This will be my results post. Results are listed in the order I tested them, and do not represent times. Times redacted until all tests are complete.
My feedback is not meant to be harsh, just honest.
ACSR421 Nissan 240ZG
Time: 1:21.198
Drivability: 2
Notes: Very stable. Easy to hold it wide open through the bends due to good rear grip. Slight push on entry and mid-corner. I found 2nd gear impractical so I used 3-6. Does not spin the tires on corner exit due to gearing.
trackripper Isuzu 117
Time: 1:21.1863
Drivability: 2
Notes: Stable. Predictable. Good balance of grip front to back. Good gearing. Slight rear wiggle in the bends coming up the hill, but otherwise completely composed. Solid tune.
krenkme VW Sambabus
Time: 1:21.964
Drivability: 3
Notes: "Interesting" choice. Faster than you expect. Slight push in the hairpins, except the last hairpin at the bottom. In that turn the rear would come unhinged. It took several laps to find a technique that would get me through there with the rear still in the rear. I found that if you made the corner as wide as possible and shifted to 3rd before you entered the turn it could be done.
It was hard for me to get used to the 4,000rpm redline. I kept hitting the rev limiter. That’s more a comment on the car than the tune.
I have to admit that I ran a few extra laps because I was so close to a 21 that I knew I could get it.
DigitalBaka BMW 2002
Time: 1:20.882
Drivability: 3.5
Notes: I emerged from this test bloodied and bruised. Every turn it was me against the machine. His weapon was a roundhouse punch called oversteer. My weapons were a quick jab called countersteering and some fancy footwork called throttle control.
I’m not afraid to say he had me on the ropes. For 13 long rounds (felt like 130) I’d land a solid combination of punches, only to be rocked by his haymaker. In round 3 I landed 4 solid jabs and finished sector 1 ahead on points. But he brought the pain in the sweeper and I settled for a draw at the end of the lap. 4 of the first 14 laps were red. Those were clear wins for him. The best of the others was a slight advantage for me at 1:21.197. I could call the rest a draw.
Times were hovering in the mid 21s every round that I didn’t hit the barrier, but I could see that if I could just stay out of his strike zone for a full round I could win this fight.
Then in round 14 I stunned him with a rapid combination in the hairpins, emerging almost 3 tenths ahead of my ghost. I knew he could still put me down if I misjudged the sweeper, but I wasn’t going to let up now when I finally had the advantage. We went toe-to-toe as I late braked the sweeper. I kept it in 4th just to throw him off balance as I turned in. Easy… Easy… Keep the back in line… Then when the rear was settled into a controlled slide I downshifted and powered out of the curve. I was car lengths ahead of my ghost by this time and I kept the hammer down through the bends, using a slight anticipatory countersteer to fend off his punch over the little crest.
Just one more turn. I admit I backed off a hair entering the turn but with a good late apex I rocketed across the line with a 1:20.882. Winner by TKO in the 14th round!
On a more serious note, the oversteer is only controllable with the most precise steering and throttle. And once it starts to slide it’s virtually impossible to bring it back without major gyrations. I’d rate this tune as “difficult”.
NEWDRIVER2 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R
Time: 1:20.982
Drivability: 3
Notes: This car was somewhat frustrating because it had a push in the hairpins but in the sweeper it would oversteer on entry and understeer mid to exit. I never got a really good corner there. The final turn was somewhat the same but not as bad. It has high horsepower and it definitely made time up the hill.
The understeer in the hairpins would be OK if it was more balanced in the sweeper, or if it was at least consistently loose or tight. I know I lost 2 or 3 tenths there every lap.
Still, it managed a good lap, competitive with the other cars so far.
XDesperado67 Mazda Cosmos
Time: 1:20.707
Drivability: 3
Notes: Another frustrating one. The Cosmo is composed and quick going down the hill, but the sweeper marks the end of that. I found it almost impossible to get into the sweeper and keep the rear behind unless I entered 2-3mph slower than I should be able to. And then it bogged coming out of the turn and killed the lap.
I decided that I wasn’t going to baby it. I would either make it through the turn or lose it. I ran 12 laps and it wasn’t until the 12th lap that I got a decent turn 5. And when I say decent I still drifted the entire corner but at least I didn’t lose the rear completely.
In the end I was rewarded with a quick lap.
The close ratio tranny doesn’t do this car justice on this track. I wasn’t able to use 5th gear at all, so it’s a 3 speed.
But let me say that if you can get the rear to behave a little better in the sweeper, and give it an adjustable tranny with a good final ratio, this car would be a rocket.
EDIT: I just noticed the brake bias on this car, and it explains why I was having problems with the sweeper. I trail brake into this corner and this much rear brake is causing the rear to break loose at the point where I am starting to turn but not quite off the brakes yet. As a test I tried it again with the bias at 5/5 and found it much more suited to my driving. I was able to take 1/4 second off my best time with this adjustment, but this is specific to my driving style. YMMV. I can't change any settings for the official test but just wanted to add this information to the notes.
Theo777 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale
Time: 1:21.395
Drivability: 3
I found this car very loose also. The extreme rear brake bias forced me to brake considerably earlier than I wanted to. I had to be completely off the brakes before turn-in or the rear would come around.
I was unable to keep the rear in line through the bends without feathering the throttle slightly.
But more than being loose, there was a general lack of grip. I think this is endemic to the car, as I noticed this when I was testing my own tune for it.
I ran 13 laps, with the 13th finally yielding a respectable pass.
Out of curiosity I changed the brake bias to 5/3 and found the car much more comfortable. I assumed I could run a faster lap this way but it turned out that my lap time was equal to my best official lap. So it wasn’t faster, just felt better (to me).
MrMelancholy Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R
Time: 1:20.611
Drivability: 2
Notes: This tune fits my driving style well. Just a little pushy in the hairpins, very balanced in the sweeper, and composed over the crest in the uphill bends. Good pull up the hill.
Can’t really find any bad behavior. Not much else to say.
MrGrado VW Karmann Ghia '68
Time: 1.21.908
Drivability: 3
Notes: This one is the most unusual tune of the bunch. The suspension settings can best be described as “unconventional”.
It works pretty well through the hairpins, but with noticeable push. The push surprised me in a RR car.
But as the speed picks up the handling goes to oversteer. In the sweeper at the bottom of the hill it is difficult to keep the rear in line.
It’s stable in the uphill bends but suffers from low power.
The final turn combination requires a delicate balance of steering and throttle.
I did at least 50 restarts on this one. I could see from my split times that a 2X.XX was possible but I just couldn’t put all the sectors together.
I finally did what I feel was close to my best possible lap and called it a day.
I feel this car would do better with more weight and more power. Unfortunately more power just isn’t possible.
HaylRayzor (The Special Guest) Alpine A110 1600S '73
Time: 119.826
Drivability: 2.5
Notes: This one is fast. Almost a "cheater" car for this contest. It's got a perfect 50/50 distribution to begin with but it's light weight is a drawback due to the broken PP system of GT5. But add weight up to 900kg and it comes alive.
It zips through the hairpins like it's got sport tires on, and it "handles" in a straight line too.
Of course it's not perfect. It is loose in the sweepers, and the last hairpin can be a challenge.
But in the end you just can't overlook the lap time. It speaks for itself.
I don't have all the replays but here are those under 1:21