rFactor 2 Round 5 Bathurst 2021 Laser Scanned - 2024-03-10

It's OK Matteo - I knew what you meant about having a boring race
My races can be a bit boring for the same reason - I'm driving all alone and never have a battle with anyone - but with me it's because I'm at the back of the grid and can't keep up with anyone (Actually that's not true, because even the 'boring' ones are still really enjoyable )
As far as offering you a drink in Australia, I absolutely would and would absolutely love it. Maybe even a couple of drinks Unfortunately though, I'm not living there at the moment so it's not very likely - but if you ever find yourself in N.Ireland . . . the first one's on me
Congrats again on the win.

 

@Simon Barnes I'm not sure if you saw my whisper in the game chat yesterday during quali so I want to say it here too. I'm sorry I ran into you going down the mountain. Boneheaded move on my part as I sometimes forget I'm a in right hand drive car in this series and don't account for that bit of my car on the left of me. That's basically what happened and I thought I was going to clear you but obviously didn't. Then I ran into you again going into pit lane on that same lap. Again, me being a dumbass. I was slamming the brake yet the car kept rolling. I couldn't understand why that was until I realized I was on the clutch (I'd spun again near pit entry and I guess I never moved my foot back over in the shuffle...embarrassing, but that's the truth of it)

Outside that, I had a clean race, surprisingly. Very tough combo and a heck of a work out. Just tried to stay consistent and take what I could get. Not a ton to speak of as the race, from my seat, looked quite clean (especially for a Bathurst race!)....final lap was a bit nuts and I took the opportunity to pick up P5 at the last moments when the cars ahead of me got together a bit. Didn't expect that but I'll take it

Felt like I should have been fighting for P3 but I got a S/G penalty at my tire change stop for speeding in pit lane and had to traverse that eternally lasting pit lane at snail's pace to clear it. Got on the throttle too much leaving my box and it lurched me to 27-28mph briefly, but was enough to catch the penalty. I knew better, just a bit caught up in the rush of trying to get back out on track and botched it.

Grats to those up front and all that finished. And thanks to SRO and our broadcaster(s) for hosting this race and this series. It's been a blast!

 

@Jason Whited I saw your message thanks but wasn't entirely sure if it was for me, but thank you anyway.
Don't worry Jason, I go very slowly compared to the fast guys so I guess it's inevitable to some extent.
Despite this, I really have enjoyed this series and always have something to race for even if I'm on my own. I just try my best, try to keep out of the way and avoid those infernal concrete walls.
Hope to see you soon.

 

then please answer me - how mature is it at the beginning of qualifying, when everyone is on the outlap and showing respect and caution, give a reserve before going for a fast lap, overtaking me in the last turn and then blocking throughout the entire lap? I really want to understand where this mature behavior comes from and what motivates it?
and this was also broadcast

 

You'll find the speed as you get more seat time in. You've already got the hang of the other aspects of it all. You were predictable and held your lines, not veering off trying to move out of the way like some will often do (which causes incidents a lot of times)....it's the main reason I was so regretful; you were doing nothing wrong and it was all on me not realizing I had another meter or more of car over there. I'm bad for that in RHD. lol

Anyways, glad it was quali and not the actual race. During the race, again, you were predictable and stuck to your lines, as one should...so, the speed will come and until then I'll be more than happy to share a track with you. And I look forward to potential battles in the future when you do find the pace. Cheers!

 

We only have 15 mins qually... and with there being such a long lap, there is no point with this F1 slowing down at the end of the lap... just get on with it and GO!

I overtook you, got track position and proceeded to put in my qualifying time, there was no blocking as I was on the racing line for my entire lap. I don't see anything in the SRO league rules that says you can't overtake people in qualifying.

 

you ruined my fast lap, but I still don’t understand, do you understand that you did it or do you really think that you did everything right and you should always do this if it’s not prohibited by the rules and you don’t care about any respect for your opponents? I just want to fully understand your position on this issue so that I can understand who is next to me on the track

 

really bitter, touched the wall to avoid hitting the driver in front of me, I return to the pit but I do not find anyone who performs the pit, after many attempts I press ESC what a disappointment

 

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Did my usual race stints in practice and I decided that because it is Bathurst I would try a different pit strategy. The times in qually were beyond me but I did two push lap stints to get up into the top 10 which I was chuffed with.

We waited for a while on the grid and when the lights went green I got a great start, nearly running into the back of @Kahel Grahf. I pulled left but there wasn't a cars width to fit into so I hung back and kept on the insidie up to turn 2. The spotter calls relaxed a little and I settled in behind @Jason Whited for the first few turns. They seemed to be struggling up the hill a little and I held my breath and got alongside, wow that was scary... but got passed just before the downhill section. I stayed with the top 4 for the first couple of laps. They were streaking away and I knew from the practice and qually times I had nothing for them so I settled in. On lap 2 I got it wrong coming up the hill and nearly hit the wall then just before the downhill I saw the leader had gone off. I was able to gain some ground going up the back straight. Round the fast right hander they were going right, then decided on braking they would change direction and go left. I somehow was able to change my direction hard on the brakes to go down their right hand side and get an overlap. I couldn't quite get enough and they closed the door across my nose. Onto the straight out of turn 1 the draft was strong and pulled passed them, up to 4th!

I was pulling away from the cars behind, but not really gaining on the top 3 in front! Starting to catch lapped cars and especially scary through the mountain section! I looked at my fuel numbers and checked the pace of the cars around and thought.... "what if I tried to save fuel?". Silly idea.... but I gave it a go.... I had damaged my tyres and they felt awful! 42 mins to go I saw @Freddy Hell was pitting but knew with their pace my fight yesterday was not with them, up to 3rd! In no mans land again but a clear track was appreciated.

Just after half distance, all cars ahead of me and even the ones I was battling with have now pitted. I decided to abandon my fuel saving and pit the next lap because my tyres were awful!! Just after I said that, I got it all wrong coming down the mountain and dinged the left side of my car, steering now slightly bent I had to learn to live with the new driving style. The car now wanted to kill me more than it had before. It was hard to do a push in lap with a damaged car but I tried!! Crew chief told me I should come out exactly where I was before the pitstops, 4th. Freddy the early pitter was gaining all the time and I pitted just as they were just over a second away, well timed. I slowed down early for the pit limits, I didn't want to get caught like Townsville. Same as accelerating away, I wanted to make sure there were no mistakes in the pits this time!!

New boots and and ill handling car and cars on softer compound tyres behind.... this would be tough to keep my place. Just under 19 mins to go and coming down the hill into the left hander before the back straight, the car veered right on braking and I hit the wall. The steering was now not pointing to the left..... it's not pointing to the right!!! Giving the chasing cars behind chance to catch up. Now have to learn how to drive the car all over again!! The car REALLY wanted to kill me now, even going in a straight line!! On braking I was tentative.... this car was fragile but I didn't want to give up. I knew I had a straight speed advantage which might help me survive.

Down to the end of the lap and I see a lapped car, I go left heading to the last turn and the lapped car gratiously let us through. Tried my best to keep my lines consistent, not leaving any opportunities to pass. I knew I would be slow off the corners and into the corners too... 15 mins to go, what more can this race throw at me! The bumps up the back straight was making the car feel like it was wiggling around, very disconcerting at that speed!!

11 mins to go and now up to P3 because Freddy has pitted twice and dropped behind us. Every bump and scrap of my car on the ground was making it nervous to drive. The fuel gauge said i'd filled the right amount, but I still wasn't sure. I was getting so much oversteer coming out the penultimate and last corners, the tank slappers were scary!!

Under 7 mins to go and still trying to keep my lines consistent, braking into turn 2 car wanted to go left but I was going right! Also caught a lapped car on the mountain so had to be patient again. I didn't spot it at the time but Freddy was catching and FAST. Jim the crew chief wasn't listening to my pit changes and I couldn't take my eyes off the road to change stuff. Two way fight for the podium had now become a 3 way.

Fuel numbers were making me even more worried and as the minutes ticked down I considered doing a splash and dash!! Freddy was now bearing down on me with under a minute to go. I stayed left on the run to the final corner but they had such a grip advantage I couldn't hold it through the turn, down to 4th. All hope drained from me thinking I was entering the last lap with not enough fuel left!! Up the mountain to The Cutting for the final time and an attempt from behind at a "bump and run" but I thankfully kept it out the wall! I could see a few dust clouds ahead so Freddy was fast but a little on the edge. Jason had come back to join the party.... 3 way for 4th!! Coming down through Skyline to the esses, I received another tap on the rear which meant I had to run over the kerb and grass, managed to keep control of my car. Down the straight for the final time and hoping my straight line speed would save me. Freddy was making mistakes and nearly rolled it through the final chicane. I spun up on exit and had to get out of the throttle and I got another hit from behind. Freddy wasn't too far in front, stayed up the inside hoping for a gap to open up on exit. I didn't quite get there on the drag to the line, but had to slam on my brakes to avoid Freddy as he came from the right of the track, over to the left where I was.

Phew.... this series has certainly challenged me... a car that wants to kill me every lap, not helped by my lack of talent driving it (especially when it is a little bent). Going to try not to roll the car at Adelaide!!

 

Not respecting guys that are on their fast lap... has always been an issue... even in bigger events like VEC.
Rules or not... it should be common sense... but for some reason it's an hard concept to get... (or maybe it's just inattention, awkardness, not sure...)

 

I've only been playing rf2 for 3-4 months and due to inexperience I also encountered this problem. Here you must make a request for a pit stop and wait for a message that the team is ready for a pit stop; if you just stop by without calling, no one will meet you and the car will not be serviced

 

100%.

 

In the case between Roman and Neil... if we had to look at it on the technical point of view... I'll say it depend a lot about the timing. But...
I don't think it should be about who's wrong... it's more about the way we'd like to interact with each other imo...

Hopefully we are aiming at higher standard than 'official online' like iracing or rf2 RaceControl. (where discussion over 'technicalites' are Legions...)

Bottom line... probably never a good idea to hide behind technicality... maybe I'm wrong, but seem to me that respecting other on track (at least trying to )... is a lot more important than respecting the ruling to the letter...

Plus it's not like it would be hard to make it work for everybody... (even those that dare to like or need annoying 'F1 style qualy ')
I'm kind on the fence on this subject... sometimes I find it Very annoying, especially when you have 10 guys waiting... But sometime, I kind of don't have a choice, because more than half the Field is 3 to 6s slower than my current pace...

One thing for sure... if I react out of frustration, I'll probably end up doing something wrong.
Either it's cutting someone last moment, or crashing into someone out of frustration, risking to hurt him... in all case, best course of action, is probably to apologize, learn from it... and try to avoid it as much as possible in the future... basic stuff we all have to deal with on a daily base I guess