AC Mazda MX5@Brands Hatch, Wednesday 6th April 2022

Dzul · Apr 5, 2022

HF2000 said:
Did a few laps with the Mazda and I really, really, really hate this track. When you finally get T1 right for once and start hoping for a good lap only to see after T4 that you're already half a second behind you're sessionbest with all those difficult corners yet to come, you begin to overdrive the car and ending in the grass or more then 1,5s behind. It's impossible for me to be consistent here.
For the race I will turn off every app that shows me the laptimes and hope that these 45 minutes will pass quickly.

Whoever designed this track must either have been a sadist, a lunatic or a race hater!

I have the same feelings guys... although I really enjoy the unforgiving nature of this track.

That would make me a masochist I guess . . . ?

stigs2cousin · Apr 5, 2022

Dammit,

while playing around with the BTCC cars I misplaced a second on Han´s favorite track.

Could a benevolent Jedi Master help me find it??

Disturbed Carsten

Alfred Wayne · Apr 5, 2022

This isn't the pace you're looking for...

Did that do anything

stigs2cousin · Apr 5, 2022

Alfred Wayne said:
This isn't the pace you're looking for...

Yes, Master

Thank you, Master I found it

See you on track Padavan Carsten

stigs2cousin · Apr 5, 2022

Actually,

close your eyes and be guided by your feelings does a lot in Brands Hatch .

Especially in the bends in the middle sektor a view to the apex/ track out is clearly overrated

MFG Carsten

HF2000 · Apr 5, 2022

stigs2cousin said:
Actually,

close your eyes and be guided by your feelings does a lot in Brands Hatch .

Especially in the bends in the middle sektor a view to the apex/ track out is clearly overrated

MFG Carsten

So have the whiskey/beer before the race this time?
Ah well, that was my plan anyway to make BH bearable,
.

Alfred Wayne · Apr 5, 2022

Don't forget to bring your sunglasses guys. With all these complaints about Brands, I wouldn't want the sun to get in your eyes and mess up your line

That said, I'm going to be disappointed in myself if I find I'm staring at your tail lights all race as I actually... kind of like this track

RasmusP · Apr 5, 2022

That was a nice good night read

Currently uncertain about tomorrow evening but I love the Mazda and I love Brands Hatch.
For some weird reason, although I'm not the fastest here, I'm barely going off at all.
I just have this feeling of instincts kicking in, guiding me around.

I also somehow dig to turn in, not knowing where you'll end up. Neither for the apex, nor for the exit but I mostly survive and have fun

Hopefully I'll be free and able to join you spontaneously

Dzul · Apr 6, 2022

HF2000 · Apr 6, 2022

Ok. Brand Hatch is clearly for some of our drivers the least favorite track.
But now I'm curious which track the other guys dislike the most.
So let's hear them please in this thread.

Dzul · Apr 6, 2022

Dislike? Mostly the flat 'Tilkedromes'.

stigs2cousin · Apr 6, 2022

Oh Han,

don't be sad

B.H. is NOT my least favorite track

(but you sure know how to pick them)

MFG Carsten

pcmoreno · Apr 6, 2022

I don't dislike it at all, I actually like it. It's just quite unforgiving and difficult for some car types.

Mostly what I don't like are walled circuits and tracks where it's almost all about the braking points after very long straights(like Monza)

Douglas Aird · Apr 6, 2022

HF2000 said:
Did a few laps with the Mazda and I really, really, really hate this track. When you finally get T1 right for once and start hoping for a good lap only to see after T4 that you're already half a second behind you're sessionbest with all those difficult corners yet to come, you begin to overdrive the car and ending in the grass or more then 1,5s behind. It's impossible for me to be consistent here.
For the race I will turn off every app that shows me the laptimes and hope that these 45 minutes will pass quickly.

Whoever designed this track must either have been a sadist, a lunatic or a race hater!

I feel much the same way but in my last practice I started to really enjoy the challenge and figure a few things out. I was originally going to take the Audi but the Mazda, for me, is much more fun.

I'll be available for Audi duty in the next races so the numbers don't become too unbalanced.

Douglas Aird · Apr 6, 2022

Dislikes - any track that has more than one decreasing radius corner I am not a fan of as I don't drive them well, yet. The really long tracks as it takes a lot of time to learn. Flat tracks with little or no elevation changes.

RasmusP · Apr 6, 2022

HF2000 said:
But now I'm curious which track the other guys dislike the most.

Difficult question.. I dislike tracks where I'm slow, not in control of the car and can't get right.
Nürburgring is definitely on the list. There's no corner that's easy or fun for me. Although it can be fun racing there in general!

Monza is mostly fun but I hate that you only have this one little splitsecond for each corner to get it right or lose a lot of time or crash...

VIR and Thruxton are probably true dislikes though. Don't like the colours of them, hate the endless grass areas and although the tracks are wide, it's mostly full on at the limit with little room to play with.

Silverstone was very difficult to enjoy until it clicked and I finally got to a decent pace with the correct lines. Then it started to become fun!

Shed 17 · Apr 6, 2022

HF2000 said:
Ok. Brand Hatch is clearly for some of our drivers the least favorite track.
But now I'm curious which track the other guys dislike the most.
So let's hear them please in this thread.

It has to be VIR for me (so far!), I just could not get my head around the nature of the combination of corners.

I don't mind Brands Hatch (famous last words

), I guess I have driven it so much that it feels like a comfortable pair of slippers!

But generally I like tracks with good overtaking opportunities, usually long straights with hard braking zones ( e.g. Road America and Slovakiaring).

The Almighty Snark · Apr 6, 2022

RasmusP said:
VIR and Thruxton are probably true dislikes though. Don't like the colours of them, hate the endless grass areas and although the tracks are wide, it's mostly full on at the limit with little room to play with

Aye! I don't VIR or Thruxton either. Very annoying tracks.

Though I love Brands Hatch. Always have since DTM Race Driver, then Race 07, then AC/ACC. Watching the British GT do multiclass around that track on Youtube is just fantastic.

As fun as it is to drive on the Nordschleiffe, I don't like racing it. Had a terrible time on it in the last race of the GT3 championship. Didn't qualify so had to start behind the GT4 and at that point it just becomes a hotlap session.

Not a big fan of the Tilke dromes like Bahrain. It has no character, though I do think his Hockenheim is better then the original. Tracks like Ahvenisto are great fun too in cars like the Caterham(or mx-5, hint hint

).

Just had another look through the list in AC, and there's not much that I really really hate. Some tracks I just don't vibe with as much or have elements that destroy the flow(Barcelona... that chicane...). There's just so much to drive in AC which is one of the great things about it!

Enzo Fazzi · Apr 6, 2022

HF2000 said:
Ok. Brand Hatch is clearly for some of our drivers the least favorite track.
But now I'm curious which track the other guys dislike the most.
So let's hear them please in this thread.

I quite like Brands Hatch. Silverstone is most definitely my least favourite track, the pre-2010 layout was a bit better though.

Kek700 · Apr 6, 2022

I’m with Paul on this, VIR, spent ages on this circuit, never get it right, hate the place.
Although to be fair when in a FWD car, it is okay. FWD is always so much easier for me, it mostly solves all my circuit problems, even Laguna Seca, another hated circuit of mine.