had variable weather during FP the race weather was still scripted. Qualifying was dry while the race started on a wet track. I wonder if it'll be the same.

I'd be very surprised if PD plans a race here with variable weather for the actual race, simply for the reason you mentioned getting caught on slicks and wiping out the field.

 

[Talon16]

What times are you guys getting? I’m terrible at this track! That’s why I’m so upset at myself for dropping 3rd at Bathurst… I’m at 8:04 right now but it’s sloppy. I def think I can get under 8 mins. I just need to watch the fast guys.

7:58.0 in the McLaren. I was so mad as I screwed up the turn before Dottenger (like the most important exit on the whole track!!!) and cost myself .400" against my previous ghost or I'd been in the 57s easy. I have no idea how the aliens are in the 48s.

I haven't done any FP sessions yet, but I recall the last time we had variable weather during FP the race weather was still scripted. Qualifying was dry while the race started on a wet track. I wonder if it'll be the same.

I'd be very surprised if PD plans a race here with variable weather for the actual race, simply for the reason you mentioned getting caught on slicks and wiping out the field.

I kinda hope so. I like random weather, but not so much on Nord. It's just too long of a track and there's the opportunity for the whole field to get screwed over because of how long the track is. The good news is at least they fixed the fact the clouds used to come in at 5,000 mph (I did the math once, I don't recall the number but it would just kill us all ) and you can see them coming for a while. Bad news is it's still a guessing game on whether or not you can make another eight min long lap before it hits. Especially when you zoom way in on the track it's very pixelated and hard to tell what it actually going on. Caught me out as it started to rain as I was in the twisty bits ~30 seconds before the second banked turn so I was like 80% thru the track. Bar went to 50% up and it was insta-death, spun, hit the barriers, big damage and I couldn't get the car pointed straight again to save my life. If that was the race, it'd be race over without even being able to get to the pits.

Also, based on what we know about the time multiplayer and how the track dies much quicker for the cars behind, I'd rather it be: dry the whole race; wet the whole race; or start dry, go to wet and stay wet for the remainder. All that being said, the last one went from wet to dry and it seemed to work out okay.

Ran a custom race for the Nord, cloudy weather but no rain. I could only get 3.3 laps on a tank in the Audi. Don't think it is feasible to fuel-save your way to 5 laps? Even if I could, I'm a tire shredder and I was at 70-80% red at the end of 3 laps. No chance in green hell do I survive 5 laps on those tires. Let's just say, the audi does not inspire confidence at that level of wear.

Now, throw in some random rain and we might have to improvise a bit.

Yea, I don't think so. We're talking Nord here. Trying to save fuel to get an extra two laps there is no joke, probably not even possible... at least while attempting to be competitive. IMO, it's push, pit (either lap two or three assuming a dry race), refuel, change tires, and go.

That being said, I've not run any mock-races to see. The fuel thing I think is a non-starter for a no stop attempt, and I can't imagine the extra five seconds in the pits to take tires wouldn't pay off big times in the following two/three laps around Nord.

I probably won't have a chance to either. I need to practice some in the rain which is what I am planning on doing next... and the race is tomorrow! Here we go!

 

[OJBrit]

Good luck to our Asia/ Oceania guinea pigs in regards to the weather.

 

[JDMKING13]

I haven't done any FP sessions yet, but I recall the last time we had variable weather during FP the race weather was still scripted. Qualifying was dry while the race started on a wet track. I wonder if it'll be the same.

I'd be very surprised if PD plans a race here with variable weather for the actual race, simply for the reason you mentioned getting caught on slicks and wiping out the field.

Last time we had scripted weather in FP… this time the weather changes every practice completely different from last time!

 

[Moose78]

I'd be very surprised if PD plans a race here with variable weather for the actual race, simply for the reason you mentioned getting caught on slicks and wiping out the field.

I'm not so sure. I mean it's all speculation at this point, but in free practice the weather is really slow moving and if you get rain it is pretty consistent when it starts. Everybody can practice with rain and come to an informed decision about whether they want to risk a spinout on slicks in lap 2 once the rain comes, or play it safe on IMs for the whole lap. I could see this being the strategic element that PD is intending for this race.

Thankfully, we Americans get the benefit of seeing what the Asia-Oceanic and EMEA racers get so we should have some time to prepare for whatever PD throws at us. We appreciate your sacrifice.

7:58.0 in the McLaren. I was so mad as I screwed up the turn before Dottenger (like the most important exit on the whole track!!!) and cost myself .400" against my previous ghost or I'd been in the 57s easy. I have no idea how the aliens are in the 48s.

I have to say, from my 8:10 vantage point, anything under 8 looks pretty alien to me. That's an amazing time!

I love driving this track, but I'm not fast there. I'm just hoping to be fast enough to hold off any really fast drivers from trying risky moves until I can let them by safely on a straight section. As usual, my goal in the race will be to get around the track without killing myself or anybody else -- a lofty one, I know, but maybe this time around I'll be able to achieve it.

As always, good luck to everyone in their races!

 

[A_Higher_Place]

Ran a custom race for the Nord, cloudy weather but no rain. I could only get 3.3 laps on a tank in the Audi. Don't think it is feasible to fuel-save your way to 5 laps? Even if I could, I'm a tire shredder and I was at 70-80% red at the end of 3 laps. No chance in green hell do I survive 5 laps on those tires. Let's just say, the audi does not inspire confidence at that level of wear.

Now, throw in some random rain and we might have to improvise a bit.

Good luck to you out there! I don't think I can race this Saturday and wasn't able to on Wednesday so my results are what they are. Strangely enough I moved up the order based on my first two performances rather thane down! Go out there and knock me off my podium spot !

 

[icycls]

Good luck to you out there! I don't think I can race this Saturday and wasn't able to on Wednesday so my results are what they are. Strangely enough I moved up the order based on my first two performances rather thane down! Go out there and knock me off my podium spot !

well, sorry you can't make it. I just hope that I drive drive this track better than bathurst where I might as well have been an AI to the other drivers! (It was humbling) And then there is @Pfei out there....

 

[Pfei]

well, sorry you can't make it. I just hope that I drive drive this track better than bathurst where I might as well have been an AI to the other drivers! (It was humbling) And then there is @Pfei out there....

I've been sim racing for 30 years and still suck at the Nord. I have never done a Sport Mode race there. My intention is to NOT race on Saturday. Gonna do some practice in the morning to see if I can get below 8:10 LOL.

 

[SupaflyIRL]

I've been sim racing for 30 years and still suck at the Nord. I have never done a Sport Mode race there. My intention is to NOT race on Saturday. Gonna do some practice in the morning to see if I can get below 8:10 LOL.

i turn off the hud and drive it at sunset in VR with only ABS and minimal needed TC in one of the following:

• Cayman GT4
• 992 GT3RS
• the GR3 of whatever my Manu car is
• one of the LMP style GR1 cars
• Super Formula

just to clear my head. i'm not the fastest pace-wise, but can hold down a whole race without having a "moment" regardless of weather at this point. every sport mode race i've done there has been absolutely epic and worth the time spent. actually looking forward to putting in some practice tonight. will be my first nord race at GT2 level.

 

[guitargeek]

Ran a custom race for the Nord, cloudy weather but no rain. I could only get 3.3 laps on a tank in the Audi. Don't think it is feasible to fuel-save your way to 5 laps? Even if I could, I'm a tire shredder and I was at 70-80% red at the end of 3 laps. No chance in green hell do I survive 5 laps on those tires. Let's just say, the audi does not inspire confidence at that level of wear.

Now, throw in some random rain and we might have to improvise a bit.

I started a custom race last night (similar set up to you) and going all out I could only do 2.8 laps on a tank in the AMG. I'll have to short shift a bit on one stint just to make it a 1 stop, assuming the weather were stable for the duration. Maybe the first lap in traffic will be enough to get me there.

 

[bduddy]

Man, I really wish I could do this one because I've been asking for random weather in GTWS for a long time now. But I'm 0% confident in handling Nords in the rain without my wheel (which I just sent off to Fanatec again, except this time in Texas). Gonna enjoy this one from the streams, I guess...

 

[Roggers]

What's everyone's wet times? I see we are heading for mixed conditions tomorrow which should be fun.

Ferrari felt quite stable in the wet 🤣 Just done a lap in light rain (about 50% wetness) on inters and was doing 8.40ish time
Not sure if we enter heavy wets?

 

[GlockPants]

What's everyone's wet times?

Bad.

My first FP session was on a wet track. Please don't judge my best time of 8:47ish too harshly!

And that was a dry track on intermediate tires.

Edit:

I'll add that the next two laps that actually were wet were 9 to 10 minutes.

Edit edit: I underestimated how slowly the rain would move in from watching the Pre-Race radar. The rain showed mostly light, but by Lap 2 near the beginning of the Nordschliefe it would make the inters not super effective by the end of the lap. I should've started on the slicks then pit for full wets after lap 1.

 

[Yard_Sale]

What times are you guys getting? I’m terrible at this track! That’s why I’m so upset at myself for dropping 3rd at Bathurst… I’m at 8:04 right now but it’s sloppy. I def think I can get under 8 mins. I just need to watch the fast guys.

Out of curiosity, I jumped on and ripped an 8:00.xxx right away, on pretty decent lap for me. Theres probably a maximum of 3 seconds left in it if I push the braking zones and nail all my lines. But even driving conservatively around the ring - you’re still on the ragged edge in a 458 😂

 

[Talon16]

Two more practice sessions, two wildly different results. First was dry as a bone with no sight of rain. Got into the 57s with a 7:57.7.

Nest session blue rain coming in quick. I was barely able to get a lap in before it hit the track, but it was covering the opposite side of the track. Pit for IMs, after about 2:30 it I caught up to it and the bar went up to the W level like right away and there was enough coverage it was going to stay raining for the rest of the five laps... so at least I got to practice some wet weather stuff.

The weather has been consistently inconsistent.

 

[bduddy]

Bad.

My first FP session was on a wet track. Please don't judge my best time of 8:47ish too harshly!

And that was a dry track on intermediate tires.

Edit:

I'll add that the next two laps that actually were wet were 9 to 10 minutes.

Edit edit: I underestimated how slowly the rain would move in from watching the Pre-Race radar. The rain showed mostly light, but by Lap 2 near the beginning of the Nordschliefe it would make the inters not super effective by the end of the lap. I should've started on the slicks then pit for full wets after lap 1.

Keep in mind that the wets are not significantly better than the inters unless the rain bar is around 1/3 of the way between the second line and the top, which is basically never possible unless you're getting yellow on the radar or something. They don't feel great, but I've done a few league races in rain lately and the inters are almost always the best choice.
On the other side of it, keeping the IMs cool in the dry is, well, impossible, but trying is always worth it. Their grip is actually not terrible until they overheat. It would be nice if this game actually showed you the tire temperatures it keeps under wraps...

 

[SupaflyIRL]

It would be nice if this game actually showed you the tire temperatures it keeps under wraps...

Meanwhile the tire temp data can be read with an iPhone app, which is not exactly helpful for me in VR…

There’s no reason for the white part of the tire UI to not change color with tire temp. You can even remove the red part of the wear gauge and just have it be a temp colored bar that empties so you can use red in the temp spectrum.

 

[Moose78]

I did a couple tests in Free Practice to see how the rain affects my lap times. Driving the VW Beetle. I exited and re-entered the Free Practice until I got a 'wall of rain' pattern.

I started on IMs in both to:

1. Get a feel for how much slower I am on IMs versus RHs on a dry track. That gives me an upper bound on how much time I would expect to lose if I bet on rain and it never came.
2. Practice for qualifying, if it is going to be this one dry lap followed by a wet one.

In the first test, there was a blob of dark blue rain heading for the track. When the rain hit -- on the Kesselchen straight (10km)-- it hit hard and the moisture gauge jumped just above the second line.

In the second test I got a rain pattern where the light blue hit the track. The rain started much later in lap 2 -- maybe around Pflanzgarten (15km) -- and was much lighter.

In both cases, I did a third lap that was wet from start to finish. Even in the second case, with the lighter rain to start, the moisture gauge was just above the second line, in the W tire territory, for the entire lap.

Weather	Opt time	Lap 1 (dry)	Lap 2 (rain arrives)	Lap 3 (fully wet)
Moderate rain (dark blue)	8:24.146	8:27.884	9:24.644	9:56.442
Light rain (light blue)	8:23.760	8:25.595	8:30.129	10:02.773

For reference, my best dry-lap time on RH tires is 8:10.

I'm not sure what conclusions to draw from this besides that 1. the rain levels can vary quite a lot, and 2. I'm pretty slow in the rain.

 

[bduddy]

Meanwhile the tire temp data can be read with an iPhone app, which is not exactly helpful for me in VR…

There’s no reason for the white part of the tire UI to not change color with tire temp. You can even remove the red part of the wear gauge and just have it be a temp colored bar that empties so you can use red in the temp spectrum.

The game will show a red or blue outline outside the tires, but it only appears if the tires are extremely cold or hot. Why create a feature and then make it almost useless? Well, I guess this is PD we're talking about...