Guys,
Not to bring back the EERS brake check issue, but I feel that I need to just say a couple of words on it, because I think it will make what has been a pretty solid Elise 111RM Series even better (and thanks to Mule, Wardez etc. for your ongoing effort in making it great.)
I have not seen the race video, though I think it's not even necessary to view it. Regardless of who did the bumping, turn after turn, I can say that I have been on the recieving end of this sort of driving multiple times, from many different drivers over the past year or so. And I can tell you, that for the person being bumped, it creates the highest level of frustration possible; far more frustration than someone blocking agressively; agressively attacking like this with contact is something that cannot be condoned. This sort of contact from behind I do not, and will never condone in my lobby by enacting a "zero tolerance" policy. It is absolutely 100% the following drivers responsiblity to be sure that they do not make ANY CONTACT with the driver they are following, REGARDLESS of how much faster they may or may not be than the driver in front. It is very easy to follow someone in GT5 and even pressure them even if the car in front is faster. You can be 1+ seconds slower on raw pace and still keep up, or even do a late brake maneuever after someone on a straight when using the tractor-beam draft.
Getting bumped from behind is tremendously distracting, and disrespectful. More importantly, when a driver like EERS (one of the best in the United States) is taking a corner, he is going to be right on the limit of traction. Just like in real life, even the slightest of nudges to a car that is right on the limit of traction can upset the balance of the car viciously. Addtionally, a driver like EERS is going to be able to react quickly enough with steering and throttle to reel the car in and keep going in what might seem like a non-dramatic event. But in reality, it slows the car down quite a bit. This make things even worse, because now the driver in behind can get inside the driver in front and get a run on him in to the next corner. This is amazingly frustrating because the attacking driver did not earn the run on the driver in the first place!!!! The attacking driver, if he EVER makes contact with the defending driver, aside from the most subtle of mid corner side-to-side taps, should back off immediately and give the position back, AS WELL as give up any advantage in exit speed that is afforded by the bump in to the next corner. It is proper racing ettiquette; it is not arguable. Behavior like this in "real life" would not be condoned. Immediately I think about the Vette bumping the Porsche in the final corner of Laguna Seca in the ALMS race a few years back. That Porsche earned the win, but the Vette (faster in this case) felt the need to nudge the porsche pretty hard off the corner, not spinning him, but getting him loose enough to get a run through the start/finish line good enough for the win. The Porsche driver (Pat Long, a factory porsche driver) drove the Vette in to the wall, totalling it in order to hold on to victory. And I can tell you, I would have done the SAME DAMN THING. You don't pass someone by nudging them in every corner because you are too lazy, or too unskilled to not back off your braking or corner entry. You race properly, with great respect for the driver in front of you and execute the pass by forcing them in to a mistake or adjusting your line to get a run on them in to the following corner or series of corners. It's the art of overtaking, and is one of the most enjoyable parts of battling with another great driver; this sort of dueling, tactical battle that if executed to perfection, rewards both the "winning" driver and "losing" driver with a big smile and a blast of an experience - some of the most fun races I've had are when I have been outpaced, or out-battled by a fantastic driver, (EERS is one of these guys) and in the process I learned how to get better.
Obviously I feel strongly on this, because it's all about making the experience as fun as possible for everyone and I want to see a great series like this continue and thrive. This sort of contact simply ruins the fun of motorsport. My advice - provide a clear and defined stance that it cannont be allowed any further. If not, don't be surprised if someone brake checks another out of frustration.
Respectfully, 👍
Nick
Because I said something about people running their pie hole's, blatantly breaking the AUP, I deserve to have witless things said about me.
As for bump drafting, there is nothing wrong with it at all as long as it is done properly!
