GT4: Valencia

Congrats Tristan for a nice win!

QUAL:
Some fast times out there and I set my PB as well but it was not enough for the pole. Was a bit unlucky when I had a pole in my sight but I had to lift big time when someone was trying to spin into the right direction in the last corner. Still, second place was a great result with Barry setting a great time in 3rd as well.

RACE:
Had a normal start, good enough to be able to keep my spot. Observed Barry in my mirrors making a great start behind me and also saw Steve going wide in T1 and in to the sand. Was really cautious on cold tyres and brakes but was still able to stay up with Tristan and even had a nice slipstream on the S/F straight on lap 2, but a pass was impossible. I like this track and I had a good pace but Tristan was just a bit to fast in first part of the race, building up 4 seconds of lead and then just controlling it till the end. Still I'm happy with my performance, not making any mistakes and doing some constant fast laps. Was faster than in my offline testing so I'm happy with that as well. Congrats to Barry for 3rd place finish as well.

First let me say i'm sorry for hitting whoever i hit from behind at the end of the straight. i will not be running any more races in the lotus. i had fun the first 3 races, even though i did'nt do very well. but tonight just showed me how far below the skill level of most of you guys i am. i don't want to ruin anyones race, from someone trying to avoide me. your all a nice group of guys, hope to see some of you running RBR.

Rough night! All my woes came down to trouble in T1, which I struggled with all night. I was three tenths off my offline pace both in qualifying and the race, with Motec showing all the loss and then some coming in T1. I wasn't using the swing-out line most were, and it meant being dead-on with my braking and turn-in; unfortunately I was just off a bit.

Was still on pace for a 16.6 in my 2nd qualy stint when I came up on a badly warping car late in the lap. Wasn't sure what would happen so I backpedaled a bit before just driving right through him and that was that. Not too unhappy with 3rd though, considering my results of late. RL's not leaving me a lot of bandwidth for spending time honing my driving, so it was nice to actually get some seat time in before this one.

Start went OK but not great, and I saw Barry get a good launch and go for the inside. I wasn't sure where he was so I tried to stay far outside, but overdid it on cold tires and went off into the kitty litter of death. That stuff is deep!

Rejoined way the heck back around 15th or so, and spent the rest of the race trying to make up ground. Saw Mike and Kent back there too, so I figured it must've gotten messy up front. Lots of mistakes along the way by me as well as others, but I got as far back up as 7th before finally dooming my progress by half-looping it a few times being too throttle happy off some slow corners. Just overdriving...

@ Garret - apologies for apparently turning you (again in my bete noir corner, T1). Looked like there was a couple of meters clearance to me at the time (& in my local replay), but the server shows us closer. Still a bit of room there too, but the way you went around it was obvious there was some help. Netcode!

Not so great a night resultswise, but fun trying - as always.

I entered this race with 20 mins to spare because I wanted to help out Kent and GTNDC. The elise has always been responsive to my driving style, but I was not expecting to do as well as I did. In practice my first laps were 1:20s! I fitzd and futzd with the setup, turned the sway bars to nearly full soft, took off a ton of rear wing per Kent's recommendation, gave some more positive rear toe and set out. 1:17s. Phew!!!

Qualifying was tense as I saw so many people with that little arrow next to their name indicating fastest-sector times and potential pole laptimes. I put in the best I could and it was enough.

Fortunately Matjaz did not get alongside at the start, and so I was allowed full use of the racetrack into and out of turn 1. I watched behind and saw the mess of cars zooming into the gravel... Looks like a lot of tough luck for many. The replay did not show any particular blame on anyone.

Matjaz got close for two laps, but slowly I pulled a gap after he entered 1 too hot and I simultaneously set a 1:16 with almost full fuel onboard. As he said, it was just consistence from then on. No other incidents except for a cross-up at the chicane. Traffic was fantastic in every instance.

See you all in Jiading! GTNDC, only 8 points down...

That was a rough one for me. I entered with 0 laps turned for various reasons. I managed to be in the top 10 for qualy which was pleasing as it was practice for me.

Switching to the race, my sound decided to quit. I debated whether or not to continue, but said "What the heck" and headed to grid.
Driving an entire race without sound is, well, stupid. I don't recommend it. It caused me to make several mistakes downshifting which induced spins, twice. After spinning, it is just impossible to make up any distance in these things. I was glad to stay in the top 10 at the finish.

Steve: NP, I couldn't hear you right on my bumper! :P

My day started off with a bad qualifying sesssion.So I started dead last.I got a good start and was up to 12th.T1 wasnt as bad as id thought it be.I avoided a few crashes.Then on the second lap Two guys passed me on the strait and took each other out into T1 Then i got spun in T2.I got spun around 5 times by other people last night.I thought I acctully could have had a top 10 car. Get em next time.Congrads Tristan!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bad night out in the little cars at a track I absolutely hate. I just couldn't figure out the last section. The curbs are high, yet you need to use them on exit to get a quick lap. Off camber exits make controlling the rear difficult too.

Matjaz - I was the one who blew your pole lap. I looped it in the last turn and ended up online facing the wrong direction. I tried to flick spin it in the right direction hastely, but looped it too far around. Sorry dude.

Starting 6th was the furthest back I've started in memory. Being mid-pack does come with it's troubles. T1, Kent and I get together, but do not see a penalty here. I was ahead on the inside and Kent swung out wide for the traditional line heading for the apex. I don't think he saw me and our doors slammed. He ended up being hip checked by me and was sent to the kitty litter from hell. Bad luck Kent. Even worse was the punting you recieved in T1 lap 2.

I'm in 4th at the end of T1 and feel good that I can cruise to a decent finish on a track I hate. Someone behind in T2 felt otherwise and punted me around. The field streams by and I'm back to 15th.

Lap 2, I get a little loose in the chicane and someone helps to finish the job sending us both for a spin.

Lap 3, I lose the rear in the last turn. My tires are getting funky from all those spins and flick spins.

Lap 4, I lose the rear in the last turn again. At this point, my rear tires are real funky. I back way down for 5 laps to let the tires cool. From there, I was able to mount a charge.

Dissapointing evening. I wish other folks would show more patience. I'm surprised if a penalty isn't handed down to the individual who took out the 4th place driver that is leading the championship. It was avoidable contact.

Garret - I enjoyed the battle in the closing laps. I think you had more at the end there. A few more laps would have been stressful. I really enjoy racing all the CanAm boys!

Congrats to Tristan for a nice win and to Majtaz for second and to Barry for third

I just can't figure these cars out as far as set up goes. Had fun racing this one though. I agree that there was some really bad driving out there. No patience by some at all. Starting from 13th, there just no excuse for ending up 7th by the end of lap 1. I drove by so many cars that were in the litter. What was going on up there? I had so many faster guys pass me during the race and I thought, "How the hell did Miller, Diduck, Blankenship and Hedrick get behind me?" I hope I didn't hold you guys up as you passed me. Tried to give room for you all. Maybe next season I can run with you guys, but for now, I'm just happy to have those few runs with you all. You guys drive so good and clean, it makes it fun. Thanks to Garry for showing me some good lines the previous night in practicing. Got me into the 18's! I was suffering in the 20's before that. See you all in 2 weeks!

Yep dissaster at Valencia for me.

Wasn't expecting much although I was expecting at least a top 5.

T1 L1 I went for the apex not knowing Mike was there, got a bit of a hip check but was still on the exit curbing when Bradon drifted out a bit (not intentional I am sure) and finished me off into the gravel with Steve ahead of me in the gravel. Really surprised that there was literally NO steering in the trap and had to almost stop the car to get out.

Rejoined in 15th and started my charge, made it up to 13th and 14th as we entered the front straight, I actually had to back off behind Robert as we both past Julian. I made the pass on Robert before T1 but I guess he didn't realize I had to brake a little early due to my inside line, I got clobbered and off to the same trap for the second straight lap.

Made my way back up to 13 or 14th again with Steve right on my ass when my connection hicupped, it was so bd I just braked to a stop. It was acting like another window was trying to take focus so I toggled back and forth and after a few more seconds I was back at it......WELL DOWN.

Grats to Tristan salvaging something for the team, although I think with my poor result it didn't help too much.

Mike, that was me behind you in the chicane. Just didn't have anywhere to go when you got sideways over the curbing and lost all your momentum; nothing I could do but hit the brakes, which I did. Put me off too with you getting away first, which was fine by me - never like to benefit from that sort of thing even if I didn't initiate it.

Kent - I wondered what happened when you pulled off. I was afraid we'd had contact or something. Didn't think so, but with the way some guys' cars were jittering around I wasn't 100% sure. Glad that wasn't the case.