Archive for November, 2009

Getting up to date with some new content

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

It’s been a while since I recapped on some new iRacing content (so much so that I can’t attempt to recap all the new stuff) but this past week has seen three absolutely exceptional items appear at iRacing.com.

First up is the Corvette C6.R – a powerful GT1 race car with 590 HP (from a wonderful sounding V8 engine). I haven’t had much time in this new car as of right now, but looking forward to checking it out when time affords:

Next up is Mosport International Raceway, 2.459 miles of sweeping crests and flowing turns. I haven’t seen the track before but can see it has a unique presence and a variety of extremely challening corners. About as far removed from a modern F1 style track as it gets. So many corners are off camber or across hill terrain such that every lap is an adventure.

Finally the jewel in the crown of content is the fantastic Dallara Indycar. With a long running Indycar rumour surrounding iRacing for the longest time, it was great to finally hear that they were about to partner up with the Indycar series and officially release licensed versions of the Dallara Indycar and Indy Lights vehicles towards the end of 2009.

Only the Indycar is available currently (with the Indy Lights to follow) and the car has blown me away. It drives fantastically well with so much grip and speed, and a huge amount of tuning options in the garage. It comes with all the different aero packages (e.g. the road package versus the oval aero configuration) and a portion of the in car adjustments (ARB, weight jacker and brake bias).

The car is so much fun to drive on ovals as well as road courses, and with the season 4 schedule featuring a 8/4 split between road and oval it’s definitely going to be one of my main series in season 4.

Triumphant Return To Laguna Seca

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Pro Series Race Results (iRacing members only!)

(well, triumphant for me!)

It didn’t take long for the Pro series to return to a track already visited, so week 13 of the inaugural Pro series took place at Laguna Seca.

I had a very good result this week, having found a few tenths since we last raced here during week 4, and was able to qualify 22nd out of 31 for Sunday evenings race.

The race was very entertaining and I had some good battles throughout – a good early fight with James Andrew (who was much faster and eventually got past) and many other tussles with other, faster cars. I was able to capitalise on a few drivers’ mistakes to gain places, and spend the rest of the race managing the intervals to the finish line.

In the end I was able to finish in 15th place (incident free!) for a record points haul (for Pro series) of 142 points. The result sees me move from 79th to 74th in the standings as we cross the halfway point of the season.

Pack Racing At Talladega

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

There’s nothing in racing quite like the nature of pack racing at Daytona or Talladega. It requires a totally different technique to typical racing, and a lot of give and take. When it goes well, it’s some of the most exhilarating action possible in sim racing. When you are racing with gaps measured in inches, and when you literally can’t see the track ahead (and only the car in front of you) you don’t have time to blink.