Round 4 Silverstone National and Silverstone GP
Race Impressions
After my terrible performance at Spa last week I was surprised and pleased with my results in round 4. The short National circuit produced some good close racing, but HKS Mizo was in amazing form in his Buick Special. In race 1 I got a good drive and went between two cars and missed my braking point so was lucky to get 5th. In race 2 I used the extra power and torque to get a good start and was able to slip into 2nd early in the race - a postion which I was amazed to hold until the end.
I wasn't looking forward to the AMOC race as Silverstone GP is one of my least favourite tracks in the game. Having some of the faster drivers in the Ruf increased the amount of cars I could battle with and towards the end of the race, as the tyres on Eran's Ruf were wearing I thought I might be able to pass him and XK50 to move up from 8th to 6th. Unfortunately I tried too hard and lost some time with a mistake with a couple of laps to go and finished about a second behind.
Driving standards in all races appeared to be much improved - keep up the good work everyone!
Race 1 Podium
1st - HKS Mizo - Buick Special
2nd - SimbaLora - Jaguar Saloon
3rd - Pimiki - Nissan Skyline
Race 2 Podium
1st - HKS Mizo - Buick Special
2nd - Sick Cylinder - Shelby GT350
3rd - Pimiki - Nissan Skyline
Race 3 Podium
1st - Pimiki - Aston Martin
2nd - Lex Lathor - Aston Martin
3rd - Flaco - Jaguar
Championship Points
Note that three of the top six drivers in the 1961 BSCC were F1 racers: Roy Salvadori, Graham Hill and Mike Parkes. Mike was the development and Reserve driver for Ferrari and took over John Surtees seat when John left the team. Enzo Ferrari described Parkes as the best development driver he had ever employed. Cars which Mike Parkes developed include the Ferrari 330 GTC, Lancia Stratos, Hillman Imp and Davrian which he co-designed. Sadly he was killed in a car accident in 1977.
Interview with Bloodyboyblue
1. What is the secret behind your speed?
I don't know, easy in/hard off I guess. I brake a lot earlier than a lot of people and always try to get off the corner better. Also I feel like Mario Kart has influenced the way I go through corners (cut from the top down as low as possible, even if the higher line is the fast line, and out wide) more than any amount of practice in actual racing games could.
2. Do you use a wheel or controller?
Controller of course, I like video games to feel like video games. If I wanted to use a wheel I'd race in real life, let alone I could buy a real race car for less than what all that stuff costs. Same reason I use auto transmission in video games, no point frying my brain when I don't need to. I recently just started attempting to drive manual in real life and I just can't do it. I don't have the coordination. I could do it and have fun if there was no one else on the road/if I was on a track but I don't enjoy it with traffic in the slightest.
3. If you use a wheel, what sort of wheel and rig or stand?
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4. How many hours per week do you practise?
I usually never practice other than before the series starts, to try out a few setups/decide on a car if there's multiple options. I like entering races with as little confidence/expectations as possible so I'll be surprised if I do well, otherwise I'll just be let down. Generally the only time I boot up Gran Turismo is when it's race time in one of the clubs/series I'm in.
5. How do you tune your cars - what do you start with first?
I don't enjoy tuning and don't understand most of it at all so luckily I've stumbled across generic FF, FR and AWD setups that I apply to every single car of that drivetrain and they generally work. The only things I touch before each race are the brake bias, weight distribution, and transmission top speed (I don't touch the gears, I just pick the lowest speed possible for that track). Otherwise I use praiano's tunes if there's one available, and if it's an MR car not in his database I'm lost. That's generally why I always start off each series strong and get slower as it goes on, because everyone else is adapting and changing their setups and I never change mine from beginning to end. That and I feel like I adapt to new things quicker than most.
6. How long have you been playing GT?
Since GT1, I bought it in the first few months it was out, I can't remember why, but I instantly fell in love. Wish I could drive that purple race-modified 900 hp 1992 Mitsubishi GTO in modern games. I've bought every single title in the series since then on the day it was released (except GT3, which wasn't very good plus I didn't have a PS2 yet when it was released). GT2 is still my favourite.
7. How old are you or is that private?
I am 25, conveniently my age currently matches my favourite number.
8. What does your family think of your hobby?
My girlfriend is often at work when I'm racing so she doesn't need to put up with it much, occasionally we have to plan things around it but she's ok with it in general. I tried to get my dad into playing it online with me but his hands hurt after holding the controller for more than a few minutes. I used to race against him all the time split screen in the PS1 days.
9. What sort of car do you drive in real life?
I acquired a 2016 Mazda3 hatchback a bit less than 2 months ago, which is a revelation handling-wise compared to the 2011 Scion xD I'd been driving the past 4 years. And I work at a Ford/Lincoln dealership so I get to drive everything in their model ranges on a regular basis, plus anything random that comes in used.
10. Do you drive fast in real life?
In the city or on country roads I generally do, but not on the highway.
11. What car would you drive if you won a lot of money?
My dream car is a 1983 Dodge Rampage or Subaru XT6, but if I won a LOT of money I'd probably try to buy the Alfa Romeo/Bertone Carabo, since Marcelo Gandini is a genius and that's one of my favourite designs of his, and it's one of a kind. I also would try to acquire as many 80's and 90's concept cars as possible, especially the Pontiac Banshee. Or the Chevrolet XT-2.
Supported Car Suggestions - Ford Cortina GT and Ford Cortina Lotus
In 1963 Jack Sears won the BSCC driving three different cars - he started with a Cortina GT then used the Galaxie (after that had arrived from the USA) and finished the season with a Ford Cortina Lotus. He was the first person to achieve a win in the UK in each model of car. According to Team Boss Alan Mann the Group 2 Cortina GT's produced 125bhp while the Lotus twin cam engine model produced 145bhp in race trim. Either of these cars would be a welcome addition to GTS or GT7.
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/ford-cortina-mk1-gt-1963.306460/
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/lotus-cortina-mk1-1965.299293/
Video clip - three time BTCC champion and six time Independent Cup Champion Matt Neal at Silverstone:
Track Makers Competition - Update
I have increased the time limit for track length to 3 minutes 15 seconds so that more tracks can be considered. Some of the tracks tested so far have been outstanding. Most have been on the Eifel format. Several have used the Sierra format. So far the tracks using the Death Valley format have generally been too narrow.
Supported Track Suggestion - Crystal Palace
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/crystal-palace-london.312169/
Car Change for Round 5
We change cars for round 5 and then change again at round 9 (Reserve drivers do not change cars). To aid you I have produced the following guide.
Next Round 5 from Nordschleife - please be patient and take care - this track is narrow! Wait for passing opportunities to arise