Kyalami - 30th January 2025 - Round 1

[Olaf Lehmann]

Here is the track ini with wider grid and more distance between pitstalls:

http://race.eolc.de/Olaf_Lehmann/trackiniKYALAMI.zip

[André Jahren]

Server is updated

[Olaf Lehmann]

Yesterday evening Seb, Rainer, Carsten (too bad you don't see him in the official races) and I had the opportunity to test the INT mode in a race with real people.
I drove the first laps after the start behind Rainer. Due to a mistake on my part, I was seven seconds behind. The pit board showed the same seven seconds over several laps. So we were equally fast. From about lap 8, the gap increased. The reason was probably my overheated left front wheel.
Because of a mistake with a lost rear wheel, I did a ShiftR after a good 15 laps. As a result, I lost second gear. After a repair and tyre change stop, I got back on the track shortly before Rainer. We were almost as fast again for a few laps - despite the lack of second gear. Rainer was probably a second slower than at the start because of worn tyres - I was slower because of the missing gear. So far so good.
But what surprised me: With ShiftR, the tank is filled to the fuel level in the setup (as in normal gpl). I thought that I had removed this ShiftR refuelling. But now I remembered that I had reactivated this ShiftR refuelling because in the EOLC races at that time a driver was unable to finish several times because he had damaged his car so badly that his tank leaked (gpl sometimes produces this damage). And at that time there was no possibility to refuel.
It would actually be more coherent if the cars in case of ShiftR were not refuelled. On the other hand, it could of course still happen that someone gets out of fuel because they have to wait for ShiftR to work due to following drivers.
Well, just for info, so that you're not surprised.

BR Olaf

[snafu]

Disappointing turnout. I had hoped some of the mystery drivers who appear on the pre qualifying server would make an appearance.

For me a very hectic race, I had completely mixed my dates up and thought the race was next week. I still hadn't even made a final car choice when the youtube notification of the live stream flashed up. Quickly decided to take the Ferrari as Bjorn had mentioned he would be taking the Brabham and no other Ferrari drivers appeared likely.

The Ferrari is not a car I've driven much and predictably qualified in last place on the grid.

Followed the pack through the 1st 2 turns and them came across the accident at Jukskei Sweep. Managed to avoid the melee by running along the grass. This predictably destroyed my tyres so despite no physical damage I was forced to crawl back to the pits for new tyres. Others had to pit also, so I rejoined in 3rd place a long way behind Seb and Andre who had avoided the incident.

Slowly began to make ground on Seb and eventually caught him around lap 14 when he spun exiting Clubhouse Bend. Lack of familiarity with the Ferrari meant I took a planned stop for tyres on Lap 25 and was passed by Seb and Rainer so rejoined in 4th place. It quickly became obvious that the front 3 were going for a no stop strategy. Andre was cruising over a lap ahead so set about reeling in Rainer and Seb. Caught Rainer around lap 38 and spent a few laps working out how bad his tyres were. After a few failed attempts finally out-braked him into Crowthorne Corner and set about chasing Seb's Lotus. I was catching him but unfortunately I ran out of laps crossing the line 0.7s behind. (Needed another few laps to get the job done).

Congratulations to Andre for a truly dominating performance and Seb for an intelligent drive and managing his tyres.

Just an additional point.
The calendar page appears to show the correct track names but the images and links are not aligned with the names.

TTFN
John.

[Olaf Lehmann]

Code: Select all

  PITSTOP LISTING

   2:31	 37.9s	J.Hammonds	Tire change
   2:41	 38.6s	B.Finnestad	Repair
   2:47	 38.5s	R.Alpen		Repair
   2:55	 34.7s	O.Lehmann	Repair
  31:01	 32.7s	O.Lehmann	Tire change/Refuel
  36:07	 36.9s	J.Hammonds	Tire change/Refuel
  36:19	 36.0s	B.Finnestad	Tire change/Refuel


  2 * O.Lehmann
  2 * B.Finnestad
  2 * J.Hammonds
  1 * R.Alpen

My qualifying set-up was completely undriveable. With the race set-up, I still managed a decent time.

The first lap: I saw that Seb went off the track in the second corner. I happily registered the gain in position and enthusiastically headed for the Jukskei Sweep corner. However, someone was travelling very slowly there (only later did I realise it was Björn). I was completely surprised and couldn't react at all.
Afterwards, still in consternation, I rolled off and promptly crashed into the manoeuvring Rainer.
I brought my car back to the pits for repair, where two thirds of the field had gathered. And I was the reason.
Sorry to everyone! I was obviously too brisk for the first lap.
Just as well we were in INT mode and Björn was able to continue.

Congratulations to Andre, Seb and John! Well saved second place at the finish, Seb!

[Bjørn Finnestad]

Grats Andre, Seb and John!

Testing and PreQual: 3 chassis, got them set up well and achieved some PBs. I also set a good time with the Honda, but after a few laps it became more difficult, almost impossible to drive, didn't want to take that risk in a race. Changed several setups, but the same thing happened. It then became Brabham as in the 2023 season.

Qual: Raced to a good second place.

Race: It was very tight from the start. In turn 1 I braked late behind André but kept control there. In turn 2 I had to correct and lost a bit of speed. Noticed that something was happening behind me and saw a car coming out onto the grass, it turned out to be Seb. Towards turn 3, I have lost a little speed and may have missed the tangent point there, which is important in this curve. As a result, I was hit from behind and ended up upside down. Don't worry about this, Olaf. I drove too slowly. With shift-R introduced for this season with Int-mode, this situation wasn't so dramatic, but there were several drivers involved in the crash. Repair worked fine. Good to see that those involved were back on the track.

Furthermore, I chased John and Seb, and at the very end also Rainer. The driving itself worked very well despite a demanding track, at least turn 1 and turn 4 which are not so forgiving.

Let's hope that more will come forward, even if only 6 participants are exciting enough as well. It is possible that Int-mode can solve a problem that we have lost drivers. It will be easier to participate, but it will still be serious when repairs in the pits must be carried out.

Thanks for the race, everyone! Also, thank you for your good work with the adaptation to the season Olaf and André.

See you all at Dijon

[André Jahren]

Qual
A good qualifying season with a time not to far form my best testing times.

Race
Had a good start and was able to hold off the field in to turn 1.

Then we had the accident in turn 3 and from there on in I was alone in front.
Still it was not a boring race. The first 10 laps I tried to settle in on a comfortable tempo. Then I had a mid section where I tried to push a bit harder.
And that resulted in a difficult last section, with really worn out tires.

Not sure if the tire degradation is higher on the 813 patch or if it’s the Cooper that has a higher tire degradation than the BRM. But I felt a real difference.

Olaf, one of the things we tried to solve with this 813 patch was that tires should not get broken with a short trip on the grass. To me it sounded like John still had that experience in this race.
So if you have time Olaf, could you try to change the off track tire degradation to a minimum.

Congratulations to Seb and John for joining me on the podium.

See you all in Dijon

[André Jahren]

Just an additional point.
The calendar page appears to show the correct track names but the images and links are not aligned with the names.
TTFN
John.

Should be updated now

[snafu]

Yes, perfect.

Thanks André.

[Olaf Lehmann]

Olaf, one of the things we tried to solve with this 813 patch was that tires should not get broken with a short trip on the grass. To me it sounded like John still had that experience in this race.

The tires in v813 are definitively the same as in v812 (which we had 2023). Johns drama should be a very special situation, maybe something like very hard braking or something.
I think the difference you can try out if you driving off with hard spinning tyres with both versions.

Not sure if the tire degradation is higher on the 813 patch or if it’s the Cooper that has a higher tire degradation than the BRM. But I felt a real difference.

I can say nothing about which car produces how much tyre wear. I can only say that it depends on the wheelspin (positive or negative).
I never had the time to try out all the cars. I also drive very inconsistently.

Still it was not a boring race.

I'm glad to hear that you didn't died of boredom, André.


BR Olaf