Fuji Grand Prix

I feel really disheartened about this one. I didn't expect to be starting so far up the grid which was nice. I was very tentative in the first lap because I didn't want to start my race with yellow suspension so I gave up 2 or 3 spots pretty quickly going easy. After the pack started to thin out, I came on to the front straight behind I think Jon and was gearing to take my position back. I got in his draft and got huge speed down the line and used the temp boost for a bit of added help and roasted the second engine in a row. Last time it was just an accident because I caught the downshift paddle with my glove while turning but this time it was just pushing too hard. I learned a good lesson if nothing else.

I know why it happened as well because right before race I decided I wanted more speed on the straight. I dropped my front and rear wings down a bit and it felt pretty good and I was getting more speed. I didn't, however, increase the length of 7th gear accordingly so when was normally a safe speed for me to push when I needed it a few times through the race ended up being way too much for the engine. It is disappointing as all hell, but at least it's one mistake I won't make again. Coincidentally, last time we raced Fuji I made a mistake I've not since repeated. So there's the upside. :\

Sorry to my team for the inexperienced mistake. Time to start gearing up for the second half of the season to make a change.

rFactor crapped out on me half an hour into the race. Bummer... quick thought, if my rank is hit to the point where it drops below 3 I'll end up having to leave F1 before I've even got going. Now that would suck.

Qual went ok-ish despite the fact I was struggling with stutters as soon as I left the garage. I had planned to go light and push for a low 1:13. I managed to pull out a 1:14.2 on my first set of tyres but traffic and a spin ruined my second set. Still, 5th on the grid was very nice!

Race start and I'm still having stutters, during the formation lap I had a big one and nearly binned it! Got a fantastic start, Justin and David seemed to bog down ever-so-slightly and I was able to really get a jump on them. Just as I thought I could squeeze through the middle Justin drifted just a fraction towards me, I decided not to risk it and lifted.

In hot persuit of Justin and David now, when Justin made a mistake I got past him and started working out how to get past David. As it turned out I managed to hook up a good exit from the final turn and with the aid of a little draft pulled alongside him. I suspect that David probably wanted to avoid tussling with a noob in T1 so slowed just a little early.

After that I think he spun and fell back. I was soon under pressure from Justin and just as he was about to make a move he must have had an engine failure or lock-up or something because he suddenly slowed on the front straight.

I was close behind 1st and 2nd places and for a couple of laps even joined in with the tussle! I was pleased to discover that the three of us were on a similar strategy and that I had the legs to just about keep up with them.

Unfortunately, before my first stop I was held up badly by an aggressive back-marker and lost time to the leader. It was not long after my stop that I spun going through the fast T2 and Heinz got back past.

I didn't get the chance to fight back as rFactor crashed.

Really enjoyed this race while it lasted, and depsite the fact I decided to go with a strategy that was not really ever going to be in a position to contend for the podium (I just didn't feel comfortable enough on the mediums to go for it) I felt I had the pace to get a good points haul.

EDIT: I should also take the oppertunity to publicly thank Justin Rebelo for the help he gave me during practice this afternoon. I had been hopelessly slow here all week before today and his advice really helped.

My damn wheel and pedals locked up on lap 8 half way down the main straight. I was stuck on full throttle in 4th and no steering...Up until then i was enjoying the race and able to just keep up with Allen. Bummer!

I'm sorry I could not make this event. I highly recommend hammered bocceball.

not bad for my first, but i learned to hard way that tires do puncture in this series, more quicly than i tought!!!!

Had two setups saved, one for a 3 stopper and one for a 2 stopper. Made a last minute decision to go with a 3 stopper as I figured I wouldn't be able to keep up with the top five drivers on a 2 stopper. Never done a 1:12 ever and was shocked to get it in qualifying for pole. From looking at the qualifying times, I assumed that Heinz, Justin and Jon were on 3 stop strategies while David, Tim and Conor were on 2 stop strategies.

Got a lovely start and led through T1 with Heinz right behind. Took a lap or two to settle, but had the edge on Heinz on the straight, so I kept my lead. He went by soon enough and I didn't try and hold him back as he seemed to be clearly faster through the infield. I was also trying to save my tyres. During the middle of the stint, the car suddenly felt real quick and I dropped my laptimes from 1:14.8's to 1:14.2's. Used my top speed to get past Heinz and pushed like crazy till my first pitstop. Heinz, Jon and I had a fair lead over Tim and David, but Conor had a fabulous first stint on a 2 stopper and we couldn't shake him.

Pitstop went quite well and after the 2 stoppers made their stop, I was back in the lead. Kept pushing and after an uneventful stint came in for my second stop. Came out in fourth place right behind David and somehow got past him and started chasing Tim down. Gap didn't close very quickly, but when he went in for his second stop, I had just snuck ahead cause Tim's tyres were toast.

Just before I pulled into the pits for my final stop, I warned myself that the last thing I wanted to do was go speeding in the pits. Slowed down nice and early and as I approached the line, I hit the accelerator and not the brake :( Was all excited that I had got the jump on Tim and would pull out of the pits in second, but didn't concentrate enough to ensure that happened. Sat in the pitbox with my head in my hands. Came out of the pits 11 seconds behind Conor, so there was probably no way I would have caught him for the lead even on soft tyres and 15 laps to go, but for my stupid mistake, I had second place. Came in for my 10 second stop-go and Tim and David went by. 20 seconds behind David with a 20 second lead over Heinz meant that I could turn the boost down and hobble my way to the finish which is just what I did.

Great drive Conor! Congrats to Tim and David as well. See ya'll at Nuerberg

Changed my strategy at the last minute. Instead of going wih soft tires, low fuel and 3 stops, I went with meds, more fuel and 2 stops. Worked OK,and I didnt really make any mistakes. There was quite a bit of bumping in the opening laps. Then I got into the back of Chris, waited for him to get gathered up and get back by me, just to see him pit LOL. Grats to Conor, and hope I didnt fk anyone up.

Wasnt LOL to me-you punctured my right rear tire and damaged my suspension. From there the car was a handfull to drive. Oh well i guess lap 6 was the time to push someone out of the way for a position.

Wasnt trying to push you out of the way dude, you would know if I was trying to do that. I had you slow in front of me at the same time as Allen was on the inside taking my position. Cant look everywhere at once. If I was taking you out on purpose you would know it. Dont make it sound like I did. Looks like I'm the asshole now for waiting on the side of the road for you to get back by I guess.

No hard feelings Bob, I am just frustrated at the fact I had a decent shot at getting into the points. Up to this point I have been struggling with these cars but today I had the pace to contend for a top 10 and possible points.