Gran Turismo World Series (Nations Cup Exhibition Season: Jan 22 - Feb 1)

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And sure enough, round 2 is a copy-paste of the Prague Manufacturers final. :rolleyes:

Right now the car I'm finding best suits me in the rain here is the 2011 Mercedes SLS. It's the only car I've managed to break into the 1:41s with, with others mostly in the 1:43s. I'm doing it all sorts of weird and wrong, aren't I? :lol:
 
And sure enough, round 2 is a copy-paste of the Prague Manufacturers final. :rolleyes:

Right now the car I'm finding best suits me in the rain here is the 2011 Mercedes SLS. It's the only car I've managed to break into the 1:41s with, with others mostly in the 1:43s. I'm doing it all sorts of weird and wrong, aren't I? :lol:
Interesting. I was thinking something MR, like the Lambo or NSX. Good wet weather traction. Maybe even the Renault or McLaren, both good in the wet.

What lap does it dry out?
 
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Interesting. I was thinking something MR, like the Lambo or NSX. Good wet weather traction. Maybe even the Renault or McLaren, both good in the wet.

What lap does it dry out?
Going for an MR was my first thought too, but opted to give the SLS a shot after having a great time with it on the random mixed weather Nurburgring round in the 2023 Manufacturers.

I've not run free practice long enough to fully confirm, but assuming it is a direct copy-paste it'll stay wet for a long time. I've had it running for 15 minutes and this is what the weather map looks like at least. (Weather pattern slowly moving north west.)

20250122_221503.jpg


I've just checked the Prague final and the first pit stops for Intermediates started around lap 18. The teams that switched directly from Wet to Softs started doing it on laps 21/22.
 
Reasonable effort for me after a long hiatus from daily races and GTWS. Slot 2 Aus / NZ, I'm guessing 2nd split (full A+ lobby but no A. Lee or G. Barbara this time, thankfully). 1m32.7 was enough for 8th on the grid. S2TBenno had pole with a 1.31.8! Rocket.

Really clean racing all round (which usually seems to be the case with Nations), and good battles. A couple of drivers dropped it early, and I found myself entering the pits at the end of lap 12 in 4th. Took it easy on the out lap on softs, then started pushing, moved up into 3rd and rapidly closing in on 2nd (Benno was long gone, about 8 seconds up the road). Of course, I cooked that stupid fast left kink on lap 15, hit the inside barrier and carried damage to the end...

P6 and 216 points or so. Not bad really.
 
Do I need to go back to school or does it really say "number of valid rounds 3" ? Did they change that? I remember it was 2 rounds that counted if it was only 4 races 🤔
 
Do I need to go back to school or does it really say "number of valid rounds 3" ? Did they change that? I remember it was 2 rounds that counted if it was only 4 races 🤔
It's said that since the announcement - I put it in the article with a note to the same effect.
 
That was disappointing...

First GT1 slot in North America (6PM EST). I was in door #5, driving the Lexus. 175 points up for grabs. @afc5150 was there, too. Good to see you!

Qualifying got off to a weird start. I waited for the pit lane to clear to go out last, but when I gave the car some gas, it didn't move. Had to exit out and rejoin to get it going. Once I was on the track, though, I had lots of space. I posted a time of 1:34.454, which put me in Q9.

gtws-nc-rd1-start.jpg


The race got off to a rough start. I picked up some rear bumper damage right off the bat at T1. I was still able to keep up with the cars around me, so I decided to stay out. Within a few laps, I found myself up to P5, thanks to so many drivers crashing. Then up to P4 when another driver pitted early. Things seemed to be going okay, all things considered.

Without the downforce from the rear wing, I was being careful through the kink to avoid going into the wall, downshifting to fourth gear to control the exit. That was working just fine, until...

gtws-nc-rd1-crash.jpg


On lap 9, I forgot to downshift and plowed right into the wall. The tires lost their grip. The car started to shimmy. Before I knew it, I was into the wall on the other side, adding damage to the front bumper, and both sides of the front suspension. That's @afc5150 in the photo. He blew by me as I tried to recover.

Thankfully, I only had a couple more laps to go on the RMs. I lost one more position before I pitted on lap 11 for RSs. It took 6 seconds to repair the damage. By the time I came out, I was in P8, where I spent the remainder of the race.

That was good for 124 points. Not about to press my luck and try again.
 
The maximum DR level increase will be part of the update. The increase in variation starts with today's race. Details here here.
My question on the DR, are they still giving the A+ drivers more points than the A drivers? I mean we are both in the GT1, but when they are rewarded more points, it makes it impossible for an A dr to do well overall in a Championship. Like, I can win a race, and receive x amount of points, and a A+ driver can finish P4 or 5 and make the same points. How is this fair when in the same league? Not sure if this has ever been discussed (been off of here for a few years) (not directly to you, just a quote to start the conversation)
 
Going for an MR was my first thought too, but opted to give the SLS a shot after having a great time with it on the random mixed weather Nurburgring round in the 2023 Manufacturers.

I've not run free practice long enough to fully confirm, but assuming it is a direct copy-paste it'll stay wet for a long time. I've had it running for 15 minutes and this is what the weather map looks like at least. (Weather pattern slowly moving north west.)



I've just checked the Prague final and the first pit stops for Intermediates started around lap 18. The teams that switched directly from Wet to Softs started doing it on laps 21/22.
Seeing something similar. Did 18 laps and the grip meter was just sitting at that second rung with the radar showing that lightest blue/green, all moving away from the track. There were a couple of times that the meter would be in the IM territory but a big blue blob on the radar would have it back in wets shortly thereafter.

I'd have not pit at the end of 18; that said I was obviously the only car on the track and with others it might be dryer. Kinda wish I'd done a couple more laps to see, but IMs would be coming within a lap or two. That being said, if I'm putting IMs on lap 19-20, I gotta wonder if it's worth pitting again for RS as it'd likely be a number of laps longer before they'd even be viable.
 
My question on the DR, are they still giving the A+ drivers more points than the A drivers? I mean we are both in the GT1, but when they are rewarded more points, it makes it impossible for an A dr to do well overall in a Championship. Like, I can win a race, and receive x amount of points, and a A+ driver can finish P4 or 5 and make the same points. How is this fair when in the same league? Not sure if this has ever been discussed (been off of here for a few years) (not directly to you, just a quote to start the conversation)
I'm sure @Famine can provide a much more detailed explanation, but as I understand it, the total points available in a race is based on the sum of the DR levels of the drivers in it. The higher the ratings of the drivers, the higher the points. A race full of A-rated drivers will be worth less points than one full of A+ ones. That hasn't changed as far as I know.

Interesting. I was thinking something MR, like the Lambo or NSX. Good wet weather traction. Maybe even the Renault or McLaren, both good in the wet.

What lap does it dry out?
The Ferrari was the meta when there was a wet-track Time Trial based on this race. And that was the car that won it in Prague, though the Porsche gave it a pretty good run for its money from what I remember. I'm feeling like the MR cars will do well in the rain. I'd add the Audi to the list, too.
 
First series since June?
I got my free practice time down to 32.6xx in the NSX.
Door 13 with 245 points up for grab.
I qualified P4 with 33.5 which i was happy with.
Decided to start the race on RS just incase I picked up damaged.
IMG_3328.jpeg



Play its safe to start and stayed damage free and lifting for the fast kink. Ended up P2 after a few laps. Pitted for RM on lap 6 and about 4-5 seconds behind P1 who was on RM, came out to clean air after passing a back marker. Work the delta to P1 down to 18.xxx when he pitted on lap 12. I took over P1 in the pits and had about 2.5 sec lead. I knew he would catch up so lap 16 I let him by as not to fight and ruin my race. Came home in P2 for 235 points. Very happy with the results.

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Nations never got off to a good start for me.

I managed to get home in time for the 4PM (UK) slot, and i was in the same lobby as Super GT, EERIEISSSS, and Wombleleader.

I went against the grain, and i went with the Audi RS5 for this race.

Qualifying never went well since i qualified P16, plus i never managed to get out of the 1:34's in qualifying. I did gain 1 place before the race started because Super GT unfortunately disconnected before the race started.

I started the race on mediums, and the race got off to a good start since i overtook EERIEISSSS around the outside of T1, and then i gained a couple of more positions during the next couple of laps, when a couple of people made mistakes, and i gained a position from Wombleleader since he went into the pits early, since he was trying a 2 stop.

At the start of lap 4, i was now in P11 and i was right behind the French guy in P10, and he was on soft tyres. For the next couple of laps, i had a good 4 way battle with the French guy, a Russian guy, and EERIEISSSS, but unfortunately on lap 6, when the French guy, Russian guy, and myself were bunched together, the Russian guy clipped me and i went spinning off into the wall, which gave me front and rear aero damage. So now i was down in 14th all by myself, and from that point, the race was a non event for me.

I came into the pits at the end of lap 12 to put on the softs, and in the end i finished in P13. Obviously i'm a little bit disappointed with the result, since i feel like i could've finished inside the top 10. It's a shame that the race had to end that way since it was a good battle, plus the Audi was holding it's own against the NSX's.

Sardegna - Road Track - A_.jpeg

Sardegna - Road Track - A__5.jpeg
 
I'm sure @Famine can provide a much more detailed explanation, but as I understand it, the total points available in a race is based on the sum of the DR levels of the drivers in it. The higher the ratings of the drivers, the higher the points. A race full of A-rated drivers will be worth less points than one full of A+ ones. That hasn't changed as far as I know.
Sorry I made it sound like in the same race. It just seems to me, in fairness, the points need to be the same, or split GT1. Is this done in GT2 and 3 as well? It's not very enticing to enter a championship you have no hope of doing well in overall.
 
Sorry I made it sound like in the same race. It just seems to me, in fairness, the points need to be the same, or split GT1. Is this done in GT2 and 3 as well? It's not very enticing to enter a championship you have no hope of doing well in overall.
GTWS Points available in a given lobby are directly proportional to the mean Driver Rating of the lobby, so it happens up and down the entire ladder.

Broadly, the winner scores ~0.5% of the mean DR. That means that the number of points in a lobby where everyone is A+ and maxed out at 100,000pt is ~500pt for winning (although a little less; I think the record is 480-ish), while a lobby where everyone is low A and around 50,000pt is worth 250pt for the win. And a D lobby where everyone has 10pt is basically worthless; I'd actually love to see what that one is worth, but I'd suspect the top half of the grid gets 1pt and the bottom half gets 0pt.
 
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Well, that went considerably better than expected given how bad my pace was going in! 😅

GT1 - Mid A/S - 8 pm Slot EST

Entered with door number 5 as a lone Lexus in a sea of Honda's. Qualifying went shocking, just couldn't get a proper lap together so we start P11.

I had decided to run an 11M/7S strategy to try and undercut if I was in a battle. Race starts, and people are dropping like flys in the last sector sweeper turn. By the time things start to settle I've reached P5 just by keeping the car clean, and am continuing to reel in cars ahead! I emerge from the pits in P5 still. P4 pits a couple laps later, and with 3 to go I'm well within range of P3 that has gotten damaged ahead. I complete the pass in the last turn coming to take the white flag and hold on to secure P3 for 153~ Pts, and a Clean Race Bonus to boot!

Racing with heavy damage on every Sunday with the team really paid off today! I can only do the Wednesdays this time around, so good luck on Saturday everyone! :D:cheers:
 
GT1, 6 12 strategy
First attempt was a disaster, Q4, P11 with 2 accidents and 2 pitstops.

Second attempt Q3,
By the end of first lap I was P2 and getting away with P1.
When I entered the pit at end of lap 6. I got out P13.
At lap 13, I was P1 after passing the pit.
On the last lap! the same driver I got away with on the first lap was on my tail getting close.
I messed up the kink, no accident, and he passed me to steal me the victory.
But that guy was definitively faster.

Result: P2 for 134 points.
 
GT1 6pm slot - Lexus RCF GT500
Decided not to join the qualfying rush to try and get 3 flying laps, hung back and had two clear flyers on my own, unfortunately neither that great, so qualified 12th.

Had a clean first lap until the kink, a little tap at rear leaves me carrying bumper damage for the next 12 laps. Meant a not spectacular race, battling down around 10/11th until the stops.

Sardegna - Road Track - A_.jpeg


Sardegna - Road Track - A__1.jpeg


Had a good clean race with a fellow Brit until the stop, unfortunately he hadn't read the great advice here to not go beyond 12 laps. As I pitted for softs, he carried on around for a 13th lap. Sad to say he didn't make it, his race expired at the kink with heavy damage and a quit.

Sardegna - Road Track - A__2.jpeg


I had a lonley race from the stop to the finish, but still made a few positions as 1 by 1 my opponents tested out the collission physics with the barrier at the kink. Leaving me 7th at the flag.
 
My question on the DR, are they still giving the A+ drivers more points than the A drivers? I mean we are both in the GT1, but when they are rewarded more points, it makes it impossible for an A dr to do well overall in a Championship. Like, I can win a race, and receive x amount of points, and a A+ driver can finish P4 or 5 and make the same points. How is this fair when in the same league? Not sure if this has ever been discussed (been off of here for a few years) (not directly to you, just a quote to start the conversation)
It wouldn't be at all fair to the higher rated drivers if you made the gap in points smaller. If anything, it probably needs to be bigger.

I'm in low A+ myself and even there, we frequently have races where the winner's qualifying times and overall race pace would put them near to or at the back if they had been placed into a high A+ lobby.

The two races are not comparable, so why should the winner of the lower rated race be considered on par points-wise with the people in the higher rated races?
 
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My question on the DR, are they still giving the A+ drivers more points than the A drivers? I mean we are both in the GT1, but when they are rewarded more points, it makes it impossible for an A dr to do well overall in a Championship. Like, I can win a race, and receive x amount of points, and a A+ driver can finish P4 or 5 and make the same points. How is this fair when in the same league? Not sure if this has ever been discussed (been off of here for a few years) (not directly to you, just a quote to start the conversation)
They get more points because they have a higher DR, and are overall faster. It's fair because if you or I were in the top split races, you or I would probably finish last. If anything, it would be more "fair" for the gap to be significantly bigger.
 
I think the point is that for DR A racers being included in the final standings with A+ racers effectively makes the standings a waste of time. Even more so now the DR cap is going up again. I know you need to have a cut off somewhere but I'd honestly add a GT4 league - GT1 is A+, GT2 is A, GT3 is B, GT4 is C/D/E. I went from being at the top of the standings last season in GT2 when I was right at the top of B, now I'm back down at the bottom even though I've improved and gone up a league.

It's fine for those of us who know how the system works and have been doing this for years, but I can see why it would be offputting for someone new or less familiar with the championship races.
 
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I took the Audi (because... why not?) for a 28-lap ride in Free Practice this morning. I went with IM tires, thinking they would be quicker once the track started drying out. The rain lasted until lap 18, with the moisture gauge in the blue band pretty much the entire time. I was running 1:43s until it stared drying out, which only really started to become noticeable around lap 21. It dried gradually from there, but stayed above the first tick on the moisture gauge to the very end. There was never a visible drying racing line.
 
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I think the point is that for DR A racers being included in the final standings with A+ racers effectively makes the standings a waste of time. Even more so now the DR cap is going up again. I know you need to have a cut off somewhere but I'd honestly add a GT4 league - GT1 is A+, GT2 is A, GT3 is B, GT4 is C/D/E. I went from being at the top of the standings last season in GT2 when I was right at the top of B, now I'm back down at the bottom even though I've improved and gone up a league.

It's fine for those of us who know how the system works and have been doing this for years, but I can see why it would be offputting for someone new or less familiar with the championship races.
Agreed. I've said it before, but I think there needs to be another category too. Thing is, once you hit A+ you're only HALF way through the DR journey. A+ goes from 50k - 100k. So just because you hit A+ (let alone A!) doesn't mean you're in contention of qualifying for anything. Most low A+ lobbies are high-200/low-300 point range, and you need to be in the high-300s/low-400s to stand a chance at winning the season, so what's the point of limiting A and A+ drivers to three slots? And, we all need to be honest with each other... no one short of high A+ DR people are going to qualify for anything.

Thus:

GT3 - DR C and below
GT2 - DR A & B
GT1 - A+ to 75%A+
GTX - 76%A+ to S

Give the GTX people the three time slots to ensure high point lobbies and they're all in the same races. Those people will make time for these races regardless of when the slots are. Give the rest of us - who are playing the game for fun in between life events - our 10 slots back and let's just have fun.



I took the Audi (because... why not?) for a 28-lap ride in Free Practice this morning. I went with IM tires, thinking they would be quicker once the track started drying out. The rain lasted until lap 18, with the moisture gauge in the blue band pretty much the entire time. I was running 1:43s until it stared drying out, which only really started to become noticeable around lap 21. It dried gradually from there, but stayed above the first tick on the moisture gauge to the very end. There was never a visible drying racing line.
This is what I was thinking in a previous post. If I recall (which I could go back and rewatch) but the Ferrari that won stayed out on IMs while the Porsche that was catching him pit for slicks... hence why the Porsche was catching the Ferrari like crazy at the end, albeit one lap too few to get it done.

But, those are the best GT drivers in the world and I am not so sure about running slicks on a still wet track, pushing enough to make up a whole pit stop. I mean, you can basically not put a foot wrong at all on the slicks or it's all over. Then, even if/when you catch an IM runner, how you gonna pass? You'll have to go off the dry line and... yea.

I think there will be a combination of both in the actual races. Looking forward to this one.
 
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And sure enough, round 2 is a copy-paste of the Prague Manufacturers final. :rolleyes:

Right now the car I'm finding best suits me in the rain here is the 2011 Mercedes SLS. It's the only car I've managed to break into the 1:41s with, with others mostly in the 1:43s. I'm doing it all sorts of weird and wrong, aren't I? :lol:
Had a go with the SLS and lap 4 on wets I got to 1:41:7, quite a few mistakes but overall nice to drive. Also put ABS on normal setting.

Inters gave less confidence and slower times but might have another go, plus some other cars. This race is going to be an adventure on every lap, maximum focus required!

Edit: respect to the leaderboard heroes who have done 40 laps to post a dry time!
 
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Thus:

GT3 - DR C and below
GT2 - DR A & B
GT1 - A+ to 75%A+
GTX - 76%A+ to S
If it were up to me, we'd get rid of the lettered tiers entirely and switch to numerical DR ratings. For the GTWS races, we could reduce it to two leagues:
  1. GTX -- consisting of, say, the top 100 drivers by DR from each region, with limited time slots and stricter rules
  2. Everyone else
The way the credit rewards are allocated would need to be adjusted so lower-rated drivers could still hope to get a decent payout for participating. Maybe the way to do that would be to increase the race rewards like we've seen recently in some of the Daily Races where the payouts were multiplied 10x their normal amounts.

I find the arbitrary letter tiers -- and the corresponding GTWS leagues -- really frustrating. As someone who has plateaued at the low-A level, I feel forever doomed to be at the bottom of GT1 with measly bronze-level awards, whereas if I were just a slightly worse driver, I could be dominating GT2. And it all depends on the arbitrary choice of where PD draws the line.
 
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