The Nurburgring: 4 Hours, Type V

[Yukon]

So today I've finally taken on this Endurance event. I've been looking forward to this for a while now, after a successful run on the Tsukuba: 4 Hours. I was unsure of what car to choose that would match the front running AI, so I checked the list of opponents to see what I might be up against. It would appear that the Amuse GT1 Turbo would be my biggest challenge.

I found a car in my garage that I thought suitable, the Honda Weider HSV-010. Seeing as it's roughly 25-30PP under the power of the Amuse, I thought I'd take it. It's a car that I really enjoy driving, too. It feels planted on the track and I have confidence using it in a race, especially somewhere like the 'Ring.

After fitting it with some Racing Hard tyres, and buying some Mediums and Softs incase I wanted to change my strategy a little, I entered the race lobby for the first time. The Amuse, however, was not to be seen, so I left and re-joined. It was there now, my rival has shown up. I'm driving with all driving aids off, except ABS, which is on 1.


RACE

The Beginning
The green flag dropped and away we went. It was a rush down to the first corner and already the Amuse was in first position after starting from third. I was up to fourth. I could immediately see that this was going to be a two horse race as I had moved up to second by start of the Nordschliefe. The Amuse and I were seperated by just over 3 seconds.

I managed to gain a second on my rival after about four minutes of racing, which took me within 2.5 seconds of him. I maintained this gap for a majority of the lap as there weren't many overtaking opportunities, not to mention he seemed to be hogging the middle of the road which wouldn't allow me a safe overtaking manouver. I held back until we reached the straight at the end of the lap. I managed to draft up behind and take first place at the end of the straight as we were pretty evenly matched at around 174MPH.

I crossed the line, completing my first lap with a time of: 8:33:659. The Amuse was 1.5 seconds behind.



I've quite literally just started this race, so I think it's best if I update it every time I pit which should be about every five laps, I'm judging on how much tyre wear and fuel I've lost on the first two laps. I'll include gaps, lap times and tyre/fuel wear. If there's anything else you guys would like to know, just ask and I'll be able to include that too. 👍

 

[Yukon]

The First Stint
For the remainder of the second lap, everything was the same. I seemed to gain a little bit of time during the tight and twisty corners on the Nordschliefe, whilst the Amuse would take back up to a second on me going down the straight sections, especially the main straight at the end of the lap. Until...

After the second lap, in particular, laps 3-5, the Amuse lost so much time. I put this down to tyre degredation. I was going away from my rival at about 15-22 seconds per lap. I hadn't expected the race to turn out this way. After the show he was putting up on the opening laps I thought it would be tighter racing than this. Not to worry. I took to my notepad and almost became race chief with the amount of notes I was writing. I'm almost using this race as a small warm up for the Big 24 Hours, to gain more experience racing round the 'Ring for hours at a time. I'm yet to test my hand at all weather/day and night simulation though.

What I found from the First Stint:

I was able to put in 7 laps, not 5 as expected. After the first lap the loss of fuel seemed rather a lot, but as I settled in I found that I could manage more and more, even so with the tyres. I could also manage consistent times over the whole stint, with times being in the 8:20:***s.

The Amuse pitted on Lap 5 and his pit stop took around about 1 minute. I timed my own pit stop to compare and found that the Box itself took 57 seconds (Tyres and Fuel), but the Pit Lane took over 1:15:***. This would be down to me using more fuel during my stint whilst the Amuse would have to put up with more tyre wear. This allowed him to gain back some of the time he lost doing his three slower laps, which took the gap back down 0:57:4**, once we had settled back into the race.

My first stint lasted exactly 1 hour, (or 1 hour and 3 seconds), to be precise. So it looks like over the course of the four hours I should be able to put in 28 laps, doing 7 lap stints. I'm quite comfortable with that, I could even manage 29 laps if I push just a little harder. I haven't had any moments, or offs yet, which is why I've been able to be consistent with my lap times.

I can also see some traffic further ahead on the lap. The lone car has just entered the Nordschliefe as I exited the pits so I think he's about two minutes ahead. There's also a pack of cars a few minutes further up the road. There should be some traffic to content with soon which might make the next stint a little more interesting.

 

[Yukon]

The Second Stint
As the second stint began, nothing really happened on the first lap (Lap 8), as it was my outlap from the pits, so I was warming my tyres up and making sure I didn't go off, to keep my clean run going. As Lap 9 came around, this was when the traffic began to appear. I caught up to the lone car just before we both entered the Nordschliefe. I dived down the inside into the left-hander so to avoid being held up in the tight corners to come.

I caught up quite quickly to a second car, which must have been from the pack of cars I mentioned in my first stint, but may have pitted, which would explain why it's fallen down the order. On the run up to the Karussell I managed to take him easily, so no problems there. I lapped another car on the following lap, (Lap 10), down the main straight and the Amuse pitted for the second time.

As I was beginning to catch up to the slower cars round the circuit, I knew my luck of not being held up at all would surely come to an end. As I again, entered the Nordschliefe, I caught up to a Skyline. It was braking early for corners and was hogging the center of the road. I remembered to be patient and wait for a clean opportunity to pass, as being held up was not a win or lose situation for me, this race. I must have lost in excess of 5 seconds trying to pass the Skyline.

The next two laps passed cleanly without incident and only one car to pass in traffic. I had started Lap 14, my final lap of the stint and was pushing on. My tyre wear was much better this stint as I had learned more about the car and was more comfortable with it. Fuel was what was forcing me to do 7 lap stints, as I wouldn't have enough to complete an eigth. I would run out somewhere near the end of the lap, something I wasn't willing to try out.

As I caught up to another car, I tried passing him on the right hand side of the track, coming up to a left hand corner. Bad move. I clipped the grass with both right tyres and was sent side-ways. I narrowley avoided contact with the wall, but my tyres were burnt up re-joining the track and I lost quite a bit of time correcting this mistake.

I entered the pits for the second time, fuelled up and with a new set of Racing Hards, was on my way. The gap between the Amuse and I was now 2:03:989, after exactly 2 Hours and 5 Seconds of racing.

New fastest lap time - Lap 10: 8:18:321

 

[Yukon]

The Third Stint
I begin the third stint of Lap 15, the same lap that the Amuse pits for a third time, after I've only pitted twice. This gives me a huge advantage as I can last much longer between stops on both fuel and tyres. The gap between us extends drastically from 2:24:*** to 3:32:***. I've gained over an entire minute because of this.

Over the next few laps I race hard, trying to set good lap times, hoping to best my personal best. I manage this with ease as I settle more and more into the car and learn to take corners of the 'Ring in different and faster ways. My previous best was on Lap 10, with a time of 8:18:321. Over the next three laps my times are:

Lap 16 - 8:18:171
Lap 17 - 8:16:108
Lap 18 - 8:13:988

I had a completely clean lap, there was also no traffic to content with apart from when I reached the main straight near the end of the lap. I used this to my advantage and caught a draft down the straight, reaching a top speed of 184MPH.

The next lap, however, as I approach the straight once again, there's a car ahead. It's the Skyline. I'm behind him as we both enter the corner leading on to the straight and he clips the grass, ever so slightly. This sends him into a small spin which leaves him stranded in the middle of the track, sideways. I'm forced into a near complete stop to avoid him and manouver my way past, needing to go on the grass to get round him. This makes me lose heaps of time. Fortunately, I'll not have any more encounters with that car for the rest of the race.

Lap 20 arrives and the Amuse pits for a fourth time, which sends him even further back behind me, with a gap of 5:57:***. He's able to bring this gap back down, however as I pit on Lap 21, for the third and final time. The gap between the two of us at the front is now, 4:47:***.

After the third stint, going on to lap 22, the total time of the race is 2:59:36:***. This leaves me with more than an hour to go until the end which means if I continue to push, I'll be able to make it to 29 laps, and the finish.

 

[Yukon]

The Fourth & Final Stint
I set off on my outlap, ready to hammer it to the finish, in hope of making 29 laps, instead of my earlier prediction of 28. So as the next couple of laps went by, nothing out of the ordinary happened. I completed my laps quickly and cleanly, and even set about a new personal best which happened on Lap 24, with a time of: 8:13:628.

Knowing the Amuse would have to pit again on Lap 25, for his 5th and final time. I decided I would too, pit again. I shortened my stint from 7 laps, which would have meant I'd pit at the end of Lap 28, to 5 laps which meant I pitted at the end of Lap 26. This would allow me an outlap and then two laps that I could use to try and set the quickest lap time of the race.

I drove into the pits for the 4th and last time of this race, set about only putting enough fuel in to make sure I made it to the end and then proceeded with the stop. I was silly enough to not equip Racing Softs, and instead left Racing Hards on. I felt so stupid, I could have had the chance to set even quicker laps. But there was nothing I could do, so I got down to business.

The outlap was the same as usual, except a little bit quicker with the lighter fuel load. I then started Lap 28, the first of my flying laps. I could instantly see a difference in my times. I had noticed certain sectors had dropped significantly and I was motivated. The lap was traffic free and I was putting the car exactly where I wanted it to be on the track. I even managed a new unassisted top speed down the straight, of 182MPH. Eventually I crossed the line and timed an super quick 8:08:790.

I was so pleased with this lap, that I used my final lap, Lap 29 as a warm down and parade lap, to an extent. I didn't want the Amuse to catch up, although unlikely, with a gap of 7:27:*** between us.

...and so I won the race. It wasn't challenging in any particular aspect other than that I quadrupile stinted, as a driver. I took the necessary rest breaks as you should and I finished on a high. I thoughourly enjoyed this race and would recommend it to all that have yet to participate. If I'm to every try it again, I'll be sure to lower my cars performance to match that of the leading AI.

More stats to follow below.

Thanks for reading. 👍

 

[Yukon]

The Nurburgring: 4 Hours, Type V - Statistics


Car Used - Honda Wieder HSV 010, DLC Only
Tyres Used - Racing Hards
Fastest Lap - 8:08:790
Pit Stops - 4

Time - 4hours : 6minutes : 24seconds.520
Total Distance Covered - 29 Laps, 440.22 Miles (708.47KM)
Gap between 1st & 2nd - 7:27:***

Cr. - 962,000 (with 200%)
XP - 4,127,894 (with 200%)
Prize Car - R8 LMS '09