Nippon: Le Castellet

One of the best races I have ever attended the final so it was fantastic .... thank everyone who participated

Good fun apart from the loss of ability into T1 which ended a few challenges.

Got a great setup from Evolution new man Agustin, although top end speed was not there, wasnt a bad effort for his first time in the mod ;-]

Happy with what must be my best result of the season.

Any issues please PM Tim Brook to review, replay is up in our files area.

What a nightmare,

Just before the start my PC reported that I had a virus, after sorting that in a big rush, got on the grid but totally forgot about the launch control, pressed break instead of clutch and stalled it.

eek

Some of the conduct tonight was a bit shocking, especially at the start! I had more downforce on the car than others so I could close right in on the other guys through sector 3, although it did prove a bit dangerous at some points, having a few moments with other drivers but nothing major. Made some good overtakes into turn 1 but like I've said, the conduct of some drivers wasn't great really. I won't be racing at Adelaide...I have a feeling that will be worse!

Close finish between 4 of us though, got closed in a bit and oversteered, Tristan shot through and Mike and myself had about an inch between us.

A bit of a nightmare really. With race fuel in, the car felt like a big elephant. Chronic understeer everywhere. Slow on the straights too.

What a race. Accidents happen so I'm not that bothered about T1.

After pitting to repair damage and adjust the rear wing, I set off in 22nd, and (this is becoming the story of my life here,) plugged away as fast as I could.

Slowly caught half the field and closed in on the lead peloton on the very last lap. If only I had one more lap!! The final run through sector 2 and 3 was a huge blast. *Almost* spun under power out of the final corner, trying to squirt out of it as fast as the yellowing tires would allow.

Fun stuff!! Had a stupid grin on my face the last three laps.

Looks like since Jan wasn't here, the driver's championship is wrapped up. I will try to make the last round to take the team fight to 05.

I think it's a sign if I win the series with 69 points, and this series # is 420.

Not that I'm superstitious or anything! :P

Nailed Tristan good'n'proper into T1 - was going down there braking nice and early, but i got distracted by my impending doom from behind and got off the brakes and when i looked ahead again my heart sank as i knew i was gonna tag Tristan - sorry again m8.

Did my DT and had a good race although my heart wasn't really in it by then - made some good moves and got into the top10 and then i realised i had some rear suspension problem as it was feeling pretty unstable in the fast turns, but i struggled on until i lost it and smacked a barrier somewhere to put an end to the night.

pleased with my pace seeing it was the first time i'd driven these cars, so thanks again to Tristan for the Spa set he posted last week.

No worries Jack! I've made the same mistake. You were just trying to give everyone room, save yourself, make the corner etc. etc., and you're absolutely right, I wasn't going to make the corner anyway with the out-of-control guy coming in from behind.

Qualified over a second slower than my personal best. Mainly because of myself, but there were 1 or 2 drivers who were a little selfish in qualifying. Ended up 10th, should have been top 5.

Goes into warmup session, so i start making sure my race set is ready. Everyone is chatting away happily. Look at the clock, 10 seconds until warmup finishes.

About 1 second after looking at the clock, all of a sudden the text quickly changes from "Warmup: 00:09" to "Race: 0/40".
Then i suddenly hear engines roaring, and everybody is already at T1.

Shocked and very pissed off, i set off out of my pit garage to try and make something out of the so far disaster. I look at the pit lights and they are firmly green. I notice another driver parked at the pit exit, so being cuatious i apply my brakes to try and stop.

Next thing i knoe, i have been DQ's for exiting the pits under red, even though they were green. .

I spent alot of time practicing for this, and was hoping for a great result. I had been having issues all day in the nippon server, the game not telling me when someone had entered the server, people randomly vanishing then apearing behind me etc. I am very far from happy, but i guess its all a part of sim racing.

Well done to winners and everyone who raced.

Starting line-up for the AJ Racing French Nips GP...

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Tim lining up Agustin for the pass...

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Ruh-roh...

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No start lights meant a slow start for some. Got a good launch ahead of Steve...

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Sloppy sideways out of the very last corner...