SR4L Fun Race Leauge Rnd 12 Croft

[Fergy]

Looking forward to reading your race reports here.

Crazy night...

[1959nikos]

Lets start with news from the back.

I was really scared of Croft, very slippery place.
I had some good practice all week and things suddenly looked bright, I could stay on tarmac most of the time, I was even having 1:33s !!

In Practice prior race this was confirmed, my performance was steady, I was feeling more and more confident.

Race 1 and 2 went about the same, I got a solid 12th place in both and stayed safe and away of trouble.

Race3, reverse grid, a strange thing happened.
We all slow guys went into T1 carefully not to make a chaos fot fast guys behind, then suddenly somebody stormed through/on us, taking us all out and making track look like an exploding minefield.
Hey fast guys, are you serious?
I managed to come to pits, I started lapping with a steady rythm and found myself at an incredible 8th place!!

I think this was one of my best races ever, I made less mistakes I ever did, so I enjoyed enormously
(well I did a big one, I lost it at high speed I think at Race 1, I think Coyne was behind, very sorry for that David)


I noticed a big discussion about stepping on exiting pits line.
I cannot understand how this was interpreted differently.
It was very clear and obvious to me that this line should not be stepped in any way.
This is simply for the safety of people exiting pits, how can they exit if people come down the straight in full speed?
There was an argument why this didnt happen at Spa, where it was legal to step on it, especially just before entering T1.
The reason for this difference is simply bacause pits at Spa are on the main straight, so people pitting can crearly see in their mirrors cars approaching.
You cannot do that at Croft, can you.

I liked very much race today, there was one thing though I didnt like at all.
New members came today and I noticed old members attacking them because they did (if they did) mistakes.
It was very sad to see this, as we all have made mistakes, some repeatedly, and Im sure no member here would like to be attacked in the server for such matters.
Our Race Director has pointed repeatedly that these things should be reported to him and not discussed in the servers.
We have succeded (I believe) to build friendship and trust here, give new guys some space and time please and treat them as you would like to be treated.

[Lecram]

Well, qualify I try to run as many quick laps as I could, watching for excessive cutting and I think my best lap was pretty clean

Pole position at Croft is not really that great to start from, there's clearly more grip at the right of the track but Race 1 I could held DjC off and I didn't have much troubles after that.

Race 2 proved what I said earlier, David Coyne who inherited DjC's 2nd place start position, had a much better start than me and I followed him till he made a mistake, ran wide and I got past, same as Kalle. So with KK on my tail and knowing him to be very fast, I pushed on, gained some seconds till I had to pit. I did everything right, stopped exactly where the marker was but the stop took me 53 secs, 6 seconds more than the stop in race 1... :o So I was a little worried but all was good, Kalle exited as I passed him and I finished the race in the lead.

Race 4 was a mess, got caught in the tangling cars, pitted early (damage) and caught up with Yerke. He braked quite early which surprised me and i got send to the large stack of haybales at the back of the track. (damage again )Got on track again ( in a parallel way, not headon :-* ) and chased yerke again, this time passing him and that gave me 3rd place. I had Everon some 7 secs ahead after that, with about 4 laps to go I reeled him in but I didn't get to overtake him, due to understeer in righthanders...

Nice victory for DjC, Well done E. Grats! 8)

[Hedlund]

Well, it wasn't the best race weekend for Hedlund Racing, to say the least Neither me or my brother had done any practice at all before tonight. I've had big problems with my hardware and couldn't really concentrate. But I tried anyway. No time to find a setup for the car. Shorter gears and lower steering ratio, that was pretty much it... But I managed to take 5th on the grid anyway, somehow.

First race was a disaster. I spun into the tire stack in first corner and damaged the car too badly. Engine stalled so I couldn't get out of the racing line, so someone hit me and probably got some damage. Sorry.

Second race I started from the back of the grid, was involved in some incident that I can't even remember anymore. But it was ok. Entered pits for tirechange lap 9, I think. But Gorka Santisteban had stolen my pit! Not blaming him of course, either a really bad bug, or something with the track. I had to wait for Gorka to leave before changing my own tires, and lost 30-40 seconds. Finished 9th.

Third race, reversed grid. I knew bad things could happen in first corner, so I took it easy in the start. However, my brother Robert retired 2nd race and therefor started on pole in this last race, and he cut the pit exit line after the start, hitting a invisible cone (he first thought he was hit by someone behind him) and lost control, crashing into the metal posts and spinning back on track, probably causing the big disaster in first corner. All because of an invisible cone... My race ended in first corner. I took it really carefully, driving through the caos with cars flying in the air. When I thought I had made it through the caos, some impatient driver that spun out to the grass suddenly thinks it's a great idea to put in reverse gear and give full throttle back up on track, right in front of me and several other drivers! My suspension was too badly damaged and I had to retire. I'll not mention any names here, but this was probably one of the most stupid things I've ever seen. Hadn't expected to see that on SR4L server.

No good day for me. Retired, 9th, retired. My goal was to finish all races in top 10, take it easy and collect some points. Track felt extreeeemly slippery, like it never rubber in!?

Actually I'm starting to grow tired of rF2. Bad performance, barely playable with triple monitors, 'bugs' destroy 2 races today. It feels like game is not stable enough to race in a league at the moment... Sadly We should not need to worry about players leaving server during races...

[Lecram]

Here's a (albeit crappy because of dreikasehoch vid card) video of my fastest lap in qualify. I slowed it down at the obvious ''cut'' points.
You can check it's the actual replay of the 1.27.0 by looking at the timer just below where it says lap 17 ;D

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjEk4kF6keY&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

Maybe after t1 the kerb at left is debatable but even then, I still touch the white line with my right tires imho...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHXi18YqGIc&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

Fed up defending myself :-X

[vittorio]

Fed up defending myself :-X

That's a perfect lap! (I'm totally impartial cause I missed the race today.)

[Lecram]

Fed up defending myself :-X

That's a perfect lap! (I'm totally impartial cause I missed the race today.)

Hallelujah ;D

Did you not know this event was on tonight? ???

[vittorio]

Did you not know this event was on tonight?

Yes I knew it, but having dinner with my brother and niece took longer than expected.

[gorgias1976]

Here's a (albeit crappy because of dreikasehoch vid card) video of my fastest lap in qualify. I slowed it down at the obvious ''cut'' points.
You can check it's the actual replay of the 1.27.0 by looking at the timer just below where it says lap 17 ;D

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjEk4kF6keY&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

Maybe after t1 the kerb at left is debatable but even then, I still touch the white line with my right tires imho...

Fed up defending myself :-X

That was an ilegal lap, and therefore "deemed cutting" penalty should be applied. http://www.simracers4life.com/index.php?topic=48.0

[gorgias1976]

To show this is not something personal with Marcel, later in the day I'll do a qualifying report of people's lap, haven't checked yet but I'm afraid there'll be more ilegal laps.

[deecee52]

I liked very much race today, there was one thing though I didnt like at all.
New members came today and I noticed old members attacking them because they did (if they did) mistakes.
It was very sad to see this, as we all have made mistakes, some repeatedly, and Im sure no member here would like to be attacked in the server for such matters.
Our Race Director has pointed repeatedly that these things should be reported to him and not discussed in the servers.
We have succeded (I believe) to build friendship and trust here, give new guys some space and time please and treat them as you would like to be treated.

+1

[deecee52]

Qualy

I went out early on light fuel and to get a clear track but wasted that session by overdriving , it took me three sessions to set a time I was happy with .

Race 1

Got a good start but braked early for turn one , this let 2 cars past me they both went a bit wide so I slipped under them again at turn 2 , chased dj and Marcel and just tried to drive smoothly and not overdrive , I made my pitstop early on lap 4 as I thought this would bring me into clear air which it did , after that it was all down to keeping my laptimes up and not making mistakes .

Race 2

Made a good start but kept waiting for a race cancel as I had started from 2nd which was DJs place , when it didn’t come I did the same as race one , was holding third when I saw DJ looming behind so pulled over to give him his place back , I know I didn’t have to but it didn’t feel right after his performance in race one , anyway he was faster than me so he would still have passed me .

Race 3

I tippytoed off from the start not wanting to get involved in the first corner carnage , this started before we even got there , I saw Gorka go up in the air and come down then go up again like a ping pong ball , I threaded my way through and just breathed a sigh of relief when I was presented with a car broadside in front of me , I couldn’t avoid it and did my own impression of a rocket , landed upside down and damaged , limped to pits and had a 90sec stop , came out in clear air and got my head down , picked off some of the slower drivers and worked up to 7th was catching GM and was flat out around back of circuit , at that time he was about 20 car lengths in front , then suddenly 10 lenghts then he was on the end of my bonnet and I thought it was over but he just disappeared and I hit nothing !!!! definitely a squeaky bum time , got myself back together and drove for a finish as there was no way I could have caught Yerke in front of me .

A great nights racing for me and one which I enjoyed , I did better than I thought so it made up for the disaster of Spa . Thanks Bryan and Paul for setting this up and giving us a great event .

Before all the recriminations start about illegal laps etc , can I remind everyone that we have all done something illegal or just plain stupid at some time and in some race this season , this league is a learning curve for when it gets serious , but, first and foremost it is for FUN , we don’t win an F1 drive or a million pounds , we just get to race with friends .

[gorgias1976]

I perfectly understand your viewpoint David.
But this track was already controversial and it was pointed out what drivers could and couldn't do, mainly in qualifying (won't complain about crossing pitlane during race, even though it was pointed out several times, at race post, during practice and finally during warm up. I undestand some people could misunderstood the rule).

Even in the deemed cutting post, pictures where intentionally taken in this track.

Anyway, I'll make any posible claim privately to the race admins using "official" way

[Hedlund]

That was an ilegal lap, and therefore "deemed cutting" penalty should be applied. http://www.simracers4life.com/index.php?topic=48.0

Actually I'm not sure that was an illegal lap. Isn't it so that the WHOLE tire must cross the line before you consider it as illegal? From your screen it looks like he is in line with the white line. And from Marcel's video you can see that his right tires sidewalls actually are still over the white line : But from that video you can't see the front tire.

Even though it might look incorrect from the side, the only fair camera view is from above. His tires tread area may have crossed the line, but his tires sidewalls didn't.

[gorgias1976]

Here comes my race report.

Qualy
-------
As far as I remember (will review my lap later) my fastest lap was on the limit at the chicane with two wheels just above the line. I was concerned as I didn't remember if being over the line was legal or not. I asked twice at warmup but received no answer. Luckily later I checked doing that was perfectly legal.
not happy with my grid position as I wasn't the fastest wingless car, Rikard took ahead of me by a single tenth.

Race 1
---------
Starting 7th I gained some positions due to others not doing the best of starts. Being pressed by Bart trying to recover his lost positions I got some big sliding at final curve causing him to undeliberate hit me and put me to the grass and losing some places there. At the next lap at turn 2 Bryan took some contact with another car and lost his speed. I tried going through the outside, heading to the chicane where two cars together don't fit.
I had >half car ahead of him and he had the inside. None of both decided to back off and we made contact. I fiercely hit the tire wall (which in this latest version of the track is a solid moveless wall) and that caused that much damage I just couldn't even try to go back to pits for repairs.

Race 2
--------
Starting last I did a good start and took some good positions. At the first corners I saw many cars had crashed too and that brought me to the top ten. I saw DjC was approaching behind me and considering he was unfairly set to start penultimate when he sould've started second, I decided to draw a wide line at the righthander hairpin and let him by at the exit.
I then kept not too far away from him, watching his battle with Yerke and then approacing lap 7 for my pitstop which took 49 seconds. The remaining 7 laps was in no man's land just to finally end 5th.

Race3
-------
Another good start which helped me overtake some cars and head for turn1 looking for the safer inside line. Anyway, Robert Hedlund (sorry if it is bad spelled) made a wierd start heading to the outside left side of the track with no one around, losing control and causing a big mess ahead. Even braking early enough a pile of crashing cars went ahead of me and brought me flying high above the sky and being thrown outside the track barriers.
Trapped in a cage I found that some fences were fake and after a lot of time lost and a seriously damaged car I managed to find a way back to track. Car was that damaged that I went walking through the grass between curves as at least I could keep it straight there. I got two cut warnings there and finally I was able to get to the pits for a 150sec repair.
Went back to track after repairs and outlapped a couple of slower cars. Trying to outlap one of the new drivers he lost control at the braking after the fast section and went straight into me, causing my car to get flipped and damaged again. With the damaged car I kept on racing (sorry Neela and Nikos for bothering you again outlapping) until I met again the same driver who did a strange braking almost going to a halt at the penultimate lefthander crashing both again, being thrown again to the tire pack. and deciding to retire as it was effortless driving (then a CTD came when exiting to monitor, hope it didn't cause any lag).

[gorgias1976]

Actually I'm not sure that was an illegal lap. Isn't it so that the WHOLE tire must cross the line before you consider it as illegal? From your screen it looks like he is in line with the white line. And from Marcel's video you can see that his right tires sidewalls actually are still over the white line : But from that video you can't see the front tire.

Even though it might look incorrect from the side, the only fair camera view is from above. His tires tread area may have crossed the line, but his tires sidewalls didn't.

all four tires' contact area is outside the track and that is what should define where the car is.

[giorgetto giaguaro]

Before all the recriminations start about illegal laps etc , can I remind everyone that we have all done something illegal or just plain stupid at some time and in some race this season , this league is a learning curve for when it gets serious , but, first and foremost it is for FUN , we don’t win an F1 drive or a million pounds , we just get to race with friends .

+1

I think we should take these arguments as experience for next season (F1!!!).

More important than cutting boxes/tracks lines, imo, it is drivers behaviour at the start of race or after having incidents...
We still have big incidents at the start and it will be more difficult with F1 cars.

[jpalesi]

Yesterday I didn't feel like driving, and seeing this thread, I'm glad I didn't force myself to drive.
And I find quite low all that denouncement attitude.

The corner in Marcel's picture is quite hard to get right. That apex is the exit of the first corner, it's so easy to go a little offline there.
I'd say, if the most vocal driver about that was so worried about that HUGE cutting, he should just have added a stack of unmovable tires at that spot, create a patch and problem solved.

[gorgias1976]

Yesterday I didn't feel like driving, and seeing this thread, I'm glad I didn't force myself to drive.
And I find quite low all that denouncement attitude.

The corner in Marcel's picture is quite hard to get right. That apex is the exit of the first corner, it's so easy to go a little offline there.
I'd say, if the most vocal driver about that was so worried about that HUGE cutting, he should just have added a stack of unmovable tires at that spot, create a patch and problem solved.

The most vocal driver says that rules were defined because of something. If a corner it's easy to go a little offline there then go slower, your laptime will be slower too, but you'll be under the defined rules.
It's not how huge the cutting is or isn't. It is about "is it legal or not?"

[yerkeee]

Before all the recriminations start about illegal laps etc , can I remind everyone that we have all done something illegal or just plain stupid at some time and in some race this season , this league is a learning curve for when it gets serious , but, first and foremost it is for FUN , we don’t win an F1 drive or a million pounds , we just get to race with friends .

+1

I think we should take these arguments as experience for next season (F1!!!).

More important than cutting boxes/tracks lines, imo, it is drivers behaviour at the start of race or after having incidents...
We still have big incidents at the start and it will be more difficult with F1 cars.

Indeed, most accidents happen in T1, simply because this is the most tense part of the race. Maybe this is an area where we all should be practicing more in!


Qualifying:

Not really a great session, 12th place but had no expectations because I didn't practice at all this week.

Race 01

Not a bad start, slighty touched Bryan's car in the first chicane but didn't seem to affect him (if so, I'm sorry). However, I lost some speed and had some drivers gaining up on me but I defended by positioning and braking late at T4. Didn't last long however when I hit Bart from behind and span out, in turn before last. Sorry if I caused some damage to anyone. Went for an early pits and still had good tyres all race so managed to finish 7th.

Race 02

Good start but at T4 I braked way too late and thought I got away with it. After the race I realised that I hit Robert just by an inch which causes him to span out and forced him to retire, my sincere apologies. Rest of the rest didn't go well either and finished somewhere at the back, don't recall where ;p

Race 03

Saw Robert hitting some cones at the start, he locked up and swerved straight to me. I tried to avoid him and had to brake which caused all the other cars to pile up and collide as well. Went into the pits to repair and was 3rd for a while. Ofcourse it didn't last long when I saw Marcel gaining up on me. I defended him for a couple of laps but made a mistake and had to give up 3rd in 10th lap. Finished 4th.