Archive for the ‘13th Week’ Category

“You Shall Not Pass!”

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Just had a pretty entertaining battle with a driver in the Star Mazda at Laguna Seca (during the Intel GP series that is running during week 13).

I caught up to him swiftly during a practice session and set about trying to pressure a pass, or to try and force a mistake. Taking advantage of it being a practice session, I drove more aggressively than I would during a race. It was a lot of fun setting up runs (faking moves right then diving to the left) but I was quite surprised by some of the dubious defending I saw. His repertoire included :

  • Weaving to break the tow
  • Blocking/multiple lane changes (I go inside, he blocks the inside, I move outside, he blocks outside)
  • Chopping me off when I have pulled level on the inside (spotter had called out)
  • Finally colliding with me when I had the inside line

Now with it being an open practice session I didn’t mind the manner of the driving as I had fun attempting the moves but after the collision he actually started insulting me! Now I realise I was driving somewhat aggressively but the only reason I was driving in that manner was purely down to the extent of the blocking – I was having a fun battle (also, I would not try a pass at turn 6 in a race!).

Had it been an official race I would almost certainly have protested any one of a number on his moves, (e.g. the clear blocking, to name but one).

Am I wrong? Was the defending acceptable? Feel free to post your thoughts in the YouTube clip.

Road to the World Cup!

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
Lined up for the start at Road America

Lined up for the start at Road America

After 12 months of racing across four racing seasons its time for the inaugural iRacing World Cup!

The event works by having the entire iRacing membership split into one of 35 racing clubs at the start of the year, grouped by geographic location. Due to its relatively small size my club consists of Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The clubs compete each season for the chance to qualify into the next stage of the World Cup by winning one of the four racing season each year.

Club Celtic managed to top their region in two of the four seasons in the last year and qualify with the remaining two berths going to France and England.

In order to qualify for the next stage of the World Cup (the finals, where we have a chance at competing against all the regional winners) we first have to face-off against French and English drivers this coming Saturday and Sunday for the right to be classified as the regional winners.

This week all eligible drivers will be practicing and racing at Road America to hone their skills and earn the right to represent their club in the next stage of the competition. All drivers will be represented, as all clubs will be required to submit two drivers from each racing division (1 through 5), so even the slowest club drivers will play a pivotal role in the destiny of their club.

Club Celtic have some good drivers for the fastest divison but are lacking somewhat in the slower divisions so hopefully we’ll be able to rally the troops and build a strong 10 driver squad that will face the French and English this coming weekend!

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.