Have been doing a few tests and…
I know we shouldn’t "change boat in the middle of the river" and that probably this was already discussed in a topic at a different area of the forum, but…
Let me try to be as clear as I can…
A few starting things:
- RD events don’t use a “more players” MOD, that permit 30 racers for instances. (In my view it’s understandable as these MODs potentiate a few glitches on the game INET code).
- So we will have a maximum of 25 simRacers on-line, wish gives a field of about 8 cars per class.
I’ve done in another club (about 6 months ago) in the past a few endurance multiclass events and can testify that:
- They are good simulators of real live endurance race since we bring into play one of the most important aspects of the endurance driver, the ability to handle and overtake securely cars that turn and are overall much slower.
- Races within the race… not only it is educational (fights the notion of” the top guy takes it all”) but also it is good to keep people interested as we have at least 2x more people fighting for the top spots.
- It is fun to see that slower class guy stick it between the top class ranking (the underdog syndrome).
The racetrack
- This version of the Paul Ricard has a very long straight (This favors “top speed cars”, it’s easier from skill point of view, one can rest more while driving, and it permits clean & easy overtaking).
- The racetrack is wide, in fact very wide in some areas (I’m used to Nordschleife and Spa) wish helps overall.
The mixed classes
- Big differences in lap times, especially from GTP to the others.
- Very different fuel autonomies
- The add-on GTP cars have the fuel capacity of GT Sport class and actually only a few GT club cars have a slight lesser fuel autonomy (so they kind of are in a class of its own).
- The big straight will favor a few selected cars in each class (not that important… who wants to win?
).
So all this so called “facts” for what?
Why not go with:
- a GTP – GTSport mix (12 cars – 13 cars).
- or GTSport – GTClub mix (again 12 -13).
- Instead of the actual GTP-GTS-GTC mix (9 – 8 -8)?
The 1st mix as the advantage the race will take less time so it will be easier and I’m sure it is more popular judging by the class choices so far in the topic.
The 2nd mix would give closer racing but the GTClub class will be the most tiring one as it will require slower going and more pit stops.
The 3rd mix, the one that currently is proposed as a few, let’s call it, “less advantageous” things:
- In a recent RD endurance event of about 135 mins, the race had a little bit less than 50% of the field at its finish (pesky game bugs/glitches, mechanical failures, accidents and so on). Judging by this number, and going with the 9/8/8 mix, basically who ever finish will have a podium place… wish isn’t bad, but it isn’t ideal either (“I was last and 3rd”).
- The less popular class (judging by the subscription so far) the GTClub, will be the “real deal” (and real pain), as it will not only have to contend with fellow class members, but also keep close eyes on the mirrors because they will be overtaken many times by the GTP and basically everyone else (although a few cars in this class can “upset” the GTSport ranking).
- This one is very much personal opinion, as I prefer to fight within bigger fields… I prefer to be an 8th in a 12 strong field, then and 8th in a 9 strong field kind of feeling.
- Going by the subscriptions so far, the GTClub class seems to be the less popular, so transferring GTC spots to the other 2 classes would upset 1 or 2 people but on the other hand maybe bring a few more in and happy 3 or 4.
Ok, it’s just an idea, I do admit, a looonnnngg one (sorry
), but it’s just that, to me the things are fine as they are, it’s just my opinion that due to the 25 max racers field, they could be better
Just to finish this one (even more than at the last Sunday), it will be monster… yes, we will like it (and hate it) :wink2:
