Just won with my Takata Dome NSX (all stock, so at 564 PP). Was a really nice challenge, with the weather resulting in a wetness of around 65% in lap 3, after which it dried again. The next rainfall only led to around 35% wetness. Only pitted once, started on inters, then in lap 4 I changed to Racing Hards. Luckily at the start of lap 8 the track is already drying like crazy, so despite me being behind like 20 seconds midway through lap 9 and 16 at the start of lap 10, I still caught the Xanavi Nismo GTR at the hairpin I think. Won by like 6 seconds.
First few tries I started with RS, then inters, but had to change again in lap 6. Went for inters (didn't know what the weather would be like) and had to stop in lap 8 again... Think it is doable with a two-stop strategy too, going RS-IM-RS (or RM) with stops in laps 2 and 6. Doing a one-stop (IM-RH), lap times in the dry don't need to be that quick, my fastest lap was a 2:02 something.
Just finished the race with the YellowHat Supra, was a fantastic race. First time I finished second, 8 secs behind the winning Nismo Z, but made some small mistakes. Second time, I passed the leading Nismo Z just before the final chicane and won by 1.5 seconds or something.
Both times pitted on laps 2 and 8 (RS-IM-RS) and the rain caused a wetness of around 65% for the first shower, and 45% for the second. The Supra was not as bad for the tyres as it was with the Nurb seasonal. Though, doing 6 laps on inters will need careful driving during the last 1.5 lap of the stint. But if you want a terrific race, use this car.
If anyone wants an actual challenge rather than an easy ride with no pit stops, try using a car with 600PP or less rather than downtuning one with more than 600PP. My workhorse GTR Touring Car won the Nurburgring event for me but was way too slow here. My other mainstay the Nomad Diablo was a lot faster but too happy to shred the tyres, so I had to go shopping.
Bought the Audi R8 GT (whatever it's called, the yellow and blue one) and it drove nicely but was surprisingly slow. I then got the Nissan GTR500 (the base model of the Xanavi Z) and got within an agonising 1 second of the semi-rabbit Xanavi GTR. I seem unable to avoid 3 stops in this race, usually sticking with RS for the first 2 or 3 laps, then changing to inters as the track inevitably starts to get wet, then usually inters again around end of lap 7, as even if it's gone down to 0% the track seems very wet to me. Takes a good couple of laps to truly dry, when it happens, then inters wear down at a scary rate.
I wonder if the Xanavi GTR is a little faster than the Xanavi Z, and if so I need to keep restarting til the Z is in the line up, or invest in the GTR. Has anyone come across a lineup without either of these cars?
Normally the Nismo Z is faster than the Nismo GTR. Haven't tried either of them for this seasonal yet though. In this particular race the AI Nismo Z is also the fastest car, but he wears out his tyres at the end falling back a lot in the last two laps. Car to watch is the Xanavi Nismo GTR, not the fastest, but has a good pit strategy. One that you could never do, going RS-IM with a stop on lap 2.
The line up, however, is always the same, Nismo Z is always starting in front.
Edit: Just did the race with the YellowHat GTR and the Xanavi Nismo Z '06. Both will grant you relatively easy victories, but beware, the Nismo Z, though the slightly quicker one, will wear out tyres slightly faster. So, if you do a two-stop strategy like me, with pit stops in laps 2 and 8 (RS-IM-RS), drive carefully in lap 8 with the Nismo Z (front tyres will be at 4, rear at 6, causing (sometimes massive) understeer). The GTR will leave you at 5 I think (or they might just go to 4 after the Spoon Curves) at the front and 6 or 7 at the rear. Laps in the dry should be around 1:56-1:58, then you're good to go.
