Endurance runs are on hold for now, got to grind :/
However I finished my compilation of last weekend's 12 Endurance race, it was epic. Tons of fun.
The settings
12 hours with x2 time, tires and fuel. Full day/night and 5 rain events during the race. You only get 9 slots for custom weather so they simply spread out over the total race time. That makes the clouds move at a more realistic speed as well so you can actually prepare for rain coming on the radar. At 12H you still have about 3 laps before the rain arrives.
In a 3H race the clouds move at about 900 kph, timing how long it takes for the clouds to move 50km on the weather radar. That would be over 1,300 kph for a 2H race, 2,700 kph for a 1H race. In a 2H race blotches of rain already shoot by so fast the rain doesn't have time to fall. Only big areas drop some water.
Again although I programmed in 5 rain events, 2 of them didn't drop any water at all. No rain at the end and the other R06 only produced this little blob which missed the track entirely. R04, R07 and R08 did produce rain.
All settings on hard including heavy damage, pro AI, yet since I made it multi-class against garage cars the max payout was only 56K. I sorted the starting grid on year reducing it further to 47K.
I would love to make a full GR.C grid with other classic race cars added, but alas. That will be a multi-year project at this rate. It was great to see all these cars on the track. Although that poor mini, 30 laps behind lol.
88 Laps total for the race with 20 pit stops, 7:21 best lap through traffic.
The one car I expected competition from simply rolled over during the race, TS050 4 laps behind...
Next time I need faster cars to race against, passing multiple cars each lap did keep it interesting though. Yet the speed difference with the mini was scary! (The Mini got bowled out of the way by the AI a few times
)
The AI had its usual quirks. They get faster the further they fall behind. I had a great race with the 300 SL Coupe for a lap after he got the magic grip and speed boost. I chased him through the field for the whole lap, passing other cars until I could pass him on the straight. The TS050 rammed me hard one time causing engine damage. Then he simply drove off while my car was slowed down significantly in acceleration and top speed. Penalties and damage only apply to the player.
Here's a 50 minute compilation of the race, all passes, accidents, pit stops, chases, beautiful views edited together in close to 300 cuts and clips. The chase with the 300 SL Coupe is at the 35 minute mark
I saved 250 clips during the race which got me in trouble a few times. (see at 34:18) Not sure if there's a better way than pause and save a short clip. Better than sorting through hours of footage afterwards and btw there is no replay after a 12H race. I think the 8H still had a replay but after the 12H nothing. Not that it's of any use, you can only step through it at 10 sec per click...
I did the first 6 hours on Friday night, stayed up too long, didn't sleep enough and started making mistakes the next day. Including falling back in my GR.3 braking points which are too late for the final corner in the Sauber C9. I hit the wall there at least 3 times (all in the video). Not hard enough to break the engine so I continued without pitting, but enough to have to counter steer on the straights to keep going straight. Eventually I woke up enough to stop making mistakes and finished the race without further damage.
My car after the race
Down to 685 HP (from 710 HP) and a net loss of 82K (48K winnings minus 130K fixings)
12H racing around the ring in the Sauber C9 in dynamic weather, priceless!
