The New Zealand GT Academy winner for 2010 is: TIZZLA !
well done that man. 👍 👍 big congratulations.
The schedule went as I posted earlier with the tracks being Indy (TT version), Tokyo 246, and Fuji (the chicane version) for the opening round.
I can only really comment on the races I was in as nobody got a chance to see the other races, even the final. kinda sad, but the apartment they used at the track were not exactly capacious.
We got 1 lap of practise for each race, then straight into each race of 3 laps in length. Very difficult at the best of times, to get the feel of a new setup and a look at a new track all in one lap, but it was the same for everyone, so hard to complain.
So first group, first race (Indy F1), i was on pole, being #1 qualifier, I kept the position until turn 3 when a couple of cars slid up the inside of me. The second car pushed me wide and I hit the grass, and that was race over for me. The physics are TT style which mean NO traction on grass, so I lost 30 seconds getting back on track. I managed to pull a few seconds back in the 2.5 laps left but stayed 25s behind and last.
Race 2 Tokyo 246 - Not such a good start as i was back in 4th on the grid, stayed on the tail of the group until I spun. Got a pretty quick recovery, and took 3rd after an opponent spun, but then gave 3rd back as i spun again
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Another last place and ZERO points.
Race 3 - Fuji. the first race in the standard 370Z. Started from 4th, braked well and got to 2nd at turn one. Made 1st position by T4, and felt comfortable putting down some pretty good pace, staying out of trouble.
Held the lead most of the way, bar a slip pass on the straight, which I took back at T1. Drove nice and tight the rest of the way until the final corner on lap three where I turned again, and got turned around by the car following me. He went on to win, another car passed to take 2nd and i got home in third. There was some discussion among the judges and it was deemed that the tap I received was not fair play, and so I got moved up to 2nd, not to first as another car had passed me who was not involved in the incident.
my final result was disappointing, two 4ths and a 2nd. But even if I had won the last race, my two first races killed any chance I had of moving through to the semi's. Game over man.
All in all it was VERY tough racing, with such limited time to get used to the hardware setup or the tracks. (Only Tokyo was a problem though really as its not in GT5P).
We all had a short blackboard session with Johnny Reid (A1GP, Porsche GT3 cup etc), who spoke about cornering, braking etc, but honestly if you make it to your GT final, you know what he is telling you anyway.
In another session each group got to go for a tour around our newest racetrack in NZ, Hampton Downs, with another racer (Nurburgring 24hour competitor). A great circuit it is, and its only going to get better. Very technical, with lots of elevation changes, off camber corners, blind entries. A mini Laguna Seca maybe almost.
Every entrant got their GT Academy T shirt, with "Finalist" on the back, and a goodies bag at the end, with a pen, keychain, Ratchet and Clank game(
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??!!), GT cap, GT5 for PSP game, and a voucher for a free copy of GT5. Oh I got $50 petrol voucher too, so I actually made money today.
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So despite my poor performance it was a good day, meeting up with fellow racers, some who i've been racing online for 18 months or more.
And just making it to the finals is something I can always be proud of.
Once again, big congratulations to TIZZLA 👍 a most worthy and deserving winner !!