GTP_Hun's Endurance Career.**COMPLETED**

[kj_mil]

SO ... considering that these are the first 6 griuds I get, that they're ALWAYS the same and that I don't think I'm willing to look any further ... I'll go with the second grid.

I'd really, REALLY like to know if these grids are the same for all GT5 players in the world, or if there are any differences. Thank you!

I've done some testing on planning for my 1st attempt at this race and this is what I found:

If I go directly to the race from log-in, I get the same 6 grids as you, furthermore, if I log-out to the XMB and back in again, I start once more from the begining. None of the first 65 grids are the same, however the 61st grid appears to deliver the most competitive opponents (R8 Race Car, R8 Race Car (PS), 787B, BMW V12 & 2 other LMPs) These first 4 all will normally do 4-lap stints that have 8.00 as best lap-times. The Bentley is the other LMP capable of this pace, but it does make the unfortunate mistake of pushing it's tyres for a 5th lap which costs it a lot of time.

If I do another event first, the grids are completely different and start from another (again fixed) point. Also, If I load the race any number of times under the first scenario, then do another event before returning, the grids will start from the beginning of this second grid list. I have not tested whether this would re-start if I again did another event. This second list gives some more challenging grids at an earlier stage, the best being with 3 of the 4 identified above, and the Speed 8 as well.

Overall, in order to determine the difficulty of each potential grid, I categorised the LMPs into 4 categories:

1) Those which are capable of 8.00 laps, and run 4-lap stints (in the dry). These are the race contenders (e.g. R8 Race Car, 787B, BMW V12)
2) Those which are capable of 8.00 laps, and run 5-lap stints. These would be race contenders except for this extra lap (e.g. Speed 8)
3) Those which are capable of 8.10 laps, and run 4-lap stints (e.g. R10 TDI, Pescarolo 03 & 04)
4) Those which are capable of 8.10 laps, but run 5-lap stints (e.g. Toyota GT-ONE, 905)

Non-LMP cars could be considered as mobile chicanes and do not affect the difficulty of the grid (unless you come up behind one in a slow section of course...).

 

[Hun200kmh]

Wow ... 65 grids ???? Nice work! I went as far as the tenth last night to see if emmetbrown's grid would show up but I never considered going as far as 60+ !!

Thanks a lot!

Now let me ask you, if I understand correctly you think the 61st grid to be the best, with these cars:

(R8 Race Car, R8 Race Car (PS), 787B, BMW V12 & 2 other LMPs)

The second grid (the one I battled with) has these:

R8 Race Car, R8 Race Car(PS), 787B, Courage C60, GT ONE, CLK LM and McLAren F1.

Now, I know the CLK and the McLAren aren't LMP, and are no match for the Audis, but their pace is close enough to them, so that makes for SEVEN fast cars. Are you sure you don't have these in your 61st grid?

 

[Hun200kmh]

24 HOURS OF NURBURGRING
*BACK WITH A VENGEANCE*

Well ... I couldn't help it!

The sour taste, the restless brain, the sexy PS3, the inviting playseat, the buggy game and, above all, the itching inside ... all this had the best of me ... and I decided to plunge again into a desperate 24 Hour battle, David against Goliath, Panoz against Audi R8 ... all that

...

"Back with a vengeance's" First 12 Hours of racing reported in the OP. Hope someone, somewhere, actually reads that, and finds it useful

 

[kj_mil]

Wow ... 65 grids ???? Nice work! I went as far as the tenth last night to see if emmetbrown's grid would show up but I never considered going as far as 60+ !!

Thanks a lot!

Now let me ask you, if I understand correctly you think the 61st grid to be the best, with these cars:


The second grid (the one I battled with) has these:

R8 Race Car, R8 Race Car(PS), 787B, Courage C60, GT ONE, CLK LM and McLAren F1.

Now, I know the CLK and the McLAren aren't LMP, and are no match for the Audis, but their pace is close enough to them, so that makes for SEVEN fast cars. Are you sure you don't have these in your 61st grid?

I've started mine with the 61st grid. There are certainly more than 65 grids on both lists, but I got bored. I have actually stumbled on a way of getting a 3rd grid list, but I've been unable to get it up again, so I can't tell you how to get it. What I do know is that I managed to get it up without doing any events, TT, DT or practice.

I have seen (on this third list), grids which contain 7 AI LMP, and there was a pretty fast one of these at about grid 17 (of this third list), where the slowest car was a Ford GT40 I think.

My grid (grid #61 from your list) is (roughly in order of pace):

R8 Race Car - Fastest opposition, when I set my fastest lap so far of 7.56, it still gained 3 sec on me.
R8 Race Car (Playstation) - running 3rd, slower than R8 above
Mazda 787B
BMW V12
Pescarolo 03
R10 TDI
McLaren F1
R8 LMS
Corvette C5-R
Ford Mark IV
Ford Falcon XR8

I'm running the Mazda Furai Concept, and I'm consistently losing time (~5 sec per lap) 3 laps out of every 4. My time gain is mainly in the pits (I use less fuel), and I often make a little in the 4th lap of each stint (I'm easier on tyres). 24 laps in, and 1 bad mistake could see me on the same piece of tarmac as the R8 again. I'm sure if I was more consistent I could pull out a proper lead, my laps are often 8.00 - 8.06, but my fastest is 7.56 and my slowest (not in or out of the pits) is 8.16

1) Those which are capable of 8.00 laps, and run 4-lap stints (in the dry). These are the race contenders (e.g. R8 Race Car, 787B, BMW V12)
2) Those which are capable of 8.00 laps, and run 5-lap stints. These would be race contenders except for this extra lap (e.g. Speed 8)
3) Those which are capable of 8.10 laps, and run 4-lap stints (e.g. R10 TDI, Pescarolo 03 & 04)
4) Those which are capable of 8.10 laps, but run 5-lap stints (e.g. Toyota GT-ONE, 905)

Experience has since shown me that whether a car runs for the 5th lap in a stint is not set, as I've seen both the 787B & BMW V12 both run the extra lap on occasion. Needless to say, the 5th lap for an AI LMP is always folly

 

[YuRiPa]

"Back with a vengeance's" First 12 Hours of racing reported in the OP. Hope someone, somewhere, actually reads that, and finds it useful

You'll win, in one of the ugliest cars, hehe.

Guess when I reach level 40 (will still take a while) I'll do it in my 787B. Though already have trouble driving that one at Le Mans in the rain, let alone the Nurburgring...

Good to see you back in action on the 'Ring, this time the R8 will bite the dust!

 

[Hun200kmh]

Thanks ! Not sure I can win this though ... the 🤬 R8 is relentlessly lapping at 8'00 flat or below and doing 5-lap stints with only a litle drop of pace in the 5th lap (I can't do better than 4, and my fourth is also worse).

I don't have my notes now to properly update the report but I can say that very nearly at the 14th hour of race I had the R8 close when I headed for the pits. Lead lost (to be recovered when he pits also in the next lap, but the trend is unmistakeable, he got me)

Oh and we reached dawn, I can see the sky now ... no clouds. I guess I'm done as far as a win is concerned.

But I'll keep him honest

PS - no clue where the second R8 is though, this is one of the annoying things about GT ...

 

[HKS racer]

Seems like a very interesting reading, this thread go straight into my favourites folder. Thanks and never give up! 👍

 

[emmettbrown1955]

Respect for pulling this through with slim chances of winning!

PS - no clue where the second R8 is though, this is one of the annoying things about GT ...

This is really frustrating. There is no way of knowing where the other cars are in the race, how many laps they are behind etc. Also, there are absolutely no statistics. Neither in-race nor after the race
You don't even know the fastest lap of the race, not to mention fastest laps of individual cars.

 

[Hun200kmh]

Thanks guys for your kind words. Indeed I will not give up, as I said it'll take a 24 hour long race for me to park the car. Didn't David Brabham take this car against better cars to Le Mans? Well, I took it to the Green Hell !

"Emmett" all I know is this (latest news, not yet in the official report):

Circa 14 hours
P1 - Me (heading for the pits)
P2 - Audi R8 '01 - about 20 seconds behind (not sure, but close anyway)
P3 - Audi R8 '05 - No clue, but in my lap
P4 - Courage C60 - Lapped him once
P5 - Mazda 787B - Lapped him twice
P6 - McLaren F1 - Lapped him at least three times
P7 - Toyota GT ONE - Lapped him at least three times
P8 - Mercedes CLK LM - I think MORE than 3 times lapped
P9 - Jaguar XJ13 - Lost count
P10 - Corvette C5R - Lost count
P11 - DUNLOP Skyline - Lost count
P12 - LISTER Storm - Lost count

Of course I lapped pitting cars, no idea who they were. And reversely, I could hear cars go by while I was pitted. So maybe the Courage unlapped himself, or maybe I lapped the second R8. But I find this unlikely.
P3

 

[YuRiPa]

It will rain again, just do a rain dance in your Esperante.
It's amazing that you can be so much quicker in the rain than the AI.. I am much slower than them on Le Mans in the rain, let alone the Nurburgring. And that in a 787B, a much better car than yours. But remember that the Nurburgring is a hard track to overtake, so that's where your chances might be. Though the different pit strategies make it easier for him to overtake you...

@ emmet: How's your race going? Still at the 6th hour?

Reading both you guys' reports, I wanna race the 24 hour races too, hehe. Will do them around Christmas I think. First need enough time to do them and a lot more practise in the rain, haha.

Isn't the Esperante a GT1 class car (like the R390 GT1)? Then I assume it was one of the best cars in its own class. Unless Brabham managed to beat some LMP cars with it.

 

[Sohvakettu]

It's amazing that you can be so much quicker in the rain than the AI.. I am much slower than them on Le Mans in the rain

High torque and power can make the car harder to drive in the rain. Add a stiff suspension and it can really become a chore. In general the setup of endurance racer should aim for easy drive more than outright speed. That might be why the Esperante is performing better in the rain.

 

[YuRiPa]

High torque and power can make the car harder to drive in the rain. Add a stiff suspension and it can really become a chore. In general the setup of endurance racer should aim for easy drive more than outright speed. That might be why the Esperante is performing better in the rain.

Ah, then for the 24h endurance races I'll just use a soft suspension setting. Then if it rains I won't lose too much time.

 

[koolway]

But if it doesn't rain, you ll loose a lot of time during the 24 hours.

--off topic ON
That s one of the thing I don't like in endurance racing in gt5.

Why don y they show a weather forecast before the race so you can make adjustments to your settings?

Or why can t we just adjust the settings of the car during the race? You pit, change tires, fuel, then the car is taken into the garage and you can adjust the settings. Then the car remains in the garage for 5 min.
--off topic OFF

Anyway, Hun, glad to see you ve restarted the race. ;-)

 

[emmettbrown1955]

Or why can t we just adjust the settings of the car during the race? You pit, change tires, fuel, then the car is taken into the garage and you can adjust the settings. Then the car remains in the garage for 5 min.

That would be so cool! It's not uncommon in real endurance racing to have long pit stops and adjustments/repairs.

OffOffTopic: I wish I could change settings on my R10. The "handling" is killing me!

 

[jtv90069]

Good luck on the rest of the race.

 

[Sohvakettu]

Ah, then for the 24h endurance races I'll just use a soft suspension setting. Then if it rains I won't lose too much time.

Like it has been pointed out it's always a balancing act. If you make it too soft or too stable you might end up too slow. Fortunately we have unlimited testing time in the practice mode. Just remember to turn the fuel and tire consuption on for relevant data.

 

[YuRiPa]

Like it has been pointed out it's always a balancing act. If you make it too soft or too stable you might end up too slow. Fortunately we have unlimited testing time in the practice mode. Just remember to turn the fuel and tire consuption on for relevant data.

Should test for some good balanced set-up. If it rains when I start, then I'll use a wet set-up, if it's dry, I'll just go for a dry set-up I guess. When testing I have fuel consumption and tyre wear switched on. Ideally I should get a set-up in somewhere in the middle between a full wet set-up and a dry set-up.

 

[Hun200kmh]

I'm about to put some order into my notes for hours 12 to 16 (reached 2/3 of the race yesterday night)

I won't say much here, except ...

If I don't win this, I won't blame it on the car.

It'll be because of my mistakes and random brain blackouts. Those are my enemies, car is my friend. A sitting duck in the straights, but my friend in the corners and that makes it even.

 

[YuRiPa]

On the other hand though, the Esperante is a GT1 car, you simply can't expect it to beat LMP cars. Seems the R8 is much quicker, maybe your 8 minute laps are the max you can get with the car. Did you put turbo's on it btw?

 

[Hun200kmh]

November 18th UPDATE
---*--- DAWN AT THE GREEN HELL ---*---

From HOUR 12 (3 AM) to HOUR 16 (7 AM)
​

A quick recap on what's happening.

1 - Reaching mid race (12th Hour), I'm still first, but losing time to the Audi R8 '01 ever since the rain has stopped.

2 - Biggest lead I had was 6 minutes 48 seconds close to the 7th hour. In 5 hours of dry racing that lead shrunk to 2 minutes 15 seconds.

3 - No need to be a rocket scientist. Unless the rain returns, I will lose the lead in less than 3 hours. (4'33 lost in five hours, 2'15 to go should be reduced to ZERO in 2h30 of racing)

4 - Oh and I can't even try to keep him company and get towed by him. His stints, steady pacing at 8'00, are one lap longer than mine. He does 5 laps, I do 4. So I am unable to defend myself by replicating his pitting strategy.

4 - But when the going gets tough ... the Panoz team gets tougher!


The detailed/timed report is in the OP. It is about the 4 HOURS of the most intense racing I have ever done.

 

[Akmuq]

Ok this race has gone from nail-biting to epic!👍

 

[snowxdadx3]

Ok this race has gone from nail-biting to epic!👍

YES!!!! Go Team Panoz!!!!!

 

[emmettbrown1955]

Seems like you're on the road to victory if you keep driving that well!

I just did some calculations based on your numbers:

Panoz Esperante
Lap 99 8'45
Lap 100 7'57
Lap 101 8'03
Lap 102 8'10 Inlap
Lap 103 8'49
Lap 104 7'58
Lap 105 8'12
Lap 106 8'10 Inlap
Lap 99-106 66'04
Average lap: 8'15.5

R8 '01
Lap 99 8'06 Inlap
Lap 100 9'18
Lap 101 8'03
Lap 102 7'59
Lap 103 7'59
Lap 104 8'03 Inlap
Lap 105 9'20
Lap 106 8'05
Lap 99-106 66'53
Average 8'21.6

I might be wrong. But it seems you're better than the R8. Of yourse one would have to calculate 20 laps (lowest common multiple)

 

[Hun200kmh]

I won! By 30 seconds!


Here the full writeup:

24 HOURS OF NURBURGRING
*BACK WITH A VENGEANCE*

Well ... I couldn't help it!

The sour taste, the restless brain, the sexy PS3, the inviting playseat, the buggy game and, above all, the itching inside ... all this had the best of me ... and I decided to plunge again into a desperate 24 Hour battle, David against Goliath, Panoz against Audi R8 ... all that

Upon reviewing all my notes I decided I had a fighting chance. Not great, but not entirely foolish. Remember, by the 13th hour I was LEADING the race. Sure, losing my lead with each lap that went by, but leading anyway. Who's to say that I can't be in that position by the end of the 24th hour?

Anyway ...

I hate unfinished business. If the Panoz has to lose, so be it, I'll pick another, but only after gave that car (and myself) the full 24 HOURS of this race's (battle) length.

So, to make a long story short:

1 - we (me and my loved Silver Esperante) ... are back at the Nurb!

3 - Up against the same grid!

2 - We are nearly at half race ...

3 - and we are LEADING

BUT ...

4 - NOT BY MUCH !


I lack the energy and will to be as detailed in my report as I was in the previous race. And, in all honesty, maybe I was writing down too much not needed info. This time, I will concentrate on what has clearly become a 1 vs. 1 battle between me and the '01 AUDI R8 Race Car.

But, because I think these reports MUST be useful to others, whenever I find something useful I will mention it.

So far, only one important thing to say: RACING SOFTS aren't better than INTERMEDIATES in the wet. Sure, the game is buggy, but at least this I can confirm with absolutely ZERO doubt. I tried it.

Now, onto my report. This race, in what concerns weather, is very different from the previous. This time we started with dry weather (track status 0% wet). Then rain showed up. Then it stopped.

I will write a report lap-by-lap with the following information:


STINT NUMBER - RACE TIME
Lap Number - My position - My lap time - gap to second (or gap to first if I'm second) - Weather /track status


These are the basic infos. First lap out of the pits I will also mention what tires I'm using. Will also mention when my "rival" pits. And anything else relevant on a particular lap.

So, we begin. This time on a dry track. Nice ...




FIRST STINT -00:00 to 00:33
RACING SOFT TIRES

Lap 1 - P1 - 8'20,011 - gap to 2nd (CLK LM) 0'1,896 - Dry /0%

Lap 2 - P2 - 8'10,882 - gap to 1st (787B) 0'0,048 - Dry /0%

Lap 3 - P1 - 8'13,695 - gap to 2nd (787B) 0'0,327 - Dry /0%

Lap 4 - P3 - 8'31,667 - gap to 1st (R8 '01) 0'7,432 - Dry /0%

Notes:
Pack racing up front. Big shunt in the 4th lap. R8 got the lead from the 787B in the long straight, but pitted like myself. The other R8 and the C60 pitted by the end of the 4th lap also. The Mazda, Toyota and McLaren didn't. Big mistake, I was the fastest out the pits and by the Karrousel I was already overtaking the 787B, going slow with shot tires. So I gained the lead of the race.





SECOND STINT -00:33 to 01:07
RACING SOFT TIRES

Lap 5 - P1 - 8'49,008 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'19,629 - Dry /0%

Lap 6 - P1 - 8'03,071 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'10,368 - Dry /0%

Lap 7 - P1 - 8'11,519 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'05,810 - Dry /0%

Lap 8 - P1 - 8'14,553 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'6,231 - Dry /0%

Notes:
What can I say ... I'm doing what I can . In this stint I lapped 12th (Lister) and 11th (Dunlop Skyline)





THIRD STINT -01:07 to 01:40
RACING SOFT TIRES

Lap 9 - P1 - 8'56,086 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'11,714 - Dry /0%

Lap 10 - P2 - 8'10,660 - gap to 1st (R8'01) 0'00,103 - Dry /0%

Lap 11 - P2 - 8'26,646 - gap to 1st (R8 '01) 0'23,149 - Dry /0%

Lap 12 - P2 - 8'16,485 - gap to 1st (R8 '01) 0'28,012 - Rain /0%

Notes:
Still doing what I can and thinking that it wouldn't be enough ... than ... WHOOOHOOOOO IT IS RAINING !!!!! . In this stint I lapped 10th (C5R) and did too many mistakes, think I was trying too hard ... now ... what tires ????? I decided to remain with the racing soft since the track was still dry.





FOURTH STINT -01:40 to 02:15
RACING SOFT TIRES

Lap 13 - P2 - 9'00,448 - gap to 1st (R8 '01) 0'17,518 - Rain /0%

Lap 14 - P2 - 8'01,779 - gap to 1st (R8'01) 0'29,432 - Rain /2%

Lap 15 - P2 - 8'13,072 - gap to 1st (R8 '01) 0'45,602 - Rain /10%

Lap 16 - P2 - 8'19,577 - gap to 1st (R8 '01) 0'48,023 - Rain /22%

Notes:
Left the pits right after the leader, but in one lap he was already 17 seconds ahead. P3 (the Oreca R8) was closing on me and by the end of lap 15 was right on my tail. Lap 16 saw their pace fall though and I became quicker than P3, and almost as quick as P1. Fingers crossed for many hours of rain, but I'm still going out with Racing softs





FIFTH STINT -02:15 to 03:00
RACING SOFT TIRES

Lap 17 - P2 - 9'03,415 - gap to 1st (R8 '01) 0'27,792 - Rain /40%

Lap 18 - P2 - 8'26,721 - gap to 1st (R8'01) 0'22,739 - Rain /58%

Lap 19 - P2 - 8'48,416 - gap to 1st (R8 '01) 0'11,116 - Rain /81%

Lap 20 - P1 - 9'15,900 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'07,084 - Rain /100%

Lap 21 - P1 - 9'39,201 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'22,328 - Rain /100%

Notes:
Ok ... with a track past 50% wet racing softs cease to be the best option. Audis pitted in the 20th lap, I still had plenty of life in the tires so I stayed out. And I could stay out also in lap 21, but it was by now clear that it was a BIG mistake to be with RS tires in a 100% wet track, so I pitted for intermediates. That extra lap cost me dearly, in fact cost me the lead, I left the pits already behind the R8.




SIXTH STINT -03:00 to 04:16
INTERMEDIATES

Lap 22 - P2 - 10'51,190 - gap to 1st (R8 '01) 0'22,198 - Rain /100%

Lap 23 - P2 - 9'10,977 - gap to 1st (R8'01) 0'49,298 - Rain /100%

Lap 24 - P2 - 8'55,167 - gap to 1st (R8 '01) 0'47,668 - Rain /100%

Lap 25 - P2 - 9'07,213 - gap to 1st (R8 '01) 0'52,757 - Rain /100%

Lap 26 - P1 - 9'18,141 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'28,359 - Rain /100%

Lap 27 - P1 - 9'22,539 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'46,677 - Rain /100%

Lap 28 - P1 - 9'12,928 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'05,570 - Rain /100%

Lap 29 - P1 - 10'04,670 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'37,075 - Rain /100%

Notes:
Ok ... this stint is an absolute SHAME. My first lap with intermediates was a mess, it's almost as if I didn't know how to lap this track in wet conditions and my last lap was unbelievable because of the Dunlop Skyline. Thanks to that car I spun and crashed at least 4 times !!!! Lost the lead again in the pits ... in other news I lapped the Toyota GT One (6th) in this lap, that meant only the two Audis, Pesca and Mazda were in the lead lap by now. You may also have noticed that I made my first 8 lap-stint here. Oh and another thing worth of notice. The AI laps in the wet were great and then were very bad. I can only assume they used intermediates first time they switched from Slicks .... and only when they stopped with the track at 100% wet (lap 25) they went (wrongly) for full wets.





SEVENTH STINT -04:16 to 05:31
INTERMEDIATES

Lap 30 - P2 - 10'16,890 - gap to 1st (R8 '01) 0'04,432 - Rain /100%

Lap 31 - P1 - 9'11,169 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'22,158 - Rain /100%

Lap 32 - P1 - 9'08,836 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'00,644 - Rain /100%

Lap 33 - P1 - 9'12,653 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'22,093 - Rain /100%

Lap 34 - P1 - 9'24,304 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'31,888 - Rain /100%

Lap 35 - P1 - 9'41,042 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'24,356 - Rain /100%

Lap 36 - P1 - 9'28,766 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'29,964 - Rain /100%

Lap 37 - P1 - 9'42,197 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'22,052 - Rain /100%

Notes:
Again too many mistakes ... no excuses, it's the drivers fault, this was the time to gain a decisive advantage and it's just not happening. The Audis also pit in lap 37.




EIGTH STINT -05:31 to 06:45
INTERMEDIATES

Lap 38 - P1 - 10'32,778 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'32,052 - Rain /100%

Lap 39 - P1 - 8'59,003 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 3'09,830 - Rain /100%

Lap 40 - P1 - 9'09,966 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 3'34,414 - Rain /100%

Lap 41 - P1 - 9'11,811 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 4'00,992 - Rain /100%

Lap 42 - P1 - 9'03,934 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 4'29,391 - Rain /100%

Lap 43 - P1 - 9'15,912 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 4'50,864 - Rain /100%

Lap 44 - P1 - 9'07,544 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 6'28,154 - Rain /100%

Lap 45 - P1 - 9'10,147 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 6'48,951 - Rain /100%


Notes:
HELL YEAH !!! This is what I'm talking about !!!! Quick and consistent 8 lap stint with no worse than 9'15 (save the outlap of course). No time to enjoy this very good stint though ... During the more than one minute that I am in the pits (fuel depleted) ... rain stops In other news, I lapped the Courage C60, that meant only the P2 and P3 Audis are now in the lead lap.




NINTH STINT -06:45 to 07:14
INTERMEDIATES

Lap 46 - P1 - 10'27,392 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 5'52,531 - Dry /98%

Lap 47 - P1 - 9'03,573 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 5'40,508 - Dry /89%

Lap 48 - P1 - 9'06,199 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 4'54,945 - Dry /75%


Notes:
How's this possible! The Audi hasn't pitted yet, still has his wets and he is already doing better than me !!!! I'm outta here, going to mount racing softs ASAP.




TENTH STINT -07:14 to 07:57
RACING SOFTS

Lap 49 - P1 - 9'07,887 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 3'53,481 - Dry /65%

Lap 50 - P1 - 8'22,766 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 5'01,308 - Dry /51%

Lap 51 - P1 - 8'22,979 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 4'36,243 - Dry /41%

Lap 52 - P1 - 8'21,409 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 4'19,987 - Dry /30%

Lap 53 - P1 - 8'22,421 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 3'59,976 - Dry /20%


Notes:
Could it be that I'm doomed? Was I foolish enough to think I could pull this one? Well, bloody R8 is lapping steadily at sub 8'00 and it sure looks like I have no chance. Of course, I know my own best lap in this race is litle above 8 minutes (lap 14) ... and I know a 0% wet track will allow me to get closer to the Audi's pace. But ... things don't look great atm ...




ELEVENTH STINT -07:57 to 08:38
RACING SOFTS

Lap 54 - P1 - 8'50,801 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 3'09,714 - Dry /10%

Lap 55 - P1 - 8'09,687 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 4'18,724 - Dry /0%

Lap 56 - P1 - 8'06,532 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 4'12,079 - Dry /0%

Lap 57 - P1 - 8'10,335 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 4'01,517 - Dry /0%

Lap 58 - P1 - 8'24,550 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 3'40'379 - Dry /0%


Notes:
One stint later, I enter the pits with an advantage over 2nd shortened by 20 seconds (was 4 minutes, now it's 3'40). It's never good to lose time, but this is not the end of the world either. Gotta keep the faith, gotta keep the focus ... and who knows maybe we haven't seen the last of rain in this race ...




TWELFTH STINT -08:38 to 09:12
RACING SOFTS

Lap 59 - P1 - 9'08,136 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'33,345 - Dry /0%

Lap 60 - P1 - 8'09,513 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 3'45,394 - Dry /0%

Lap 61 - P1 - 8'05,673 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 3'45,356 - Dry /0%

Lap 62 - P1 - 8'15,335 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 3'30,631 - Dry /0%



Notes:
It is clear that the 0% wet track is harder on the tires and I must go back to the 4 -lap stints I was doing in the first hours of this race. Compared to the previous stint , it's another 10 seconds gone ... but there's a problem, the Audi is doing 5 lap stints with almost no pace-loss, so the lost of 1 full minute is looming.




THIRTEENTH STINT -09:12 to 09:46
RACING SOFTS

Lap 63 - P1 - 8'55,263 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'33,535 - Dry /0%

Lap 64 - P1 - 8'04,178 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 2'30,725 - Dry /0%

Lap 65 - P1 - 8'07,855 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 3'47,352 - Dry /0%

Lap 66 - P1 - 8'35,968 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 3'11,631 - Dry /0%



Notes:
Heavy shunt, very time-costly in the last lap of this stint ... it just shows how there's absolutely no room for mistakes in this race. All the time, all the laps ... I got to give it all. And even if I do, victory is quite unlikely. As I said though ... this car deserves racing the 24 hours and it will. We never know ...





FOURTEENTH STINT -09:46 to 10:19
RACING SOFTS

Lap 67 - P1 - 8'48,350 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'26,016 - Dry /0%

Lap 68 - P1 - 8'02,442 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 2'22,010 - Dry /0%

Lap 69 - P1 - 8'06,835 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'16,917 - Dry /0%

Lap 70 - P1 - 8'30,295 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 3'03,068 - Dry /0%



Notes:
Again ... lapping the LISTER, disaster struck.




FIFTEENTH STINT -10:19 to 10:52
RACING SOFTS

Lap 71 - P1 - 8'50,971 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'16,338 - Dry /0%

Lap 72 - P1 - 8'04,103 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 2'18,501 - Dry /0%

Lap 73 - P1 - 8'04,493 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'12,942 - Dry /0%

Lap 74 - P1 - 8'09,449 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 2'07,853 - Dry /0%



Notes:
A good outlap (and probably the R8's own problems with traffic) allowed me to recover the 2'16 gap I had before we both pitted. Anyway, even with a good stint (no mistakes) I lost a couple more seconds. Oh and he only pitted when I did so he's definitely doing 5 lap stints ...




SIXTEENTH STINT -10:52 to 11:26
RACING SOFTS

Lap 75 - P1 - 8'56,921 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'28,993 - Dry /0%

Lap 76 - P1 - 8'00,398 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 2'28,621 - Dry /0%

Lap 77 - P1 - 8'03,156 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'26,312 - Dry /0%

Lap 78 - P1 - 8'17,855 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 2'08,636 - Dry /0%


Notes:
Mixed stint. New personal lap record but a bit messy last lap. I'm ruining the tires too much, but cornering speed is pretty much all I have to counter the enormous gap in top speed. Watching the splits it is clear that my pace equals the R8 almost the entire lap ... then I lose between 3 and 5 seconds in the big straight ...




SEVENTEENTH STINT -11:26 to 12:00
RACING SOFTS

Lap 79 - P1 - 8'48,562 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'22,444 - Dry /0%

Lap 80 - P1 - 8'03,797 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 2'33,515 - Dry /0%

Lap 81 - P1 - 8'07,256 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'32,037 - Dry /0%

Lap 82 - P1 - 8'16,656 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) ???????? - Dry /0%



Notes:
This stint proves that if I don't make serious mistakes ... I can win. Problem is ... hiting a couple of consecutive error-free laps is difficult. But doing 20 like that - while driving as fast as you possibly can - is almost impossible. Anyway ... half race (12 Hours) reached and I'm in front. With only 4 hours of rain, and 8 hours in the dry. Probably I'll lose this position soon enough, but you never know ...



*******************************************************************************

November 18th UPDATE
---*--- DAWN AT THE GREEN HELL ---*---

From HOUR 12 (3 AM) to HOUR 16 (7 AM)
​

A quick recap on what's happening.

1 - Reaching mid race (12th Hour), I'm still first, but losing time to the Audi R8 '01 ever since the rain has stopped.

2 - Biggest lead I had was 6 minutes 48 seconds close to the 7th hour. In 5 hours of dry racing that lead shrunk to 2 minutes 15 seconds.

3 - No need to be a rocket scientist. Unless the rain returns, I will lose the lead in less than 3 hours. (4'33 lost in five hours, 2'15 to go should be reduced to ZERO in 2h30 of racing)

4 - Oh and I can't even try to keep him company and get towed by him. His stints, steady pacing at 8'00, are one lap longer than mine. He does 5 laps, I do 4. So I am unable to defend myself by replicating his pitting strategy.

4 - But when the going gets tough ... the Panoz team gets tougher!


Here the detailed/timed report. 4 HOURS of the most intense racing I have ever done.



18TH STINT -12:00 to 12:34
RACING SOFTS

Lap 83 - P1 - 8'53,873 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'21,659 - Dry /0%

Lap 84 - P1 - 8'01,663 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'25,114 - Dry /0% (R8 PITS)

Lap 85 - P1 - 8'07,719 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'35,242 - Dry /0%

Lap 86 - P1 - 8'24,712 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'10,381 - Dry /0%



Notes:
Average outlap, good 2nd lap, decent 3rd, awful inlap. Another 5 seconds lost compared to last stint's finish.




19TH STINT -12:34 to 13:07
RACING SOFTS

Lap 87 - P1 - 8'56,354 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'13,593 - Dry /0%

Lap 88 - P1 - 8'03,951 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'08,859 - Dry /0%

Lap 89 - P1 - 8'06,070 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'03,889 - Dry /0% (R8 PITS)

Lap 90 - P1 - 8'25,523 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'54,766 - Dry /0%



Notes:
Average at best. From end-of-stint to end-of-stint ... another 15 seconds gone.




20TH STINT -13:07 to 13:40
RACING SOFTS

Lap 91 - P1 - 8'53,679 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'04,654 - Dry /0%

Lap 92 - P1 - 8'01,835 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'02,768 - Dry /0%

Lap 93 - P1 - 8'29,265 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'32,926 - Dry /0%

Lap 94 - P1 - 8'28,025 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'03,100 (R8 PITS)-Dry /0%



Notes:
My darkest moment yet. To race all these hours to the best of my abilities, to hold onto a shrinking lead, in the hope that traffic, rain or whatever else gets in the way of the AI and then to see that lead reduced to ZERO in two laps of unexplainable mistakes ... was a bit hard.

Anyway, this is the moment that made me write post #66. It is not a "dark" post, when I wrote it I had my determination to see this through already intact again. And I'm glad to report that I was mistaken, I thought the R8 would stay out one more lap, but indeed he pitted right behind me. So ... I didn't lose the lead here as I said - in post #66 - I did. And that's not unimportant as, by reading on, you will understand.

PS - Dawn is upon us ... slowly but surely light is returning to the circuit. And with it, my ability to see the apexes ahead. Again, this fact is not unimportant as, by reading on, you will understand.




21ST STINT -13:40 to 14:13

RACING SOFTS

Lap 95 - P1 - 8'47,557 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'36,607 - Dry /0%

Lap 96 - P1 - 8'01,768 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'34,537 - Dry /0%

Lap 97 - P1 - 8'13,292 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'25,965 - Dry /0%

Lap 98 - P1 - 8'12,194 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'26,334 - Dry /0%



Notes:
Ok, now we know exactly how much time the R8 loses in each pitting. 30 seconds. I thank them for the breathing space but it doesn't last long. You will notice how relentless is the R8's pace. It only dropped in the 4th lap of this stint and I know why. I lapped the Lister and the Mclaren in the 97th lap. I guess the R8 quickly got rid of the Lister, but the McLAren proved a bit more difficult, and that slowed the R8's recovery in the 89th lap.

Time to pit for me ... not for the R8 though, so here's when I finally lost the race lead. Start of the 99th lap. Somehow I didn't really care, nothing was worse than losing one full minute in two laps and I had already been through that.




22ND STINT -14:13 to 14:45
RACING SOFTS

Lap 99 - P2 - 8'45,883 - gap to 1st (R8 '01) 0'13,389 - Dry /0% (R8 PITS)

Lap 100 - P1 - 7'57,591 (new lap record) - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'08,207 - Dry /0%

Lap 101 - P1 - 8'03,375 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'08,207 - Dry /0%

Lap 102 - P1 - 8'10,409 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'57,580 - Dry /0%



Notes:
To say that I ended this stint biting my lips and trying to counter the urge to sit up and start jumping like a maniac around the room is an understatement!!

"It CAN be done!" was all I was thinking. While I waited to understand if I would leave the pits IN FRONT of the Audi because that - to me - was crucial at that moment in the race (he would pit two laps later and if I could keep him behind me before he pitted ... I'd recover a nice gap). Funny when you realize that this kind of F1 talk and reasoning is happening in a race that has been going on for about 15 hours now!!!!




23TH STINT -14:45 to 15:19
RACING SOFTS

Lap 103 - P1 - 8'49,571 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'07,069 - Dry /0%
(** kept the lead out of the pits ** )

Lap 104 - P1 - 7'58,896 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'12,043 - Dry /0% (R8 PITS)

Lap 105 - P1 - 8'12,074 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'20,481 - Dry /0%

Lap 106 - P1 - 8'10,991 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'15,882 - Dry /0%



Notes:
Got the job done! Kept him for two laps so I regained a FULL pit stop time gap to him !!!! Funny how you go from being totally down to - couple of stints later, to a overwhelming feeling of elation

But I keep it real. I know now that it'll be very hard to achieve a victory. But I also know that such a feat is not totally out of my reach. All I need is to avoid being stupid, while being as fast as I possibly can.

Oh ... btw ... I think day light is really helping me here. Not only making me go faster, but especially making me less prone to mistakes.




24TH STINT -15:19 to 15:52
RACING SOFTS

Lap 107 - P1 - 8'52,624 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'23,757 - Dry /0%

Lap 108 - P1 - 7'58,827 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'32,182 - Dry /0%

Lap 109 - P1 - 8'01,670 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'30,560 - Dry /0% (R8 PITS)

Lap 110 - P1 - 8'11,276 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'37,696 - Dry /0%


Notes:
I'm gaining on him ... last time he pitted he was 1'20 behind, this time he is 1'37 behind ... Of course, for every 20 laps I do 5 stops and he does 4 ...




25TH STINT -15:52 to 16:25
RACING SOFTS

Lap 111 - P1 - 8'46,051 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'51,794 - Dry /0%

Lap 112 - P1 - 7'54,919 - (new lap record) - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'56,586 - Dry /0%

Lap 113 - P1 - 8'04,618 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'51,188 - Dry /0%

Lap 114 - P1 - 8'14,011 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) ???????? (I'd say about 35 seconds) - Dry /0%



Notes:
Are you guys noticing how relentless is this chase? Geeez ... I wish he would give up ... not! Anyway, the sun going up (clear skies, I will forget about rain, I MUST ... NOT ... NEED ... IT ) is nice and even nicer is this: The Audi is due to pit also in this 114th lap. So ... I expect to regain a very nice and comfy almost 2 minutes-lead ...

Thanks for reading ...

Stay tuned!



Ok, this is due, so even if nobody cares by now, here's the report on what happened between hours 16 and 24. Just so anyone can understand what happened before the displayed last lap.

Here goes:

*****************************************************************


November 21st UPDATE
---*--- A VICTORIOUS END ---*---

From HOUR 16 (7 AM) to HOUR 24 (3 PM)
​

A quick recap on what happened before.

1 - Dawn turned into morning, with a glorious blue sky. No prospects of rain, better not rely on that chance.

2 - Somehow I'm holding my lead. I'm doing 4-lap stints and the R8 is doing 5 lap-stints. He is lapping faster, but his piotsops are more time-costly. So ... we're pretty much even.

3 - This means I can win with this car, but such a result becoming a reality will solely depend on my consistency and ability to lap without serious mistakes happening.




So, here's what happened AFTER the 16th Hour:



26TH STINT -16:25 to 16:58
RACING SOFTS

Lap 115 - P1 - 8'58,278 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'56,225 - Dry /0%

Lap 116 - P1 - 7'57,721 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'06,175 - Dry /0%

Lap 117 - P1 - 8'07,116 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'56,438 - Dry /0%

Lap 118 - P1 - 8'07,709 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'51,405 - Dry /0%



Notes:
After we both pitted at the end of lap 114, my 35 second advantage turned to 56. By the end of the stint it was reduced to 51 and he was only pitting a lap later. Would I lose the lead again?




27TH STINT -16:58 to 17:32
RACING SOFTS

Lap 119 - P1 - 8'49,456 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'04,700 - Dry /0%
(out of the pits some 7 seconds in front of the R8, lost 3 during the lap. Audi pitted at the end of it)

Lap 120 - P1 - 7'54,630 (new lap record) - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'29,246 - Dry /0%

Lap 121 - P1 - 8'01,295 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'28,658 - Dry /0%

Lap 122 - P1 - 8'18,566 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'10,992 - Dry /0%



Notes:
Quite thrilling to have my foe in my rear view mirror. It lasted one full lap but the lead was always mine




28TH STINT -17:32 to 18:05
RACING SOFTS

Lap 123 - P1 - 8'44,019 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'25,347 - Dry /0%

Lap 124 - P1 - 8'09,302 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'21,454 - Dry /0% (R8 PITS)

Lap 125 - P1 - 8'03,406 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'33,445 - Dry /0%

Lap 126 - P1 - 8'14,148 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'23,355 -Dry /0%



Notes:
Average stint, no sub 8 minutes 2nd lap this time.




29TH STINT -18:05 to 18:38

RACING SOFTS

Lap 127 - P1 - 8'46,052 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'35,910 - Dry /0%

Lap 128 - P1 - 7'59,147 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'35,127 - Dry /0%

Lap 129 - P1 - 8'02,949 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'32,619 - Dry /0% (R8 PITS)

Lap 130 - P1 - 8'22,014 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'27,281 - Dry /0%



Notes:
Very bad 4th lap, all others were "normal". In this stint I got the confirmation that I would do no worse than SECOND place. I lapped (in lap #128) the Audi R8 '05 (Playstation Oreca Team). Next stint would see me again pitting in the same lap as the Audi. Last time that happened (lap #114) I was about 35 seconds ahead of him, we shaall see how's it going to be this time.




30TH STINT -18:38 to 19:11
RACING SOFTS

Lap 131 -P1 - 8'40,949 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'46,647 - Dry /0%

Lap 132 - P1 - 7'57,732 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'48,150- Dry /0%

Lap 133 - P1 - 8'03,441 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'43,009 - Dry /0%

Lap 134 - P1 - 8'13,423 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'30,999 - Dry /0%



Notes:
Ok, now I can compare and I do compare the gap at the end of lap 114 (about 35 seconds) to lap 134 (about 31 seconds). Lost 4 seconds in this 20-lap cycle that started litle past the 16th hour. If I keep it like this I win. But there's no margin for greater errors and I had only a few since the 16th hour. We'll see again with more clarity how's this going when we reach lap #154 and we both pit at the same time again.




31ST STINT -19:11 to 19:44
RACING SOFTS

Lap 135 - P1 - 8'51,486 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'59,300 - Dry /0%

Lap 136 - P1 - 7'59,672 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'02,535 - Dry /0%

Lap 137 - P1 - 8'04,152 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) '0'58,965 - Dry /0%

Lap 138 - P1 - 8'06,891 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'50,925 - Dry /0%



Notes:
Average 1st lap; good 2nd lap; decent 3rd lap; excellent 4th lap. Need to pit now, once again there's the possibility of losing the lead. It's "that" lap, in this 20-lap cycle.




32ND STINT -19:44 to 20:17
RACING SOFTS

Lap 139 - P1 - 8'42,529 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'10,065 - Dry /0% (R8 PITS)

Lap 140 - P1 - 7'55,808 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'30,024 - Dry /0%

Lap 141 - P1 - 8'05,819 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'27,560 - Dry /0%

Lap 142 - P1 - 8'08,270 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'24,633 - Dry /0%


Notes:
Again managed to leave the pit (barely) in front of the R8, and this time both laps #1 and #2 were great. Finished #1 10 seconds ahead, and gained many more in the second lap. I'd say the 1'30 gap I got was 10 seconds (previous gap) + 1'10 (his pit time) + 10 seconds again (gained in this lap)




33TH STINT -20:17 to 20:50
RACING SOFTS

Lap 143 - P1 - 8'45,759 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'43,200 - Dry /0%

Lap 144 - P1 - 7'52,584 - (new lap record) - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'50,569 - Dry /0% (R8 PITS)

Lap 145 - P1 - 8'07,167 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'02,745 - Dry /0%

Lap 146 - P1 - 8'13.155 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'48,451 - Dry /0%



Notes:
My lap record was achieved in this stint. But poor 4th lap




34TH STINT -20:50:05 to 21:23

RACING SOFTS

Lap 147 - P1 - 8'50,272 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'59,263 - Dry /0%

Lap 148 - P1 - 7'54,414 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'03,442 - Dry /0%

Lap 149 - P1 - 8'07,968 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'01,056 - Dry /0% (R8 PITS)

Lap 150 - P1 - 8'15,102 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 2'04,273 - Dry /0%



Notes:
Nothing special about this stint ... next stint ends another 20-lap cycle, we'll see how it went this time.




35TH STINT -21:23 to 21:56
RACING SOFTS

Lap 151 -P1 - 8'44,347 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'21,805 - Dry /0%

Lap 152 - P1 - 7'57,195 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'23,040- Dry /0%

Lap 153 - P1 - 8'13,314 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'07,643 - Dry /0%

Lap 154 - P1 - 8'11,172 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'56,423 - Dry /0% (R8 PITS)



Notes:
I gained 25 seconds in this last 20-lap cycle. From '31 to '56. With two hours to go, I'm starting to feel confident. And a bit worried because I'm confident. Does this make sense? To me, it definitely does ... or did




36TH STINT -21:56 to 22:29
RACING SOFTS

Lap 155 - P1 - 8'44,548 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1,27,659 - Dry /0%

Lap 156 - P1 - 8'06,197 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'21,192 - Dry /0%

Lap 157 - P1 - 8'09,247 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'14,258 - Dry /0%

Lap 158 - P1 - 8'06,439 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'06,556 - Dry /0%



Notes:
Very poor stint from me. What a waste of some hard earned seconds in the previous cycle




37TH STINT -22:29 to 23:02
RACING SOFTS

Lap 159 - P1 - 8'43,690 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'22,782 - Dry /0% (R8 PITS)

Lap 160 - P1 - 7'53,553 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'46,901 - Dry /0%

Lap 161 - P1 - 7'57,461 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'48,460 - Dry /0%

Lap 162 - P1 - 8'10,811 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'37,491 - Dry /0%


Notes:
My best 3rd lap so far, usually only the 2nd lap gets below the 8 minute mark. Entering the last hour of the race, things look under control.




38TH STINT -23:02 to 23:35
RACING SOFTS

Lap 163 - P1 - 8'47,262 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'47,235 - Dry /0%

Lap 164 - P1 - 8'12,713 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'37,886 - Dry /0% (R8 PITS)

Lap 165 - P1 - 8'05,610 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 1'48,591 - Dry /0%

Lap 166 - P1 - 8'17.160 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 1'33,046 - Dry /0%



Notes:
What ... a ... mess. I'm about to enter the last stint and it is obvious the race won't last the 4 laps of it, we will be doing 3.

And this means ... the Audi is NOT going to pit until the end of the race (he pitted in lap 164, there's no doubt now that the race will end in lap 169)

So ... here goes. "All in" now ...





39TH STINT -23:35 to 24:00
RACING SOFTS

Lap 167 - P1 - 8'48,443 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) 0'43,103 - Dry /0%

Lap 168 - P1 - 8'09,967 - gap to 2nd (R8'01) 0'32,208 - Dry /0%

Lap 169 - P1 - 8'00,087 - gap to 2nd (R8 '01) ????? (I'd say about 31 seconds) - Dry /0%

THE RACE IS OVER
***
THE WINNER IS
***
GTP_HUN
***
DRIVING HIS BELOVED
***
(NO MATTER IF UGLY
***
I EVEN LIKE THE LOOKS OF IT BY NOW)
***
PANOZ ESPERANTE GTR-1









POST SCRIPTUM​

Car & Driver now in Lucerne, Switzerland for a well deserved vacation (pictures below) , since the game doesn't allow replays from these races I asked my son to record my last lap (crappy video, made with handheld iPhone) for posterity. Pity I made some totally avoidable mistakes.

(note: I spun under braking in the end of the penultimate lap that's why the first gap shown on video was over 40 seconds. But the entire last lap (a decent 8'00) is made with the R8 '01 about 30 seconds behind. You can see him several times in the track map, but more evidently at the beginning, when I'm still in the GP section.)

I'll pick up my notes to do a proper report from hour 16 to hour 24, but no time for it now, so I'll leave you guys with the pictures in Switzerland and the last lap video. Hope you all enjoy viewing it

THE WINNING CAR

THE WINNING DRIVER​

THE WINNING LAP​

​

 

[YuRiPa]

Nice win, congrats. In your last lap you even gained time on the R8 Race Car. Was surprised to see you win time especially in the fast sections, that's where the R8 should gain time on you. Nice job.

 

[Hun200kmh]

Thanks YuRiPa!


About your post, I think you didn't get it right. If you notice, the splits shown during the lap are these (red when I lose time, blue when I gain):


- 0'32,208 (second shown on video, that's when he crosses the S/F line)

- 0'31,651

- 0'31,839

- 0'31,110

- 0'31,403 (last in the GP section)

- 0'32,692

- 0'33,470

- 0'33,862

- 0'35,028

- 0'34,398

- 0'34,209

- 0'34,236

- 0'33,435

- 0'33,137

- 0'33,579

And we don't get the last two (end of the big straight; S/F line). So, basically, you have this:
1. us even during the length of the GP track;
2. Me gaining time up to the big full throttle section (before Karrousel)
3. Me losing time in that section.
4. Me gaining time again.
5. Me losing everything I gained, and in most laps a bit more, in the final big straight. I'd say something between 4 and 5 seconds in that last part of the lap. The one that we sadly don't have splits shown in the video.



EDIT - I added to the OP the lap-by-lap report of the last third of the race (hour 16 to hour 24). I had the data collected in my notes and it was due anyway, even if nobody cares by now


I'm going to prepare myself for the attack on Le Mans. Still have to pick the car but tbh I know very litle about this race's details. What fields? What pace to aim for? I'm not foolish enough to take the Panoz to that track, I take it for granted that greater top speed will be needed to counter the fastest LMP cars. In any case, I want to drive something different. considering the slower LMGTP in the Nurb race was the Mercedes CLK LM, I'll start by testing it while I'm checking the grids

I'll start by collecting the first ten or so grids the game throws at me and check which one looks the most competitive. I'll post my findings here, as usual.

 

[Sohvakettu]

Congratulations on the great win!

This thread might prove usefull when i start planning for my Nür 24h attack. Will be doing it on one sitting with some friends as codrivers. Unfortunately they are of varying levels of skill so have to propably use one of the quicker cars.

 

[kj_mil]

I'm going to prepare myself for the attack on Le Mans. Still have to pick the car but tbh I know very litle about this race's details. What fields? What pace to aim for? I'm not foolish enough to take the Panoz to that track, I take it for granted that greater top speed will be needed to counter the fastest LMP cars. In any case, I want to drive something different. considering the slower LMGTP in the Nurb race was the Mercedes CLK LM, I'll start by testing it while I'm checking the grids

I'll start by collecting the first ten or so grids the game throws at me and check which one looks the most competitive. I'll post my findings here, as usual.

The Le Mans race is easier in my opinion, I've already done this in the Mazda Furai (write-up yet to be posted). Essentially the R8 does ~3.38 in the dry and ~4.07 in the wet (100%), and 10-11 lap stints in the dry. Top speed isn't critical but you need to be able to run 3.30-3.35 in the dry to win. You can most likely do this in your Esperante easily, I've run tests with the Team Oreca Viper, Mazda Furai, Enzo Ferrari & GTR SpecV - all are capable. There's some decent grids early, I had the R8, R8 Playstation, Bentley Speed 8, R10, Pescarolo 03 & 04, McLaren F1, Merc CLK, Toyota GT One and 2 Team Oreca Vipers.


I'm now at 12:26 on my Nurbergring 24h (also yet to be posted) race. I'm now well over 10 mins up, as it's been raining for the last 4 hours (which of course is to my advantage). Before it was raining my predictions were that I could finish as badly as 2nd, or that I could do as well as half-a-lap (4 mins). The 2nd placed R8 had clearly ditched the R8 Playstation quite early, adn to be honest was forcing my pace.

I'll try to get both races up soon.

 

[Hun200kmh]

Hi kj_mil thanks for the advice, and best of luck to your Nurb race

About my preparation to Le Mans ....


1. THE CAR

Last night I did a few tests, first tried the Mercedes CLK LM but dumped it almost in an instant. Very powerful (over 800 BHP ?!?!) and surprisingly quick, but with a vacuum cleaner sound, I realized quickly that this car, with gorgeous looks, would give me an easy race but a very boring one too ...


So, I tried something VERY different. The Jaguar XJ 220 LM Race Car. Funny that I am a David Brabham fan and his name keeps appearing in just about every car that raced at Le Mans. happened with the Panoz and now again with the Jaaaaag

But ... no way I could do it with that car. It is even slower than the Esperante, and the handling is just .... hummm .... not good


So, looking at my options, next in line, still in the same category as the Panoz, Mercedes and Jaguar (GT1) the McLaren BMW was the logical choice. It has more BHP (more than 600) than the Panoz , but is not stupidly powerful as the Group C, LMGTP and LMP cars are (above 800 HP and in some cases above 900 HP).

(Side note: I really don't understand how the AI driven Mercedes was slower then the AI driven McLaren in my Nurb race ...)

Did one lap with it. Top speed is better than the Panoz but not by much. And I found it to be generally nice to drive. And I need that, or else I'll visit the sand traps more often than advisable

So, it's not a definitive decision yet, but in all probability I'll go with the McLaren for this one.


2. THE AI FIELD


As we all know by now, GT5 doesn't create random grids. Quite the contrary, the grids are fixed and follow a never-changing order. So, I set myself to the task of finding my dream grid among the first 10 I got shown. I'll share here those first ten grids, by order of appearance:



1st field

1. McLaren F1 GTR Race Car
2. Bentley Speed 8 Race Car
3. Nissan R390 GT1 Race Car
4. Toyota GT-ONE Race Car
5. Dodge Viper GTS-R #51 Race Car
6. Pescarolo Courage C60 Peugeot Race Car
7. THAT'LL BE YOU
8. BMW V12 LMR Race Car
9. Audi R10 TDI Race Car
10. Mercedes CLK LM Race Car
11. Dodge Viper GTS-R #91 Race Car
12. Pescarolo Courage C60 Hybride Race Car


Comment: I won't take a grid featuring the same car I use.
Oh ... and I want to kick the 🤬 of the Audi R8 '01 again




2nd field

1. Audi R8 '01 Race Car
2. Pescarolo Courage Judd Race Car
3. Mercedes CLK LM Race Car
4. Bentley Speed 8 Race Car
5. Dodge Viper GTS-R #51 Race Car
6. BMW V12 LMR Race Car
7. THAT'LL BE YOU
8. Audi R10 TDI Race Car
9. Pescarolo Courage C60 Hybride Race Car
10. Dodge Viper GTS-R #91 Race Car
11. Toyota GT-ONE Race Car
12. Pescarolo Courage C60 Peugeot Race Car


Comment: Not bad, all the Pescarolos are in, no McLaren, and the R8. Pity we have two Vipers ...





3rd field

1. Audi R10 TDI Race Car
2. McLaren F1 GTR Race Car
3. Dodge Viper GTS-R #51 Race Car
4. Nissan R390 GT1 Race Car
5. Audi R8 '01 Race Car
6. Bentley Speed 8 Race Car
7. THAT'LL BE YOU
8. BMW V12 LMR Race Car
9. Pescarolo Courage C60 Hybride Race Car
10. Pescarolo Courage Judd Race Car
11. Mercedes CLK LM Race Car
12. Toyota GT-ONE Race Car

Comment: The McLaren is there. 👎 Only one Viper 👍





4th field

1. McLaren F1 GTR Race Car
2. Bentley Speed 8 Race Car
3. Audi R8 '05 Race Car (Playstation)
4. Pescarolo Courage C60 Peugeot Race Car
5. Pescarolo Courage Judd Race Car
6. Dodge Viper GTS-R #51 Race Car
7. THAT'LL BE YOU
8. Mercedes CLK LM Race Car
9. Dodge Viper GTS-R #91 Race Car
10. Audi R10 TDI Race Car
11. Toyota GT ONE Race Car
12. Audi R8 '01 Race Car


Comment: This is ridiculous ... it's the same cars over and over again and I cannot understand why so many great cars are left out of this race. Especially the all-new 908 Peugeots!!!!! Anyway, the Macca is in, so I'm out.





5th field

1. Audi R8 '05 Race Car (Playstation)
2. Dodge Viper GTS-R #91 Race Car
3. Audi R10 TDI Race Car
4. Mercedes CLK LM Race Car
5. Pescarolo Courage C60 Hybride Race Car
6. Nissan R390 GT1 Race Car
7. THAT'LL BE YOU
8. Pescarolo Courage Judd Race Car
9. Dodge Viper GTS-R #51 Race Car
10. McLaren F1 GTR Race Car
11. Toyota GT ONE Race Car
12. BMW V12 LMR Race Car


Comment: Two Vipers and the McLaren decide against this grid.





6th field

1. Pescarolo Courage C60 Hybride Race Car
2. Nissan R390 GT1 Race Car
3. Audi R10 TDI Race Car
4. Bentley Speed 8 Race Car
5. Dodge Viper GTS-R #91 Race Car
6. TOYOTA GT One Race Car
7. THAT'LL BE YOU
8. Pescarolo Courage Judd Race Car
9. Audi R8 '01 Race Car
10. McLaren F1 GTR Race Car
11. Audi R8 '05 Race Car (Playstation)
12. BMW V12 LMR Race Car


Comment: One Viper, that's good, but the McLaren is in .... and it's ALWAYS the same cars, this is so poor ...




7th field

1. Pescarolo Courage Judd Race Car
2. Toyota GT-ONE Race Car
3. Pescarolo Courage C60 Hybride Race Car
4. Audi R8 '01 Race Car
5. Audi R8 '05 Race Car (Playstation)
6. Mercedes CLK LM Race Car
7. THAT'LL BE YOU
8. Audi R10 TDI Race Car
9. Nissan R390 GT1 Race Car
10. Dodge Viper GTS-R #51 Race Car
11. Dodge Viper GTS-R #91 Race Car
12. Bentley Speed 8 Race Car


Comment: two vipers .... and still the same cars





8th field

1. Audi R8 '05 Race Car (Playstation)
2. Pescarolo Courage Judd Race Car
3. Dodge Viper GTS-R #51 Race Car
4. McLaren F1 GTR Race Car
5. Audi R10 TDI Race Car
6. Dodge Viper GTS-R #91 Race Car
7. THAT'LL BE YOU
8. Toyota GT-ONE Race Car
9. Pescarolo Courage Judd Race Car
10. Nissan R390 GT1 Race Car
11. BMW V12 LMR Race Car
12. Mercedes CLK LM Race Car


Comment: The McLaren is there. 👎 two Vipers 👎





9th field

1. Audi R10 TDI Race Car
2. Audi R8 '01 Race Car
3. McLaren F1 GTR Race Car
4. Nissan R390 GT1 Race Car
5. Pescarolo Courage Judd Race Car
6. Toyota GT ONE Race Car
7. THAT'LL BE YOU
8. BMW V12 LMR Race Car
9. Pescarolo Courage C60 Peugeot Race Car
10. Dodge Viper GTS-R #51 Race Car
11. Bentley Speed 8 Race Car
12. Mercedes CLK LM Race Car


Comment: McLaren in ...





10th field

1. Pescarolo Courage C60 Peugeot Race Car
2. Mercedes CLK LM Race Car
3. Bentley Speed 8 Race Car
4. Audi R8 '01 Race Car
5. Toyota GT ONE Race Car
6. Dodge Viper GTS-R #51 Race Car
7. THAT'LL BE YOU
8. Pescarolo Courage Judd Race Car
9. Audi R8 '05 Race Car (Playstation)
10. Dodge Viper GTS-R #91 Race Car
11. McLaren F1 GTR Race Car
12. Audi R10 TDI Race Car


Comment: Two Vipers and the McLaren decide against this grid. Again.



But, but ... where are the 908 cars (works and Oreca)? Where are the GROUP C Cars? The 905? The Sauber Mercedes? The 787B? The Jaguar XJR-9 ? The Minolta TOYOTA? The older NISSANS ?????


I'm angry at PD ... first they put LMP cars in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring ... and now they leave out of the 24 Hours of Le Mans cars that just ... BELONG ... there.



I guess I need to look for more grids. Even within this ridiculously short list of available cars I want a grid that:

a) Has the Audi R8 '01;
b) Has NOT the car I'll use;
c) Has no more than one VIPER (I was going to write GTS cars, but no other cars show up from this class. Not even the Corvette helloooooo PD who is the guy responsible for this mess ???? Fire him!)

About the car, I'll check my options again. If I don't take the McLaren, the 3rd grid is the best option so far.




to be continued ...

 

[Akmuq]

Superb win when at mid-way it was looking unlikely.

How did you get a photo of a standard on photo-travel though?