? Your (stock) car recommendations for selected Endurance races?

[ItsHim]

I've had quite an entertaining read here and here and here, but my brain starts to hurt a little.

So I figured a few educated recommendations from you would come in handy.

I'm really not a fast driver, but very dedicated, and can manage ~70 A spec points well. Furthermore, I'd love to take some European cars, preferably stock, out on the track.

If you could be bothered, please do make one or two suggestions of make and model (and tyres), maybe a safe bet within my skills and/or a rather damn fine ride I simply should not miss.

The races I plan to do during my holiday are:

ENDURANCE:

Laguna Seca 200 miles

Nürburgring 4 Hours

El Capitan 200 miles

1000 MILES:

Nürburgring

Le Sarthe

Just fire away if you please, I'd be most grateful for your recommendations.

 

[Parnelli Bone]

Ah. I'm going thru gT4 very slowly...it's taken me years to complete, but that's mostly becuase I'm doing like 10 different games (with different virtual drivers).

Only enduro I've done up there in a European car would be the Laguna Seca. I used a Jaguar S-type with both Vipers & hte Z06 present, but no Saleen, Ford GT or Protomotors Spirra. I'm not sure I would recommend this...but it's your call.

 

[GeeTeeR]

ENDURANCE:

Laguna Seca 200 miles
BMW M3 GTR,R1 tyres

El Capitan 200 miles
Lotus Esprit,S1 tyres
1000 MILES:

Nürburgring
Jaguar E-type/Alfa Romeo Guilia Spirita(prize from GTA one make race)
Le Sarthe
E-type,300SL

 

[Open Addict]

You may also want to check out this thread

great stock wins there with the enduro's. You can take this information and use it as a guide. If you find the car not quick enough just add a little power. May not be 200 points but will work the same.


a little snippet. As you can see they are all 200 Pointers
ENDURANCE RACES

Endurance races: Laguna Seca 200 miles
Car: RUF RGT '00 (R1 tyres) / RR / 379HP / 1330kg / 3.5kg/HP / 200 A-spec by Mick777
Car: BMW M3 CSL '03 (R1 tires, oil changed) / 354HP / 1385kg / 3.9kg/HP / 200 A-spec by alhajoth
Car: Proto Motors Spirra 4.6 V8 '04 (R1 tires) / MR / 320HP / 1205kg / 3.8kg/HP / 200 A-spec by alhajoth
Car: RUF 3400S '00 (R1 tyres) / MR / 306HP / 1300kg / 4.2kg/HP / 200 A-spec by ferrari_chris
Car: Renault Clio Sport Trophy V6 24V Race Car '00 (R1 tires, min. downforce) / MR / 298HP / 1150kg / 3.9kg/HP / 200 A-spec by MacTarmac
Car: RUF RGT '00 (R1 tyres) / RR / 379HP / 1330kg / 3.5kg/HP / 200 A-spec by ajbownes

Endurance races: Nurburgring 4hr
Car: Renault Clio Sport V6 24V '01 (Used, no oil, S1 tyres) / MR / 200 A-spec by jdw
Car: Lotus Elise 111S '03 (S1 tires) / MR / 154HP / 806kg / 5.2kg/HP / 200 A-spec by SonicSponic
Car: Alpine A110 1600S '73 (S1 tyres) / RR / 139HP / 715kg / 5.1kg/HP / 200 A-spec by ZeroG
Car: Ford Focus RS '02 (no oil, F/R S1/S2 tyres) / FF / 217HP / 1050kg / 4.8kg/HP / 177 A-spec by Deathclown66

Endurance races: El Capitan
Car: Mercedes SL500 (R230) '02 (used, S2's) / FR / 276HP / 1840kg / 6.7kg/HP / 200 A-spec by mcsqueegy
Car: BMW 330i '05 (S2 tyres) / FR / 255HP / 1525kg / 6.0kg/HP / 200 A-spec by alhajoth
Car: BMW Z4 '03 (Oil changed, S2 tyres) / FR / 239HP / 1365kg / 5.7kg/HP / 200 A-spec by Smallhorses
Car: Lotus Esprit Turbo HC '87 (Tires F/R S2/S1) / MR / 228HP (oil changed, 794.16 miles on car) / 1146kg / 5.0kg/HP / 200 A-spec by Toronado
Car: BMW M3 '04 / FR / 339HP / 1570kg / 4.6kg/HP / 200 A-spec by TurboJ
Car: BMW M3 CSL '03 (oil changed) / FR / 378HP / 1385kg / 3.7kg/HP / 200 A-spec by mprata
Car: Aston Martin Vanquish '04 / FR / 436HP / 1835kg / 4.2kg/HP / 200 A-spec by FLK
Car: Jaguar XKR R-Performance '02 (S2 tyres, no oil) / FR / 396HP / 1735kg / 4.4kg/HP / 200 A-spec by speedy_samurai & Thirdeye
Car: Lotus Motorsport Elise '99 (S1 tires) / MR / 204HP / 700kg / 3.4kg/HP / 200 A-spec by torque998
Car: RUF 3400S '00 / MR / 306HP / 1300kg / 4.3kg/HP / 200 A-spec by fuzzydice
Car: Holden Commodore SS '04 (S2 Tyres) / FR / 328HP / 1658kg / 5.1kg/HP / 200 A-spec by Smallhorses
Car: RUF RGT '00 / RR / 379HP / 1330kg / 3.5kg/HP / 200 A-spec by Rotary Junkie
Car: Lotus Esprit Turbo HC '87 (S2 Tyres, no oil) / MR / 215HP / 1146kg / 5.3kg/HP / 200 A-spec by Smallhorses
Car: Lotus Esprit V8 '02 (S1 tires) / MR / 353HP / 1380kg / 3.9kg/HP / 200 A-spec by alhajoth
Car: Citroen Xsara Rally Car '99 (S1 Tyres, downforce 13/14) / FF (! ) / 295HP / 960kg / 3.3kg/HP / 200 A-spec by Smallhorses
Car: TVR Cerbera Speed Six '97 (S1 tires) / FR / 316HP / 1130kg / 3.6kg/HP / 200 A-spec by alhajoth
Car: Clio Renault Sport V6 24V '00 (S1 tyres, Used, No Oil)/ MR / 225HP/ 1335kg / 5.9kg/HP / 200 A-spec by Open Addict
Car: Tommy Kaira ZZ-S '00 / MR / 192HP / 690kg / 3.6kg/HP / 200 A-spec by Open Addict


I also left the Aussie car in there for you

 

[ItsHim]

Thanks for your suggestions so far.

Open Addict

Well, 200 points races are well beyond my abilities, so it's more what I should avoid.

I don't mind a close race but then again I don't mind winning either

 

[GTsail]

ItsHim -

To add to what Open Addict just said: is that using the cars that have won in the "stock" tune means that you drive a car that is known can win. Meaning that the car is suitable for the race and for the specific track.

You don't have to run the car in "stock" tune. Just add some horsepower and you should have a good race.

For example, at Laguna Seca, take the BMW M3 CSL that comes with 354 horsepower stock. Add 100 horsepower, and then take it to the track. This should give you a nice handling car that can win the Endurance race. Run on R1 or R2 tires depending upon your skills and how you want your pit stategy to go.

The added benefit of using one of these cars is that if the race is too easy, you can dial back the horsepower or tires and make it harder, eventually getting back to a "stock" tune if you want to.

When I first started my game, and I didn't know much about A-spec points, my method of picking cars was to use one of the exact cars in the race being attempted. For Example, again at Laguna Seca, your competition can be Vipers, Saleens, Ford GT's and Chevy Corvette Z06, Shelby Series 1, etc. So I would pick one of these cars for my first race at the track. If I remember correctly I picked the Ford GT and gave it a try (and learned that suspension tuning helps).

Use the preview feature to see what cars you might face.

Later when I was just running the Laguna Seca race for credits, I ran it a number of times in the Mercedes CLK Touring Race Car, which can pound on the competition.

Good luck,
GTsail290

 

[ItsHim]

GTsail290

ah, well, now you come to mention it, it does fit the brief rather well.

To find the right balance is rather tricky for me, because I have never gone that deep into GT4. As far as I can remember I killed some races I have done in the distant past by simply putting too much power in the car or the "wrong" choice of rubber. Some deliberately so because I didn't like the track/car combinations.

I guess my choice of races I like to attempt gives it away what "class" I enjoy racing. Neither skill nor reflexes are up to scratch to tackle serious racing grade wheels.

I ended up spending my last break restarting and tweaking a car for hours without actually ever finishing but one race.

The pitting strategies of the AI I found on the forums, along with the average lap times of each competitor, are very helpful indeed.

As time will be very limited indeed I will try to squeeze in as much time actual racing while hopefully as little time as possible tweaking.

I know that kind of contradicts the spirit of the game, but on the other hand I'm always happy to learn from you.

So I might take a note of using maximum S tyres and the easiest way to compete on Le Sarthe and the Nordschleife would be trying to not get outrun on the straights too badly by adding some HP. I'm fairly familiar with the real world tracks, so how hard can it be

 

[Open Addict]

The other thing I mean is that because the car can win "stock", there is no real tuning needed.
Because there are no suspension upgrades. All you have is TCS & ASM and tyres to fiddle with.

Line-up choice also plays apart in how easy a race can be, as an example quite a lot of the El Cap enduro's can easily be won with the Second Pal lineup, which from memory has the Shelby, two TVR's, a Chevy and a Merc.

As you can see:
Car: Clio Renault Sport V6 24V '00 (S1 tyres, Used, No Oil)/ MR / 225HP/ 1335kg / 5.9kg/HP / 200 A-spec by Open Addict
Car: Tommy Kaira ZZ-S '00 / MR / 192HP / 690kg / 3.6kg/HP / 200 A-spec by Open Addict
these two were mine, and they were a bit of a walk in the park. I think MOV was a least a lap over second.

When I first started looking around here for ideas on what to run, I would take a car for example
(Car: Jaguar XKR R-Performance '02 (S2 tyres, no oil) / FR / 396HP / 1735kg / 4.4kg/HP / 200 A-spec by speedy_samurai & Thirdeye)
I would then give it an Oil change. This would probably give about 50hp extra and a car that CAN win the race with out it. So therefore my beginner driving skills would then be able to cope.

The great thing about the events you do want to race, is that you do not need a lot of speed to win them.

What I mean to say is, don't get too scared off because 200 points comes up, because as we all know, A-spec points are not always a guide on how hard a race can be.

 

[GTsail]

ItsHim -I've recently spent a lot of time in the 1000 miles! series, so I think its a great place to race if you have the time. Especially Nurburgring, so I have two recommendations:

If you are interested in a fast race: take your AC Cars 427 to the track, and do a lineup search until you get a lineup that includes another AC Cars 427, and then race with a stock tune. Only the other AC Cars 427 can stay with you, all the other cars will fall away.

For a slower race there: take your Alfa Romeo Sprint GTA to the track and go against lineup # 1 which should include the same Alfa Sprint GTA. As long as you can stay with the Sprint GTA you should have a fine race. You can add a little horsepower if you need to, but don't add much as then you will lose the feeling of competing against similar cars.

Run both cars in "stock" tune. I don't remember if the cars need an oil change or not.

Have fun!

GTsail290

 

[DK]

As long as there's no damned Cobras, E-Types or Buick Specials, use a KPGC10 GT-R. Totally kicks arse. if you want a challenge, choose an earlier Skyline.

 

[ItsHim]

Thanks for some words of encouragement as well

Just made a hard-copy of the thread, as I have no idea if I'm going to have internet connection this time during my winter holiday.

Anyway, I do feel good prepared and now the only itch I have is the 800 km between me and my good old PS2. Guess I'll just take the train for my first race on Boxing Day.

For the 1000 miles on the Nordschleife I will probably skip the AC Cars 427 and settle for the Alfa Sprint GTA. I love these classic cars because it's a rewarding challenge for me to actually drive them. I attempted it last in a spiced up E-Type and thus killed all the fun because I think I had by far the fastest car of the grid.

For Le Sarthe it's the E-Type - the long straight is just killing me otherwise I think there's a 300SL sitting in my garage never been touched, so finally breaking it in would be a good idea, too.

Laguna Seca will probably see me in the Proto Motors Spirra, an intriguing car. The BMWs are also tempting.

4 hrs on the Nürburgring: Ford Focus RS '02. The Alpine is maybe just a bit too hard to handle, but it was one hell of a car when I was a small boy. Well, at least I thought so back then

El Capitan: Jag or Aston. Or maybe the Holden, see what the Australians did to Opel Or maybe the Lotus after all.

I hope I'll get around making some race notes, but that's depending on me having internet access or not.

You've been very helpful indeed 👍

 

[Open Addict]

....Just made a hard-copy of the thread, as I have no idea if I'm going to have internet connection this time during my winter holiday.

I do the same thing, I have pages of this forum at home.

El Capitan: Jag or Aston. Or maybe the Holden, see what the Australians did to Opel

Being a little cheeky made me smile

You've been very helpful indeed 👍

We try to help as much as we can. Good Luck with the races.

👍