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

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I'm also under the impression there's been at least one round at the Nurburgring where it started wet and went considerably longer for GT1 as the rain stopped after 2-3 laps and the track started drying. Would need to dig into the old race schedules to check.
There was one round at N24 where the weather was completely random, race to race. We've had a few there with weather, but one specifically anything could happen at any time... ie, there was no set pattern. Thus, we Westerners couldn't just watch the AO or EMEA races and know when to pit for wets/slick as no two races were the same.

I did two GT1 races (5 laps) where one went wet-to-dry and the other went dry-to-wet; also did two GT2 races (3 laps) where one was dry the whole time and the other was dry-to-wet.

That could be what you're thinking of. And, because I am a spreadsheet dork, that race was March 23, 2024 (GTWS Manufacturers Series, 2024 Exibition Series, Season 3); last race of the below...




Maybe they won't realise you're on slicks and will move over to defend the inside (wet) line.
People don't always pay much attention.
Maybe. Maybe not. Regardless, you'd still better be 100% passed them before the turn because if you have to leave room on the inside/outside for another car you're back on wet track.

I am just saying getting passed an IM runner while on slicks isn't going to be a spring picnic. Porsche driver in the actual WS event wasn't able to do it despite being on the Ferrari's bumper for the last few turns.

Y'all do what you want.
 
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At any rate, I suppose I’ll see what the earlier rounds do, and see if the weather is consistent or randomized. I’m hoping it’ll at least be dry for qualifying.
 
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Nobody going for the RX-Vision :(
Not a lot of love then :lol:

While not very good at Red Bull Ring in my experience - like at the last Pro-Am in Monaco - it should be a breeze to drive in the wet. It's front-mid (and not exactly an anchor), isn't a peaky torque-hound, and it responds very well to short-shifting. I use it for the Spa WTC800 all the time...
 
Wasted an afternoon with the idea of going through all the Gr.3 cars I have. Ran out of time and motivation when I realised how much time I'd actually wasted on some of these. Best time from 3 or 4 laps on full wets, TC 1, BB 0:

Ford GT LM Race Car Spec II: 1:44.6
Skyline Super Silhouette: 1:47.3
AMG '20: 1:43.3
R8 '15: 1:43.8
Z4: 1:43.9
M6 Endurance: 1:44.2
Mustang: 1:43.3
Ford GT LM Spec II Test Car: 1:43.3
GT500 GTR: 1:45.5
'13 GT-R: 1:43.1
BRZ: 1:42.0
911: 1:41.9
'18 GTR: 1:44.0
'19 R8: 1:42.4
458: 1:42.0

For some reason I had the instinct to use the '19 R8, but I found it a lot less predictable than the Subaru, Porsche and Ferrari. Caveats - I'm not any good, I have very little experience of MR cars and less of the rain, and I don't own any Gr.3 Mazdas.
 
Not a lot of love then :lol:

While not very good at Red Bull Ring in my experience - like at the last Pro-Am in Monaco - it should be a breeze to drive in the wet. It's front-mid (and not exactly an anchor), isn't a peaky torque-hound, and it responds very well to short-shifting. I use it for the Spa WTC800 all the time...
I tried it and seemed very average, short shifting might be the way to go though…
 
Since for whatever reason I struggle with the other limited selection of Gr3 cars I own, I always gravitate back to the 4C (GT3 driver that just got back into the game after 2 years).

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TC 5 (might test out 4 if I can control it), BB -5.

My optimal definitely benefited from the pockets of lightening rain but it always intensified shortly after.

Gonna roll the dice here since I’m more familiar with the car and just use the carnage of GT3 to try and stay out of trouble.
 
Down to a 39.7 in the wet now.... (yes I use the brake zone on the track, purely because I'm a day dreamer and otherwise I genuinely forget to brake sometimes).

Quite looking forward to this, heading out for the day, will definitely be home by 6pm, hoping we'll be home before 4 as I really don't wanna have to "one and done" this in the final slot.

Haven't practiced in the dry or inter yet, what's the worst that can happen.


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At first I was apprehensive about this round. Since the last physics update I had no control in the wet whatsoever. However a quick practice last night on inters gave me hope. Car was very controllable.
On my first walk down the stairs I decided to roll my ankle on one of the cat's toy balls. Ouch! Thankfully the pain subsided for the race. I also decided on wets this morning and quickly eclipsed my time. Yup that is the way forward.
Was able to grab P9 on the grid. My first lap was compromised by having to overtake someone into Wurth who had gone off during their lap. Go offline!
Race start and I guess I was too cautious. I was overtaken by the Supra behind. The R8 is better out of T1 than them due to no turbo but they had slip. I went a little too deep into T3 so wasn't able to get back ahead.
Lap 2 and I once again threatened out of T1. However I had to take avoiding action and break a bit harder into T3 to avoid them. This allowed a small tap from a McLaren. I lost another place. It also meant a Genesis could get me on the run to T4. On braking I wobbled a pit and glanced them putting them into a slide. They held it but I held back to not take advantage. Cars were battling ahead and constantly changing positions. This shuffled a black Supra back to me. I tried to go around the outside of Rauch but this meant I was half on the kerb at Wurth meaning I had to be a little more cautious on the accelerator for risk of the infamous kerb. This allowed the Supra back ahead. Once again the Audi's prowess out of T1 was apparent and I got alongside them.
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And made it stick around the outside of T3.
Next up was the Genesis. However the next lap they decided to sweep into the pits. I reckon they thought the track was going to dry. At the point I could see why they thought that. It was no longer heavy and a line was appearing. But there were still darker blue blobs around. Still they were now out of my way. I was now on the back of the McLaren after they cut Rindt but held any auto slide the grass would give them. However they decided to exit stage right out of T3 and another driver leaves the battle. Next lap and I catch the other Supra through Sector 1 and they try to mimic the McLaren and spin out of T3 but they do well and hold it meaning we are side by side heading towards T4. I am hoping they outbrake themselves but they do well keep it at the apex. The last blast of heavy rain arrives but it is not enough to take it back into the top third on the rain gauge. The Supra slides through Wurth but again they hold it. The Ferrari ahead had slid off the track so we both caught it after it rejoined. The Supra got past but I ran out of track. So had to stay behind for now. However they slid out of the last turn so blasted past. The rain lessened again. The Ferrari driver was quick so it was more a case of when they would get past rather than if. Lap 11 and a yellow flag into T4. A Porsche had spun out after being hit giving me P7. Lap 12 and I went deep into T3 and the Supra repeated its half spin. I got past down the straight but the Ferrari had the run on us both. I gave them space in the corner but they nudged me and as tyres were then on the kerb I had to be cautious meaning the Supra got past me also. That was short lived as the Supra tried the outside line at Rauch and this promptly put them on the grass. See ya! I kept it clean the last 2 laps for a P7 finish.

This was a great clean race with action throughout. I am more surprised than anybody I didn't have a spin given where I had to be on edge constantly. In GT2/3 I think the whole race on inters could be doable. You should be able to survive the heavier laps easily and then the rest of the race after lap 4/5 is in inter territory. Even with the small blast of further rain.

Not sure if I can make Weds yet or not. My Wife is having a C-Section on Tuesday so I am likely to be at the hospital all day.
Good luck to all still to race.
 
B class driver here using a PS controller, auto transmission.

Driving the 458.

First race was just a tester. Started 11th and finished in 13th switching between TC 3-5 between laps.

Tried again on the next race slot and my aim was just to finish in the top 10. If I got a top 5 finish I would call it a day as I didn't believe I could better that result in future races.

Started P6 and this time I started at TC 0. Even in the rain I feel more comfortable just gently pressing the gas out of corners. Was flirting between 5th and 6th most of the race with the leader 7-8 seconds ahead. Last 6 laps, I managed to pass and create a gap between 3rd, 4th and 5th with the front 2 in my sights, closing in around a second a lap.

With 2 laps left, and only 2.5 seconds off the front 2, 2nd place spun out on the exit after DRS 2, and I started to believe I could catch 1st with a bit of luck and consistency. He panicked and I was right on his tail into the final lap. I had much more grip and stability, eventually passing him out of the DRS 2 corner to take an incredible win.

Im not the fastest of drivers and would class myself as a low B high C driver, so to get this victory has absolutely made my weekend. That's my job done. Onto the next event :D
 
After watching Omega's stream this morning, it looks like IMs start being viable -- moisture gauge halfway between the first and second tick -- around lap 16. Slicks have to wait until lap 19 (gauge at the first tick).

I tried a couple 12-lap custom races on a drying track to see which would be better. I had a full 16-car field in each to better approximate drying conditions. The AI all started on IMs and stopped for RSs midway through. I set it up so I would start in P1.

IMs were unsurprisingly better at the start of the stint but once the track started drying, they really started to burn down. I had to stick to wet edges of the track to try to save the treads. My fastest laps were in the 1:37s and got progressively slower until the final lap when the back left tire went on me and I limped to the finish for last place.

RSs were awful at the start. No surprise there, either. I almost immediately fell back to last place, but with the other cars ahead of me drying the track, there was a lot more grip on the dry line. It wasn't long until I was making up positions against the AI. Each lap got progressively faster as the track dried. There were certainly times that I had wait behind the AI cars on IMs to stay on the dry line, but even when the track was pretty wet, I was able to go around them on the straights without spinning out. My fastest lap was in the 1:32s, IIRC.

I'm thinking I'll go with a 19W-9RS or 20W-8RS strategy. I'm not too worried about the IM drivers holding me up as I expect they'll have to keep to the edges of the track to keep from cooking their tires.
 
14 boring laps to finish 14th, after being biffed out of the way needlessly by a GT-R who then held me up as he and two Supras biffed each other repeatedly but never enough to kill one another.

Got a little bit inter-weather during the middle of the race, but probably not worth going for inters throughout.
 
Well, it went much better than expected, started 3rd with the RCZ, but was bumped into a slide in the Remus (?) corner, 12th place from there, drove as best and as clean I could and ended up on 6th place, my goal was around 10th place, so I'm more than happy with the race and I'm done for the weekend. :)

Edit.

In GT3 League, it was wet the whole race, no pit.
 
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GT2 - EMEA - Door #1 - 122pts for first

Well.. that wasn't really good.. Again a bad start to qualifying. 2 guys behind thought the race had already started and pushed and hit. I let them pass but didn't watch the road and someone who went out of ghosting appeared and I crashed into them. Great.. back to the pits for 1 flying lap. Starting in P5.

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The race started great. After T1 I was in 4th and after turn 2 in 1st place because there was a little pile up. Didn't last long though because I slipped out of turn 3. Something that would happen a couple more times in the race.

Got back on track in P6 and stayed there for a while. The driver in front spun out at the turn 1 so back to my starting position. The rest of the race was riddled with mistakes and a really bad middle sector almost every lap.

In the last lap I was close behind P3 and 4 and made a move into Turn 3. Didn't quit made the apex and touched P3 slightly so I slowed down and let them pass. The other driver slipped through too and so I finished in P5 for 101 points.

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Did one in the AO last night and I have to be honest, I can't believe how well and respectful everyone drove. Do a daily c and it's a shrimp show, but add rain to the same track and people we being pretty chill (in this example of one, anyway).

Since it was an alt account I used a I'll say mid-tier car in the Ford GT 18. It's okay, but ~1.5s off my time in the Ferrari/lap. Quali was a mess... I left space to the car in front for my first flying lap but unfortunately a Porsche lost control in the last two turns and my gap to the car ahead went from like three seconds to half a second. To his credit, he did pull over and let me by after T1 but it already hurt my lap. Next lap a Supra lost control coming out of T4 and clobbered me. P6, oh well.

Cliff's Notes: Gained a position and lost a position on lap one. A couple of Supras ahead were doing fine but began to struggle and fight with a GTR and Porsche. Now in P4 after making some passes. P2 & P3 fighting with P3 goes a bit wide out of T4 (where the sand is), and P2 has to slow to avoid contact as he comes back on. Was able to get passed them both in the process. P1 in the GTR was anywhere between 3-4 seconds up and I just couldn't make gains. But, he made a couple mistakes on the infield of the last lap and now I am ~.500" back going into the final two right handers. Too far back for a move, but he goes wide at the first one, picking up a .500" pen as we're coming to the line. I cross the line ~.800" back but was promoted to P1. Better to be lucky than good, I guess...

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EMEA, GT1 slot 1

Picked the Ferrari here. Not a whole lot to tell, board 11, Q3 (Q1 had a 38.1!) to P4.

First couple laps could've been worse, but could've been better. No major issues but on lap two I got rear-ended going into T4 that gave me damage (and looking at the replay, he didn't get front damage?!). Didn't seem to be effecting me too much but not helping. Spent most of the first stint by myself as the leader was pulling away by a second/lap. I was pestering P2 for a while but he found his groove and was walking away. P4 and I were evenly paced and the gap stayed ~ 2 seconds until lap 15 when I got squirrely in the infield and P4 was able to pass.

The track was well within IM territory now so I made a call to pit at the end of 15 for IMs and fix the damage (I'd have waited longer if not for the damage). Had some fun battles - coming out on the losing end - with a Frenchman as I exited since he hadn't pit yet. I was just happy to be racing someone! He pits a few laps later and I'm back in P4 and that's how it would stay until the end. I was catching P3 pretty quick at the end but the rears on the IMs were not happy and I almost lost the car a few times in the last 1.5 laps so I decided to just take it easy. That little wobble on lap 15 cost me a podium but a fun race regardless.

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That's a one-and-done for me in EMEA GT1 as that went unexpectedly well!

I qualified P7 with a 1:40.492 in my Aston Martin Vantage as the only FR car in the lobby. Virtually everyone else was in the Ferrari, save for a couple of Porsches, a Lambo, an Audi and a Honda.

I'm glad I joined a couple of lobbies yesterday because it prepared me for how the race start was going to go. I needed things to space out a bit as quickly as possible to give me some breathing room for the relative lack of traction I would have compared to everyone else. I bogged down off the rolling start and P8 was alongside me into turn 1. I then went for an outside line at Remus only to get out-gunned by another Ferrari on the exit, but I did manage to get that one back soon after around the outside of Schlossgold.

Two people put their foot down too hard coming out of Würth and spun, and since one was in front of me I was back up to P7. I dropped back down to P8 at the end of lap 2 when a Ferrari who was right up my rear bumper got a much better exit out of the last bend.

From there, things settled right down. I had a massive gap behind me and I just kept following the Ferrari through until lap 21. He'd slowly gapped me as things were drying out, but then made a mistake at Schlossgold and overshot it onto the gravel. He was 2 seconds behind me as we both entered the pits to switch to Softs, but then disappeared off my radar on the exit. Turns out he'd booted it way too hard on the wet pit exit and spun.

I had expected to finish P7 from here as P6 was too far up the road for me to see in VR and everyone had been so consistent, but it ended up seeming like the leaders found tracing the dry line harder than dealing with the wet. I picked up P6 at Schlossgold on lap 23 as he'd touched the kerb whilst braking and spun off. P5 came my way at Rauch on lap 26 because one of the Ferraris who had been absolutely blasting along in the wet had been having a nightmare in the transition to dry with several incidents.

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My P5 was good for 218 points. Having done that in a completely off-meta car, I'm very happy. My pace wasn't fantastic, but looking through the replay almost nobody got through the whole thing without some kind of mistake or damage. The worst I did was slip a little wider than expected a few times during the drying phase and have to lift completely to recover, and one of those got me a 0.5s track limits penalty for going too far onto the kerb.

I was never going to win, but simply being steady ended up making for a good result anyway. :)

 
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14 lap sprint race in the wet. Lots of people really driving on the edge, constantly going sideways. And making mistakes giving me free positions.

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Hey man I was in that race too, messed up at some late lap into turn 2 and bumped into 1st place and that was done with the close fight, done 3 races today all 2nd one just because picked up 0.500 penalty on lap 13, but after this one I finally moved up to A rating.

This was the next race after I believe my biggest point haul ever afiak.

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Qualified 2nd. Lovely stuff. Pole guy was 1.5s ahead

Was 2nd and 7 seconds clear of 3rd (25 secs or so behind 1st who had 501 points from his first race). Pitted end of lap 20 I think.

Came out just in front of some idiot in 5th who rear ended me into turn 2 (well turn 3 officially) giving me permanent back end damage. The damage was horrible and unnecessary as he'd seen I had come out of the pits so he was a pit stop behind.

I then lost control at the bottom of the hill, ended up in a wall. Ended up finishing 13th and a lap down. Couldn't be bothered to pit to fix it, was annoyed and wanted it over with.

2nd to a lap down and last in 8 laps is impressive even by my standards.

114 points instead of about 220. Will give it another go later I guess. What an absolute waste of an hour that was.
 
Big news for the Cappuccino race on Wednesday, not only is it a grid start (rather than the rolling start the near-identical race was last year), but it's a false-start check start in all leagues. First time GT2 and 3 have had this in my experience...

Good race today, picked up places all the way from Q10 to P4. Again, really impressed with how clean and respectful everyone was.
 


I didn't plan to do this, I was in 4th and the cars in front of me gradually pitted until I was in first with a gap of about 10 seconds. Something happened and the gap was 23 seconds with 4 laps to go. Why not, I thought. I drove one handed while I came on here to check there wasn't a pit requirement. I nearly made it. I might have got through those last two corners going really slowly or with the traction control up full but, wow.

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I'm kind of gutted because I was two corners away from the most spectacular result ever but at the same time I was finishing 4th at best if I'd pitted. Ah well.
 
First race in months, came 2nd in the Nismo GTR after qualifying 5th. Caught a few big slides before they got out of hand and after holding 2nd for over half the race closed the gap from 8 seconds to just 3 seconds behind 1st place, but backed off the last couple of laps as I didn't want to lose a good position.

Fun race, and a nice change to race in the wet! Also appreciated it being wet 100% so it was all about skill and not strategy and timing tyre changes.
 
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