GTP_WRS-Online Event 20 : Best (F)oot (F)orward?

mr_lab_rat · Apr 18, 2018

This race was an instant classic. Nice wide track with lots of overtaking opportunities. Good car that doesn’t try to kill you all the time, you would have to do something incredibly stupid to fall of track here (more about this later). The FWD car brings mortals closer to aliens because it’s easier to find the limits. And Speedy Chris got the tire and fuel settings absolutely perfect so we had at least three possible pit strategies.
And we got 15 cars on the grid.

I arrived late so I didn’t have much time for practice. But I knew that as long as I qualify in 2:06s I’d be starting mid pack.
When the flag dropped I somehow managed to run 2:05.999, by far the fastest lap I did in this car. That was good enough for 3rd place on the grid behind Pekka and Mike.

The start went well, I protected the inside through the first corner and glued myself to Mike’s bumper and started picturing the rat on the podium.
That lasted exactly to the beginning of the second sector when I couldn’t see over Mikes car, forgot where on the track I was and outbraked myself off the road

Fortunately I didn’t take anyone out. Rejoined the track around 11th place and started the chase. I was on a 6 laps/3 stops strategy so passing 2 stoppers was fairly easy and had couple of good battles with guys on the same pit strategy. When the pit stops went out of sync I saw myself as high as 2nd place.

Towards the end when all pit stops were done I was in 4th place and had Speedy in my sight just 2 seconds ahead. But he lived up to his name and put in a solid last stint. Instead of gaining a position Pekka caught up to me and passed me on the last lap when my tires were too worn out from pushing hard.

I would call it the best race if the GTS WRS season so far if I don’t count the 2.4hr Porsche race.

turnupdaheat · Apr 19, 2018

Is the room open?

Gravitron · Apr 19, 2018

turnupdaheat
Is the room open?

Still have 1hr to go, but yes, NA room is open:

0474 5940 1171 6626 3364

turnupdaheat · Apr 19, 2018

Doh! Daylight saving time threw me off :dunce:

Espial · Apr 19, 2018

Somehow I messed up my strategy. The car was using way too much fuel than I initially thought and I had to save fuel on the last lap of every stint and was apparently too slow overall. In retrospect I should have gone all out like MadMax did, would've been more fun methinks.
@monoha sorry for the contact in the last chicane, I didn't see you there and didn't think you would actually make that turn beside me... thanks for letting me past but you didn't have to, it was my mistake just as much.

dranddad · Apr 19, 2018

Having got to the party late still not feeling to good I was more than happy to plod round on map 6. Now 3 or 4 laps in a little chipper turned up the fuel map to 3 then 2 glad I did, gave me the chance to pull back close to a group of members not yet really raced with before.

I have to say having driven for most of my working life, from chauffeuring, vehicle testing, to a privileged position testing a few prototypes, m,o,d agricultural and even bus and coach, I really do appreciate finding chaps I had the pleasure to race with @nico4711, @MikeyLCR, @nolucktoday, @Nail-27, @WhiteFlight1 I was so impressed with their race craft and sportsmanship, some of the very best I've seen over the years.

Everyone always seems to talk about who won and if only I did this or that, but I think you miss some of what make racing online with guys mentioned above such a pleasure.

Argon · Apr 19, 2018

Having hauled my sorry 🤬 out of bed I joined the NA race mainly to help to keep the numbers up as this combo is so much more fun with a good starting grid of cars. Before this combo went up I had never driven anything on this circuit as I absolutely hated it but now I'm really going to miss this one after the TT and the OLR races.

Anyway...quali didn't go well and I couldn't get anything better that a 6th spot on the grid and with some scarily fast guys in front of me I wasn't looking to do much more than hold position. Flag dropped and almost straight away @turnupdaheat and I were locked into an awesome battle that repeated during the race and was so much fun. Pekka @MadMax was after revenge and went off with one intention in mind and was never going to be caught but after my second pit stop I came out slightly in front of Jeff @suprajef and thought that there was a chance I could grab a second spot if the fuelling gods smiled on me. Jeff went in for his final stop 2 or 3 laps earlier than me and I just needed to do a splash and dash for my final stint taking 3 laps of fuel and fresh tyres.

As it turned out I came out staring at the rear end of Jeff's car and despite throwing caution to the wind I couldn't do anything to reel him in. I actually almost threw the race because pushing so hard meant that my fuel ran out before the chicane on the last lap. I literally coasted through watching Mike @mr_lab_rat closing in on me so fast and just hoping I could get to the line which I did but only by half a car picking up 3 spots which was an unexpected result for me,

Thanks for another great race everyone and a big thank you to Lucas @Gravitron for doing the honours hosting