TOCA2 Round 3 Brands Hatch

[tannat]

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh15/tannatmadiran/untitled-3.jpg

Apologies for the small image-tough to find good 90's BTCC photos...

Two short but sweet races to encourage close finishes.


RACE1
Weather: Sunny
Number of laps:3
Qualify:Yes
Difficulty: Expert


RACE2
Weather: Cloudy
Number of laps:5
NO QUALIFYING
Difficulty: Novice


CAR ASSIGNMENTS
Jan Yeo-Honda
#1 JTFan-Nissan
Alfa Fan-Peugeot
IronRooster-Renault
Tannat-Vauxhall
JonBrown-Audi
Paddy52-Ford



Please send qualifying time, fastest lap and total race time for each race by 12 pm midnight Hawaii time on August 8 by PM to tannat or [email:j2qwlzv5]james.knowles@stjude.org[/email:j2qwlzv5].

Screenshots and race descriptions invited

[tannat]

Results received from IronRooster :up:

[MrMetro]

I qualified in 14th and finished race 1 in 13th, after been shoved into the gravel, although I enjoyed myself, Brands is a great touring car track

1st in race two, an dominant win, lapping some cars on the last lap.

[tannat]

I qualified in 14th and finished race 1 in 13th, after been shoved into the gravel, although I enjoyed myself, Brands is a great touring car track

1st in race two, an dominant win, lapping some cars on the last lap.

Good show in race 2, IR :up:

[MrMetro]

Good show in race 2, IR :up:

thanks tannat, although I must admit, the Renault is my favourite car, it really suits my driving style. It was an aggresive race, lots of shoving, a 'track war' I believe the best term for it.

[52Paddy]

The Ford is another car that I've very little experience with. Brands is good track, one I know reasonably well though it really bites you in the backside when exiting Paddock Hill. There is a nasty bump somewhere across the track which badly unsettles the car. I need to avoid that above all else.

[MrJan]

I haven't had a crack at this yet but Brands is so tricky. The bump at the bottom of Paddock Hill Bend can ruin your race and there's another awkward bit on the entry to Clearways, if you get that wrong then you just understeer off.

[tannat]

I haven't had a crack at this yet but Brands is so tricky. The bump at the bottom of Paddock Hill Bend can ruin your race


For certain if you do not have your steering resolved by the bump you WILL spin....

[tannat]

Paddy will share in my elation for finally getting analog input on steering for this game.

I've practically worn my left thumb out using the fingerpad on this game. The steering was imprfecise and non-linear, making bumps like the one described by Jan Yeo above almost impossible to negotiate successfully, especially throughout an entire race.

Now I can zip through Paddock Hill Bend flat out with no downforce with no issues :up:

Now I just need to learn to slow down for the following curve :(

[MrJan]

Well that was ****. Had an alright first race with a pole and running out ahead until a spin going into paddock hill bend on the last lap, followed by a half spin on the last corner. Lost acres of time but still won as I held up the Nissans.

Second race is all about dealing with the traffic. Was well out ahead and looking at a good time until someone spoke to me and I lost concentration. Span it on the exit of clearways and then had a few more issues while I angrily tried to make up time. Won the race but reckon that I lost nearly twenty seconds.

Will email tannat my times now :up:

[tannat]

An official welcome to Mr Jan Yeo to the series ..... :up:

[tannat]

An official welcome to Mr Jan Yeo to the series ..... :up:

[AndyRAC]

I haven't had a crack at this yet but Brands is so tricky. The bump at the bottom of Paddock Hill Bend can ruin your race and there's another awkward bit on the entry to Clearways, if you get that wrong then you just understeer off.

Ha ha, yeah, used to go off a lot there, it's off camber, and tighter than you think.

[tannat]

I haven't seen #1JT Fan and Jon Brown about lately.

There may be a 4 car grid for this round..

[#1JamesThompsonFan]

Hey Guys! I am about... I have just not been able to post for a while, hopefully do my races tomorrow evening.

Welcome Mr Jan Yeo

[Brown, Jon Brow]

I haven't seen #1JT Fan and Jon Brown about lately.

There may be a 4 car grid for this round..

I'll be racing these tomorrow :up:

[tannat]

Glad to see you guys are around.

A six car grid will be nice....

[tannat]

Driver's Championship

1-#1JTFan--------------28 points
2-JonBrown--------------22
2-Tannat----------------22
4-Paddy52---------------15
5-IronRooster-------------12

Manufacturer's Championship

1-Ford--------------------18 points
1-Peugeot----------------18
3-Vauxhall----------------16
3-Volvo-------------------16
5-Honda------------------10
6-Nissan-------------------8
7-Renault------------------8
8-Audi---------------------5

[52Paddy]

I do plan to get my races done over the weekend. Tomorrow I have a driver theory test so hopefully I can get them done afterwards. If not, I'll do them on Sunday :)

[tannat]

I do plan to get my races done over the weekend. Tomorrow I have a driver theory test so hopefully I can get them done afterwards. If not, I'll do them on Sunday :)

Driver theory?

[52Paddy]

Driver theory?

I'm not sure how it works in the states but here, you must complete a theory test (written exam) to obtain a Learner's Permit before applying for your full driving licence. It's a pain but has to be done.

[tannat]

I'm not sure how it works in the states but here, you must complete a theory test (written exam) to obtain a Learner's Permit before applying for your full driving licence. It's a pain but has to be done.

I follow you, Paddy. Its the same here.

Good luck!

[Brown, Jon Brow]

I know I said I was going to be doing the races yesterday but I was over the 'drink-drive' limit, so I'll make sure I get them done today.

[tannat]

I know I said I was going to be doing the races yesterday but I was over the 'drink-drive' limit, so I'll make sure I get them done today.


No huge rush. Deadline tomorrow midnight....

[tannat]

Only two times in thus far (IronRooster and Mr Jan Yeo)...

[tannat]

Completed my races.

The behavior of the Vauxhall on the first lap was atrocious-I guess the programmers were trying to replicate cold tyre behavior? Regardless, it was a shambles.

Very pleased with my qualifying pace, but wished I could gain about a second per lap in my race pace.

Race two was confounded by traffic, but no serious errors

[Brown, Jon Brow]

The Audi is an interesting car. Very easy to drive but maybe lacking a bit of grunt.

My first race was very smooth. Pole postition to victory without any drama.

Race 2 was awful. I got into the lead before Graham Hill bend but was losing over 7 seconds a lap trying to lap traffic. :mad:

[52Paddy]

Finished my races. Quite enjoyable short format this time around :up:

Race 1 was mostly fine. Got a grand start from pole (pleased with my quali time) and the car (Ford) didn't let me down right up until Clearways on the final lap. I tried going for it in 6th (which is possible if you lift off and settle the car beforehand) but I wasn't quite setup correctly for the corner and couldn't catch the back from spinning out. Still managed to get going again and win the race but I reckon I lost about 7 seconds with that mistake.

Race 2 was pretty good too. I knew that I would need to use the opening lap to get to the head of the field, and had done so by Surtees. Laps 2 and 3 were where I had to push and make the break in the race. I set two decent laps though could have shaved another couple of tenths if I didn't go slightly sideways through Clearways on both runs! The Ford is a very forgiving car :up: The final two laps was the traffic jam. Lap 4 was decent enough, despite the painfully slow AI, but on lap 5 I was seriously impeded by one of the Renaults at Druids. My exit speed compromised my run to Graham Hill and more traffic made the final few corners a Sunday drive.

Nonetheless, I'm overall very happy with my races and also with the car. I have no experience driving the Ford and expected it to be a handful. But it did exactly as it was told.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Finished my races. Quite enjoyable short format this time around :up:

Race 1 was mostly fine. Got a grand start from pole (pleased with my quali time) and the car (Ford) didn't let me down right up until Clearways on the final lap. I tried going for it in 6th (which is possible if you lift off and settle the car beforehand) but I wasn't quite setup correctly for the corner and couldn't catch the back from spinning out. Still managed to get going again and win the race but I reckon I lost about 7 seconds with that mistake.

Race 2 was pretty good too. I knew that I would need to use the opening lap to get to the head of the field, and had done so by Surtees. Laps 2 and 3 were where I had to push and make the break in the race. I set two decent laps though could have shaved another couple of tenths if I didn't go slightly sideways through Clearways on both runs! The Ford is a very forgiving car :up: The final two laps was the traffic jam. Lap 4 was decent enough, despite the painfully slow AI, but on lap 5 I was seriously impeded by one of the Renaults at Druids. My exit speed compromised my run to Graham Hill and more traffic made the final few corners a Sunday drive.

Nonetheless, I'm overall very happy with my races and also with the car. I have no experience driving the Ford and expected it to be a handful. But it did exactly as it was told.

Did you not have any trouble with the brakes on the Ford? I always find it wants to spin out under braking.

[MrJan]

From what I remember I used to get on alright with Ford. It's almost like the Pug in as much as it handles okay but lacks the power, although in the 406 the traits are more noticeable

[tannat]

Race 1: 1st and second separated by three tenths..

Race 2: 1st and 2nd separated by 9 seconds, but second and third by 4 tenths


Results tomorrow AM Memphis time....

[52Paddy]

Did you not have any trouble with the brakes on the Ford? I always find it wants to spin out under braking.

This isn't the best course to test the brakes. The only real braking point is Druids. And even that is not too harsh. I can understand your point though. Coming into Clearways in 6th gear, a tap of the brakes and an option of flicking back to 5th settles the car for the turn by, ironically, unsettling it! That might sound a little odd but it's due to the nature of the corner (fast but off camber). However, I reckon a track like Knockhill or Croft would be more of a test of the car's braking ability.

[52Paddy]

From what I remember I used to get on alright with Ford. It's almost like the Pug in as much as it handles okay but lacks the power, although in the 406 the traits are more noticeable

Well, with no downforce and a top end 6th gear, the performance seemed absolutely spot on here. It was easy enough to keep a smooth flow to the lap and carry the power around the circuit.

[#1JamesThompsonFan]

I like the Ford. It did me no harm at all. Just wanted to say thank you to whoever suggested no downforce. It improved my lap times at every track but a good 3 seconds per lap.

I am also glad to get Brands out of the way, its my bogey track due to the first corner and the bump at the bottom. But, we shall see how we all done later.

Thank you for suggesting this championship. I am really enjoying the competition

[tannat]

Race 2: 1st and 2nd separated by 9 seconds, but second and third by 4 tenths




Race 2: ...second through fourth separted by less than 5 tenths!!!!

Details forthcoming...

[tannat]

After an extended break the BTCC arrived for a weekend of good weather at Brands Hatch. Race 1 featured a shortened 3 lap format to encourage a close finish amongst competitors. Tannat set the qualifying pace with a 37.55 in the Vauxhall followed closely by points leader #1JTFan in the Nissan with a 37.70. The Audi of Jon Brown gridded third followed by Paddy in the Ford, new arrival to the series, Jan Yeo in the Honda in 5th and IronRooster in the Renault 6th.

It proved to be a cracker of a race with the top three separated by just over two seconds, but in the end it was Jon Brown in the Audi snatching victory from #1JTFan by just over 2 tenths of a second. Tannat rounded out the podium in the Vauxhall with fastest lap of the race at 38.83. Fourth went to Paddy in the Ford with the Honda of Jan Yeo in 5th and IronRooster in 6th, neither trailing too far behind the other.



http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh15/tannatmadiran/Brandsrace1.jpg

[tannat]

Race two featured cloudy conditions and back of grid starts for the field. In the end it was a resounding 9+ second victory by #1JTFan in the Nissan with an eye-opening 37.17 fast lap (very nice, JTFan :up: ).

The real battle for this race was for second with the Ford of Paddy, the Vauxhall of Tannat and the Audi of Jon Brown all contesting the position down to the wire-crossing the line three wide in that order. IronRooster completed the weekend in 5th spot in the Renault and Mr Jan Yeo took 6th for Honda.



http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh15/tannatmadiran/untitled-4.jpg

[#1JamesThompsonFan]

Well I would never of expected that result.

Tannat, Great results in the vauxhall, I am dreading my turn in the vectra

[tannat]

#1 JT Fan pulling a bit of a lead for driver's, and Ford is on top in manufacturers

Driver's Championship

1-#1JTFan--------------46 points (3 wins)
2-JonBrown-------------37 (2 wins)
3-Tannat-----------------34
4-Paddy52------------ --28
5-IronRooster-----------19
6-Mr Jan Yeo-------------7

Manufacturer's Championship

1-Ford-----------------31 points
2-Vauxhall------------28
3-Nissan---------------26
4-Audi-----------------20
5-Peugeot-------------18
6-Honda---------------17
7-Volvo---------------16
8-Renault--------------15

[tannat]

Well I would never of expected that result.

Tannat, Great results in the vauxhall, I am dreading my turn in the vectra

I am a bit disappointed with my race 1 performance-I wanted that one.


Mate, your fast lap in race 2 was incredible-cheers :beer:

I'm still trying to break into the 37s on this track in race mode.

It really wasn't too bad in the V'hall. I set it up ultra stiff and she did fine. Perhaps a bit more understeering than I would have liked, but you just have to be wary.

A big thumbs up to Paddy for the excellent and hard fought second in race 2 :up:

[tannat]

Next race: Donington, August 16-22

Car assignments:

Jan Yeo-Nissan
#1JTFan-Peugeot
AlfaFan-Renault
IronRooster-Vauxhall
Tannat-Volvo
JonBrown-Ford
Paddy-Honda

[#1JamesThompsonFan]

race 1 I was just too cautious
You can tell because of my fastest lap time. I was just trying not to lose it in the dip. But race 2 I just let loose the talent and mega concentration

[tannat]

race 1 I was just too cautious
You can tell because of my fastest lap time. I was just trying not to lose it in the dip. But race 2 I just let loose the talent and mega concentration

Vauxhall was quite skittish the first 1.5 laps of race 1. Laps here are so short, and race was so short that if you botch any detail you lose precious, precious time...

[MrJan]

If only I hadn't had such a bad last couple of laps in Race 2 then I could have been right up there. Looking forward to the next round, the Nissan is a decent car so I should have a half decent time. Still not sure that I can get near you lot that often though, at least not without a lot of practice.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

37.1 in the race is a very good time! :up:

I'm happy with race 1. That was an error free race for me. Race 2 was a nightmare with the traffic.

It's good to see such tight competition. I'm really enjoying this championship.

[52Paddy]

A big thumbs up to Paddy for the excellent and hard fought second in race 2 :up:

Cheers man. Really pleased with that result. Not too happy with race 1 but I guess that spin really hurt me. Even with the time lost, I don't think I'd have made the podium but certainly would have been in the region of it.

JTFan, I'm going to join the amazed crowd and give you mega kudos for that lap time. Pretty insane :eek:

Looking forward to the next round now. I've driven the Honda once or twice before and, from what I remember, it is pretty stable all round (hope I'm not in for a shock now!). And Donington is a track I know reasonably well. However, for some reason or other, I expect wet weather ;)

[tannat]

However, for some reason or other, I expect wet weather ;)

:D

[Brown, Jon Brow]

For those who were struggling with Paddock Hill bend BTCC legend Jason Plato shows us how to do it.


gPCGnkApnDU

:D

[MrJan]

Come on Tannat :p : I've got itchy feet to get on with Donnington :D It features one of the nastiest corners on the game (McLeans), christened 'The Bumpitty Corner' by me and my brother when we used to do a 2 player championship. You've got the flat out left curve of Schwantz which puts you in the wrong place on the track, then an awkward off-camber 90 right which drops away from you and has a massive bump on the inside. I will almost certainly lose it in each race and lose bags of time.

[tannat]

[quote="Mr Jan Yeo"]Come on Tannat :p : I've got itchy feet to get on with Donnington :D QUOTE]


Check your PMs but thread will be up in an hour or two...

[MrJan]

Class!! Now I have something to do this evening :D Many thanks again for setting up this championship :up: