[Wally]

In the spirit of trying some of the cars that will feature in the upcoming season 12 poll, this Tuesday we will try the Ferrari 312T and the Lotus 72D at Silverstone. I'll wait a bit until we do the Jap Pack, so people have a little more chance to buy the pack.

2 x 10 lap races, with a 15 min qually prior to both races. The idea is for you to do a race in each car, for comparison.

Realistic weather for Silverstone at this time of year is about 18 degrees.

[Wally]

PS. Damage at 100%

[Bacchulum]

Do we have to use both cars?
 

[Wally]

Do we have to use both cars?
 

Oh not really. It's  more to encourage people to try both cars. But if you've already settled on one of them, then fine.

[Bacchulum]

Yeah, my all time favourite driver, Ronnie Peterson, drove the 72D so there's no way I'm not driving one.

[Wally]

Yeah, my all time favourite driver, Ronnie Peterson, drove the 72D so there's no way I'm not driving one.

Why is he your favourite driver?

[Bacchulum]

He could drive a piece of shit fast!
He was always oversteery and when Gilles Villeneuve saw him said "I want to drive like that".
He also honoured his word when he signed as #2 to Andretti.

"Ronnie drives absolutely flat-out, all the time, If he's off the pace, then it might be the car. Not him."
Colin Chapman

"That would be a bloody fantastic spectacle, I can tell you. We would take corners one gear lower than we do now, and get the cars sideways. You know, people still rave about Ronnie Peterson in a Lotus 72, and I understand that. I agree with them. That's the kind of entertainment I want to give the crowds. Smoke the tyres ! Yeah ! "
Gilles Villeneuve discussing his ideal car and driver.

[marty]

I will be away next week so wont make this race, I did run a couple laps on the practice server and made a basic setup which is in ptracker for the lotus. There is still a fair bit left in the car here as each lap I was still finding something, the cars are fun to drive and are the exact opposite of last season. Seems there isnt a great deal of aero and my laptime was still a couple seconds slower then the GT3 pole lap there the other week. If these cars are accurate it goes to show how much technology has evolved if gt cars can now lap faster then a formula 1 car.

[slideways]

Won't be there for this one guys. Have fun.

[Wally]

Server's up.

[Mael]

That was great fun Wally, especially the second race!  Once one build a bit of confidence in the cars they really feel alive 

[Phil.8]

I really liked it, i think maybe fixed setup in these to get more driving and less setup fiddling

[grat]

The problem is that we cannot use the default setup (it is really bad for the lotus) and so the question is: who chooses the setup? I tried Marty's one, but could not make it work. I found something that worked for me and went for it... But yeah, it took a bit too much time to be fun. Although I appreciate learning a few mechanical tricks any now and then.

[Wally]

RACE RESULTS

Race 1 was won by Jeremy in the Ferrari. The fastest lap was set by Jeremy, a 2:01.921.

Race 2 was won by Bacchulum in the Lotus. The fastest lap was set by Grat, in a Lotus, a 2:01.795.

[Wally]

The problem is that we cannot use the default setup (it is really bad for the lotus) and so the question is: who chooses the setup? I tried Marty's one, but could not make it work. I found something that worked for me and went for it... But yeah, it took a bit too much time to be fun. Although I appreciate learning a few mechanical tricks any now and then.

I'm not a fan of fixed setups for Tuesday nights. Setting up your car is all part of the skill, or leave it at default if you don't know what you're doing. Like Grat says, which fixed setup do you use? It might make the car better for some people and worse for others.

As to the racing, I enjoyed it. It's intense and requires concentration. Even if you're not battling other cars, it feels like an achievement to finish a race without either destroying your engine or your gearbox, or making too many mistakes. It's rewarding. Racing where you barely have time to blink is good racing.

Pros and cons:

Pros: Is a test of concentration and tiring, so you feel like you've really run a race! You get a sense of achievement.
The field can get rapidly shuffled, because it's easy for anyone to make a mistake, or in the extreme case, blow their gearbox.

Cons: Racing can be lonelier.
Perhaps a higher level of frustration as it's easier to make mistakes.
Potentially daunting setup options.

Anyway, use the experience to consider your season 12 option vote in the poll.