Fun run: German Touring Car

Good race all! Congrats to Ray on his first podium! Nice win Richard!

I was running well, and totally threw this race away in the pits. I ran soft fronts and med rears, and changed only fronts on my first stop. That worked out fine- the rears were getting slick by my second stop, but they were manageable. I was running in 2nd place for most of my second stint, though I knew Barry had pitted early and I was sure I'd be seeing him again. So I figured I had a good shot at podium if I could just hold it together.

I had fumbled with the pitboard a little on the first stop (as usual), so I was determined to get in there and just whack return for the quickest 4-tire I could manage. Of course, I forgot that the board would be unchanged from my first stop, meaning no rears! I was mighty surprised when the guys got up after only changing the fronts. What a bonehead. Came back out right behind Gary, and figured it was all or nothing, so I gave chase. The rears had nothing left for me, and I spun twice before the race was over, into a wall both times. With that I count myself lucky to salvage 7th.

These cars are always fun, and with the pit requirements and 2x tire wear, the strategy is extra important. Makes for some great racing. I had some real close, challenging, and clean laps with Rick, Ray, and Gary throughout. Fun stuff, thanks all!

I benefited from Barry's crew adding fuel to his car and was basically handed the win because of that. I qualified rather poorly as I was sure I could manage a low 1 06. I got a good start and got shuffled off the track in T1. I put it down to cold tires and brakes and just got on with it. I managed to work my way up to 5th when 2nd, 3rd and 4th just seemed to all have a little trouble at the same time and allowed me to grab 2nd behind Barry. He was about 9 seconds ahead and the gap stayed the same until our pit stops.

Here is a little advice to some guys questioning their pit strategy...There is no strategy!

You take enough fuel to go the distance, Medium tires, 2 stops with NO fuel added. You then stop at half distance taking only front tires. You then stop on the very next lap for your rear tires. This is the only way to lose the least amount of time in the pits.

I made the mistake at my first GTC event of assuming everyone would take 4 tires and fuel twice. this costs so much time that no matter how quick you may be you will never make the time lost back.

I think if we had mandatory 2 stops for fuel and tires the strategy would change and make the pit stops a little more interesting. You would have guys trying softs, doing a long stint and 2 short stints, lower fuel, higher fuel. It would be almost limitless.

Right now you really only have one choice and it all comes down to how fast you can scroll...

Still a great series and these cars are so much fun to drive. If I could just find another half a second in my race pace I would be a happy driver.

Figured out what I was doing wrong on my pit board that ended up with me getting fuel each stop - duh! Wasn't quite on pace, but 2:19 and 2:10 pitstop laps due to the fuel did me in for a decent finish anyway. Was planning to be creative and try to go long on mediums until my lap times started to go off, pit for rears only and go out for a few more laps and come in really late for soft fronts, which might've worked if I wasn't a pit-moron!

Fun race anyway, and I'll figure the stops out sooner or later... ;-)

Good race , congrats podium.
I did my typical early race self spin destruction. Then settled in for consistent laps. that 2X tire wear kicks in fast!! after a few laps the tires feel great, then a lap later im sliding like ice!! I think my setup was rough on tires.
Lonely race for me, had to let anyone who caught up to me pass because of my sliding around.
I got 4 hard tires on lap 26, cruised for a few laps, then alternated fast/cruise laps the rest of the way to keep tires acceptable. This worked well and only on the last lap did I feel the tires get very slippery.
I'm happy with top10 after falling back to 14th or last.
Good Race

Richard, I highly disagree with your view on the "no strategy". The Strategy is not *what* you do in the pits, but *when* you do it.

Your strategy has one big thing working against you; You are forced into dealing with every car you come up against on the track. Also, your lap times in the final third of your long-stints fall off, negating the time you gain by taking only two tires. Someone who spreads their pits out can avoid the majority of other cars on track and stay at peak speeds the entire race.

Your strategy is a good strategy for someone who is in the lead of the race and/or not having to fight for position. But, if you are further down the order, or forced into a battle for a lead position, your strategy would work against you in a severe manner.

I do agree that anyone taking fuel on-board in a GTC race needs to rethink their strategy.

I had a fun race, and a satisfying result.

Qual'd 4th, and found myself in a fluctuating 2-to-4 car fight for second over the first several laps (racing up here at the front is a lot closer than in the mid-pack area that I usually inhabit)! On about lap 7 I was on Ray's bumper, with Michael on mine. I knew I was faster than Ray, but couldn't get by, so I decided to push a little harder and went up alongside Ray in the fast downhill esses. He gave me JUST enough room, but I got a tire off at the exit of the downhill left-hander and spun across the track, into the gravel (fortunately not collecting anyone along the way).

By the time I got myself unstuck from the gravel, I was close to the back, so I decided to change my pit strategy and come in early, just a lap after my off. I spent the rest of the race moving slowly back up to the front, having close (but clean) races with Tommy and Dennis along the way, getting by both of them to eventually finish fourth (way better than I expected to finish after the earlier spin).

I was surprised by how much fun these cars are, and I have to say that the Donington National configuration is a lot more enjoyable than the GP setup.

P-O-D-I-U-M I would have posted my impressions sooner but had to check a dictionary because i would be bad form to spell it incorrectly the first time I landed there. I started second - no where near my comfort zone. At the start I was slightly slower than the #3 starter and as we moved to the first turn I was on the inside and made contact. I know it slowed him up and I came through in second. Second through 4th or 5th was pretty tight and I was a little slower (different fuel or I was tentative) cuz they would get right on my bumper and I was able to hold them off for several laps. I eventually went slightly wide and dropped to fifth. Tried to stay close and hope that my pit strategy would bring me back out in better position. I pitted on lap 15 and came out with no one around me. I had a scare when I came up on someone and they looped it on a relatively straight area of the track. I eventually found myself in first and then it was time to pit again. Unfortunately my inexperience with two stop races cost me as my first stop info was still up. Taking an unintended 25 litres of fuel cost me 10-15 seconds. I came back out in fifth and again was pretty much by myself on the track. I moved up to third and was glad to see there was a considerable cushion to fourth. I settled into running behind Chris Braun so I had something to concentrate on beside the clock. I wish I could have pushed the second place car a bit but I am ecstatic with third. Great fun!!!

Ray, I was wondering who was just sitting there behind me. In watching the replay I realized that my brake pedal spring is too soft on the controller and my brakes flashed intermittently the whole race. Sorry to those that were thrown off by that. I was trying to keep out of peoples way as a back marker and I am sure that didn't help when trying to decide which way the idiot (me) was going to go. Sorry about that again.

Great fun to race that many laps and good to watch the replay to see everyones passing and bobbles. I am glad that I paid attention and realized that everyone loads up with full fuel and just changes tires, and sometimes only 2. How much effect does the fuel load REALLY have with these M3's? I noticed a little slower braking with full fuel but the acceleration didn't seem that much faster at the end of the race with only a few laps fuel left. It would seem that if you add over 10% of the cars weight on in fuel that it would handle significantly different than empty. Or I just can't drive consistent enough laps!!! LOL!

Anyway, thanks again for Race2Play for hosting. Didn't notice any connection speed issues that I have seen on other servers. Can't wait to do more!!!

LOL...Ray, I like your statement that the contact slowed me up! It wasn't the contact that slowed me, it was the gravel...No harm, no foul...

yeah I agree Tim, some races that "both pits midway" strategy works but others the tire wear is just too great and the time lost on track is greater than what you gain. Krueger mastered it in Valencia, but he got a lot better wear out of his fronts by having a oversteering setup (aka Finnish flick). I would have lost too much time trying to get 19 laps out of a set of fronts myself.