Round 1: Australia - Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit (28Sep17 @ 9pm EDT)

[AaronWebb85]

Pre-Race Interview:
1) The regular season is finally here.  How do you like Australia as a track?
2) Do you have a goal for this season?
3) What have you learned from the previous preseason races?


Time Chart:
Alien 1:21.0   (top 50)
Fast  1:21.5   (top 250)
Good  1:21.7  (top 500)
Comp  1:22.0 (top 1000)

 

[nickthequick]

Pre-race interview is up!

 

[porq_chopz]

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1) The regular season is finally here.  How do you like Australia as a track?[/font]
Truth be told. I freaking HATE this track. I can never seem to keep the rhythm through here and my pace is always off. NOT looking forward to this, but I'm glad it's the beginning of the year and not at the end of the year.

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]2) Do you have a goal for this season?[/font]
My ultimate goal is to be called up to D1 by the end of the year. But realistically I want to start by getting some top 5s this year which might be tricky with some SUPER fast guys that had some mistakes in qualifying so they are down with us in D2.

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]3) What have you learned from the previous preseason races?[/font]
[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]I've learned that some of the new guys still have a bit to learn about giving space and some people are attempting big dive bombs. So, I just need to keep my nose clean to start the race and survive those first few laps and I think I'll do fine.[/font]

 

[destroyalkaline]

1) The regular season is finally here.  How do you like Australia as a track?
This circuit is extremely frustrating for me. It looks like it should be such an easy one to master, and the first couple sectors are a blast. But there's something about that last sector that I really struggle with. I've been tweaking car settings trying to find the right balance for the whole loop.
2) Do you have a goal for this season?
Being my rookie season, and assuming we keep 20 guys for the duration, I would like to finish top 10 in D2. Top 5 would be awesome!
3) What have you learned from the previous preseason races?
Spa's pit entrance / exit is a b!tch. The scariest words on that track are, "box, box, box".

 

[nickthequick]

1) The regular season is finally here.  How do you like Australia as a track?
To be honest, I am always sick of this track since I do so much TT on it right when the game comes out.  However this means that this track will always be highly competitive.

2) Do you have a goal for this season?
I want to try and stick to the podium as close as I can.  It is going to be very hard though.  I think any time you are in the top 5 you will be doing very well.  The most important thing is not to get DNFs or no points.  Keep coming away with points and then see where that puts you at the end.  Its a marathon not a sprint.

3) What have you learned from the previous preseason races?
I have learned that keeping your nose clean is more important that trying to battle too hard and lose positions.  One big mistake this year will easily take you out of the points.

 

[alhelm519]

1) The regular season is finally here. How do you like Australia as a track?

Well, Nate, I have to say that so far things have gone quite well. It ain't Monaco and that will always be my biggest source of comfort.

2) Do you have a goal for this season?

Yes , but it is feeble and pathetic, therefore I won't share it.

3) What have you learned from the previous preseason races?

Rain makes the track wet.

 

[Lance Stroll]

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1) The regular season is finally here.  How do you like Australia as a track?[/font]
I am very happy that the season is finally starting. I can't wait to have the SC hlitch fixed. Melbourne is far from being my favorite track but I don't hate it either. The thing is that there is always something wrong when I race in Australia. When i am not spinning becausd of the rain I am getting taken out in turn one. I just hope that I will survive turn one.

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]2) Do you have a goal for this season?[/font]
[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]If I can finish the season in the top five I will be happy but my real goal is to win the constructors championship [/font]

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]3) What have you learned from the previous preseason races?[/font]
[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]I learned that I will have to be precise and consistent because this league will be the most competitive league I ever raced in.[/font]

 

[McSendit]

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1) The regular season is finally here.  How do you like Australia as a track?[/font]

Australia is one of my favorite tracks. The first two sectors have great flow and the third sector is challenging - definitely where most time is gained or lost. I was stoked to get in the top 50 on time trials with a 1:21:0, didn't have the patience to get into the 20's.

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]2) Do you have a goal for this season?[/font]

Right now, my main goal is to win a race. I got my first pole last week at Spa and feel like I have the pace and consistency to win here in Australia.

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]3) What have you learned from the previous preseason races?[/font]

 The main thing I learned from previous races is the importance of consistency throughout the race. Having a great one lap pace for qualifying is one thing, but being fast and consistent over 30 laps requires much more concentration. Also I learned if your tires are at 70%, you can overheat them and suddenly be driving on ice. Great way to throw away a lead  :|

 

[ranga]

was fun in D2 although did not get a good result, had some frustrating moments, maybe my fault, but just thought i'd share. had fun putting in laps though.

[youtube]Rgo5ZKAEkn0[/youtube]

[youtube]xMtynXnWVoc[/youtube]

 

[porq_chopz]

was fun in D2 although did not get a good result, had some frustrating moments, maybe my fault, but just thought i'd share. had fun putting in laps though.

[youtube]Rgo5ZKAEkn0[/youtube]

[youtube]xMtynXnWVoc[/youtube]

There is a stewards section this should have been shared too. Not here.

http://precisionracingleague.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=781

 

[porq_chopz]

D1
Q: 18
R: 13
Well, after looking at the results page. I did it again. Hard charger of the night. Hopefully I screwed up all of your fantasy predictors! Haha, I know if I knew I was going to be in D1 last night I would've put myself in that spot. But for real though. For this being such a terrible track for me I did surprisingly well. Obviously I can't qualify to save my life but I survive the race and thats where I can pick up positions. Had a blast with the D1 guys tonight and I can already see that the group of competition is SUPER tight this season as I was having a helluva time catching anyone after I had to pit to replace a wing. All in all super fun and I will be trying extremely hard to get back up to D1 later this season. But for now, back to D2 I go
[youtube]FK0dFp3UnAU[/youtube]

 

[nickthequick]

Quali: P11
I thought I put a decent lap together but evidently not.  On my final attempt I extended too much so this would be a difficult start in the middle of the pack.

[youtube]MNZyCDhubg0[/youtube]
Race: P6
On the formation lap I was very nervous because I got the glitch where there is no engine sound.  Luckily for the race it came back.  I got a decent start.  It looked like bolli got pushed out wide so I made a place but still had to back off.  This put Sweet Tooth in front of me.

I knew that I had to pass him quickly because I was on US and the guys ahead were making a gap.  I went for a bit of a divebomb, and couldn't quite make it stick.  This left Mebbe past.  Mebbe and Sweettooth were battling and Mebbe got wing damage so he had to pit.

I was again on Sweet's bumper and tried and over under move.  I clipped the back of his car and it said I got damage even though my wing was still green!  There was damage though as my car was understeering horribly.  I did make the pass but now I could not pull away and forced me to pit early for Soft Tires.

After that I was in a race of my own managing the gaps to take home P6.  I felt like my inters quali really ruined my race as the pace did not feel that bad.  Also changing the wing cost me about 7 seconds, so I could have maybe been fighting with Lance or Cam.  Good job for the podium finishers.

 

[AaronWebb85]

Quali: P11
I thought I put a decent lap together but evidently not.  On my final attempt I extended too much so this would be a difficult start in the middle of the pack.

[youtube]MNZyCDhubg0[/youtube]
Race: P6
On the formation lap I was very nervous because I got the glitch where there is no engine sound.  Luckily for the race it came back.  I got a decent start.  It looked like bolli got pushed out wide so I made a place but still had to back off.  This put Sweet Tooth in front of me.

I knew that I had to pass him quickly because I was on US and the guys ahead were making a gap.  I went for a bit of a divebomb, and couldn't quite make it stick.  This left Mebbe past.  Mebbe and Sweettooth were battling and Mebbe got wing damage so he had to pit.

I was again on Sweet's bumper and tried and over under move.  I clipped the back of his car and it said I got damage even though my wing was still green!  There was damage though as my car was understeering horribly.  I did make the pass but now I could not pull away and forced me to pit early for Soft Tires.

After that I was in a race of my own managing the gaps to take home P6.  I felt like my inters quali really ruined my race as the pace did not feel that bad.  Also changing the wing cost me about 7 seconds, so I could have maybe been fighting with Lance or Cam.  Good job for the podium finishers.

you qualified P9

 

[nickthequick]

you qualified P9

Ah I must have looked when there were still people with invalidated laps at the top.  DSZ asked me the same thing and I was confused why I was 9th   I guess I actually was LOL

 

[ranga]

was fun in D2 although did not get a good result, had some frustrating moments, maybe my fault, but just thought i'd share. had fun putting in laps though.

[youtube]Rgo5ZKAEkn0[/youtube]

[youtube]xMtynXnWVoc[/youtube]

There is a stewards section this should have been shared too. Not here.

http://precisionracingleague.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=781

I’m not interested in penalties or asking for anything though...