For this round, we have a Work in Progress F1 Virtual track based on the 2019 Monaco GP, it was a privilege to play on it.
Championship Standings
Here's a quick reminder of how the table stands going into Monte Carlo.
- 40pts - Fongu
- 24pts - Gildoorf
- 12pts - 32bobo32
- 10pts - Duffer
- 09pts - Carl_gpgames
- 07pts - Prblanco
- 02pts - Kerley
New Rules
Track limits was not so much of an issue here, and tapping the barriers are allowed. The main change was after fuel-burn gate. Starting the session with 10 laps of fuel is now no longer enforced, but you must have at least 1.0 laps of fuel left at the end of the hot lap.
My Approach
I had limited time on this event, so I set my time quite early on in the week. I spent a lot of time working on my setup, mostly finding gains on the gearing. I didn't play much with the downforce settings, which would turn out to be quite important in the end. I wanted the lower gears quite close together, so close that it's impossible to do it efficiently with manual gear selection, but it's to help the car get maximum acceleration. I also wanted a low first gear, it helps force the car to slow down and get around the tight corners. I also needed to make sure I wasn't in between gears in any corner, and my top gear was just clipping at the fastest point on the track. I did my setup work on the keyboard, and then used the same set up for a few laps on the steering wheel.
My best keyboard time was 1:13.189, and I was able to beat that on the steering wheel with a 1:12.612.
Monaco is very much a confidence track, and you have to build to up to it. You have to start slow and then gain confidence on lines, braking points, acceleration points and how close you dare go towards the barriers. Also how much TC to use (or rather how much it is switched off) comes into play too. If I had more time, I probably could have mastered the lap without TC on at all on the wheel.
In terms of fuel, I set off with 4 laps of fuel, preferring to take 2 times laps to build confidence with tyre wear not an issue around Monaco.
The Hot Laps
0:07 - As usual, we start by looking at the 'speed traps', because it reveals how much wing everyone is running:
- 292kph - Gildoorf
- 287kph - KerleyF1
- 283kph - Duffer
- 283kph - 32bobo32
- 282kph - Carl_gpgames
- 281kph - Prblanco
- 175kph - Fongu
So I am running a hell of a lot more wing than the others (or the speedo is showing mph and it's actually 281kph 😂). Also worth noting the field is split between those running 6 gears and those choosing to run the 7th gear. I guess a couple of the guys were running the default setup.
0:09 - Into Saint Devote and Duffer is the first to blink on the brakes and is last into the apex. There's a range of different lines, Gildoorf is over the right on the pit exit, whereas I prefer to be on the left trying to get maximum speed and less angle on turn in. It's Gildoorf, Prblanco and Kerley who are tied for the lead at the apex. Notice how much more steering lock I am applying on the wheel and actually I'm quite hesitant and slow, leaving lots of room on the exit. I clip the kerb a little, but Carl and Duffer both take lots of kerb. On the exit, 32bobo32, Carl and Gildoorf are running no Traction Control. Under the Pirelli banner, and it's Prblanco in the lead, 32bobo32 and Gildoorf too close to call in second and Kerley in fourth.
0:16 - It's a drag race up the hill through Beau Rivage, favouring those with a low downforce setup, i.e. Gildoorf, and he storms into the lead under the UBS banner. 32bobo32 is following close behind, Prblanco losing ground, and I'm gaining in 4th. Over the crest into the long left hander of Massenet, and it's a tricky turn to get right, knowing how much to brake, coast and how hard to turn with a couple of apex points where the barrier seems to jump out at you. Also you need to line up for Casino Square and Carl and Duffer nail their apexes perfectly.
0:22 - On the exit of Casino Square, and there's varying techniques, particularly those who whack the barrier on the exit. Prblanco, Carl and Duffer all avoid touching it, but it's Carl who is able to get good speed out the exit. I am the earliest back on the throttle in Casino Square, just glancing the barrier on the exit. Kerley and Gildoorf run wide and gives the barrier the gentle kiss, whilst 32bobo32 really clatters against the exit wall. Under the Casino banner and it's Gildoorf still leading, but I've closed up into 2nd, just an inch ahead of 32bobo32. Prblanco leads Carl, whilst Duffer and Kerley are neck and neck. For some reason, I come across to the right over the bump - no real need to do that in GP4.
0:26 - Sector 1 times are in:
- 19.215 - Gildoorf
- 19.250 - Fongu
- 19.251 - 32bobo32
- 19.403 - Prblanco
- 19.450 - Carl_gpgames
- 19.643 - KerleyF1
- 19.650 - Duffer
There's three clear groups forming, and it's incredibly tight between them, just 0.01 separating me and 32bobo32! For the first time on the lap, 32bobo32 turns off his traction control heading round Mirabeau. Carl and I both use our steering wheels to our advantage and we are able to hug the inside of Mirabeau whilst the keyboard runners are all struggling to keep that tight line, 32bobo32 managing the best. Gildoorf and Prblanco run really wide and at 0.29 it looks like Gildoorf hits another barrier on the left. He maintains his lead over the pedestrian crossing, but it's getting a bit scruffy!
0:32 - Into the Grand Hotel hairpin, and nobody makes the apex. I get my braking all wrong as I slide over the kerbs on the right. But I'm first on the throttle, and over the pedestrian crossing and I take the lead, 32bobo32 sneaks into 2nd with Gildoorf now in third. Prblanco is a clear 4th with Carl, Kerley and Duffer all running close together. Into Mirabeau Bas and I completely abuse the kerbs, but watch it launch me into the air on the exit, but I manage to keep it together into Portier.
0:40 - The exit of Portier is a key part of the track as you accelerate into the tunnel. At the end of the exit kerb, I am already in 4th gear though Gildoorf is right there with me. 32bobo32 has now dropped back a touch. Prblanco is ever so slightly ahead of Duffer, who is closely followed by Carl and Kerley is beginning to drop back a little. I release my TC for the first time out of Portier, but I slightly tap the inside barrier in the tunnel.
0:47 - On the exit of the tunnel, it's important to get the right braking point into the Nouvelle chicane. Gildoorf is a clear 11kph faster than I am, snatching the lead back off me. You have to have the confidence to almost kiss the inside orange barrier, but it's vital to turn right as soon as possible over the kerb and get on the throttle quickly. This was the key difference maker between my wheel lap vs my keyboard lap where I gained the most time.
0:57 - Into Tabac and I lead Gildoorf into this tricky turn. It's another confidence corner with a blind apex when you turn in and a barrier to watch out for on the exit. But its Gildoorf who is much more impressive than me on the wheel through there, the steering help giving the keyboard players just that bit more confidence. Into the first swimming pool chicane, another confidence corner and does anyone dare go through there without lifting off the throttle? Yes, Gildoorf, with the lowest downforce is able to keep it flat, as does Prblanco, but both have steering help to control their slide on exit.
Sector 2 times are in:
- 35.734 - Fongu
- 35.773 - Gildoorf
- 36.002 - 32bobo32
- 36.165 - Prblanco
- 36.221 - Duffer
- 36.366 - Carl_gpgames
- 36.722 - KerleyF1
It's close once again between myself and Gildoorf, and incredibly close sector times. 32bobo32 and Prblanco also set very similar times with Duffer improving from his slower first sector.
1:02 - Into the second swimming pool chicane and it was amazing to watch 2021 qualifying how close they were to the inside right barrier, with Leclerc ultimately hitting it and ending Q3 early. But we all give it a bit of a wide berth in GP4. Though I'm on the throttle marginally earlier than Gildoorf, you can tell by the lines that I'm a lot more hesitant through there. Gildoorf, myself and Duffer get minimal airtime on the sausage kerb, whilst 32bobo32 and Prblanco spend a lot of their exit time in the air and collecting the car and Prblanco using the exit barrier to straighten the car. Kerley uses a more extreme approach of using the barriers. Carl serenely drivers around both kerbs being extra careful not to hit anything.
1:06 - It is absolutely neck and neck between myself and Gildoorf as we cross the white line coming into Rascasse. By the time we hit the pedestrian crossing, Gildoorf edges out in front. Very similar approaches in Rascasse, but Gildoorf has more confidence in Anthony Noghes and with his car being faster down the straight (6kph faster at the finish line) he deservedly takes his first victory of the season. Congratulations my friend. For the second time around the lap, I take off my TC out of the final bend but to no avail.
1:20 - Sector 3 times are:
- 17.393 - Gildoorf
- 17.628 - Fongu
- 17.819 - Carl_gpgames
- 17.869 - Duffer
- 18.041 - Prblanco
- 18.069 - KerleyF1
- 18.242 - 32bobo32
Gildoorf absolutely smashes the final sector, the difference maker here in Monaco. Carl and Duffer put in excellent third sectors too, but they struggled in other sectors. Kerley also posts a good time, almost identical time to Prblanco as 32bobo32 limps home after being in contention going into the tunnel, losing time over the kerbs in the second swimming pool and running a little wide in Rascasse.
1:22 and the overall times are:
- 1:12.381 - Gildoorf
- 1:12.612 - Fongu
- 1:13.495 - 32bobo32
- 1:13.609 - Prblanco
- 1:13.635 - Carl_gpgames
- 1:13.740 - Duffer
- 1:14.434 - Kerley
Another excellent round, with a close battle at the front and a competitive midfield. Though Kerley finishes bottom, none of his sectors were particularly bad, it was just the midfield had good sectors mixed in with poorer sectors. After a run of 2 podiums, Duffer drops back in Monaco, and 32bobo32 returns to form taking his third podium of the year. It has to be noted that Prblanco did not set many laps at all and just pipped Carl over a full lap.
Impressively, Gildoorf mastered his setup, and set a time nobody could get within a second of on the keyboard, with my keyboard time being 0.8 seconds down. My lack of playing around with wing setup cost me this round, though I do believe my work on gear ratios helped me accelerate quickly and confidently out of the corners. But I take nothing away from the super human effort Gildoorf put in to set a low 1:12 time.
Quotes
- 40 minutes to go and Prblanco is P7 with a 1:14.503.
- Carl says "KerleyF1 that's another point for you! 🙂"
- 20 minutes to go - Kerley says "Thank god for Prblanco don't have time to improve his lap."
- 15 minutes to go - Prblanco submits 1:13.609 and says "sorry 😅". "It was my best ever S1 and S2, there's no way I wouldn't send that lap 😂"
- Fongu: "congrats Gildoorf on your excellent lap around Monte Carlo"
- Carl: "Gildoorf congratulations, you're the King of Monaco now!! 👑"
- Kerley: "Gildoorf, a superb and perfect lap!" Congratz!" "P.S: I hit the barrier 3 times 😜"
- Gildoorf: "🙌🙌🙌one at last 😂 huge thanks Carl_gpgames"
- Gildoorf: "32bobo32 is sort of mastering traction control tweaks. Well done! Also noticeable how laptimes fall down throughout the week. Monaco is somewhere where one's confidence rules."
- 32bobo32: "😂😂😂 my DRS"
Championship Standings (after round 5)
- 46pts - Fongu
- 34pts - Gildoorf
- 16pts - 32bobo32
- 11pts - Duffer
- 11pts - Carl_gpgames
- 10pts - Prblanco
- 02pts - KerleyF1
