1976 F1 Season - Round 8 France Paul Ricard REPORTS

[Ricknau]

A ton of practice and a PB only got me 11th on the grid. Man this is a tough field. Fun early racing with Cookie, Fergy, Parzoe and Bendix. Settled into 9th. Went up to 7th when fast guys pitted but settled right back down to 9th when they blew by me some laps later. After 20 laps all I was doing was hanging on to a wildly erratic handling car. Bendix followed patiently and when I bobbled after the long straight he got by me with a few to go. Then Dan B had an off with 2 to go and gave me 9th back and there I finished. My best strategy seems to be "never pit". I get the higher finish position but the "racing" loses it funness.

[bendx]

Given the circumstances, I'm very pleased to finish in the top ten.
Not enought practice to change the default setup, which means here lack of speed. So yep, patient, solid course I think, given problems with tires and top speed...
Fun chase with you, Ricknau, it always more easy behind and you seem struggle more with tires so...yep I try to stay close and wait ... and pass when I can. Yes, not a very flamboyance style :p

However, I see a lot of contacts here. Hit by behind for the third time (in 4 courses...), I don't know, it a bad impression or the cleanliness is so-so ? Maybe I break also too soon ???

Anyway fun course, and thanks again !

[Dan Bayford]

First of all I just want to a massive thank you to our admin at sr4l you guys are making an amazing race season for us all an it is very much appreciated
My race went great right up to the point I realised I didn't have enough fuel to finish so I put my foot in limp mode and hoped for the best I let a few past me but it was still not enough so I had no option but to let the race leader past me making it 1 lap less for me to complete I'm so gutted but that racing just hope I learn more for the next race grats to the podium and thanks all for good racing c u at the next one

[smbrm]

Thanks Ed Pond for the loan of a setup. I haven’t done any serious racing for quite a while due to moving house. Got hit from behind after a spin out, lost a wheel, but made it to the pits. Only took the crew 128 seconds to replace the corner and make other Repairs!

[Fergy]

Big apologies to who ever was around me the first few laps, Rick Nauman especially. My pedal set finally gave up the ghost after showing signs for some time now. I basically have 50 percent brake pressure must have looked like a drunken mad man the first few laps as the car simply would not pull up. This gives me the excuse I've been looking for to buy an new set

Apologies to Rick, Parzoe and possibly Dan Minges who ran up the back of me trying to control the beast.

Another great turn out, with 20 drivers on track and as always great fun practising and chatting with who ever is in the servers.

Serious note;
the rule for replacing a wheel after crash has only been use at certain tracks. This will change and be make official by the next race. Basically... you can't do it as we try and keep some realism into this season. Pm's to follow.

[deecee52]

For me this was a classic case of how to drive like an idiot .:mad:

Got a good start then realised I had not swopped to my race setup , whilst swearing and cursing at my stupidity I missed my braking point for the first corner and spun out , rejoined in last but car was fast so quickly made places back , then whilst fiddling with fueling I again messed up the braking at the end of the long striaght and had another spin . Pitted around lap 12 then tried to drive conservatively to protect my tyres and eventually finished 6th DOHo_Oo_Oo_O

[bullwinkle]

Well another hard one hour race. Got spun on lap one but was able to go on. then a few laps after that had a spin with someone I forget who but that may have been my fault if so I am sorry. Just kind of drove around got a cut track stop and go toward the end finished 11. The last half of the race my car was doing some awful things rocking back n forth like I had no shocks on it. hard to hold onto the wheel.

[Bruce]

Good run. Off pace by about 10 seconds so got lapped a couple of times. That said good run, never actually got into the 1m40s but managed without having to pit, went off a couple of times but nice big runoff areas are a great help, and didn't even scratch my paintwork. Nearly hit a wheel in the middle of the track but saw it in time to avoid and the marshals cleared it by the time I came round again. Nice to pick up a few more points for Team Shunt.

[J-P SImard]

Very interesting race, we could for the first time of the season make the most of the 6th speed of the McLaren.

On my side I have a very good fight with Daniel early in the race but by far I watched David and I knew he would not stop, as often. All was well until I arrived at the scene of a big crash, and I collected a suspension arm that was on the track. I do not know if it was in my head, but the car seemed not fast anymore and I stopped ahead and change the tires, which solved the problem.

This early stop complicated my strategy and I pushed hard and I was very not sure of catching David. I had a great fight with Ron and David to finally win in extremis. A lot of fun with nice moments of clean driving, of the great class of all the pilots .. Thank you all and see you soon!