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Post by Richard Wilks on Apr 19, 2024 15:21:10 GMT
Racing.
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Post by David Wattman on Apr 21, 2024 15:38:19 GMT
#16 please, thanks.
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Post by Matthew Sibanyoni on Apr 21, 2024 18:34:31 GMT
Won't be back for race two, my right shift paddle has failed, troubleshooting it.
Really fun cars, having some trouble with gear ratios though. First time driving them, first time on a direct drive wheel and first time racing on this racetrack. Lots of good battles.
If anyone has any advice for paddle failure, let me know.
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Post by Jason White on Apr 21, 2024 18:38:14 GMT
Won't be back for race two, my right shift paddle has failed, troubleshooting it. Really fun cars, having some trouble with gear ratios though. First time driving them, first time on a direct drive wheel and first time racing on this racetrack. Lots of good battles. If anyone has any advice for paddle failure, let me know. Gerard Ryon at HSO has a lot of experience repairing sim equipment.
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Post by Alberto Ibanez on Apr 21, 2024 18:38:28 GMT
Won't make it guys, sorry. Had visit till late and have pending stuff to do now.
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Post by Alberto Iquino on Apr 21, 2024 19:30:44 GMT
Huge apologies to De Vries and Riddall. I slammed the brakes too hard, locked the wheels and when the car got traction again, the car spun around leaving me in the middle of the turn. I am very sorry for this incident
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Post by David Sabre on Apr 21, 2024 19:48:13 GMT
I'm not sure if that was my fault in race 1 Richard but I let you back through again.
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Post by Dante Barbera on Apr 21, 2024 19:57:00 GMT
That was good fun
Close to score a point on the Race 1, so close that i miss my braking in last corner and cut the chicane, nearly catch Richard but slow down the car on the straight to be right on my boots.
Race 2 was good, except the drive trough for the start emplacement infrigment (...?), was on for a 12th but i got distracted and make a stupid mistake on the last turn and Michael pass me, so 13th and last, a shame because good points were enable...
Next Step : Brand Hatch and I hate this track !
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Post by Rob de Vries on Apr 21, 2024 20:00:09 GMT
An apology from my side to Richard as well for the tap in race 2, turn 2, I forgot I was seated on the right side of the car for a moment..
Rob
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Post by Michael Drechsler on Apr 21, 2024 20:17:46 GMT
Two races to completely forget about. I had a decent one for the first race, which was handling nice, with some small adjustments during the race to keep the balance right, consistent and acceptable wear. Just I chose to go with a higher downforce, which was probably a unique approach and bit me hard, as everyone waved at me while passing. Nontheless, I could fight some nice battles and wrestle a car or two down in the braking zones and turns, and once, I had my competition left behind me, I was able to shorten the distance to the group in front of me, but by then, I was already 15 seconds back. I calculated fuel Colin Chapman-like, reaching the finish with a stuttering engine, and my start... ...well, by T1, I knew I wouldn't have to worry about someone hitting my trunk.
So, for race 2, I took the wing off, adjusted the gearing and did some test laps. Some slight tire pressure adjustments, seemed alright. No, it wasn't. Balance off, gearing off, tire wear completely out of the window, car trying to kill me more than once. If it wasn't for Dante running wide in T1, I would have finished last, with no prospect of keeping up with the slow end of the field. What a rotten nonsense race...
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Post by Fernando Porteiro on Apr 21, 2024 22:48:19 GMT
Again, what a race! After finishing I had to run for a shower. Unfortunately no points for me this time, although they felt close.
Pretty busy afternoon here today, so I had little time to practice offline before entering qualifying. Tried the same setup as Oulton, which felt great. Just needed some tweaks on the gear ratios and I decided to strangle that 6th gear. Watching Thim’s laps showed it could be a good idea. But then I couldn’t find a safe drive to a timed lap… sorry if I’ve scared someone during Q1. I did try my best in not spoiling anyone’s lap moving away.
So starting last was a great choice. And then magic happened… I need to change my name to Seabiscuit, as I race much better when I’m pursuing other cars. I had a great start, and discovered that doing the last left turn in 1st gear gave me more control of the car and it needed to be linked to a fast and controlled 2nd gear to do a good job. My times started to drop and I began to close up to the cars in front. It was great to climb positions, had good fights with Michael, Matthew, Felipe, and I got the manners to do the turns properly - or so I believe - in order to overtake in important turns without banging doors, although it did happen once in a great fight with… I don’t remember who, Jason White maybe? We had a great fight, too.
Noticed that saving tyres a bit would give an advantage on the last big right-hander, so I was even able to gain positions there with others running wide. Lots of fun, and I think I’ve finished 12th right behind Dante, who helped me with a setup during Q1 but I ended up using mine from Oulton anyway. When I was finally behind him, it was race over as our team work is done by telepathy: we sense when we can or cannot fight each other 😅 it’s great to have Dante as a teammate. As Simon was at Mint and Ricardo Mendes is at Brabham F1. But yeah, I’d never put our cars in danger for that race after he was even helping me with a setup. Lil blink o’the lights to let him know I’d stay behind and R1 finished.
Then Q2 where everybody is 150% difficulty now, as always 😅😅😅
Better laps, and I could’ve started better if not for some mistakes, but 14th was good. Did some change to the ratios so now I could pass 230kmh on the back straight. But that hurt some slow turns. In any case, nothing hurt more than the distance signs being destroyed. So after a great start and jumping ahead, I was behind… yes, him! The Man With The Power. Mr. Wattman !!!!
I just can’t get enough watts myself. So i was between saving my tyres or trying to overtake him, and after some intents I gained and lost his position beautifully. R2 was incredible as well, until I lost concentration and went to 10th, then 12th… ended up 11th trying to recover something but I lost it to Grant Ridall in the BMW I think. Someone DNF and back to 11th. Bitter place to be but hey, it-was-all-fun.
A lot. Just loved the two races, the battles for positions, sad to see some spins but I think it was all clean on my side. I simply love this BTCC, really. And it’s 90% of the reason I don’t leave AMS nowadays.
So let’s have a good week everyone and see you in the next round. Brands…. Mixed feelings. But at least I know it well.
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Post by Jonatan Acerclinth on Apr 23, 2024 16:01:54 GMT
Like has been the case previously, practice time was limited ahead of the event, but thankfully the cars are relatively easy to set up with enough experience and making use of previous race setups.
Practice: Prior to the race, I spent about an hour to get the car set, to where I felt the gearing was allright and the car felt at least ok through most of the track. In the events practice session, the time was spent on trying to fine tune the setup, but I felt unable to find the thing I was looking for.
Q1: Did a banker lap early and it felt really slow, especially compared to the really fast guys around this place, being Niklas, Grant and the like. Was still decently placed but was worried about falling further back. Did a change to the front suspension and, finally, the safety focused Volvo ran better through a couple of sections of the track and the time came down. Not enough to challange for any of the very top positions but within range in case anyone had a bad start.
R1: Sadly, for myself, forgot to carry over the change to the front suspension, which made the car a bit more sketchy during the race.
I got a really good start and was able to outstart the front row but both the Bimmers shot off like scolded rats as per usual. So into Riches I was in third place, in which I stayed through the opening lap. On lap 2, Grant tried to pass Anders into Sear and he overdid it a bit and span, so I was up to 2nd.
While I were working on Anders, trying to stay close, I had John close behind, along with Juha and Niklas. Many laps in, Anders made a mistake on the way through the Esses, and I were able to undercut him on the exit and get past going towards Bomb Hole. So 1st were mine and I set about trying to open up a gap, but sadly John has also gotten past Anders in the previous altercation. And he was more consistent, and by the looks of things, faster than me. So I did what I could but ended up doing a mistake through Russell, the most difficult section with the afformentioned missed setup change for the race, which saw me run wide on the exit and John was able to get up alongside, ran around the outside in both Riches and Sear, to get by me on the run down to the Esses.
From there, I did my best to keep Anders behind me and thankfully I was successful in the endavour and a good points finish with 2nd.
Q2: Through the 1st race, I had found ways to better navigate the different turns around the track and with me remembering the setup change, the car was very good in the Q session. Got really close to Niklas but were unable to overhaul him, so 2nd on the grid was a very good reward, along with a PB around this place in the Supertourers.
R2: Got another good jump off the line but Anders were still very quick, but I was able to hold off Grant in the other Bimmer. Coming through Sear, Anders had a slight bobble, and with a good run through for me, I got the run into the Esses and Anders graciously backed out of it.
So I was 1st after the first race and I had the setup change on the car for the second race, which saw me set the fastest Race Lap, as well as opening up a lead, which I would then end up dropping with a few small moments, so Niklas got really close but he never got close enough to try a send.
So, with a bit of luck, I got my second win of the series. That around a track that I don't particularly like.
Next out, Brands GP. Had a good event there last time the series visited the track, I'm hoping I'll be able to get close to replicate that effort this time around.
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