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Is there anyone from the UK attending the race this weekend? I believe one of my photos has been used (with permission) in a Honda advert that might be in the race programme and like to get a copy if that’s the case. Please get in contact if you think you can help!
As promised, all the photos are now up on Flickr in an album here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/somethingness/albums/72157655643586653
And a few more highlights below:
Great to return to Spa after visiting five years ago. I wish I could have watched every session from every part of the track. I’ve got lots of photos to get through, but here are a few favourites from the ones I’ve been through so far.
Plenty more to come that will eventually appear on Flickr.
Had an epic time at Le Mans this weekend on my first visit (I’ll definitely be going back!). I’ve uploaded a quick selection of 24 photos from the main race, but I’ve got plenty more on the way from the rest of the weekend too.
It really is an incredible experience to see circuit racing in the dying light, full on darkness and then the morning sun too. We were very fortunate to get front row seats for the grandstand above the pits which offered great views of the build-up, start and eventually the finish. It was equally great to get out and about over the circuit, even if I didn’t manage to see as much as I’d have liked too.
Huge apologies for falling off the face of the earth this weekend guys. Real life got in the way unfortunately, but in a good way. Congratulations to Jamie on the championship and well done to everyone for making it a great season as always. Despite not having the time to fully commit to it I have actually ended up having my most successful season. I’m not sure I really improved that much, the game just felt a bit more forgiving when it came to mistakes and a lot of other guys faster than myself had a lot of misfortune.
Given the level of commitment I’ve been able to deliver this time around, I can’t really be sure that I’ll be back again. I’d like to be, and I have unfinished busniess RE: the podium, but it doesn’t seem fair to be taking up a place on the grid that won’t be fully used. I guess I’ll have to see where I am when November rolls around once more. Never say never and all that stuff.
Whatever happens, I have massive respect for all the guys I’ve raced against over the last few years and it has been a huge pleasure to do so. I hope we’ll all be racing against each other in the future too. Enormous thanks to those who have been instrumental in making it happen, especially Magnificent Geoffrey.
Remember, racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting.
Apologies, guys. Like many others I too thought the next race was this coming weekend, but I neglected to keep up to date on here. As always, disappointed not to be there as it sounded like a bit of a hectic race. I’ve put the date for the next race (9th March for anyone who hasn’t checked already) into my phone calendar so I should be there for the finale!
Will Codemasters simulate 2014 levels of reliability through disconnections?
Things went about as well as could be expected for me. Decided to qualify on primes given the forecast, and fortunately went slightly faster on my second run at the end as I did two flying laps on my first run.
I’d barely practiced for this weekend, and my setup was pretty ropey and not very stable with primes/race fuel. I was able to mix it up for a while behind David, but the mistakes crept in and those behind me got by (apologies to Steve if I caused you to spin out, I knew you were closing and then cocked up a corner, but from my view you were still a bit behind and not close enough to bring up the proximity indicator at least).
After the first stops things were shaping up nicely for a good scrap between me and David as I caught up to him over a series of laps, but he suddenly disappeared from right in front of me and left me pretty much on my own for the rest of the race. I persevered for a while on my worn primes in the rain in case it dried up, but that did not happen.
Happy to finish 5th again, but very much aware that was due to problems for others, which pretty much sums up my season so far. Monza should be interesting – not raced there in the Collantine Cup.
Oh man, what a race…
Qualy – My first flying lap turned out to be my fastest. I was 0.5s on the first lap of my second run, but made a complete hash of the last sector. I initially thought that my second lap of that run (0.2 up) was disallowed when a corner cutting message came up at Tabac, but reviewing the video it was a delayed message from the chicane so no complaints there.
Race – made a good start to get ahead of Ed, and then received a nudge from behind putting me alongside Jamie, and we had a bit of a tussle up the hill. The path ahead cleared at the chicane, and somehow I was in 2nd. I assumed this wouldn’t last long, but somehow my pace was just about good enough to keep me there. Jamie was catching though, and wasn’t far off when I made my first stop. With hindsight I should have gone 1 lap further.
I rejoined just behind Electrolite, who was either struggling with tyres or very kindly offered little resistance. When Jamie made his stop, we were side by side up the hill! I deployed KERS to get ahead, but for the rest of that stint he was not far behind and maintaining constant pressure, whilst also wisely saving some fuel. My tyres came to the end of their life, but I thought I’d stay out and see how long I could keep Jamie behind me. Not too long when I out-braked myself at Mirabeau.
When Jamie made his second stop, he came out about 4s behind me I think, and the gap did briefly grow, but inevitably began to shrink. With a few laps to go my tyres were completely gone and I was powerless to stop Jamie, and then Ed getting by me. So close, yet so far, to that elusive first podium in the Collantine Cup.
Can’t complain too much as I’m pretty happy with how this season is going. I don’t think I’m going much quicker than I have been previously, I just seem to be making significantly fewer mistakes. Traditionally, Singapore has been an awful track for me so that will be the real test. #BelieveInMcLaren
Just to confirm that I am not about to race this weekend :(
I also may get round to posting a video, although Spa wasn’t an especially exciting race for me after the first few laps. I’ll be back to get in everyone’s way again at Monaco though.Santa’s sack wasn’t big enough to bring me enough pace :( Just about managed to get into the high 1:40s. So if you need a McLaren to go all perpendicular tomorrow, I volunteer as Coulthard.
Whilst I’m here, I’ll just add that I won’t be able to make it on the 19th Jan. I was hoping this would be Monaco, but unfortunately for all of us that is not the case.
Right. Apologies for not sooner apologising for the first corner incident which I was to blame for. First day back at school and all that, plus that’s the first race I’ve done in ages. Not that those excuses cover the very rookie mistake that I should know better than to go doing. As possibly mentioned in the build up to the race, I was not in peak condition, but again that is my responsibility.
Not much to report otherwise. After getting out of position relative to my capable pace I think I held some of chasing pack up for a while, and slowly shuffled back to where I belong. I had a bit of racing with David, but I knew ultimately I would not be racing with him come the end. We did have a bit of a tangle whilst we overlapped strategies though, where I’m not really sure what happened as I thought I’d left enough room on the inside, but perhaps not.
It feels like you can attack the kerbs a bit more in this game, and it seems to work better with the DFGT wheel (finally).
Hai guyz,
Seeing as I’ve just installed the game right now after enough pints to be not entirely sure on the exact number I’ve had, and have lost at least 30 mins practice time by reading the OP, I’m just totally super confident about this season. Finally, in the Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes MP4-28, I truly have a technical package worthy of my skill set and no excuses to not get on the podium. I look forward to achieving new heights in bizarre and embarrassing online racing mishaps over the coming months.I very much like the opening video, although I am concerned about the number of McLaren crashes featured in it. There are not nearly enough.
