GRID Autosport GRID Autosport

[Bram Hengeveld]

Things are moving at Codemasters

 

[Peter Hooper]

Think I'm now going to struggle to make this one unfortunately guys. Going to be out until ten or just after, was hoping the early starts weren't going to effect me until the second series but not looking that way now

Was really looking forward to the challenge of this circuit as well, so my unlikely title challenge will probably go no further.

 

[Rob]

@Robert Waddell much as it pains me to lose a couple of points with things being so tight I retired from race two while you were still running so our positions for that race should be reversed.

@Peter Hooper Ahh yes, now I remember. I was going from memory on that second race, since we didn't have a record. (Although I should keep it the way it is because you were just being the ultimate gentleman in waiting for me, then pulling away, then waiting....just because of the race one incident). You didn't have to do that, since I waived you on in Race One. It shows just what kind of guy you are...but, okay, if I have to....lol.

 

[Rob]

2:03s?!?!?!?!
I was lucky to get a 2:08 last night.
I only have enough level to make 1/4 step setup changes.... it's probably not enough. Tried several setup options in those steps last night and nothing felt good. Will likely just run with a partially closed diff and the rest default.

Karl I'm singing you up by inference.

 

[Rob]

Think I'm now going to struggle to make this one unfortunately guys. Going to be out until ten or just after, was hoping the early starts weren't going to effect me until the second series but not looking that way now

Was really looking forward to the challenge of this circuit as well, so my unlikely title challenge will probably go no further.

Well that's certainly understandable, even if it's just not the same without you. You would have made the "no A.I." rule official, but I think Michael is right in that this track would be impossible with them in there. We have been bending that rule with some very good racing anyway...

 

[Michael Watts]

Peter, I sure hope you are able to make it. Just making it to the end of this race with all the panels intact would be supremely satisfying in itself.

 

[Rob]

I can't get below 2:08. I'm writing this one off. Love the track, but you really need more time than I have to practice.

 

[Rob]

Dear Drivers,

Thank you all for your support and attendance for the inaugural GRID: Autosport League on the xbox 360. Without you, this would not have been one of the most rewarding and closely fought leagues in which I have participated. So why stop now?

Announcing the X360 I Autosport Multidisciplinary League

As the name implies, it's mission is to ferret out the best overall driver who plays Autosport. We will have classic American Muscle, open-wheelers, oval tracks, iconic races, timeless European cars, new road course circuits, challenging street courses, and unique track day cars.
The two main goals when designing the series were based on feedback from you, the drivers. One -- diversity of cars. Many of you wanted many different types of cars or were split in your preference. I think you will see this goal was easily met. Second -- ease off on the tuning requirement. This was the biggest challenge, but I think you will find this was accomplished in two ways. Through hours of testing Peter and I boiled the schedule down to cars that were very comfortable to drive without a tune. Since we have different driving styles, this was a hard task, but I think you will find that the cars chosen (except for the oval track cars) can all be very quick, very controlled, and very enjoyable right out of the box. We will still allow tuning, but it will create far less of an advantage we feel. Also, there are four oval track races where tuning will be banned. This is to create close pack racing and to even the field when it comes to car speed. These oval races will replicate classic races such as the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500.

Here is the new schedule. We will still run on Saturdays at the same time, but may go every other weekend so as not to compete with F1:

Cars and Tracks: (Autosport Multidisciplinary Championship)
(GT CLASS and OPEN WHEEL CARS)

1. Autosport Superspeedway -- Tuner Class; Modified; Ford Mustang Boss 302 Modified, Chevrolet Camaro SS Modified, Honda S2000 Modified.

2. Istanbul Park GP -- Open Wheel; Formula C; Dallara F312

3. Circuit of the Americas -- Tuner Class; BMW E30 Sport Evo Cup; BMW E30 Sport Evo

4. Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- Open Wheel; Formula A; Dallara IndyCar

5. Streets of Barcelona -- Tuner Performance Class; BMW M3 Coupe, Audi RS 5 Coupe, Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

6. Yas Marina Circuit- Open Wheel; Lightweight Cup; Ariel Atom 3.5, KTM X-Bow R

7. Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- Tuner Class; Modified; Ford Mustang Boss 302 Modified, Chevrolet Camaro SS Modified, Honda S2000 Modified.

8. Streets of Chicago -- Open Wheel; Caterham SP/300.R Cup; Caterham SP/300.R

9. Streets of Dubai -- Street Class; Hot Hatch; Mini John Cooper Works GP, Ford Focus ST, Volkswagen Golf R

10. Autosport Superspeedway -- Open Wheel; Formula A; Dallara IndyCar

11. Circuit Mont-Tremblant -- Tuner Class; Coupe; Honda Integria Type R DC5, BMW 1 Series M Coupe, Subaru BRZ

12. Autosport Road Course Full -- Open Wheel; Super Lightweight Class; Caparo T1

 

[Peter Hooper]

Just a quickie Robert, seeing as we have tested the cars to be perfectly fine with no tune at all why not make it a stock series with... ie no tuning, to keep it on a completely level playing field for everyone? Some of these cars as we know do not have tuning options anyway. Just a thought.

 

[Michael Watts]

I'll drive anything with 4 wheels, although I'm not good at the lightweight cars, it sounds like a blast, something for everyone.

 

[Rob]

Just a quickie Robert, seeing as we have tested the cars to be perfectly fine with no tune at all why not make it a stock series with... ie no tuning, to keep it on a completely level playing field for everyone? Some of these cars as we know do not have tuning options anyway. Just a thought.

Well, we were running loaners, so the tuning icon may have been removed by the last CRAP patch and you may be indeed able to tune these cars. But with the ovals extending tuned races and the series probably running at two week intervals, I think the folks who like getting into the tuning should still be able to do that in some way. I know I like to fool around with GRID, since it's the only game I have left on the xbox, even though others are busy with F1. So it would be like taking tuning away from the F1 series because the design was flawed. I just didn't want to go that far. However, I dare say that, from our tests, these cars drive as well as any tuned car I have driven (except maybe the Audi) in the last series, so I don't think tuning will have that big of an impact. Further, as it stands, 4 of 12 races are spec anyhow.

If the tuning of some these cars is indeed eliminated, then of course we have to go with no tuning.

 

[Rob]

Just a quickie Robert, seeing as we have tested the cars to be perfectly fine with no tune at all why not make it a stock series with... ie no tuning, to keep it on a completely level playing field for everyone? Some of these cars as we know do not have tuning options anyway. Just a thought.

Be happy, though, to put it to a vote for those who sign up.

 

[Michael Watts]

Trust me when you get to the superspeedways, you'll want a bit more gear (even if its a +50) down the straights or you will be listening to the Rev-limiter for 20 laps, wishing you had that gear.

 

[Peter Hooper]

Well, we were running loaners, so the tuning icon may have been removed by the last CRAP patch and you may be indeed able to tune these cars. But with the ovals extending tuned races and the series probably running at two week intervals, I think the folks who like getting into the tuning should still be able to do that in some way. I know I like to fool around with GRID, since it's the only game I have left on the xbox, even though others are busy with F1. So it would be like taking tuning away from the F1 series because the design was flawed. I just didn't want to go that far. However, I dare say that, from our tests, these cars drive as well as any tuned car I have driven (except maybe the Audi) in the last series, so I don't think tuning will have that big of an impact. Further, as it stands, 4 of 12 races are spec anyhow.

If the tuning of some these cars is indeed eliminated, then of course we have to go with no tuning.

Usually with loaners you still have the icon for tuning but it just says not available (or something) when you try to click it. Those cars we tried the other day had no tuning icon at all so I suspect they are just not tunable.

I guess either way is fine but I assumed that testing cars out for driveability without tuning was to check whether it was possible ot run a series that way. No doubt that tuning will give you a better car, expecially over a long race rather than just a few laps.

 

[Peter Hooper]

Trust me when you get to the superspeedways, you'll want a bit more gear (even if its a +50) down the straights or you will be listening to the Rev-limiter for 20 laps, wishing you had that gear.

Yes very true but it also makes for very even racing when you don't have them tuned and it's down to just how well you drive rather than how well you've tuned your car. Robert and myself ran laps around Indy and Autosport and it was very close and fun racing. If there are drivers running non-tuned and others tuned in those races it's a complete non contest for the reason you stated.

 

[Michael Watts]

I think I'm going to try and build something like this over the weekend. Got my wood yesterday.

http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/my-sim-racing-cockpit.227046/
I've been driving with a DIY PVC rig for the last 3 years. Its time to upgrade, lol.

 

[Michael Watts]

You know, I'm not running 2:03's every lap, its more like consistant 2:05's. That fast lap was merely a fluke. But I'll be practicing tonight 6-8pm EST if anyone wants to join in. I need to get in as many laps as possible. Its amazing how one corner can really effect your time by seconds, not just tenths.

 

[Peter Hooper]

Even though I am unlikely to make this one I will try to get in some laps just to compare lap times wth you guys. Love the track and maybe we can run a club race there som time soon to give me a chance to compete here.

 

[Rob]

Trust me when you get to the superspeedways, you'll want a bit more gear (even if its a +50) down the straights or you will be listening to the Rev-limiter for 20 laps, wishing you had that gear.

Yea, the superspeedways will be no tuning allowed for the reasons Peter stated. Yes, you may be on the limiter for some of the lap, but so will everyone else, and with the stock cars, the gearing and areo will be so critical that anyone who does not have full tuning will be an automatic backmarker. Think of it as like restrictor plate racing -- lots of strategy will depend on drafting and who can avoid "the big one."

 

[Rob]

Usually with loaners you still have the icon for tuning but it just says not available (or something) when you try to click it. Those cars we tried the other day had no tuning icon at all so I suspect they are just not tunable.

I guess either way is fine but I assumed that testing cars out for driveability without tuning was to check whether it was possible ot run a series that way. No doubt that tuning will give you a better car, expecially over a long race rather than just a few laps.

No doubt we could run a series that way, but many like to tune. It's unfortunate that we have to level up, but this will be mitigated by the time in between races and the fact that 70% or more of the time is not in the tuning (I think we have proven that point quite well). The cars we tested will be well in the front with a good driver and lots of practice, even without a tune. They don't fishtail, they have great gearing, and they brake well.

Of course, if the cars can't be tuned, then it's a moot point.

 

[Railer Cantrell]

Peter it wint be the same without you in the finale. Understandable though there is life outside of racing.
Will try to log some laps tonight around 9:30 if anyone is interested.