RB4's @ BL1R

[obsolum]

I'm early to start this thread, I know, but I would kindly like to request that the added chicane on the straight be removed I don't think it really suits this combo.

[Doorman]

Done!

[obsolum]

Thanks a bunch, Doorz

[Seany]

Yeah good call, RB4 has plenty of speed. + Less braking to burn my rubber the better

[Gnomie]

So how did it go tonight? I had some good fun in practice earlier this week, but tonight I got invited for dinner by my brother. Hope the race went well!

[Mille Sabords]

Let's get started!

Impressive grid (around 20 at the start I think) for this relatively short track!
I only joined mid quali and was just able to place a decent lap before then end, around 1:26.9. This only put me in 9th though - Venca took the pole with 1:26.31 so it was pretty tight grid.

Race start I was extremely cautious especially at the chicane, and that paid - was 5th end of lap 1.
I was far from the leading group though, so I concentrated on catching up for a few laps. The fierce battle in front helped and I event set a pb closing on Aquilifer.
I make a few attempts to pass but took my time. I made my move at the hairpin, slow in - fast out and on the inside of the start line, unfortunately Aquilifer did not notice my splendid move and sent me flying into the barriers of that crazy downhill turn.

I kept on and discovered I had to pit (weird steering, pulling under braking) --> pit stop for major damage, end of race for podium finish.

Out of pits - 16th position after 15 minutes...
My wife started complaining (too much practice this week, meaning I was faster than usual but I must try to find a balance ) so I had a few erratic laps afer that. I though about retiring but I also knew I had built a good set for longer races and wanted to try it out.

I regained concentration after a while and decided to go points hunting!
I was clearly faster that those ahead (running consistenly high 1.26s  - low 1.27s), and my set worked very well after the 1/2 hour mark.
I closed the gap on a large group (was 12th at the time) and tried to get into the points but all of them ahead gave me some fight
Finished 8th - could have done better without a tyre sent by Cueball that must have weighted 2 tons at least!
Thanks to Obsolum who gave a hell of a fight, I hope I did not cause your crash by that pass just before the chicane...

I had a good time, but it was a bit frustrating to miss the battle at the front.
Thanks all for racing, congrats to finishers and podium grabbers.

[delankster]

congrats to venca, jamin, lameduck for the podiums and well done to all the finishers :yahoo:

[Deetz]

:crying: On my lid lap 2.

Oh well, there is always next time.

[obsolum]

Thanks to Obsolum who gave a hell of a fight, I hope I did not cause your crash by that pass just before the chicane...

Nah don't worry, that was completely my own doing. I didn't want to let you go so I hit the brakes very late. A little too late, it seemed, possibly due to being right in your draft. I didn't really crash but did mess up the chicane entry and exit badly, losing precious seconds. I tried to close the gap but you were clearly faster than me.

I decided to settle for 9th place then, which would have earned me 2 points. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough fuel on board to finish the race so I had to make one last stop on the second to last lap I believe it was, which set me back to 11th, just out of the points :sad:

Now, before you all think my Fuel Calculator is rubbish, there's a very good explanation for me running out of fuel: in the sprint races during the week - and during qualify as well - I had a fuel consumption of 1.1/lap, so I entered that into the calculator. For some reason, though, my fuel consumption yesterday evening was 1.2/lap :sideways: Possibly because of the increased weight of the fuel. Minor difference, you might think, but over the course of a 1hr race it's a few percent.

Anyway, I had a few good battles and enjoyed the race. I don't think I'll be on much the coming week, though. Don't really like the UFR, and I'm pretty hooked on the HistorX mod for rF so I'll be spending the little time I have on that

[Jamin]

Congrats Venca :yahoo:

I knew overtaking was hard with this combo so put a blinder of a lap in to qualify third behind Deetz with Lameduck behind. At race start I followed Deetz who had messed with his setup just before the race and it was obvious he was having problems so bided my time and off he went into the tyres and I went through into second with Lameduck on my tail.

With the extra fuel onboard I struggled to get the rear around so was heating my fronts a bit, I couldn't get into a rhythm all race but kept a steady pace and tried not to go any faster unless I needed to. Bob hastled me for the first half of the race before he pitted, after that I had no one to pace against except trying to keep about 15 secs in front of Bob, I noticed Milles pace and thought he could be a problem later on but it didn't happen.

Venca flew out of the pits right infront of me which startled me a bit, I pushed him a little, almost getting past him at one point as he was all over the place (cold tyres?) but hot front tyres slowed me down again until I pitted with 4 mins to go, coming out of the pits I was alongside Bob who got the to the corner first, I pushed and on the last lap he went wide and off the track slightly and I went past, I think he was checking his fuel at the time, he ran out of it just before the line and I kept second

So I'm right, ask Bob how much fuel then add a bit more :boxing:

[Doorman]

That sounded exciting!

[Lameduck]

Cracking race Grommit
I managed to achieve a PB during quali so I was well up the grid of 16 racers (4th). I managed a good start and was immediately set upon by Aqui. He nanaged to outbrake me going into the chicane but fell victim to Deetz' contortions and regained my place.

Deetz recovered but he repeated the performance on the next lap and joined his girlfriend (Roof) in the stands. Aqui and Mille hastled me for the next few laps until I made an error going onto the back straight and Paavo went through but hit the chicane tyres and I regained 3rd. I then spent the next 20 mins chasing Ben but never close enough to have a go at passing, 'tho I did try to throw a dummy (move)a couple of times.

I pitted @ just over 30 min and found that Ben was 17 secs to the good, but was suprised that nobody overtook me. Still in 3rd. :yahoo:
I  realised that I would have to press on and cut the deficit to around 12 secs to beat the last of the late pitters.
With minutes to go he nipped in and I noticed time gap was almost down to 12, so touch and go.

As I took turn one, great joy, no sign of him until I took turn 2 and noticed a blue wing nudging my way. Managed to get in front and hold him off for a lap.
Going through the first timing point I checked the fuel, horrors 0.77 left and I needed over one per lap. Made my mind up to let Ben go and rapidly dialled some fuel for a splash and dash when Cueball said that Venca had crossed the line. Put the toe down again but had no chance of catching Ben and ran out 50 yards from the line.Great, best result ever.

[Doorman]

Oh these reports! My dicky tickaire! :blink:

[Aquilifer]

Was fun for the...8 laps or so. Then the front tyres became too hot and corners started to go wider and then lap 15-18 bang into the chicane wall...iirc...or was it some other race... :g: The short races were lot of fun and I like rb4.