GRID Autosport GRID Autosport

[Bram Hengeveld]

Things are moving at Codemasters

 

[Peter Hooper]

I tried both the BMW and the Merc last night just to me make sure the Audi was the car to be in and couldn't get anywhere close to my Audi times. The BMW strangely feels quick but the clock says otherwise. The Merc on the other hand is a beast to me.. Never got on with any Merc in this game as I find the backend to be so sensitive.

I'll definitely be sticking with the Audi and although can't level it up will probably buy one before the race just so I can repair it after race 1.

Agreed that Michael is on a mission here, the track and these cars really seem to suit him In the open wheelers I can compete but the tin tops your on your own against him unless Hemps gets on board.

 

[Michael Watts]

@Railer Cantrell, @Robert Waddell, @Peter Hooper, For Competition's Sake I'm willing to run with "No Tuning".

 

[Rob]

@Railer Cantrell, @Robert Waddell, @Peter Hooper, For Competition's Sake I'm willing to run with "No Tuning".

That's very kind of you, but I can't ask you to do that and would not encourage it after you worked so long and hard at getting your car just right. It's allowed after all.

I was perhaps a bit rash. I didn't mean to imply I should have the right to a tuned car or that it's not what I'd prefer to drive. I just now realize that others aren't as available to help league members tune (which is perfectly fine, it's just a game) and we all seem to be on one line or the other. I know what it feels like to be on the other side having been available, but not at the right times.

I think the Audi is as good as I've felt, but Peter was kind enough to sense my frustration last night and get on for about 40 mins. and help me level up to 18. Even that little bit took me from 2:04 to 1:58. And Peter, I really want to thank you. Not only for your help, but for being the voice of reason.

So, I'll host. But one thing is certain. Any future leagues that come from myself (and probably Peter, but I'll let him answer that one), will be no tuning. It's just too uneven this way. The challenge will be picking cars that are stable w/o a tune. And of course suggestions are welcome.

 

[Karl Fuss]

sorry guys, can't make this one.

 

[Peter Hooper]

I'm with Robert on this one. Thanks for the nice gesture Michael but it wouldn't be fair on you having put in a lot of time to get the car where you want it. We signed up for this race with tuning allowed so that's how it should be, I've known that all along and was always going to race regardless

That being said a level playing field for all is what I've always thought would be fairest so welcome that in a future series

 

[Peter Hooper]

That's very kind of you, but I can't ask you to do that and would not encourage it after you worked so long and hard at getting your car just right. It's allowed after all.

I was perhaps a bit rash. I didn't mean to imply I should have the right to a tuned car or that it's not what I'd prefer to drive. I just now realize that others aren't as available to help league members tune (which is perfectly fine, it's just a game) and we all seem to be on one line or the other. I know what it feels like to be on the other side having been available, but not at the right times.

I think the Audi is as good as I've felt, but Peter was kind enough to sense my frustration last night and get on for about 40 mins. and help me level up to 18. Even that little bit took me from 2:04 to 1:58. And Peter, I really want to thank you. Not only for your help, but for being the voice of reason.

So, I'll host. But one thing is certain. Any future leagues that come from myself (and probably Peter, but I'll let him answer that one), will be no tuning. It's just too uneven this way. The challenge will be picking cars that are stable w/o a tune. And of course suggestions are welcome.

No problem re getting on for some levelling for you this morning Robert, you've done it for me enough times so glad to pay back a little of the favour. Just wish I could have hung around for a little longer to get the gearing up another notch. Always good to race and have a natter buddy

Definitely agree with regard to future series and non-tuning, the next one at least for sure. Hopefully that doesn't put others off of competing... What's everyone thoughts on that?

Anyway, looking forward to tonight, should be fun eating Michaels dust for a few laps until he disappears into the distance... But you just never know, one misjudgement and it could all change

 

[Rob]

But you just never know, one misjudgement and it could all change

Mr. Consistent will be haunting you two southerners. lol.

 

[Peter Hooper]

sorry guys, can't make this one.

That's a shame Karl, this is a really enjoyable track to race. Hope to see you back on the grid at the next one

 

[Peter Hooper]

Mr. Consistent will be haunting you two southerners. lol.

That's good to know, let me know when he turns up OK, I might learn a thing or two

 

[Peter Hooper]

Had my final practice session a short while ago using the tuning capability Robert and I earned this morning and bou what a difference. Just 20 minutes practice and my best dropped from 1:56.4 to 1:54.34!! I knew the tuning would be big here but never expected that with just little more than the basic levels available (suspension on half's and the rest just 100-0-100).

The ability to get into the turns quicker and having more confidence with the cars behaviour through the corners makes such a big difference on street circuits.

 

[Peter Hooper]

Thanks for the race guys, always fun Good battles with Railer in both but that 3rd last corner gave me problems all the time, thankfully I just held on in the first race but the second I was fine while ahead but I had no chance once he got past.

Great pace @Michael Watts, happy to stick with you for a while but I knew you would soon pull away. Disappointed not to match my earlier practice time but I'll settle for another decent haul of points here

 

[Michael Watts]

Thanks for the race guys. I had no Idea I would be the fastest here until the last couple of days. I chalk it up to the short week of prep that we had. Had Hemps or Boothy showed up it may well have been a very different story, as those guys are always seemly fast without ever being online to practice. I was able to run a 1:55.35 in Practice this morning with a default tune so the Audi is just a very capable car at Barcelona. But when I started practicing for this race I was expecting all the Usual Suspects and of course them bringing their A-game. I promise I won't be that good at the next race, but that won't keep me from practicing every available moment. This time I'm challenging myself to run 100+ Laps at Yas Marina. I have to limit my mistakes here in order to be fast. I have a video of the first race and 25 mins of the 2nd race I will post later. I have to Thank Robert and Peter for picking that track though. I was a bit intimidated by it, but I think it will be come one of my favorites. By the way we missed you out there today @Karl Fuss I know you're a beast in an un-tuned car and probably could have pushed me pretty hard today.

 

[Peter Hooper]

Good morning guys,

I hope you are enjoying your Sundays.. last day off work for me after the Christmas and New Year break

Here is the video from race one last night:-

 

[Peter Hooper]

And here's race two:-

 

[Peter Hooper]

I like that GT Ultimate Series in Endurance. I think we can run that un-tuned as a Loaner and it would be very capable and even fun to drive. If you are curious it is the car in the Endurance Challenge this week. Give it a whirl I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Nice call this Michael, I had my first attempt at the challenge and really enjoyed it.. Got within 3,000ft of your distance so I'm after you lol

Also thanks for the heads up on the open wheel challenge. I grabbed the XBow as it had the better numbers than the Atom and had a few attempts at the challenge and got up to level 13 so already almost have the basic tunes.

The league race in these cars is going to be really enjoyable, they are great fun to drive and I can see quite a few spins on the cards lol

 

[Michael Watts]

Yeah tight corners and quick changes of direction. I think I'm running +70 on the Front and -20 on the rear. The big thing I think is the brakes, especially after the long straights. I noticed you were locking them up quite a bit at Barcelona. That may have been where I had my advantage. But the KTM XBow is fun to drive. Should be a great race. You guys all have plenty of time to practice and should be faster than me there. I'm prone to mistakes in the 3rd sector.

 

[Peter Hooper]

Yeah tight corners and quick changes of direction. I think I'm running +70 on the Front and -20 on the rear. The big thing I think is the brakes, especially after the long straights. I noticed you were locking them up quite a bit at Barcelona. That may have been where I had my advantage. But the KTM XBow is fun to drive. Should be a great race. You guys all have plenty of time to practice and should be faster than me there. I'm prone to mistakes in the 3rd sector.

Yeah I usually run with front bias on my brakes but because I only had basic tuning capability I left them at 0 as fully left would have been too much which probably contributed to the locking up.

I've got an F1 race to prepare for this week but will get to practice for our next race as soon as that's done. I'll definitely try to level up further in the Challenge though, shame theres only another 38 hours of it left.

 

[Rob]

We'll agree to disagree lol. Of the races I ran with AI and not just on my own the better race by far was Al Sourouf or whatever it's called, exciting side by side racing at several places and very difficult to block unlike the other way.

Who said blocking was bad? Railer gets to break the tie. Sound good?

 

[Rob]

I had a blast after all that moaning. This is like racing at Spa with a city in the background. Great Stuff. Knew I would be last, but had fun with the A.I. in the first race. Very lonely in the 2nd. But did get some great footage of a Railer/Peter battle.

@Michael Watts great race. You earned the hell out of that one. Takes a while to get to the controlled aggression that you had. I see you have been beating some of my "better than Railer" scores and times on Shift. I think that may be the next series if enough people want. You can get access to all of the cars for $9.00 and all you need to do is pick a class, a performance level, tune to your hearts content, and away you go. The track selection is phenomenal, with 4-5 unique ovals in there. I just downloaded last night. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Rob]

Thanks for the race guys. I had no Idea I would be the fastest here until the last couple of days. I chalk it up to the short week of prep that we had. Had Hemps or Boothy showed up it may well have been a very different story, as those guys are always seemly fast without ever being online to practice. I was able to run a 1:55.35 in Practice this morning with a default tune so the Audi is just a very capable car at Barcelona. But when I started practicing for this race I was expecting all the Usual Suspects and of course them bringing their A-game. I promise I won't be that good at the next race, but that won't keep me from practicing every available moment. This time I'm challenging myself to run 100+ Laps at Yas Marina. I have to limit my mistakes here in order to be fast. I have a video of the first race and 25 mins of the 2nd race I will post later. I have to Thank Robert and Peter for picking that track though. I was a bit intimidated by it, but I think it will be come one of my favorites. By the way we missed you out there today @Karl Fuss I know you're a beast in an un-tuned car and probably could have pushed me pretty hard today.

Shows that hard work usually can beat out pure talent Mike. Great Job. Peter picked the track. He loves Barcelona. One of his mistresses lives there and he was pointing out the landmarks to me. I have been there myself, but I didn't have a mistress.