GTPLMS Round 2: Race ***Results***

[ABud]

GTMSA Presents
GTPLMS Season 4 Round 2
Laguna Seca; 38 Lap (135km) Race
Deadline 11.59pm GMT Sunday 31st May​

Standings

Results

​

General Information and Regulations

All rules, regulations, car specifications, and races are controlled by GTPLMS sanctioning body, GTMSA. Any and all questions should be directed to GTMSA officials (namely me ABud) and officials will do their best to answer in a timely and accurate manor.

All drivers must run at the specified weights and horsepower settings provided by GTMSA for each round. Horsepower and/or weight settings are adjusted for competitive reasons each round based on finishing positions from previous rounds.

• Standard Online Racing Rules Apply.
• No Cheating, hybrids, etc. You must run the car specifications I give you
• Try keeping at least 2 wheels on course. Long races = small mishaps, but absolutely NO shortcuts
• No wall-riding as well. Combined with penalties, this will slow you down considerably, so don't do it.
• All decisions by GTMSA officials are final

Race

• Arcade Mode>>>Single Race>>>World Circuits>>>Laguna Seca
• 38 lap race (135km)
• Weight penalties in place
• RS, RM, RH tires or any combination thereof
• Strong Tire Wear
• AI at +8
• Ai tires RS
• Forced Pit Entry penalty system
• ASM is prohibited TCS is optional
• Points for race: 10-8-6-4-2-1
• 2 points for finishing within 103% of race winning time
• 1 point for finishing outside 103% of race winning time

Time sending format

PM me with the following data. Please make sure all details are correctly filled in and DONT MISS THE DEADLINE

User Name:
Class:
Car:
Number:
HP:
Weight:
Total Time:
Fastest Lap:
No. of Pits:


Good luck all 👍

Andy

 

[Austin343]

I'm done with my GTS race, and for once, I'm pretty satisfied with it. I only made two major mistakes: First, I tried to pass the Panoz out of the first hairpin, but couldn't make it, got stuck on the outside before the next corner, and finally got forced into the dirt under braking and spun sideways but not around, and used the big swath of dirt to get back on the track, costing me about three seconds. Second, I made the same mistake the AI so often does here and got my second back wheel just barely off the track on the outside coming out of of turn 9 (at T3), which skewed the car across the track and, luckily, onto that small paved area on the other side, where I braked and then went across the dirt to get back on the track, costing about two seconds in total. Otherwise, the only unclean moments I had were a couple times I went barely wide and quickly got back on the track, and five times the AI hit me from behind, mostly braking for the Corkscrew. The car was actually more fun at race pace on harder tires than in qualifying, and I enjoyed the race quite a bit. 👍

 

[ABud]

Yeah, i got a race run in today. Made loads of mistakes so i'll def be having another go, but it is a fun race. Thankfully the AI don't seem to interfere so much around here which is handy:tup:

 

[oldmodelt]

Submitted my GTS time. Very pleased with my race. No penalties and only a few minor offs. Few seconds here and there.

 

[raz_10]

I'm having a hard time not getting penalties in the first laps. The IA and the narrow track are making it difficult to pass. The Pagani is not making it easy with his slow a** going up the hill before the cork screw.

 

[dainbramage]

I made a stupid rookie mistake and used the Super Hard tires for a couple of stints! Looks like I'll be doing the race again.

Are we allowed to talk about pit strategies?

 

[Austin343]

I think you're allowed to talk about pretty much anything except your final race time (although ABud obviously has the final word on that), but is it really advisable when you're trying your best to beat your competitors?

 

[dainbramage]

I don't really mind as I want everyone to be as competitive as possible. Plus, it's all for fun anyways. We share setup tips with fellow competitors in real life.

I ended up running a 4 stop race by using the medium compound and switching to the hard compound for the last stint. I found I could get 7 laps out of the mediums in the Camaro until they went full red.

 

[ABud]

People can talk about anything they want apart from individual lap times and final race time - we want to keep some suspense!!

 

[Austin343]

I did an LMP race, but it was so bad that I didn't even bother saving the replay. It was all going great until lap 19, when the car suddenly wheelspun where it never had before, in the left-hander after T2, and snapped around before I could even think of correcting it. Because the track is narrow there, and bordered by a wall on one side and a pit of "slow" sand on the other, recovering cost me 13 seconds. But the real nail in the coffin came at lap 31, when the Audi stayed out a lap too long on its tires and spun after T3, and then drove right in front of me as it was getting back on the track, giving me a penalty. With numerous small mistakes added in as well, I wouldn't be surprised if it would have put me two minutes behind the winner, so I'm obviously not submitting it. I guess I'll retry it tomorrow, after my left thumb recovers, because it has a sore spot - the rubber cover on the left analog stick came off a couple weeks ago and the bare plastic isn't very comfortable.

Also, I bet someone is going to manage to make this a two-stop race. I almost can, but the twelfth lap is a couple seconds slow, and the necessary thirteenth lap is out of the question because the rear tires are pretty well shot by then, and I would just end up spinning out the whole lap.

 

[ABud]

Two stops?! Uh oh, i may be in trouble - no way i can 2 stop!

 

[Austin343]

I think it may be a unique ability of the GT-ONE to do that, actually. Its tire life isn't very good on soft or medium tires, but for some reason, its hard tires have exceptional longevity, even for tire-eating me, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if RACECAR makes it thirteen laps twice and twelve laps the other two times.

A related question: does anyone here use TCS? I always just stay in third gear or above, and except for times like the incident mentioned above, not using it works well, although I do have to be careful with the throttle exiting slow corners. TCS would save rear tires, but it generally slows you down too much to be worth it.

 

[oldmodelt]

I don't really mind as I want everyone to be as competitive as possible. Plus, it's all for fun anyways. We share setup tips with fellow competitors in real life.

I ended up running a 4 stop race by using the medium compound and switching to the hard compound for the last stint. I found I could get 7 laps out of the mediums in the Camaro until they went full red.

Or you could pit every 5 laps. That would keep your tires nice and fresh. LOL

 

[ABud]

I reckon TCS loses about 0.5 secs a lap, but like you say rear tire wear is better. I do use TCS for cars this powerful, more down to laziness than anything else mind!

 

[dainbramage]

I usually don't use it, but for these cars I am. The only corners it really comes into play for me is the corkscrew and 11.

 

[Austin343]

Okay, it isn't tomorrow as I said, but I did have another run at the LMP race. It was pretty fun, and the laps went by more quickly than in the previous two races; Laguna really seems to only be fun in race cars, as I don't like it much at all in road cars. It wasn't a great race - there's no way I beat east, although I doubt I could no matter how well the race went - but it wasn't bad, either, and I don't think I'll do it again. I did have a few off-track moments, none of which cost more than two or three seconds, and got held up by a couple AI cars (including the Audi trying its best to run me off the track ), but there were no major mistakes like I had in the previous attempt. One problem, though, was that I did not run very consistent times, and the one- or two-second minor mistakes were unfortunately rather pervasive. I do think that I will do better at other tracks, as I'm not very good at Laguna and Motegi, but perhaps I should just expect that my inconsistency will put me in third in most of these races.

I have one more question for you, ABud. I know the rules say to try to keep two tires on the track at all times (although mistakes are to be expected in long races) and that no shortcuts are allowed, but if you accidentally cut a corner too close and put three or four wheels off on the inside, is it acceptable to make sure you don't gain time from it, by deliberately slowing yourself down in the next corner, for example? That's what I've been doing any time I think I've either gained time or lost no time from having three or four wheels off: penalizing myself a second or two by, in this case, coasting through most of the Corkscrew at 40 mph. It seems like a better alternative to restarting the race if you turn in too early for, say, the left after T2 on lap 35, and accidentally slightly cut the corner.

 

[east]

Im having troubles being consistant here myself, and have yet to do a run that doesnt include atleast 1 spin. I may have won the previous 2 races and by a good margin, but I honestly dont see that happening here, im finding it much more difficult to be consistant here, this race is still anyones to win.

 

[ABud]

I think it's a judgement call as far as penalising yourself. If you think you gained from an accidental short cut then easing off on the next corner sounds good to me.

Ps.
4 wheels off on that left hander! I reckon my Audi would be straight in the opposite sand trap (going backwards) if i tried that

 

[Kingofweasles]

I think it may be a unique ability of the GT-ONE to do that, actually. Its tire life isn't very good on soft or medium tires, but for some reason, its hard tires have exceptional longevity, even for tire-eating me, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if RACECAR makes it thirteen laps twice and twelve laps the other two times.

A related question: does anyone here use TCS? I always just stay in third gear or above, and except for times like the incident mentioned above, not using it works well, although I do have to be careful with the throttle exiting slow corners. TCS would save rear tires, but it generally slows you down too much to be worth it.

A Two-Stop race in the GT-One?! You're brave dude!

As for the related question: Yes, i use TCS. I've found that the tire wear seems to be WORSE with TCS on in my Bentley, but it gains a kind of "Repeatablity" over the course of a long race; You can drive it from one lap to the next and not expect it to jump out on you. The Zonda doesnt seem to mind going without it, but i drive with it anyway because of the large torque curve that car has at low RPM.

I don't race with TCS normally and i didn't race with TCS in the Super GT series (Mainly because the Mazda i drove has gross understeer with it on), but with high-powered cars like the Bentley and the Zonda LM it's kind of a given...At least for my driving skills!

 

[dainbramage]

Or you could pit every 5 laps. That would keep your tires nice and fresh. LOL

I was going to run 6 lap stints, but after some research I found I was only losing about 1.5 seconds by running the extra lap. That, along with the fact that a pit road run takes a little over 30 seconds and having to do 1 extra stop on the 6 lap stint plan, I decided I would benefit more from the 7 lap plan. On the last stop I switched to the hard compound added as very little fuel as possible to help weight and was able to get the extra 3 laps while only running about 1 second off my original pace. Overall I was happy with the race though I'll probably be towards the back of the pack with the 20 second penalty. Oh well... it's all for fun!

On a side note... I feel like this series will help me in the car in real life actually. One of the things we battle with is keeping concentration levels high and mental fatigue towards the end of a stint. I found myself having to keep my concentration levels high during a race of this length. Granted, we only run about 20-30 minute sessions right now, but I plan on entering some 3, 6, and if the finances are right 25 hour enduros in 2010 or 2011.

 

[oldmodelt]

I was going to run 6 lap stints, but after some research I found I was only losing about 1.5 seconds by running the extra lap. That, along with the fact that a pit road run takes a little over 30 seconds and having to do 1 extra stop on the 6 lap stint plan, I decided I would benefit more from the 7 lap plan. On the last stop I switched to the hard compound added as very little fuel as possible to help weight and was able to get the extra 3 laps while only running about 1 second off my original pace. Overall I was happy with the race though I'll probably be towards the back of the pack with the 20 second penalty. Oh well... it's all for fun!

On a side note... I feel like this series will help me in the car in real life actually. One of the things we battle with is keeping concentration levels high and mental fatigue towards the end of a stint. I found myself having to keep my concentration levels high during a race of this length. Granted, we only run about 20-30 minute sessions right now, but I plan on entering some 3, 6, and if the finances are right 25 hour enduros in 2010 or 2011.

Good luck with the real racing. And that 5 lap stuff was my attempt at humor. I made myself a promise to do only 2 runs per race. Enduros not included. 1 on them. Maybe? Otherwise I would run myself into the ground trying to shave off those elusive seconds. This is for fun, right. Thanks Abud for letting me participate.

 

[raz_10]

Times sent.
Terrible finish...but i do not have time to re rerun

last pit I forgot to gas up had to make one more pit than needed .
Then I got spun around by the Zonda and it hit me in the front when i did 360and it sent me to the pits

GL all!!!

 

[CyborgGT]

Crap. I just didn't have the time. I don't want to drop out, so please keep me on the list.

 

[raz_10]

I knew those last four laps did me in
On to Le Sarthe!!!

 

[Kingofweasles]

Crap. I just didn't have the time. I don't want to drop out, so please keep me on the list.

Same here dude! I'm starting to get really frustrated doing this series all of a sudden...I WILL try to finish at Le Mans and Suzuka though!

 

[ABud]

I've just updated the results page as I forgot that Dainbramage hadn't qualified. Luckily for me it hasn't changed the result.

Sorry for the mistake,

Andy

 

[Austin343]

I knew east was going to win despite his doubts. I did come close enough that I might have had a chance to beat him if I never penalized myself for possible slight offs, but it wouldn't have felt right to not do that. Considering this is the place he is likely to have the toughest time with, the only chance anyone has to beat him is probably ABud with a 1%, not a 3%, weight penalty. That's quite a testament to your great skill in these long races, east. 👍

Judging by the results in GTS so far, especially in qualifying, I think you made the Ford GT a little too fast, ABud. I know it has poor tire wear and is trickier to drive fast consistently, but I think I've done better in it than maybe I should.

 

[east]

Thanks for the kind words. I put this win down to my car though. If it had the same tyre wear rate as the other cars, I would not have won this race. I say this because I tried a 2 stop race on Hard tyres, and my time was some 30 - 40 seconds off my race winning 5 stop strategy on Softs (a strategy which would only have been possible in a Pescarolo).

I doubt i'll be the only one to win a race in the LMP. In fact, I believe my 2 race streak will come to an end in the very next race (Le Sarthe), as there is someone in the field (i'll leave his identity a secret for now) who is seconds quicker than I am on a single lap around that track.

 

[oldmodelt]

Same here dude! I'm starting to get really frustrated doing this series all of a sudden...I WILL try to finish at Le Mans and Suzuka though!

I have no problem finishing. I just want to place top 6 a couple of times. How about you guys going on vacation this summer. All of you. LOL. Made the mistake of running with hard and pitting every 10. What was the concensus on tires out there? I probably could have gone 12 but I still would have had to pit 3 times. Hard kept my times up. Driving AT also doesn't help. And having spot you guys 2? decades.

But enjoying myself all the same.

 

[Austin343]

I don't think there's really ever any consensus on tires. The different cars, as well as people's preferences, vary too much for that to ever happen (e.g. the GT-ONE having far, far better wear on hards than on mediums or softs). I used medium tires (pit every six laps) until lap 30, when I switched to hards for the last eight laps, and that seemed to me the best strategy for me in the GT.

One thing about which I think people are often mistaken is how long to stay out on worn tires. From what I can calculate from lap times on orange and red tires, in a race with more than a couple pit stops, it's almost never advantageous to stretch the tires after they've faded significantly, even if it does save you a pit; the threshold is really about a yellow-orange, after which point they fall off by multiple seconds a lap. If you do more than just a few laps like that, then you've lost more than the 30 or so seconds you save by skipping a stop. So, from my experience with the GT on hard tires, they were losing a little grip by the end of the eighth lap for me (they were tinged slightly orange), and even though I probably wear tires faster than you, Mark, staying out until lap twelve probably would have been a bad idea even if you did save a pit stop.