GTP_Synwraith vs GTP_EDK
Winner: GTP_Synwraith
Hang on, get a coffee and a Jaffa cake, this is going to be long.
Just like my race with DukeOfPendle, there were big issues trying to match with Kevin and actually do the race. I have had this problem with the 700PP World Event all week. I don't know how many times we tried before we finally got in a race together, but I had to try and stay relaxed unlike with Phil where I let all the frustration of an hour's failed matching to get to me and affect my race performance.
Both Kev and I opted to use the Ferrari F430 over the GTR. I knew from pre-race practice runs we had ended up together in I was around a second a lap quicker at my best, but that doesn't really always count for anything in these races. I was to start from pole.
Matching failed on something like 3 occasions.
Finally, Race 1
We make it to lap 2 with me leading from the first corner and Kev following a second or so behind, but usually less at the line. We had reached 130R on lap 2 and I saw Kevin go off at Spoon, then suddenly he was behind me again, then Kev gets booted and I park it. Massive lag for Kevin there and I think his connection died.
Race 2
One lap down, I lead from go, Kev following, french host in Clio disconnects.
Race 3
I lead into first corner again, Kev following. We encounter backmarkers pretty early, lap 2. A Clio parked in the middle of the track at Dunlop and I manage to fly around the outside and continue on my way. Kev gets by the Clio before T1. Kevin holds on to the tow for a while, neither of us putting a foot wrong and we come across more traffic. A white Corvette/Tuned, the same French Clio...all of whom I must say were perfectly well-behaved and gave a good race, didn't get pissy when overtaken and were clean when re-passing under draft. I cleared those guys and started making inroads into the overall leader, an NSX I think. I don't think I could see Kevin in my mirrors any more so the lead was over 6 seconds. On lap 9 I could see the leader and by the end of the lap he stuffed it at Casio (or so I thought), I started Lap 10 with a big lead and no one around me, race bought and paid for. At the same time I saw the issue at Casio, Kevin saw the blue French Clio make a mess of Spoon. Little did I know the Clio was the host, got angry at his own mistake again and disconnected. Lap 10, BLOODY LAP 10, big lead, almost home, another disconnect. So we agreed another rerun.
Race 4
I start from pole, we wait for the grid to pass us, but GTP_uk86ze and RudiRaser are on the grid too, Rudi was the host so at least we knew we wouldn't get DCed this time. There was also a GB Audi R8 on the grid who abandoned his car. While I lined up on my pole position, the R8 bumped me off pole, so I repositioned. Bumped again, repositioned. I was starting to get pissed off now, what the hell else could go wrong?? When we finally hit 30 seconds and went, I don't think I even cared what the outcome was any more, I just gunned it. Not being careful and just attacking and molesting the corners. I wanted it over with.
This was the best race I had run all week in the F430 and incidentally I think it was Kevin's best also because despite my laptimes and consistency, utter disregard for spinning or being careful, he was keeping up for 5 laps in my draft but just as in all the previous race attempts, he was never close enough to make a pass or take the lead. I think halfway through GTP_uk86ze realised what was going on and parked it, as did a Spanish Clio. I don't even remember, I think we passed a couple of other cars as well without issue.
Just when I thought it couldn't get any more complicated and I was starting to lose Kevin again, Rudi slowed down to wait for us so he could have a race. This is the one and only time the amazing GTRP_RudiRaser will be called "Traffic", and the one and only time I just wanted him to leave me for dust. I was shouting "Rudi go just GO PLEASE!", but we started racing
This probably helped my concentration as I am usually very focused when racing a faster driver closely just because I feel something to prove and want to leave a good impression with one of the recognised superstars of OLR. As usual Rudi was super clean and super fair, but of course when you race someone and exchange positions you lose time.
By lap 9 I think Rudi was ahead and I knew I wasn't going to get past without an error from him.
Lap 10, could it finally be over? Yes, with Kevin about 8 or 9 seconds back. One of the most intense, somewhat frustrating and exhausting OLR experiences I've ever had. Frankly I won't miss World Events when they go.
I think Kevin knew I had a pace advantage from my hotlap thread and would have required a mistake from me like the one I made against Animera and also DukeOfPendle. But I managed to keep it fast, clean and mistake free for something like a total of 25 laps in all our races, and was never once headed. It made up for the disappointment of the previous defeat.
I have to say, this must have been really difficult for Kevin. He doesn't get time to race on weekdays, he woke up to race me in the morning because he knew I had to be somewhere, he kept his composure during disconnects, lag, idiot hosts, matching failures and all of that, he had spent much of the last month practising GT4 for his LAN meeting and the vastly different physics just won't allow you to jump back into GT5P, a wiley car like the F430 and be as comfortable. On top of that I had loads of practice with this combo.
All things considered, Kevin was marvellous and as you would expect of one of the GTP race admins, a total example of how it should be done.
Thank you for everything Kev, thanks to Rudi for hosting and to Jukka for trying
My record in stage 2 stands at 3-1, so I hope that's enough to see me through.
All the best
Maz
i never saw a guy that could drive fast on the pad and that didnt make it better on the wheel after the necessary pratice.. so you hang on a bit more and you'll rock man, im sure about it.. you know that losing against the talented Mad its nothing but something that we need to get used to.. specially at 7am 
and had 2 on the box around fugi 
.
