Spa in the GT cars??

[chris]

I've just about given up.. &(

How does one manage to do a 2m:14 lap around Spa Francorchamps, in the FIA GT cars, like Viper, Lister and so on?

I've been driving the Lister, and only managed 2m:17.129 as the best time, and I was really trying hard too, even getting into oversteer, and running over the curbs on occasions..

I don't know how a faster lap than that is possible?

Any one here got any ideas on how to go faster? :?

[chris]

Well, after doing some research, it would appear that perhaps the times in GTR2002, might be a bit too fast, perhaps, after investigating, to see what the real times were:

http://temp.harmony.be:16080/spa/results/24hent1.htm

These are the lap time results from the last Spa 24 Hour race..

[D_Man]

I think the times are a bit fast, but in a real 24 hour race people wouldn't be throwing the cars around like the guys do when hotlpping for a World Record. If the reall racers drove like that, they would be lucky to finish the first hour in one piece :)

Spa is probably my worst track and I have noe idea of how to drive it. I just accept that there are guys out there a lot faster than me - even though I feel like I am going as fast as physically possible :rolleyes:

Dave

[D_Man]

I just tried the 360 there for 4 laps and only managed a best of 2:34 with one small off :rolleyes:

I see the best time in the GT cars is a 2:08 :eek:

Dave

[chris]

That's a good time in the Ferrari 360 GT.

Compares quite favourably with the 2m:31 on the Spa 24 hours site, that I remember seeing.

The Viper appears to be a car that works well around Spa Francorchamps, funnily enough.

I just use 2nd gear coming out of La Source hairpin, however. 1st gear makes it much too easy to wheelspin.

Also, the bus-stop chicane is a real problem. Seems the only nice way through it is to wildly cut the first rumble strip, on the entry to it, and, avoid the 2nd one, on the right, completely.

[D_Man]

Whew, after much setup tweaking and over 20 laps at Spa and finally a 2:26.3xx &(

The record is a jaw-dropping 2:18. I might try a GT car later when I recover from the hectic lapping - tuning - lapping - tuning - lapping I just finished.

I would be happy if get a 2:20 in the GT cars so your 2:17 looks pretty damn good to me Chris - very nice -^

Dave

[chris]

If you are going to try the Viper around Spa, take a look at this video first:

http://195.169.140.15/stream.harmony.be/spa24h_2002/thierry_tassin_dsl.mov

That's Thierry Tassin, in a Viper GTS/R, like what we have in GTR2002. He backs off near the end of the lap, but, it should give you a few hints.

All in-car video, too, which is also helpful, seeing the steering inputs, and so on.

[D_Man]

Thanks Chris -^ That sure is interesting to watch.

I have decided that I don't really like the GT cars :( The NGT cars are much more fun to drive :D

Dave