Snetterton Race Reports

[gorgias1976]

So, what can I say, frustation is the happiest feeling I get from yesterday. Whenever things want to go wrong, they do go wrong.
I had myself so much prepared for this race. I knew the track difficultness, the big gap with winged sparks, the new 60's version which has brought tires to be more driver demanding.... but I did have the time to try setup changes and got myself a car nice to drive at the limit.

Qualy
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Marcel W was strong since the begining and brought his F2B spark to a laptime my Eve was unable to reach. DjC, on the other hand, was close to my laptimes, just ahead by less than a 1 tenth of second. I knew I had a change to be in front of him if I made a good lap. It was my final shot as session was about to end. I made a superb first sector, seing a personal -0.2XX which could bring me to second place, but then some chatting started to be done and that brought down some of my concentration, went a little wide at sector two and my fastest lap was gone.

Race 1
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Did a good start, a bit of sliding but enough to be able to take David's position at turn 1-2. Then at turn 3 I stupdly spun out when accelerating. Don't know how as that never happened in all the practice I had taken, maybe the too loud other cars' engines that I couldn't ear my own tires but anyway I went to the grass.
Recovered quickly and thought that if I raced at my laptimes I could still make it to third and recover all damaged done. Replanned my strategy and decided to go for an early pitstop to avoid losing time fighting other cars.
Well, here came the second time of my night. Entered the pits, and saw that David Coyne was pitting and he had already been asigned the same pit. There was no room for thinking and no room for parking beside him (As I was able to do in Kyalami when Vittorio and I had the same pit asigned) so I had to drive through the pitlane seeing some cars passing me by throught the finish line.
A couple of laps later decide to do my pitstop. 49 seconds, could have better (down to 46) but you can't do nothing to avoid that.
Went back on track and some laps later Yerke came out from the pits a in front of me. Probably his brakes were cold and at the braking for turn 3 he went wide and started spinning. I drove the inside line thinking "don't hit me, don't hit me", but.... bang! his car went straight to the rear of my car losing control of it spinning straight to the grass (I think this is the lap you saw me overtake you twice Jesus). It was just a few laps to the end, with a damaged car I just drove to the end in 6th place, wich could have been worse.

Race2
-------
Started well, getting out of trouble through the outside lane of turn 1-2. Clean at turn 3-4-5-6 but at the braking of turn 7 Something happend between Jason and Everon the suddenly stopped. I broke hard to avoid Everon but gave him a very little touch, the same happened to Bryan who just touched me slightly.
Suddenly I found that after this slight touches my car was seriously damaged, wheel turned about 20º to the right to keep the car straight. This brought to a very hard driving just being able to keep a 1 sec behind Everon and Jason and holding Bryan, who went for an early pitstop. Later I went for my pitstop. This time it took an ethernal 51 seconds. Any chance of being in front of Everon, Jason or Bryan was gone.
After my pitstop I came out a little behind Bryan, but as laps went by he started struggling with his car, having trouble mainly at turn 8, just before the back straight missing the rubber lane. Two laps to the end he went really wide again on that turn and I went for his slipstream. Went to the left side for the braking and there we took contact. Looks like we take a different approach to turn 9 as in my driving view I felt as if he jsut went to the left while braking, but Bryan says he does a different line there (we made contact just before to the 100m signal).
As a consecuence of this Jason overtook as, Bryan went some seconds ahead and I just drove the extra damaged car to the end, back again in sixth place.

Race 3
--------
At this moment I just didn't mind what else could happen to me, just wanted to finish the race as I wasn't having any fun.
Did a good start but there was a big traffic ahead so just cared to get out of the first 4 turns safe. At turn 3 exit Neela moved to the right trying to avoid some crashing cars at the left but unfortunately I was on her right side and our wheels got hooked, also Jason was put to the grass as he was right on my right. An extra damaged car, back to the back of the grid, but I was confident I could still make a good recovery. Race was clean, some cars went to the pits early, others I overtook them on track and at half race I was 5 sec behind DjC who was leading the race. He went for his pitstop and I remained on track to at least put a lap on the lead and get extra points. Two laps to the end I went for my pitstop. If all went well I knew time gaps were enough to be in the battle for the win.
But hell rose again in pits and my pitstop took 52 seconds (I must fire all my crew) so as I was about to exit pits I saw 5 cars just go in front of me.
Finally ended 6th just 5seconds behind race leader, if pitstop would have taken the good 46sec it should take things could have been a lot different to me. In frustation as I crossed the finish line I turned off the computer and put the wheel in its box.


So the number of the beast came tonight "6th-6th-6th"
A race I had so much prepared went down the drain.
In my bad feelings I've just decided to take a two week break, not getting on the wheel untill the day before Brianza. I'll pick up the previous Brianza setup which worked pretty well then at the beginning of the season and just train that couple of days and get back to racing.

[Lecram]

It was quite a confusing week with this content-update. Like almost everyone, I too was in the dark about what to adjust to make the car handle like it used to. Luckily, Bryan posted the base-set and Saturday afternoon I drove some laps and got 59ers pretty easily. Confidence was back! ;D I can't exactly put my finger on it but it feels to me like I have to drive the F2 more like the F3 used to drive. Very careful on brake and throttle and most important, keep momentum in corners and don't lock tires or they will go bad...

So, sadly for my direct competitors and also to my surprise tbh, qualify and race 1 and 2 were a breeze for me.

Race 3 I got thru the first couple of corners without major problems or damage and I had gained quite some places till I t-boned Marcel T who was parked on the track. I initially thought it was over but I had a lot of luck there, all wheels still attached but bent steering so I drove to pit as quick as I could, I even overtook Jesus in the last corners of the lap. To my surprise the stop took 51 secs and while I did the things I had planned to do after 6 or 7 laps or so, I realised I could still get a good result. So back out again, Bryan had pitted too and had passed me and David Coyne flew by when I got out but I had a nice clear track in front to make up some time. I reeled in DC and others made their stops. After I had passed DC after the backstraight, I was in 4th and I joined E, B and DjC who were having a nice fight for the podium. I tried to pass DjC at turn 2 last last lap but didn't stick. After that I was too far off to try anything but it was nice to see us four finish almost within a second. 8)

Cya at the next fun-race

[Craven Morespeed]

[/quote]

Pain sucks. >




It's written in every race-announcement (news), don't chat during during qualify and race. I'm sorry you have physical problems and I don't want to come across harsh but qualify or race isn't the time to vent those issues or to think out loud whether to participate or not. You might think of this as a game as you stated before but for most it's a little more than that and concentration is easily lost if someone is chatting, esp. those last moments of qualify, when everyone get's their last chance to get further up on the starting grid.

I hope your shoulder heals soon and you won't have anymore issues with doing what you enjoy.
[/quote]

Got the message in chat during qualifying. Sorry if I caused issues. My bad. Won't be happening again. Good luck too all and thank you.

[giorgetto giaguaro]

Here we are with another great racing night.

I managed, during the week, to find out a comfortable setup. So it was; my time was not so fast but I was able to drive "relaxed" on this difficult track.

11th time in qualy with a new PB 2:02.8

Race 1: Scared of that first corner didn't manage to drive flowly and had a little contact with Jesus (my fault) wich made me loose 3/4 positions.
After that it was a very clean race without mistakes. Finished in 8th position.

Race 2: Started in 9th position with Jesus's breath behind my neck and then, after some corners, I hade Yerke ON my neck. He was returning on track after another accident. My car was damaged but not so much, so I decided to not repair it and save pit time.
Finished in 10th.

Race 3: A nice start but at 2nd corner me and Jesus was having different lines and we crashed. Rf2 decided to overturn my car but it was so gentle to to not hardly damage my poor hippieve . So i was able to have the same going of before andte some laps saw Niko and Jesus in front of me. I first stupidly had a contact with Niko (so sorry Niko) who was making me pass and then approach with Jesus. We made 2 laps very close but our battle was decided by the pit time. (I had a 47sec pit time).
Another 8th position wich means good points for me.

Hey Jesus, nice to see you here!

[Neela]

Great turnout again and some great racing. I completely rebuilt my cockpit to be more comfortable this week. I even had a physical lol....Still no go with the shoulder. I've avoided getting it fixed thinking it was healed enough to drive, but now I must address it or not race again. That's not an option. So I will stick around and do what I can to help SR4L and see a specialist. I will get the shots that will help and hope I can avoid surgery. Not looking for sympathy lol..... Old football injury. Not sure if I will drive any better but at least when I turn the wheel it won't hurt so bad.

ThomP

Get well soon Thomas! Hope the specialist can help you very quick

[yerkeee]

Race 01

Had a very bad race, went off at the start, bumped Mel at T3, very sorry about that. Pitstop went well came out in front of Gorka but I miscalculated the braking and went off, span and hit Gorka. Such bad judgement from me, my apologies. Later on, tried to overtake Jesus at t6 but overbraked and went off. I overtook him though before last turn. I took the outside line and squeezed myself between the corner and Jesus. That was the only good stuff that happened that night. Finished 9th

Race 02

I had outbraked Bryan on t6 but it was no good because of a multiple collision which I also joined in on.
Oversteered on the grass and hit Giorgio, making way for Bryan, who happily passed us. Finished 8th.

Race 03

Rejoined the server and had to start from the back. Had incredible lag from the beginning and bumped Giorgio accidently.
Lagging continued when Giorgio came closer, a lag spike and it was over. A soft bump and I went sky up. After countless flips I'd landed in Snetterton's backyard. Tried to find a way back to the pits but it was wrong way anywhere I went so I got disqualified.

What a dissapointing end. Well, atleast I had fun.

I captured some footage about what happened in race 2 and 3.
This one is for Giorgio, a tribute to his awesome car! Don't mind the song everyone, haha!

http://vimeo.com/65076979

[Neela]

What a great video with great music Yerkee

[vittorio]

I remembered how difficult Snetterton was in last F3 season, so i practiced alot and was well prepared.
My setup wasn't good anymore after the update, less grip and somehow felt like a boat. Bryan kindly gave me his setup.
I felt how fast it was but couldn't control it. So i took his gears and interpolated his changes to suspension vs default suspension setting. Bias to known good 61:39.
-> Still fast but less aggressive. My way of setting up a car - LOL

Before quali I practiced doing a whole race distance. 10 laps without a mistake -> Felt confident. In Quali 2:03 -> great.

The racing highlights:

In race 1 everything was fine till the pitstop. My pit was occupied! Luckily I remembered one of gorka's race reports that one pit can server more than one car.

At the end of race 1 I had a fight with Neela for 14th place. I knew Neela's clean style, so waiting for a mistake doesn't work.
I had to overtake knowing I'm not good in overtaking (not enough practice). For a clean and less dangerous overtake i tried to be faster out of a turn before a longer straight.
But i made a mistake even before entering the turn being too close and touched, we spun. Sorry Neela, this was clearly my mistake, I knew you have different breaking points.
I lost, but it was a great lesson! (now practicing how to overtake properly)

In race 3 I overtook Nikos in the pits. I was 10 sec behind Nikos before the pitstop and 10 sec in front after the pitstop. This was quite surprising and I watched the replays and calculated:
On a ~500m pit lane, the difference between driving close to 100km/h and 60 km/h is 12 sec! I didn't thought there is that much difference.

Overall, a difficult but thrilling race. No points made and i'm still 10 points behind Nikos. I'm starting to doubt. How many races are there left in the F2 season?

[~IsR~ Jason]

Scary moment at the second hairpin but looks really cool, Race 1 Lap 2 -

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItscyvQJNaM&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

[DJCruicky]

Some funny race reports from all .
Race 1 + 2
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Both 1 and 2 race reports are the same.
Had slow starts from 2nd on the grid, people overtook. Re overtook them, finished races in 2nd well be hide MarcelW who was untouchable. Well done MW.

Race 3
--------
Near back of the grid, squeezed passed people at the start following Marcel W. Then round one corner, big tyre smoke everywhere, #Boom! MW car explodes as he found a car spun in middle of track, someones car fly's over mine. phew no contact.
Overtook a few more cars. Got up to 1st place man Everon, he pitted lap 5, I pitted lap 6 and jump him in the pits, yeah , But, what was this? 'Speeding in pit lane, drive though pen' huh, nooooo :o. My pit was perfect so I thought. 2 laps later did my drive through and come out behind the Everon and Fergy battle. Everon doing everything to keeping us behind until Fergy hits him with 1 lap to go. Path blocked with both cars, I get stuck for a second, then wack from behind, who's this? it's Marcel W! I thought he was out! :o. I had a quick fight with him but kept him behide to finish in 3rd place.
Watched replay of my pit, entering it was ok 88km, the exit my nose goes over the line going 101km. Robbed myself of 1st place, doh.

Was fun, CU next race.

DJc

[Everon]

Hello everyone. I thought it was Bryan who beat me in the last lap, and what I read was Fergy. First of all I apologize to Bryan blame on the touch (I got mad enough as it was the first race I could win ... missing 300 or 400 meters to finish line ... last lap ... my first win was coming in two championships ...).

I must admit that I made a very aggressive setup was very fast which in turns 1-3, but quite slow in turns 4 and 5, especially in the latter.

I think the best for myself and for Bryan (and that was not what hit me) to be granted to the first position, and he did not do anything illegal.

About the races, I love seeing as the level of all riders grows exponentially.

A greeting and a hug.

Everon. : :-X

[Fergy]

Bryan is Fergy Bryan Ferguson also known as me

You deserved the win Everon well done.

Great to see your report too. Great English

[1959nikos]

sweet to see you reporting Everon, a big hug from me too

[Lecram]

In my bad feelings I've just decided to take a two week break, not getting on the wheel untill the day before Brianza. I'll pick up the previous Brianza setup which worked pretty well then at the beginning of the season and just train that couple of days and get back to racing.

I hope you rethink that. For one it's the race where you can exploit your Eve's advantage to the max and second, practicing gives often (at least for me) the most fun, sometimes even more than raceday. Especially at this track, I could slipstream and overtake and vice versa like I just did with DjC and DC all day long lol 8)

But I'm a freak, I know :o ;D

Hugs and boo's and hisses back E ;-)

[1959nikos]

Monza is up and it feels great!!

Are you coming Wim?

You are so fast there

[jpdesigns]

I raced the first race, had some fun and spun out a couple times, that seems to be my signature move. Then my friends showed up at my door and I left for the beach lol. Some good racing out there though

[deecee52]

Gorka i was playing with an Eve at Brianza , i found its around 2 km faster on top end but more importantly it gets to its top end far quicker than Spark and holds its speed better through the banking , the spark runners are going to have to work hard to stay anywhere nesr you , i reckon its going to be around a second or more a lap faster .

[Everon]

Bryan is Fergy Bryan Ferguson also known as me

You deserved the win Everon well done.

Great to see your report too. Great English



...ok...i use google translator...

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡YYIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A LOT POINTS FOR ME........JAJAJAJAJ

THANK YOU. ;D ;D ;D ;D :o :o :o :o : : : :-* :-* :-* :-*

[giorgetto giaguaro]

I captured some footage about what happened in race 2 and 3.
This one is for Giorgio, a tribute to his awesome car! Don't mind the song everyone, haha!
http://vimeo.com/65076979

Ok Yerke, now, my poor knowledge of english makes me misunderstand the point of that video. Can you be more explicit? What's the mean of "short people"?

[Fergy]

After some research I found that Randy Newman (the song writer) said it was written from the perspective of a crazy person. There's no deep meaning it's just a silly song with a funny tune.