rec.autos.simulators

GPL: Racing on Grand Prix level

Andre Warrin

GPL: Racing on Grand Prix level

by Andre Warrin » Sun, 04 Jul 1999 04:00:00

After many months of practise I'm finally able to drive constant 1:29
laps, with an occasional 1:28 lap at Monza. So I finally felt ready
for the ultimate challenge:
A 68 lap race on Grand Prix level!

And now....

My God.

With a nice 1:28:87 practice lap I started on the 19 position. Time to
finally install that AITweak utillity I think.

The start went fine, immediately caught up a few places, but in the
first lesmo it was so crowded, I couldn't hear my own engine, which
makes driving so much more difficult, and I crashed.

Second attempt.
Nice start again, very carefull through both lesmo's, fine.
I exited the second lesmo and was on the long straight, approaching
the tunnel. Slipstreamed a ferrari that was driving close in front of
me, overtook him to the right. Everything still fine so far.
Just before the tunnel, the ferrari was still driving left of me, and
he swerved to the right, following the racing line. He pushed me to
the right, and within a second I was buried deep into the right tunnel
wall. And if that wasn't enough, after a second or two my car started
burning.

Made a great replay though.

Third attempt: drove 2 laps clean, I drove very carefull. What a lot
of concentration does it take to do so.
And then I was surrounded by smoke. And my engine stopped making
sound.
And I didn't speedshift!

Does a setup have influence on the stability on the car? In training
mode, I can't remember the last time that I blew my engine, doesn't
happen oft. But now allready after 2 laps!

Anyway, even though it wasn't really a succes, I had a GREAT time.
Ok, here comes my fourth attempt.....

Bye,
Andre

Robert Grave

GPL: Racing on Grand Prix level

by Robert Grave » Sun, 04 Jul 1999 04:00:00

I don't know if your using the Lotus but it sure is fragile.

I would recommend that for the race, you use a taller 5th gear compared to
your qualification setup.  Brings down the revs a bit ( and the speed ) but
more reliable.

Have fun.

Andre Warrin

GPL: Racing on Grand Prix level

by Andre Warrin » Mon, 05 Jul 1999 04:00:00

I've used AITweak in the past. I'll reset the AI, and see if it makes
any difference in the ai qualifying times.
I found it quite stupid that I became 19th with a 1:28 time.
I thought that maybe it was because of the 'automatically smarter
becoming' AI. You know, if you drive better, the AI adjusts and drives
better times too.

Andre

Andre Warrin

GPL: Racing on Grand Prix level

by Andre Warrin » Tue, 06 Jul 1999 04:00:00

I restored the AI, and made some 1:28 laps in training and in short
races to speed up the AI in a natural way. I don't trust AITweak for
100%, seems that it does strange things to the AI.
Then at a full race qualifying, I drove a best lap of 1:28:78.
Started on the 11th position.
Clark started pole with a 1:28:22.
I made it through ten laps, the best achieved so far.
On the tenth lap, I made a driving error in Parabolica, and ended up
in the sand. I was used in traning mode to get out of the sand fast by
spinning the wheels, holding clutch while giving gas, then releasing
the clutch.
So now I did the same, and instantly BANG! the engine broke down.
I watched the replay, and for the first time I watched an engine brake
down from the outside view. The parts of the engine were flying
through the air!
Cool, never saw this before.
GPL keeps me amazed. Will this simulation ever get boring?
Don't think so....

Andre



>>>>With a nice 1:28:87 practice lap I started on the 19 position. Time to
>>>>finally install that AITweak utillity I think.

>>>19th with a 1:28:87?  

>>>I've run a few full GP's at Monza. Turning a low 1:29:XX, I end up
>>>within the first 2 rows.  Have you been mucking with the AI prior to
>>>qualifying 19th?

>>I've used AITweak in the past. I'll reset the AI, and see if it makes
>>any difference in the ai qualifying times.

>>I found it quite stupid that I became 19th with a 1:28 time.

>I'll say.  Do you happent to recall the times for the front row
>starters?  Must have been *very* swift.

>>I thought that maybe it was because of the 'automatically smarter
>>becoming' AI. You know, if you drive better, the AI adjusts and drives
>>better times too.

>Yes, I've seen the AI improve when my times improve. However, the last
>time I ran a full GP at Monza, I qualified 2nd with a 1:29:15.  Clark
>was first with a 1:29:00 & Hill third, with a 1:29:20.  It's hard to
>believe that running a 1:28:87 would see so much improvement in *all*
>the AI.  

>*18* AI faster than your time?

>If that's the case, I wonder what the AI do against Wolfgang.

>YIKES.

>--
>" Why bother..." - R. Crumb -

Andre Warrin

GPL: Racing on Grand Prix level

by Andre Warrin » Tue, 06 Jul 1999 04:00:00

Thanks Robert, I'll try that.
By the way, with a full tank I can't seem to take the long corner
after the tunnel (what was the name again) at full speed.
Is this normal or is it possible with a good setup to take this corner
full speed with a full tank?

Andre



Robert Grave

GPL: Racing on Grand Prix level

by Robert Grave » Tue, 06 Jul 1999 04:00:00

I never tried it with full tanks.  I'll give it a try soon to see.

As you've found out, it is normal for the car to drift more to the right
because of the increased weight.  I'm not a setup expert but I would guess
that setting up the car for the full tanks would work OK at the beginning of
the race but I'm not sure how it would react from the middle to the end of
the race.

The best setup I guess is one of compromise.  Finding one that will be OK
most of the time rather than one great at the beginning, middle OR end of a
race.

Robert

Matthew Birger Knutse

GPL: Racing on Grand Prix level

by Matthew Birger Knutse » Tue, 06 Jul 1999 04:00:00


> I never tried it with full tanks.  I'll give it a try soon to see.

> As you've found out, it is normal for the car to drift more to the right
> because of the increased weight.  I'm not a setup expert but I would guess
> that setting up the car for the full tanks would work OK at the beginning of
> the race but I'm not sure how it would react from the middle to the end of
> the race.

> The best setup I guess is one of compromise.  Finding one that will be OK
> most of the time rather than one great at the beginning, middle OR end of a
> race.

> Robert

Yup, compromise. Always set the car up with tanks about 50% full to the race you
are running. And give the gears a bit more length for reliability's sake:)

Matt

--
Matthew Birger Knutsen

Cheek Racing Cars
http://www.cheekracing.electra.no


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