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NEARING THE END
After rather dramatic 100h GT-MES-race, Round 6 in Autopolis, we are nearing the end of the season. Both championship leading drivers can mathematically win the title, but need certain things go their way.
Round 7 this weekend is hosted by Laguna Seca, in USA. Last 4 seasons, it has seen some very critical races in terms of championship. Tricky circuit favors skill more than ballast, and most importantly, consistency. One mistake can cost you lot of time, and points.
Changes in pitstop-technology has changed the game in tactics, drivers getting first taste this weekend.
Gr2
Honda is closing in on both titles yet again, they hold Manufacturers-lead and TSR_JoeToGuy now holds very major lead in Gr2-points, thanks to his dominating win in Autopolis. British-driver qualified second behind his teammate Nils, and was able to challenge him for lead already in Turn 1. Nils caught damage from car behind them, and TSR_JoeToGuy was able quickly to take the lead. When Nils decided already in lap 1, and cars behind them also been having struggles in turn 1, TSR_JoeToGuy was able to dominate from there. He was even able to pit for new tires, and take fastest lap. Maximum 21-points in the bag has given him small chance to win his second title, first in Gr2, already this weekend. But he needs some things to go his way, even if he was to win the race. Winning again wont be easy, as he has most ballast, by quite a margin: ''I'm not expecting much with 11% ballast, but the track may suit NSX more than the other cars''. He won his first ever GT-MES race in Laguna Seca, driving Gr2, by big margin, so expect him to still be fast. Nils lost lot of positions when he pitted on lap 1, and with overtaking being more than difficult in Autopolis, he was only able to get to 4th place. German is in very difficult position to defend his title, last podium was on Round 3, he needs to win in Laguna Seca. Despite winning here in Season 9, win that proved to critical to his title that season, he has since struggled badly in Laguna Seca. Last 3 times here, he has shown solid speed, but several mistakes have kept him off the podium: ''I hope Laguna Seca is going to be better compared to the previous seasons, with the current ballast situation it should definitely be a bit more possible than the last few times''.
Lexus was hoping for win, but it was not in the cards. Quali-speed suggested win was already out of reach, and then both cars went off in Turn 1. After eventful 40 minutes, FRGT_Spookyluki finished second place, FRGT_Hatton93 took third. Post-race FRGT_Spookyluki was given penalty for first lap accident, swapping Lexus-pair around. Heading in to Laguna Seca, both drivers need big race, and one wonders if both can keep their title-hopes alive, and if they need to rely on team-orders. But especially FRGT_Hatton93 has complained about lack of feeling ahead of Round 7: ''Not very confident at all for Laguna, not a fan of the track and cant seem to get a good flow going, lapping will be difficult and strategy will be interesting due to the update, just hope to put ourselves in a strong position for Le Mans''. FRGT_Spookyluki also says he is not expecting much, but he was fast last season here, finishing 3rd.
Nissan had race to forget in Autopolis. sota59 struggled with pace as expected, but somehow jumped from 5th to 1st end of lap 1. But with heavy car and no confidence, he slowly dropped down the field, eventually finished 5th. jonimestari91 was not even able to start the race due lazy taxi-driver, and this has some serious effects on his ballast, coming to Laguna Seca, where he dominated last season. Rather than having very light car, he now has one of the heaviest. Reports from pre-event testing say, not to expect lot from 2-time Gr2-champion this weekend, and his title-chances will come to final end. His teammate sota59 is best of the rest in terms of points in Gr2, and has path to title, but it is starting to be quite a challenge, and result is expected here: ‘’It is not maybe must win race, but pressure is high to stay in fight for Le Mans. Aim is to win, how possible it is, I don’t know’’. sota59 has been on podium in Laguna Seca all 4 seasons circuit been on calendar, including win in Season 10.
Gr3
Subaru looking to take it all in their first season back in GT-MES. Trailing in Manufacturers-championship by only one point, and in drivers-championship TSR_Tomsoft holds good lead. German won in Autopolis as expected, also taking fastest lap, and now returning to circuit he won in last season. Ballast will really hold him back, but to watch extent, we need to wait and see. He sounds confident of result: ''Weight will make it difficult, but I have my strategy worked out and I think it'll do well there. Pace looks decent so podium is needed and definitely in there''. If he gets result go his way this weekend, he has small chance to take the title, otherwise title will be decided in Le Mans, circuit that should not suit Subaru, and where TSR_Tomsoft struggled last season. His teammate this weekend will be VLX_CJohn, who won both races he started this season in Round 2 and 3. Thanks to this, he has heavy ballast, but like his teammate, dont count him out for podium.
Mazda had way better weekend in Autopolis, FRGT_Revs could not start, but FRGT_Bottlejob finished second, taking big points. He had quite a fight for podium places at beginning, but eventually he took second place very easily, even though he did not have pace to win. Ballast will again be on his side this weekend, and car should again favor Mazda, as they have won here past 2 seasons. FRGT_Bottlejob brings up strategies as key for good result: ''With the latest update and pit time loss, we will have to wait and see what this does to the tyre strategies''. FRGT_Revs also has quite a good ballast this weekend, and hopes for good points: ''Looking to make the most of a lighter car on one of the stronger tracks for the Mazda. Not a particular fan of Laguna but hoping to put in some hard practice and get it down for Saturday''.
Mercedes had another good weekend, as thunderpigeon got another third place: ''I surprised myself with the pace I had at Autopolis. I could have taken 2nd in qualifying but bottlejob was just that fraction quicker when it mattered. The race didn't go to plan. A mistake at T1 on lap one saw me tap Bottlejob and we both lost out to tazz. Bottlejob got past and I took a while longer to pass, losing valuable time. The different strategies between Bottlejob and I gave an interesting dynamic to the race. A slow middle stint with traffic saw me come out 5s behind after my final pit on slower tyres. I couldn't get the mediums to work as well as practice and realised 2nd was out of reach. I took a chance and pitted again to try for the fastest lap, timing to to perfection with 4th place Tazz 0.5s behind after exiting the pits. Sadly, Tomsofts pace was too good and I didn't get the extra point. Happy with another podium''. amuda74 was back to his old self in Autopolis, finishing last by quite a margin. But we now go to his favorite two circuits, first Laguna Seca, his hometrack. His ballast should be good, so we should see some speed, but also his consistancy is question-mark, there will be no room for mistakes. thunderpigeon is not hopeful of 3rd straight podium: ''I'm not expecting anything at Laguna, this is my least favourite track on the calendar and I've not raced on this track since the addition to GTS... If I finish the race with no penalties and without spinning, I'll be happy!''
Porsche had mixed race. de-luck4 made his way from back of the grid to 5th, 4th after penalties, but that was not good enough to keep Porsche in realistic contention for manufacturers-title. y_bearr_ was in need of good result for championship, but he had to retire with technical issues. This weekend race in Laguna Seca is almost must win for him, to stay in mathematical contention in Le Mans, but he has struggled in this circuit past 2 seasons: ''My internet connection has been ok since few days ago, I hope it'll stay that way and I will get a good result for this last 2 round. Car is good for Laguna Seca, I don't feel my +3 ballast, and my laptime is faster than last season. So let see how it will become''. This is another team that might need to rely on team-orders to keep atleast one of their drivers in title-fight, as de-luck4 has quite a bit better chances of two. Result is needed and Laguna Seca is luckily his favorite track: ''Laguna Seca is my favorite track, but in practice had some chalange with consistensy also from last season race i see that traffic makes huge impact on result. With that said i am looking for interesting race''.
Toyota had very difficult race in Autopolis, as GTO250GTO finished in his favorite position 6th, and G4 Rotary came home in 7th place. While GTO250GTO is aiming for another 6th place, G4 Rotary has work ahead of him to stay in title-contention for Le Mans. But Supra should struggle here, and with podium quite likely needed this weekend, he has turned his head to Le Mans already: ''I love Laguna Seca but again it dosent really suit the supras characteristics, I'm just hoping I can set up good momentum for a win at Le Mans''.
