The Sport mode daily races today are really fun to hotlap offline, so I got a good qualifying time for the Gr. 3 and 4 races and decided to go online. The first race I did was the Gr. 4 race and it went well. Everyone I raced with was clean and the racing was competitive. I even managed to get the win with a clean race bonus, and at that point I was actually starting to regain faith that Sport mode races could actually be consistently fun.
Then I did the Gr. 3 race at BB Speedway, knowing that it was a risk doing so, but it went about as I expected. It was a fun demolition derby, where lapped cars were even more unpredictable than the penalty system, so no position was safe until the very end. I managed to get fifth place, and everyone but the top two lost SR. This race is a perfect example of how Sport mode is flawed, lapped cars predict my finishing position and Sportsmanship Rating more than I do, but I knew that going into the race, and adapted my racing style accordingly.
After that, I went to the Gr. 4 race feeling good, because being down one SR grade from the previous race, I knew there was a good chance of it being an easy race for me. It was for the most part, I qualified in second about a tenth off the leader, and us two qualified over a second and a half quicker than anyone else. We both ran away from the field and had a fun, low stress race. After the race finished I was still at a C SR, but my Driver Rating had the bar completely filled for B class, meaning that hopefully with one more good finish, I will get my DR up to A class.
Coming to the last race, Gr. 3, I was feeling confident that I could get a good finish now that Sport mode races seemed to be running much smoother now then when I last raced an extended amount. I started on pole by over three tenths of a second, immediately being able to pull away from the field cleanly to the point of having about a five second lead with no lap traffic in sight. I was on pace to get the pole, win, fastest lap, clean race bonus, and maybe just maybe an A class driver Rating... and then I got disconnected from the server.
After sitting mouth wide open, looking dumbfounded until the red mist went away, I then looked at my Driver and Sportsmanship Rating. After sitting mouth opening and closing to form words that should not be spoken, looking enraged until the black out happened, waking up to discover it was only a dream. Alas, the blackout never happened and I eventually came to the conclusion that all of the DR that was gained today and more was lost through no fault of my own, and there was nothing that I could do about it.
If I were to finish the last race, my faith in Sport mode races would have been fully regained. I couldn't ask for much more than four straight fun races that collectively boost my Driver Rating to an elite level, but from being kicked out of the last race through no fault of my own, the first three races statistically mean almost nothing. From this, I've now lost all hope that Sport mode races in their current form can maintain a balance of fun and progression.
I know I could have done another race in the time it took me to type this, but what it seems I will never know is how to make races consistently play out in a way that makes me want to race them. I would like to get the Platinum trophy for this game, when means continuing to complete Sport mode races though, so I am currently at a crossroads.
I think what I will do from now on is start a race, and then immediately quit the race so that I will not get in anyone's way while still losing DR and SR. Once I get to the point of where I'm on pole by a large amount, I will race normally and while that will make the racing not as fun, at least I can get wins, poles, and races in peace instead of forever being in doubt over whether it will be what I do, or what others do to me that decides my race.
It's sad that in order to win the game, I will purposely have to lose again and again, but I guess in a way that is realistic, this method is used in other things besides racing as well. So I guess as long as I do like the Philadelphia 76ers and "trust the process", it will all work out in the end...
Or PD could just fix Sport mode.
, I think it is better now ., just need a little fine tune.
I have done about 100 laps so I must be doing something wrong has anyone got a set up where they have achieved this so I can try it please. I have stability control off.
