GTPLMS Round 3 Results (GT2 Championship points fixed)

[ICallShotgun]

GTP Le Mans Series
BridgeStone Grand Prix of Midfield​

Short and Twisty Midfield is in the books, and the new Points system has shaken things up in the Drivers Championship. Qualifying for the first time gave a bonus point to the 1st place qualifier, and Best-laps also gave bonus points. This helped drivers in P1 east and P2 ICallShotgun, who both scored the maximum points, to jump in the points championships.

GT and GTS saw the continued dominance of Drewpyballs OAP Comedy Racing Team in both classes, but a close race had newcomer GT3Emperor giving the GTS crowd a thrilling finish.

NOTE TO ALL DRIVERS
Pay attention to Round 5. GTMSA officials have been tossing the idea of "competition adjustments" for all classes. These will NOT take place until Round 5 (LeMans) but pay attention to the Race threads.

Results for Round 3 are

Round 3 Qualifying Results

[color=darkred][u]Driver			Car				Time (mm:ss.000)[/u]
---------------------------------------------------------------------[/color]
[b][color=darkred][size=2][center]LM Prototype 1:[/center][/b][/color][/size]
[color=#C3A519]east		Gran Turismo 4 Audi R8			00:53.080[/color][color=#00ef07] 1pt[/color]
[color=#959595]RACECAR		Hewlett-Packard BMW V12LMR		00:55.273[/color]
[color=#E8733A]Earth		Microsoft Pescarolo PS2			00:55.741[/color]
[color=navy]ICallShotgun	Norcold Dyson BMW V12LMR		00:55.764[/color]
[color=navy]nitro_2005	Heineken Pescarolo PS2			00:56.068[/color]
[color=navy]racefan88501	Dell Audi R8				00:56.973[/color]
[color=navy]Delfino		Dell Audi R8				DNS[/color]
[color=navy]ls2_297		Playstation Pescarolo PS2		DNS[/color]

[b][color=darkred][size=2][center]LM Prototype 2:[/center][/b][/color][/size]
[color=#C3A519]ICallShotgun	Intersport Pescarolo C60		00:55.909[/color][color=#00ef07] 1pt[/color]
[color=#959595]Delfino		Lowes BMW V12LM				00:56.298[/color]
[color=#E8733A]racefan88501	Lowes BMW V12LM				1:04.278[/color]
[color=navy]PitwrkzZ1	Deutsche-Bank XMarkets BMW V12LM	DNS[/color]
[color=navy]m.piedgros	Deutsche-Bank XMarkets Pescarolo C60	DNS[/color]
[color=navy]Ford_Fan90	Deutsche-Bank XMarkets Pescarolo C60	DNS[/color]

[b][color=darkred][size=2][center]Grand Touring Sport (GT1):[/center][/b][/color][/size]
[color=#C3A519]Drew22		Sanatogen BMW McLaren F1GTR		1:00.868[/color][color=#00ef07] 1pt[/color]
[color=#959595]GT3Emperor	SuperPro Pagani Zonda LM		1:00.981[/color]
[color=#E8733A]Ballstothewall	Sanatogen BMW McLaren F1GTR		1:01.723[/color]
[color=navy]ICallShotgun	Visteon Dodge Viper GTS			1:02.144[/color]
[color=navy]racefan88501	Dell Chevy Corvette C5R			1:07.379[/color]
[color=navy]Delfino		Dell Chevy Corvette C5R			DNS[/color]
[color=navy]PitwrkzZ1	Motorola BMW McLaren F1GTR		DNS[/color]
[color=navy]m.piedgros	Bentley Pub. Panoz Esperante GTR1	DNS[/color]
[color=navy]ls2_297		GM Goodwrench Chevy Corvet C5R		DNS[/color]

[b][color=darkred][size=2][center]Grand Touring (GT2):[/center][/b][/color][/size]
[color=#C3A519]GT3Emporer	Super Pro Chevy Camaro LM		1:02.647[/color][color=#00ef07] 1pt[/color]
[color=#959595]Drew22		Dark Dog Mazda RX7 LM			1:02.819[/color]
[color=#E8733A]east		Hewlett-Packard Mazda RX8 LM		1:02.938[/color]
[color=navy]GTXDriver	Hewlett-Packard Mazda RX8 LM		1:02.980[/color]
[color=navy]Ballstothewall	Dark Dog Mazda RX7 LM			1:03.457[/color]
[color=navy]ICallShotgun	BMW Finance BMW M3 GTR 			1:04.014[/color]
[color=navy]oldphart	DHL Ford GT LM SpecII			1:04.027[/color]
[color=navy]RACECAR		Red Bull BMW M3 GTR			1:04.490[/color]
[color=navy]CAMikaze	Goodyear Chevy Camaro LM		1:04.906[/color]
[color=navy]racefan88501	Red Bull Nissan 350Z LM			1:08.385[/color]
[color=navy]Delfino		Red Bull Nissan 350Z LM			DNS[/color]
[color=navy]Ford_Fan90	DHL Ford GT LM SpecII			DNS[/color]

Round 3 Race Results

[color=darkred][u]Driver	Car						Time (mm:ss.000)[/u]
----------------------------------------------------------------------[/color]
[b][color=darkred][size=2]LM Prototype 1:[/b][/color][/size]
[color=#C3A519]east			Gran Turismo 4 Audi R8			14:47.915[/color][color=#00ef07] 10pts[/color]
[color=#959595]Delfino			Dell Audi R8				15:03.881[/color][color=#00ef07] 8pts[/color]
[color=#E8733A]Earth			Microsoft Pescarolo PS2			15:04.521[/color][color=#00ef07] 6pts[/color]
[color=navy]RACECAR			Hewlett-Packard BMW V12LMR		15:18.108[/color][color=#00ef07] 4pts[/color]
[color=navy]ICallShotgun		Norcold Dyson BMW V12LMR		15:26.347[/color][color=#00ef07] 2pts[/color]
[color=navy]racefan88501		Dell Audi R8				15:28.562[/color][color=#00ef07] 1pt[/color]
[color=navy]nitro_2005		Heineken Pescarolo PS2			15:40.887[/color]
[color=navy]ls2_297			Playstation Pescarolo PS2		DNS[/color]
[color=blue]Best lap goes to [u]east[/u] - 0:56.315[/color][color=#00ef07] 1pt[/color]

[b][color=darkred][size=2]LM Prototype 2:[/b][/color][/size]
[color=#C3A519]ICallShotgun		Intersport Pescarolo			15:05.530[/color][color=#00ef07] 10pts[/color]
[color=#959595]Delfino			Lowes BMW V12LM				15:09.657[/color][color=#00ef07] 8pts[/color]
[color=#E8733A]racefan88501		Lowes BMW V12LM				15:52.809[/color][color=#00ef07] 6pts[/color]
[color=navy]PitwrkzZ1		Deutsche-Bank XMarkets BMW V12LM	DNS[/color][color=#00ef07] 4pts[/color]
[color=navy]m.piedgros		Deutsche-Bank XMarkets Pescarolo C60	DNS[/color][color=#00ef07] 2pts[/color]
[color=navy]Ford_Fan90		Deutsche-Bank XMarkets Pescarolo C60	DNS[/color][color=#00ef07] 1pt[/color]
[color=blue]Best lap goes to [u]ICallShotgun[/u] - 00:57.435[/color][color=#00ef07] 1pt[/color]

[b][color=darkred][size=2]Grand Touring Sport (GT1):[/b][/color][/size]
[color=#C3A519]Drew22	Sanatogen BMW McLaren F1GTR				16:42.039[/color][color=#00ef07] 10pts[/color]
[color=#959595]GT3Emperor	Super Pro Pagani Zonda LM			16:42.727[/color][color=#00ef07] 8pts[/color]
[color=#E8733A]ICallShotgun	Vistion Dodge Viper GTS				16:44.442[/color][color=#00ef07] 6pts[/color]
[color=navy]Ballstothewall	Sanatogen BMW McLaren F1GTR			16:52.827[/color][color=#00ef07] 4pts[/color]
[color=navy]Delfino		Dell Chevy Corvette C5R				16:56.220[/color][color=#00ef07] 2pts[/color]
[color=navy]racefan88501	Dell Chevy Corvette C5R				17:37.947[/color][color=#00ef07] 1pt[/color]
[color=navy]PitwrkzZ1	Motorola BMW McLaren F1GTR			DNS[/color]
[color=navy]m.piedgros	Bentley Pub. Panoz Esperante GTR1		DNS[/color]
[color=navy]ls2_297		GM Goodwrench Chevy Corvette C5R		DNS[/color]
[color=blue]Best lap goes to [u]GT3Emperor[/u] - 1:03.843[/color][color=#00ef07] 1pt[/color]

[b][color=darkred][size=2]Grand Touring (GT2):[/b][/color][/size]
[color=#C3A519]Ballstothewall		Dark Dog Mazda RX7 LM			16:56.443[/color][color=#00ef07] 10pts[/color]
[color=#959595]Drew22			Dark Dog Mazda RX7 LM			16:56.859[/color][color=#00ef07] 8pts[/color]
[color=#E8733A]oldphart		DHL Ford GT LM SpecII			17:02.298[/color][color=#00ef07] 6pts[/color]
[color=navy]east			Hewlett-Packard Mazda RX8 LM		17:05.433[/color][color=#00ef07] 4pts[/color]
[color=navy]GTXDriver		Hewlett-Packard Mazda RX8 LM		17:05.694[/color][color=#00ef07] 2pts[/color]
[color=navy]Delfino			Red Bull Nissan 350Z LM			17:07.120[/color][color=#00ef07] 1pt[/color]
[color=navy]GT3Emperor		Super Pro Chevy Camaro LM		17:08.895[/color]
[color=navy]RACECAR			Red Bull BMW M3 GTR			17:17.261[/color]
[color=navy]ICallShotgun		BMW Finance BMW M3 GTR			17:18.273[/color]
[color=navy]racefan88501		Red Bull Nissan 350Z LM			17:40.857[/color]
[color=navy]CAMikaze		Goodyear Chevy Camaro LM		17:56.844[/color]
[color=navy]Ford_Fan90		Ford GT LM SpecII			DNS[/color]
[color=blue]Best lap goes to [u]Ballstothewall[/u] - 1:04.495[/color][color=#00ef07] 1pt[/color]

Current Points
Prototype 1:

[u][b]Driver:		Total Pts:	Car:                    [/u][/b]
[b]Delfino[/b]		23pts		[u]#18 Dell Audi R8[/u]
[b]Earth[/b]		17pts		[u]#6 Microsoft Pescarolo PS2[/u]
[b]ICallShotgun[/b]	17pts		[u]#16 Norcold Dyson BMW V12LMR[/u]
[b]RACECAR[/b]		15pts		[u]#12 HP BMW V12LMR[/u]
[b]east[/b]		13ts		[u]#13 GranTurismo Audi R8[/u]
[b]racefan88501[/b]	12pts		[u]#1 Dell Audi R8[/u]
[b]nitro_2005[/b]	1pts		[u]#11 Heineken Pescarolo PS2[/u]
[b]ls2_297[/b]		0pts		[u]#17 Playstation Pescarolo PS2[/u]

Prototype 2:

[u][b]Driver:		Total Pts:	Car:                    [/u][/b]
[b]ICallShotgun[/b]	29pts		[u]#33 Intersport Pescarolo C60[/u]
[b]Delfino[/b]		27pts		[u]#28 Lowes BMW V12LM[/u]
[b]racefan88501[/b]	21pts		[u]#21 Lowes BMW V12LM[/u]
[b]PitwrkzZ1[/b]	8pts		[u]#22 Deutsche-Bank XMarkets BMW V12LM[/u]
[b]m.piedgros[/b]	0pts		[u]#36 Deutsche-Bank XMarkets BMW V12LM[/u]
[b]Ford_Fan90[/b]	0pts		[u]#37 Deutsche-Bank XMarkets BMW V12LM[/u]

Grand Touring Sport:

[u][b]Driver:		Total Pts:	Car:                    [/u][/b]
[b]Drew22[/b]		32pts		[u]#45 Sanatogen BMW McLaren F1 GTR[/u]
[b]ICallShotgun[/b]	19pts		[u]#53 Visteon Dodge Viper GTS[/u]
[b]BallstotheWall[/b]	17pts		[u]#54 Sanatogen BMW McLaren F1 GTR[/u]
[b]Delfino[/b]		15pts		[u]#68 Dell Chevy Corvette C5R[/u]
[b]GT3Emperor[/b]	10pts		[u]#?? Super Pro Racing Pagani Zonda LM[/u]
[b]racefan88501[/b]	6pts		[u]#41 Dell Cehvy Corvette C5R[/u]
[b]PitwrkzZ1[/b]	2pts		[u]#42 Motorola BMW McLaren F1 GTR[/u]
[b]m.piedgros[/b]	0pts		[u]#63 Bentley Publishing Panoz Esperante GTR-1[/u]
[b]ls2_297[/b]		0pts		[u]#64 GM Goodwrench Chevy Corvette C5R[/u]

Grand Touring:

[u][b]Driver:		Total Pts:	Car:                    [/u][/b]
[b]BallstotheWall[/b]	32pts		[u]#69 Dark Dog Mazda RX7 LM[/u]
[b]Drew22[/b]		25pts		[u]#96 Dark Dog Mazda RX7 LM[/u]
[b]oldphart[/b]	13pts		[u]#76 DHL Ford GT LM SpecII[/u]
[b]Delfino[/b]		12pts		[u]#78 Red Bull Nissan 350Z LM[/u]
[b]GTXDriver[/b]	7pts		[u]#99 Hewlett-Packard Mazda RX8 LM[/u]
[b]ICallShotgun[/b]	6pts		[u]#84 BMW Finance BMW M3 GTR[/u]
[b]east[/b]		5pts		[u]#66 Hewlett-Packard Mazda RX8 LM[/u]
[b]GT3Emperor[/b]	2pts		[u]#50 Super Pro Chevy Camaro LM[/u]
[b]racefan88501[/b]	2pts		[u]#77 Red Bull Nissan 350Z LM[/u]
[b]RACECAR[/b]		1pts		[u]#82 Red Bull BMW M3 GTR[/u]
[b]CAMikaze[/b]	1pts		[u]#65 Goodyear Chevy Camaro LM[/u]
[b]Ford_Fan90[/b]	0pts		[u]#74 DHL Ford GT LM SpecII[/u]

Manufacturer's Championship Points
The Manufacturer's Championship Points are same scale as the Driver's Championship.

[color=darkred][u][b]LM Prototype 1:[/u][/b]
Manufacturer	Points
----------------------[/color]
Audi		24pts
BMW		12pts
Pescarolo	10pts
[color=darkred][u][b]LM Prototype 2:[/u][/b][/color]
Pescarolo	26pts
BMW		24pts
[color=darkred][u][b]LM Grand Touring Sport:[/u][/b][/color]
BMW		30pts
Dodge		18pts
Chevrolet	14pts
Pagani		8pts
Panoz		0pts
[color=darkred][u][b]LM Grand Touring:[/u][/b][/color]
Mazda		30pts
Nissan		11pts
Ford		10pts
BMW		5pts
Chevrolet	0pts

 

[Earth]

First off congratulations to east for winning LMP1. Losing is always bitter, but I'm happy with a podium finish.

 

[Gt3Emperor]

Excellent! Excellent racing to all drivers....👍 I'm impressed by how tight these fields are after 15 laps! Amazing....competitive racing....you can almost see these races going down in the real world. What I'd give to see 'that' on the same screen at the same time.

I'll say it again, ICALLSHOTGUN has a real good event here....Thanks for all the hard work that you've put into this! Including what I know is a lot of work getting all the results tabulated and posted so quickly.

Correction: In Grand Touring....the Camaro LM should have 1 point for the pole...👍

Here's my 2 qualifying replays ....just checking to see if I can still keep track of them....I haven't use the sharkport in ages.

 

[Tyre King]

@ Chris (Gun)

I don't think you have updated the points for GT2, I have only got 20pts from 3 wins, Drew only 16pts...etc..etc.

@ All

Congrats guys on some super-close racing this week! Well done everyone:tup: 👍


DrewpyBalls OAP Comedy Racing, official press announcement!
We visited the HQ of DrewpyBalls OAP Comedy Racing this morning, to ask them their opinions about the announcement of changes to some of the field in the GTS and GT2 classes.

"As a team, we think the up-and-coming adjustments are gonna be fired squarely in the the direction of DrewpyBalls OAP Comedy Racing
And obviously, we are a little perturbed about this!"
"It's hard to say whether it's the car that's fast or just that the drivers know how to drive the crap out of this particular chassis." Said the managemant this morning.

When asked whether the car had any advantage over the rest of the field, the chief engineer for the team said:
"Yes the RX-7 is a great car to drive, and sticks like glue to the track, but then all of them are fairly equal as far as grip levels are concerned, so I don't see any advantage."
"We already suffer from -1% power reductions from stock, what more do you want?"

The team boss was asked for his comments about the potential reasons for the changes?
"We believe that our team's dominance of the GTS and GT2 classes is down to our driver's skills, dedication, consistancy and the fact that they are better than everyone else.
Not because the car is faster than the rest of the field!
Andy and Neil have been driving the RX-7 chassis for well over a season now in the JGTC, and performed well in that series. So the change up to 500Hp LM versions of the car did not require any adjustments to their driving styles. They just jumped into the cars and were fast as buggery, what more can I say?
And, if you take into account their performances in the MacLaren, what with tyre-wear problems on Neil's car, you can clearly see the class and skills of these two outstanding drivers! Otherwise they wouldn't be where they are now.
You wouldn't have seen the F.I.M. penalising Schumie with power/weight adjustments just because he had won and the team had performed outstandingly well in the first 3 rounds of the season, would you?"

"Official protests, and calls for an inquiry by the governing body may be called for, if this comes to pass. And that's all I want to say about this, until the organising body clarifies their position"

All this reporter can summise from these comments is that the DrewpyBalls team will not be happy if they are subject to changes to the car, but as the No1 driver in the GT2 class, Ballstothewall, said when we managed to waylay him on the way to the team's catering tent for a bacon buttie...

"If we get p/w changes imposed on us it won't change how we perform at all, we are just that bloody good! Now bugger off and let me get my coffee!"


Neil

 

[GTXDriver]

Hey Shotgun there is a little chaos in the GT2 point table.
It seems I rent the 5th place.To be honest I am a little bit disappointed...
Pushed very hard and no chance for a podium?This car sucks I think.When you said something about the parity I was smiling very wide.Parity,hah-hah.
Well,I won't give it up.👍
May I ask you how many rounds left?

 

[Gt3Emperor]

Nice humorous piece Ballstothewalls....

(the following is all in the spirit of fun....and for stirring in some good old-fashioned rivalry, which has always been an inherent part of racing.... )

--------------------------------
After making my initial run in RX-7 territory....and trying unsuccessfully, to get close to the leaders.... I see how good you guys really are.....I'm impressed. I've got to give the credit.... not to the car, but to the drivers.....that 'is' really the difference.

My goal was to bring in some fresh iron, in the form of the Camaro LM and give this RX-7 juggernaut a few elements of mystery and surprise.

I hope I've started down the road to achieving that goal. The car seems to have the speed needed to do the job. I'm the 'lump of lead' that's holding it back. I had a run within 4 or 5 seconds of your dreaded RX-7's, but my tire strategy had a 'fatal flaw' that required using a much slower backup run for this race.

My point is....don't count your 'balls' before they hatch....💡

The Super Pro Racing team is on an all out assault to put the Camaro on top of Grand Touring!..... and Pagani's Zonda on top of Grand Touring Sports! "We don't need no stinking rules changes to catch those Mazdas......we're going to take them just like they are!"

Now, if I can figure out how to drive this Camaro without tearing the tires off it.....we're coming for you's guys at Sonoma!👍 ..... "Yous can 'count on that!"

(That's my attempt at humour....we'll see everyone in Round 4...👍 )

 

[racefan88501]

sorroy about how slow i was this week i could only run each race once and turn about 10 quali laps ill be faster next week dont worry

 

[Gt3Emperor]

Here's my replay of the GTS battle....I'm listing my lap times if anyone in the class wants to compare to see how their cars matchup.....Please list yours, you can learn a lot from lap times. 👍

Grand Touring Sports-Super Pro Racing Zonda LM
Lap 1=1:12.343
Lap 2=1:04.642
Lap 3=1:04.227
Lap 4=1:04.248
Lap 5=1:04.306
Lap 6=1:03.848
Lap 7=1:25.129 (pit in lap)
Lap 8=1:09.628 (pit out lap)
Lap 9=1:04.644
Lap 10=1:04.140
Lap 11=1:04.737
Lap 12=1:04.775
Lap 13=1:04.099
Lap 14=1:05.194
Lap 15=1:06.767 Race Time 16:42.727

I guess traffic got me 3 tenths off my pace in Laps 11 & 12.....that's racing.

 

[Drew22]

Nice consistant laps there old man!!! I drive through your city about once a year on my way to Banner Elk, NC, I'm in St. Pete Fl.

Congrats to all drivers. This is a very close series....great fun!!!!!

 

[Earth]

I like GT3Emperor's idea. Here is my LMP1 laps if anyone wants to post their own and compare

#6 Pescarolo C60 '04

Lap 1 = 1'05.876
Lap 2 = 57.890
Lap 3 = 58.130
Lap 4 = 57.161
Lap 5 = 57.508
Lap 6 = 57.902
Lap 7 = 58.154
Lap 8 = 1'21.503 (pit in lap)
Lap 9 = 1'03.192 (pit out lap)
Lap 10 = 58.410 (traffic)
Lap 11 = 58.226 (traffic)
Lap 12 = 58.846 (traffic)
Lap 13 = 57.147
Lap 14 = 57.682
Lap 15 = 56.891 (I went for the best lap on last lap)

Total = 15'04.521

 

[Gt3Emperor]

Cool....That's smokin' That traffic does slow you down....that's racing.

 

[east]

Here are my P1 laps

L1 - 1'05.206
L2 - 57.604 Driver Error Got 2 wheels in the dirt just before T2
L3 - 56.821
L4 - 56.959
L5 - 56.586
L6 - 56.378
L7 - 57.437 Traffic
L8 - 56.956
L9 - 1'18.271 In Lap
L10 - 1'00.565 Out Lap
L11 - 56.591
L12 - 57.350 Driver Error Got a full on sideways slide through the S bend at Turn 3
L13 - 57.865 Traffic
L14 - 57.011 Traffic
L15 - 56.315

Time - 14'47.915

I used RMs on the front and RHs on the rear throughout the race.

Here are my GT times aswell

L1 - 1'15.506
L2 - 1'05.656
L3 - 1'05.937
L4 - 1'05.678
L5 - 1'05.659
L6 - 1'05.674
L7 - 1'06.660 Tyres Wearing
L8 - 1'29.331 In Lap
L9 - 1'10.958 Out Lap
L10 - 1'05.651
L11 - 1'05.496 From about here I started thinking about Drews post on how he did 3 identical laps in a row which kinda threw my concentration out the window along with my consistency
L12 - 1'05.955
L13 - 1'05.780
L14 - 1'05.551
L15 - 1'05.941

Time - 17'05.433

I ran on RMs throughout. I knew this wasnt going to be a race winning time but with time running short I had to get started on the Audi R8.

Mind posting your RX-7 times Balls?

 

[ZOOSO]

EAST .. your a damned good driver mate with those times on RH's / RM's 👍

Congrats to all those on the podium ..

Delfino forgot to submitt his best lap times .. no worries for Infineon where he'll be concentrating with his LMP cars after a blasting from the team manager for his poor performance at Midfield in the GT classes .

I have a good idea for the race director ......... 💡 ......... but he might think i think he has time to spare

 

[ICallShotgun]

Del, it's the weekend!
Actually, PM me your ideas and anyone else can too.
I'll be testing all weekend i think (read: i know). But there's 72 hours before i have to go back to work, and i got NOTHING to do this weekend but GT4. My thumbs are hurting already (DS2)

 

[east]

EAST .. your a damned good driver mate with those times on RH's / RM's 👍

Thanks, I tried RS on the front and RM on the rear but the extra grip made the car feel a bit unstable, and the times I was doing on them were only like 2 - 3 tenths faster any way, so decided to go for the RM/RH combo, felt alot more comfortable with them and could race how I wanted without worrying about saving the tyres.

This car sucks I think.

Yes, I agree! To be honest with you, when you asked me to choose between the Mazda and the BMW, when I chose the Mazda I thought it was the RX-7 I was choosing lol, its all good, i'll stick with it aswell. I dont think the RX8 is slower, I think the RX7 with its oversteery charachter just uses its tyres alot better IMO.

 

[Gt3Emperor]

I believe this is going to be about tire issues.....with the RX7 apparently holding a few aces in that department. My Camaro ain't going to run on a RS/RS combo anywhere....it's way too much of an understeering beast.

Here's the combo that felt right in Grand Sport with the Camaro RM/RSS then RM/RS after the pit stop:

Lap 1=1:14.449
Lap 2=1:05.625
Lap 3=1:05.505
Lap 4=1:05.174
Lap 5=1:05.597
Lap 6=1:05.692
Lap 7=1;05.917
Lap 8=1:28.209 (pit in lap)
Lap 9=1:10.690 (pit out lap) switched to RM/RS combo
Lap 10=1:05.584
Lap 11=1:06.398 (Got 2 wheel off the outside curb in turn 1- lost .800)
Lap 12=1:05.444
Lap 13=1:05.367
Lap 14=1:05.660
Lap 15=1:05.632 Race Time = 17:00.943

I didn't pay close enough attention to the tire rules...My mistake! So, the alternate backup race I submitted was not my best. A stupid mistake because as you can see, the car isn't any faster with the RSS rears, it's just a tad more balanced. Here's the Replay.....

Well, that's enough crying about the 'milk we spilled' at Mid-field....Our cars and equipment are just about loaded up and ready to roll out of here. We'll take what we've learned, and this fight on to Sonoma, the wine country.

Maybe those RX guys realize there will be 'no knockout...this fight is going into the late rounds.👍

I don't want to over look congrats to "Oldphart" with that big run in the Ford GT...👍

 

[Tyre King]

Oops!
Double post!

 

[Tyre King]

Mind posting your RX-7 times Balls?

Not at all old bean!

RX-7 race @ Midfield (15 laps)
L1 : 1'14.316
L2 : 1'05.277 : Tyre getting warmed up now
L3 : 1'04.802
L4 : 1'05.078
L5 : 1'04.955
L6 : 1'04.878
L7 : 1'06.406 : Hit traffic x3
L8 : 1'28.993 : Traffic and pit-stop In-lap
L9 : 1'10.015 : Out-lap
L10: 1'04.887
L11: 1'04.495 : Fastest lap
L12: 1'05.965 : Traffic x2
L13: 1'04.890
L14: 1'04.756
L15: 1'06.730 : Bloody traffic again!

Well that's it! Not my most consistant race, by a long shot.
7 laps in 1'04.5-1'05, 3 laps in 1'05-1'06, only 2 laps 1'06-1'06.730 and then the start lap and the in/out laps.

I believe this is going to be about tire issues.....with the RX7 apparently holding a few aces in that department. My Camaro ain't going to run on a RS/RS combo anywhere....it's way too much of an understeering beast.

To be honest with you, I don't believe that the RX-7 is better on the tyres than any of the other cars in the GT2 class.
Drew and I have been working all year to perfect the way to preserve the tyres on the GT300 RX-7 in the JGTC S2.
We started the season with me being able to get 2 laps extra out of a set than he could, and then he started 'catching up'.
It does help that we both use the DFP, and we both run the races multiple times trying out different tyre strat's, sharing the results and helping each other out with tips and lines etc.
Stepping up to the LM version of the same car was a very easy transition for both of us, as the characteristics of the car compaired to the old one we used, are very similar.

Quite a while ago, I realised that I am not a good hot-lapper (that's why I don't do too well in the WRS, or qualifying)
I am a much better long race driver.
I also realised that if I could milk an extra lap or two out of a softer compound tyre-set, by running 'slightly' slower consistantly, I could win races by reducing the number of pit-stops in a race.
In this series, only one pit-stop is usually needed. So the impact is reduced, but still there!
Getting 8 laps on soft tyres round midfield was the key to the whole race, and both Drew and I did that. Hense the 1,2!

Neil

 

[Gt3Emperor]

Thanks, Ballstothewalls.....for showing us your lap times...very impressive! I'm not one to cry, "It's unfair....the car is just faster than mine." I know it takes talent, experience and self-control to be fast and conservative at the same time. Those are the seemingly conflicting inputs you need to accomplish 15 laps on RS tires in any car. So, I remain impressed with your teams performance.

I don't care if there are slight inherent advantages in the handling of the RX7.....The challenge that I undertook with my Camaro LM is to use my driving abilities, testing skills, and raw determination to close the gap and level the playing field.

"Winning isn't everything....race for fun!" That's a motto that I believe in....my motivation isn't all about winning. I'm here to have fun. If I chase those RX7s, RX8s, Ford GTs, and whoever all season without a single win....believe me, I'll enjoy the chase. I'm having fun! The fun is in the challenge....not just in winning.

So, thanks for providing the challenge.👍 You won't hear me whinning for rule changes just so I can win....ICallShotgun has built a pretty balanced playing field as it is. It's impossible to make it perfect.

But, I do think a open tire rule in all classes, but require a mandatory 1 pit stop....and 'ban 2 stop strategies' would allow more flexiblity in tuning certain chassis with tires. That's just an opinion, and I'll be just as happy with things as they are.👍

Sonoma is calling....💡

 

[oldphart]

Once again to the Mazda boys ...very nice 👍
Thanks for the kind words there GT3Emp

On the parity issue:

Andy and Neil have been working on putting laps on tyres that most couldn't get if we laid money on the table ! I know because I chased them all last season in JGTC. In doing so it taught me how to do that as well.

The last two races I've run RS/RS. The last one I pitted on lap 9. The tracks were smooth and flat, vs the bumpy ones for the first couple. The Ford, for me, uses tyres that wear evenly. It's the first car that I've raced that has done that. My style of racing must fit the car better, as I'm beating guys that I can't get near in other series. The car is already down -17 in hp I'm just not burning the wheels off the thing.

Just my .02 cents worth