- 2,354
- Bastrop, TX
JGTC vs Group "C" Ver. 1.1
at
Professional Hall Gran Turismo World Championship
I used the NISSAN MOTUL PITWORK Z (JGTC) '04 (report viewable HERE: ) my second time thru this Series & I'd planned to attack it with a DTM Ride until I saw this THREAD where a nice young man asked if the NISSAN Xanavi Skyline(JGTC) '01 was capable. I must admit I "Assumed" it should take the series as the last JGTC Ride I had used WON at 8 of the 10 venues. Then a couple of other members proclaimed that there was "NO WAY" the Skyline could win. I've never been a Skyline "Fan" & quite frankly do NOT understand what all the "Hoopla" is about but being one who enjoys a good challenge, I bought a Spanking new Xanavi liveried version. Added the BIG Turbo & an Oil Change, purchased but didn't fit R-2s & R-4s. Took it out for a few laps at Tokyo & made MINOR changes to the Chassis Set-Up, adjusted the Auto Set (NO "Tranny Trick") & entered the Series.
Finish = Place / Race Time - Fast Lap. MOV = Margin of Victory (Where applicable!)
Race #1 Tokyo Rte 246 (119 Points)
Qualified 1st / 1'25.128
Finish 1st / 14'40.928 - 1'23.004 (Lap #9)
M.O.V. 5.528 Seconds 👍
I wasn't too surprised that my qualifying time was just over a second slower than last time as the Skyline is down quite a bit on HP compared to the "Z". I was a little "Alarmed" however when the screen showed 119 A-Spec points as the "Motul" was only good for 54 points here. Perhaps the "Nay Sayers" were correct! My trepidations proved to be unfounded but a good race did ensue. My "MOV" being about half of what it was last time.
Race #2 Twin Ring Motegi Super Speedway (147 Points)
Qualified 4th / 31.xxx
Finish 4th / 10'44.154 - NO Fast Lap recorded
M.O. "Loss" +1 Lap 👎
Since I'd finished fourth here last time I knew there was NO Podium finish likely in this round. I opted to run without a Pit Stop & actually posted a better time than I did in the "Z" but the finish position was the same. Fell to second overall, 3 points behind the Minolta.
Race #3 Hong Kong (119 Points)
Qualified 1st / 1'13.142
Finish 1st / 22'05.817 - 1'11.092 (Lap #7)
M.O.V. 8.720 Seconds 👍
I was a little surprised I managed to win this one as my qualifying time was well off what I'd posted in the "Z." Found my rhythm quickly however & steadily opened up a lead. Same strategy I used with the "Z" worked well & again the MOV was about half that posted with the "Z" Car. Back in the lead again with 3 points over the Minolta.
Race #4 Seoul Central (119 Points)
Qualified 1st / 0'51.573
Finish 1st / 16'24.742 - 0'49.150 (Lap #17)
M.O.V. 14.891 Seconds 👍
First race where I've qualified half way close to the "Z" time. Ten seconds slower overall but plenty good enough to best the "AI" as they still don't seem to like this venue!
Series Points: Xanavi 33 / 26 Minolta
Race #5 El Capitan (119 Points)
Qualified 1st / 1'31.675
Finish 1st / 16'56.850 - 1'28.706 (Lap #8)
M.O.V. 30.xxx Seconds 👍
WOW! I must really be getting used to the Skyline's handling! One second quicker than the "Z" in qualifying. Got a bad "Standing" start & dropped to third immediately but learned from my experience here last time & did NOT Loop it at the Camp Curry Curve. Passed them all before the end of Lap #1. Due to the "Lack" of a spin I actually finished a bit quicker her than I'd done in the "Z".
Series Points: Xanavi 43 / 29 Minolta
Race #6 New York (119 Points)
Qualified 1st / 1'24.655
Finish 1st / 21'19.355 - 1'21.887 (Lap #13)
M.O.V. 14.xxx Seconds 👍
Fairly uneventful. As noted before, the "AI" doesn't do well here either. Huge "MOV" reflects this.
Series Points: Xanavi 53 / 35 Minolta
Race #7 Opera Paris [Reverse] (119 Points)
Qualified 1st / 1'18.266
Finish 1st / ????? - 1'15.431 (Lap #7)
M.O.V. LESS than ONE Second 👍
Much like the last time I was here in the "Z" I "Brain Fahrted" & almost blew it again. Went with too soft a tyre & didn't get the "Auto Set" just right! The Tyres were "Supposed" to last 'till the half way point but by Lap #8 the rears were "Toast." So I pitted in & swapped for R-2s hoiping that they'd last TEN laps! They did but just BARELY! Lost the lead when I pitted & then came around the next time in forth just as the "Fast Guys" were exiting the pits. Quickly slipped into 2nd as my tyres were warmer than theirs & regained the lead by the end of Lap #9. Built a small but steady margin even on the harder tyres but then they started to go away as well.! Had the R-92 "Looming Large" in my mirror thru the final circuit but I managed to hold him off. The last T-time I saw I was about 0.8xx seconds ahead. Crossed the Finish Line for the Victory & was so excited I hit the Button we used in GT3 to Freeze the screen but alas, it doesn't work in GT4 so I didn't get to record my overall time!
Series Points: Xanavi 63 / 39 Minolta
Race #8 Suzuka (119 Points)
Qualified 1st / 1'46.591
Finish 1st / 16'28.281 - 1'44.781 (Lap #7)
M.O.V. 8.946 Seconds 👍
I'm NOT sure why but I beat my "Z" qualifier by nearly THREE SECONDS! Even managed to eclipse the total race time but not by a lot. I'm REALLY gettin' to like the Skyline now! 👍 Another poor "Standing Start" resulted in a 2nd place into Turn #1 but back in first before T-1. Never really a challenge as the "AI" never does well here.
Series Points: Xanavi 73 / 45 Minolta
Race #9 Grand Valley [Reverse] (133 Points)
Qualified 1st / 1'37.394
Finish 1st / 18'36.009 - 1'36.513 (Lap #10)
M.O.V. 17.xxx Seconds 👍
Knowing that I can't possibly lose the Series I decided to experiment a bit. I recently read a post by the ever knowledgeable Famine which mentioned adding "Ballast" to find a better race. I opted for 50 "Units" (don't know if they're kgs or #s) evenly distributed & set off to qualify. Didn't "feel" much diferent but indeed I bested the "Z" qualifier by TWO Seconds & upped the A-Spec points by 14!
Just like last time here, the standing start put me in 4th into Turn #1 but I was back in first thru the big tunnel since the "AI" seems to struggle with the "Chicane" going this direction. Into the pits at the end of Lap 6 & back out in 4th as usual. Hoped I'd find a "Race" but the leaders pitted in on Laps 7 & 8 and I never saw them again!
Series Points: Xanavi 83 / 49 Minolta
Race #10 Circuit de le Sarthe I (140 Points)
Qualified 1st / 3'26.170
Finish 1st / 13'40.174 - 3'21.372(Lap #3) [Draft Aided]
M.O.V. 7.042 Seconds 👍
You have NO Idea how badly I wanted to WIN this one as I'd lost here in BOTH prior attempts. Knowing I was on the GrpC Monster's "Home Turf" I made a few adjustments. The 50 Units Ballast seemed a bit much in qualifying so I dropped it to 25 Units. I raised the suspension slightly so any "Rumblies" contact wouldn't upset the chassis too much. Then raised the Auto Set one notch higher than necessary in the event I caught a "Draft." Also lowered the Downforce about 10% at each end looking for more straight line speed.
With the Rolling Start all went well & I was slowly pulling away from the field until the Minolta TOYOTA blew by me at the entrance to the second chicane. The lowered DF had indeed yielded a few more MPH but on blue tyres the handling was a bit "Dicey" to say the least. Was VERY happy I'd bumped up the Auto Set as I caught the vacuum behind the big Toyota & pulled right up on his tail at the end of the Mulsanne. Several lead changes occured as the "AI" is a little "Timid" thru Indianapolis but hella fast on the straights! Managed to slip thru the final chicane & lead Lap #1.
Then the big guy's tyres warmed & it was really a challenge to catch him & draft him but I managed to do so as we steadily pulled ahead of the field. Unbelieveably he pitted in at the end of Lap #3 & all I had to do was fend off the two NISSANS without the aid of the Toyota for ONE more lap! The R92CP gained on the straights but fell back in the corners & at the finish I couldn't even see him in my mirrors. Most rewarding was that my points lead exceeded that attained with the PITWORK ride!
FINAL RESULTS:
XANAVI HIROTO Skyline (JGTC) '01 // 93 Points
TOYOTA 88C-V Race Car (MINOLTA) '89 // 53 Points
NISSAN R92CP Race Car '92 // 47 Points
NISSAN R89C Race Car '89 // 36 Points
MERCEDES-BENZ AMG CLK-GTR Race Car '98 // 21 Points
GILLET Vertigo Race Car // 10 Points
"Prize" Car: FORD GT LM Edition Spec-II '04 immediately sold for 212,499 Credits added to 475,000 odd Prize Credits in the Bank...PLUS 1106 A-Spec Points for those of you who count them!
Final Mileage (+2 Laps @ Most venues for warm up & qualifying) 416 Miles.
A VERY Big THANX to GTP member "Shift" who's original thread, even though he's given up on this ride, led me to give this series another shot!
As always...THANX for wading thru this & hope it will help someone out. Let me know if you spot a mistake, I'm VERY adept at using the EDIT Function!
I still want to try one of the DTM Rides here...O.G.