Race impressions - I just couldn't get to grips with the car or the circuit. Normally I enjoy Spa, but this time I was very disappointed with my driving. In race one I blasted off the line and made up a lot of places, but had to brake to a standstill at the first corner to avoid hitting other cars and found myself right at the back, eventually finishing tenth. In race two I remembered not to go wide at the first corner so that I wouldn't have to brake too hard and found myself running in 10th place - unfortunately a momentary lapse in concentration caused a collision with the wall and I finished the race in 12th. With race 3 my Ferrari just felt awful and rather than give up I tried a pit stop for fresh tyres - they had only worn down to a 9 front and back, but the car didn't seem to have any grip. The pit stop dropped me down a place behind Flaco who must have been struggling with his Ruf. The fresh rubber enabled me to improve my best lap by one second, but still a country mile off Harsk who won the race in the same car.
Race 1 Podium
1st - Lex lathor - Nissan Skyline
2nd - Simba Lora - Jaguar Saloon
3rd - Mallet / St Bridge - Shelby GT350
Race 2 Podium
1st - Simba Lora - Jaguar Saloon
2nd - lex Lathor - Nissan Skyline
3rd - Tarnheld - Jaguar Saloon
Race 3 AMOC Podium
1st - Harsk - Ferrari
2nd - Eran - Jaguar
3rd - Bloodyboyblue - Aston Martin
Track Limits and Driving Standards
To aid the Stewards the penalty was set to weak which penalised people shortcutting the track and enabled cars following closely behind to gain a place when the car in front cut the track. Track limits were better observed so we will use the weak penalty at the next round (Silverstone).
Driving standards were much better than at the previous round. Well done - please continue the good driving!
Two changes were made to the results tables as a result of collisions. In race 1 Lex Lathor was awarded 1st place and Simba Lora was dropped to 2nd following a collision. In race 2 Pimiki was awarded 6th place following a collision with Harsk - the drivers who finished in positions 6 to 9 have therefore been dropped by one place. No back of grid penalties have been awarded.
Championship Points
The Manufacturers table this week includes the results from the 1961 BSCC Championship (NB the results for 1960 have been skipped because in that year the BSCC ran peculiar rules - the cars were very highly modified and only cars with engines under 1000cc were eligible to score points. The 1960 championship was won by "Doc" Shepherd driving an Austin A40 which was as fast as a Group 2 Jaguar Saloon!).
Interview with Mallet / St Bridge
International man of mystery Mallet / St Bridge is unable to race with us regularly due to his outside commitments, but made an outstanding debut in this series with a podium and two 4th place finishes.
1. What is the secret behind your speed?
I'm not fast! Generally. However in certain combos of car/track I can be fast. When I find a car or a tune that seems to suit my style & take it to a track that I know well, then I do ok.
2. Do you use a wheel or controller?
DS3 controller with d-pad, X & Square.
3. If you use a wheel, what sort of wheel and rig or stand?
I do have a DFGT wheel & a Wheelstand Pro foldable stand but I prefer the console game feel rather than having more simulation. I often have the game loaded up for long periods but am coming & going & doing other things in between short sessions. If I was more immersed in the experience I would only play when I was willing to commit a large block of time to the game. I'd rather have the freedom to dip in for a lap or two, several times a day.
4. How many hours per week do you practise?
That's far too variable throughout the calendar for me to be able to put any kind of accurate number to it.
It varies all the time plus I have long absences sometimes.
5. How do you tune your cars - what do you start with first?
I don't know how to build race tunes. I have done a few drift tunes of my own but that was mainly by guesswork, trial & error.
6. How long have you been playing GT?
Around 3 years. I had played a few times at a friends house which inspired me to buy a used PS3 & used GT5 disc in early 2013. I wasn't online until GT6 was released.
7. How old are you or is that private?
34
8. What does your family think of your hobby?
I don't live with family so it doesn't really come up.
9. What sort of car do you drive in real life?
I don't drive in real life.
10. Do you drive fast in real life?
I tried to when I went karting once, around 15 years ago.
Hopefully I managed.
11. What car would you drive if you won a lot of money?
I'm not into cars at all but if I was, I think I'd be drawn towards at least test driving a Lotus Elise & a Honda NSX. Only on the track though. For the roads I would maybe use a van.
Sad News - Yesterday I learned from @IfAndOr of the death of my online friend Blojoggs from New Zealand. We had chatted and raced together many times since the start of GT5. He was a master track maker as well as a great driver and a very helpful and friendly person. As a mark of respect I have added his replica of the Teretonga Race Circuit to the roster of tracks for our next race series.
Track Makers Competition - attention Eran, IfAndOr, Flaco and our other talented track makers
Our next series is Cobra Endurance (Cobra v Cobra Coupe v GT40) supported by 1960 F2 World Championship. The latter stars the LCC Rocket painted in country colours. You are invited to submit your own tracks for consideration to be used in two rounds of the championship.
Two custom tracks have already been selected:
Serres, Greece made by geo_opel_tigra and Teretonga, New Zealand by blojoggs.
One track is required for the French round for the LCC Rocket - at this round Cobra Endurance is at la Sarthe 50 minutes and will be supported by a short race for the Rocket at a French style track.
One track is required for the Hungarian, Mexican or Dutch round - for the LCC Rocket and Cobra (25 minute race).
Track design criteria. Lap time in the range minimum 1 minute to maximum 2 minutes 45 seconds (for an untuned LCC Rocket on comfort hard tyres) so that it can be reasonably easily learned. The track should be wide enough to allow overtaking and changes of line the straights should not be too long (the LCC Rocket should not hit the rev limiter in 5th gear for more than a second or two).
Tracks can be replicas of real circuits past or present or from your imagination or replicas of original tracks from other games - whatever takes your fancy. Only tracks made by racers in our series will be considered
Put your tracks on share so that I can easily try them out. The winner will be announced at the end of the current series. I will be assisted in judging by one of the Stewards (name to be announced, but it will not be someone who has submitted tracks to the competition).
Supported Car Suggestion - Jaguar Mark 2 Saloon
Why do we need this car in the game? - it was the dominant sporting saloon of its day and although it did not win the British saloon Car Championship it was incredibly successful in racing worldwide - highlights include:
1st - European Touring Car Challenge 1963 driven by Peter Nocker.
1st - Australian Touring Car Championship 1962 and 1963 driven by Bob Jane.
1st - Brands Hatch International 6 Hours 1962 driven by Michael Parkes and Jimmy Blumer.
1st - Brands Hatch International 6 Hours 1963 driven by Roy Salvadori and Denny Hulme.
Please click on the link below and vote like to try to get this great car into the game:
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/jaguar-mark-2-3-8-1959.298590/
Supported Track Suggestion Goodwood
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/goodwood-circuit-and-rally-stage.298663/
Next Round 4 from Silverstone (Historic BSCC 2 = Silverstone National)