My chance to drive the Audi race car at Le Mans

[AMG.]

The company I work for sponsors lots and I mean lots of types of races. We also partner with Ferrari F1 and Audi Sports
(the Audi R10 Le Mans 24hrs). This year our ‘Sales’ operating company invites employees from headquarters to set a
fastest lap (2 laps per race) in the Audi (le Mans) race car at le Mans. No further info provided.

A large bunch of close and distant colleagues and myself are enjoying ourselves at the fair, collecting some free
merchandise (caps). Some of us have signed up for this unique 2 lap event challenge.
It’s not my turn yet so we watch the monitors to see others racing against a bunch of other fast cars.
The Audis are subject to some unwanted spectacular ‘off road’ ventures by a fair # of drivers but fortunately
no permanent or horrific damage is bestowed upon them. Each participant gets a working Audi when they’re invited to
take place in the cockpit.

A rather nice looking lady instructs each ‘would be’ race driver how to drive the Audi. It’s up to us to take care of the rest.
I’ve come prepared, I’ve brought my racing shoes. The cockpit is snug, a bit too snug for my taste because
I can’t really move my left or right knee. Whilst letting off the gas my knee moves upwards and there no room to go up.

I’m placed at the rear of the lineup (fine by me) and it’s a rolling start.
I have to win this or I’ll be the stock for a while to come. On the first lap I set a reasonable time.
The tires have warmed up nicely 👍 and since I only have two laps to prove myself this second lap has got to be it.
Meanwhile the audience is following the race via the monitors and, so I hear later, is quite impressed.
I have not yet left the track anywhere; the car is still in one piece. I’ve managed to overtake the other ‘non competitors’,
they’re there just to provide interesting filler material to this race and add some excitement for the onlookers.

“This lap is mine”. I’m way ahead of the non coms and doing well. Still all wheels on the track and going for it.
It’s when I hit the Porsche curves that my nerves start playing up, the lack of kneespace is killing my laptime.
I can’t brake properly so I ease up on the gas to keep the car on the track. I don’t want to spin out in front of “my” audience.

I cross the finish line for the second time. Phew the race is over, 7 minutes or so of and My best lap time 3.36.xxx.

I’ve set a new record. Second place person is now > 4secs behind me and I have don't know that colleague. So far it looks promising.
I may actually win this challenge. The audience applauds. Most of them have never witnessed such a thing IRL.
Unfortunately I have to leave early as work becons so I have no idea if this time is beaten.

The next day I find out that I have actually set the best laptime.
My winnings: A black Le Mans T-shirt and an Audi Sports hardcover book. The latter will be published in November.











Okay...... so how many of you thought this was for real, be honest.

The real story:
The 2 lap races were actually held within our headquarters. As I walk up to the fair I see a very familiar scene on a
large TV screen and I get excited and nervous at the same time. It's GT4.
Excited because I ‘know’ the game, nervous because too many familiar faces are going to watch me race and
I'm not very good with these cars.
There are two racing cockpits; each with a small flatscreen and a steering wheel, one a DF and the one I got to use
looked quite advanced but not from Logitech. One set was also plugged in to the large TV so the audience could get a good view.
(We each had our own same 2 lap race, we weren’t competing each other, except for overall best laptime)

The two drivers ahead in the queue used the ‘3rd eye’ view. I’m quizzing the lady to find out if the steering is set to 200 or
900 degrees. She has not a clue. After waiting 20 minutes or so it’s my turn. I take of my shoes (am the only one to do so) and slide in to the cockpit.
It’s a very snug fit, the wheel is set a bit too low for my liking, but it’s set to 200 degrees 👍
The contraption is really tight around my knees which makes breaking a bit difficult as my knee cannot move upwards.
I don't want to go off track like so many others before me managed and make a fool of myself. I switch to ‘roof’ view. I prefer it that way.

On the long straight whilst drafting the AI I occasionally switch to bumper view, I have to give the audience a bit of a spectacle.
I overtake the #1 between the two chicanes and the race is now quite dull except for the fact that it’s a best lap time race.
So in a way I’m glad the AI is eating my dust. Second lap I relax a bit and press the 'rear view' button. The audience behind me
(40-50 people) at first wonder what's going on, they've never seen that, nor I imagine have most ever seen this game.

Well past T4 (Porsche curves) on lap 2 I get the shakes, knee cant move and I can’t break correctly.
As the big screen is plugged in to ‘my’ racing set the audience get a good view of how this race is done correctly
(albeit not as fast as most of you guys can do)

Still I’m fairly close to setting the same laptime as the guys do IRL. (3.30.xxx) My laptime 3.36.xxx. Pictures were taken for our monthly newsletter.
I'll try to get hold of one.

To see if I can beat my own timeset at le Mans I fire up my PS2 in the evening, select Racing medium tyres in
Family Cup for 9 points. I run a 2 lap race twice. Yep, it helps not to be distracted at all as I shave off another 12 seconds without too much trouble.

Meanwhile here’s a pic of the Polo shirt.
And yes, I did actually win.



AMG.

 

[johnnya1306]

Way to go! Not often you get to impress others with GT skill. Finally got a chance to put all the practice to use.

BTW, I prefer to race in my socks too. The wife don't understand, but it's better pedal feel than with shoes.

Tot Ziens,
Johnny A

 

[RazorX305]

Nice, you had me there, by the way nice going with the game, I wish I could do something like that. They had a car show down here once and I saw tho racing pods with a GT sign but they werent working, I wanted to kick some but I couldn't. Congrats.

 

[ßen]

Excellent reprt, as per usual. It's what I've come to expect from you AMG., nice work!

 

[Pink_the_Floyd]

We had something similar at school last Thursday;

We all got on a PS2, 2 against each other. Only one of them had ever played GT4, he said "I can handle the game" when I asked if he was good or not. Since I had the P1 controller, I asked him which course and car. He immediatly said: Seca, Skyline. So at this moment I though I would be getting owned. On purpose, I chose the Supra because he said: "Skyline, best car evah!" I was just laughing my ass off in my head

So, the race starts, he gets away immediatly because I hadn't had AIDS which gave me rediculously much wheelspin. After T1, he was already 2 seconds behind but I know I was far more faster then him. He drove like he never heard of the "perfect race line", he just drove in the middle of the road the whole time. His braking was awful, he seriously underestimated his brakes by braking waaay to early. Then, my moment. I did pass him alright, I simply out-braked him into the corkscrew, for me, this was just an amazing moment. After 2 laps, which the finish was, I beat him by a huge 5 seconds.


What did I won?



Candy!