Challenge Hub Presents: Forrest Gump's Belgian Odyssey
Spa-Francorchamps, the track that everyone loves. While I don't consider myself good at this track, as a huge F1 fan, I know this track well. Fortunately, our time doesn't matter much here - We just have to win, and not just once, but twice!
Race 1
Race Grid:
1. Amuse NISMO 380RS Super Leggera '08
2. Hyundai Accent Rally Car '01
3. Mitsubishi CZ-3 Tarmac Rally Car '02
4. Nissan SILVIA Spec-R Aero (S15) Touring Car '02
5. Mine's Lancer Evolution VI '00
6. Lexus Weds Sport IS350 (SUPER GT) '08
7. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV Rally Car '97
8. Ford RS200 Rally Car '85
9. Lancia Delta HF Integrale Rally Car '92
10. Opera Performance S2000 '04 (me)
We start the race by passing the Delta around the outside into La Source. We then pass the Evo IV rally car by slipstreaming it out of Eau Rouge/Raidillon into the Kemmel straight, then out-brake the RS200 into the right-left-right chicane up ahead. We pass the GT300 IS350 around the outside on the first part of the chicane, then get past the Mine's Evo VI out of the last part, into the downhill straight.
After this, we get a good chunk of clean air for most of Sector 2. The top 4 cars open up a big gap to the rest of the field, so we can only catch them much later in the lap. We pass the S15 right at the end of Sector 2, then make a dangerous double pass around the outside of the CZ-3 and the Accent at Blanchimont. Finally, we pass the 380RS into the final chicane, entering Lap 2 already in P1. After that, it's smooth sailing to the finish as we lead the entirety of Lap 2 with no trouble.
That was easy. Let's raise the bar for the next one, shall we?
Race 2
Race Grid:
1. Amuse S2000 R1 '04
2. Subaru CUSCO SUBARU ADVAN IMPREZA (JGTC) '03
3. Toyota GAZOO Racing 86 #166 '12
4. BLITZ ER34 D1 SPEC (D1GP) '04
5. Toyota RSC Rally Raid Car '02
6. HPA Motorsports Stage II R32 '04
7. Lexus IS200 GT-1 '04
8. Mitsubishi FTO Super Touring Car '97
9. Opera Performance 350Z '04
10. Opera Performance S2000 '04 (me)
Yep, we're racing at night for this one! I just thought it would be nice to give myself a bit more of a challenge for Race 2 by having it be a night race. I hope you guys don't mind.
We start the race by divebombing our big bro, the Opera 350Z, into La Source. We then pass the Lexus out of Eau Rouge and slipstream the FTO down the Kemmel Straight in order to pass it into the chicane. This pays off hugely, as we manage to get both the FTO and the 86 in a move that would make Mika Hakkinen blush!
We then overtake the HPA Golf into the last part of the chicane, and the ER34 immediately after with our much superior corner exit speed. The top 3 are a bit far away, so we get some clean air until we catch the RSC and the S2000 R1 just after Pouhon. We pass them both down the inside on the last corner of Sector 2. We have quite a bit of a gap to the lead GT300 Impreza, so we have to push hard.
We end lap 1 in P2, about 5 seconds down on the Impreza. I manage to gain time on Sector 1 despite a mistake at La Source, so I know I'm going to catch this guy eventually. We push hard on Sector 2, knowing the AI can't match us there, and catch up to the Impreza just after the mid-speed S at the end of sector 2. We pass him into the next corner, and floor it towards the finish.
This second race needed a redo (because the NSX showed up on my first attempt and I simply could not catch him), but it was way more challenging - and fun - than the boring Race 1.
