Time Trial League - Rd 13 - Zandvoort

The Time Trial League is back and we're back into it with the second race of a triple header, on a new track in the Netherlands, Zandvoort. 

A working dat file was put together by F1Virtual's Prblanco with help from Oggo. The layout is super accurate, bankings and all, and it was a pleasure to drive. This version is available here: https://www.grandprixgames.org/read.php?4,1107982

Championship Standings

Here's a reminder of the standings from after round 12:

1	Fongu	98
2	Gildoorf	76
3	Prblanco	40
4	32bobo32	37
5	Carl_gpgames	31
6	Duffer	20
7	KerleyF1	9

Track

The track is truly a pleasure to drive, the banking in particular offers some alternative lines and techniques. The first thing you notice on a work in progress track is that there's nothing to pin your braking points on. There's the tiniest little kink in the edge of the track, and that was my braking point into turn 1. Turn 2 is a quick right hand flick, favouring the brave, and into the newly banked turn 3. The real drivers decided on running around the outside to get a good slingshot into the next flat out section, but it may not be the fastest approach in GP4. A slight lift in turn 7 favours those with more downforce, whilst turn 8 again favours the brave; there's an exit kerb there that is inviting for you to carry some extra speed. Turns 9 and 10 are long corners that will favour the wheel users as it leads on to a long straight. Turn 11 is a tight right-hander, setting you up for the long turn 12. Into the final two turns, the main banking that leads onto the start/finish straight and maximum acceleration and speed  is needed here. 

As it's a new track, I found starting out with a high downforce setting more favourable at the beginning, and set my best time on the keyboard with that approach. But then I switched the wheel and experimented with a mid-level downforce setting and I could set a slightly faster time, albeit with very similar sectors. 

The main challenge for the keyboard users are how to approach the bank curves, but particularly the long corners. On the wheel, the challenge is having the confidence in the fast corners. All in all, there was only three tenths difference between the two input methods, but I have to say, neither of them explored enough setup options, and neither of them completely perfect laps. 

The story is the same for most of us: it's a new track and there's not much time to get the practice in, the setup sorted, and finding the time in our busy schedules to pound around and get a good lap was not easy - let alone continuing modding this game.

Hotlaps

Our thanks goes to Carl_gpgames again for reliably putting these videos together so well. 

Apologies from me, I've switched my settings back to mph, so my speedo is wrong. 

Sadly Duffer did not have time to set a lap, but we're back to a 6 car shoot out for the fastest time. 

Only Carl and me submitted our times on a wheel this round. 

Let's get going...

0:06 - Over the line and I've got a speed advantage at 313kph, just ahead of Gildoorf, KerleyF1, 32bobo32, then Prblanco at 309kph. Carl has a significantly slower speed of anyone over the line, with 303kph. This could be down to how well we came off the banking and which line we took, but we all seem to be running fairly similar wing levels off the speed data and general cornering speeds.

Into turn 1 and Gildoorf and I opt for a wide entry, whilst Carl is inside the CC-line. With the advantage of more steering lock on the wheel, I'm able to come back inside and straighten my exit, as Gildoorf continues the wide line. Carl leaves his steering on a bit too long and exits the corner in the middle of the road. At the pit lane exit line, I have a slender lead over Gildoorf, the two of us just slightly ahead of Prblanco and 32bobo32, who are pretty much tied. Kerley is right in there too. Carl is the one to have dropped back a bit after the first corner. 

0:17 - No real issues through turn 2 as we all line ourselves up for turn 3. None of us have gone for the outside line as the real F1 drivers have, with Prblanco the only one to use a wider line. I channeled my inner mid-2000s Alonso on Michelin tyres through this turn, hard on the brakes, lots of steering lock and wait for the car to grip up and then slingshot out the turn. This is a similar approach the keyboard users took, but my execution on the wheel was not particularly smooth, meaning I'm not on the power early enough. Gildoorf does however, and snatches the lead. At the point where the exit kerb ends, Gildoorf and I are carrying the most speed into the twisty flat out section ahead. Prblanco is third, with 32bobo32 and Kerley now running very closely together. Carl is not far behind though. 

0:31 - Sector 1 times have been set, confirming the gaps above:

1	Gildoorf	00:24.711	+0.000
2	Fongu	00:24.772	+0.061
3	Prblanco	00:24.959	+0.248
4	KerleyF1	00:25.173	+0.462
5	32bobo32	00:25.175	+0.464
6	Carl_gpgames	00:25.370	+0.659

It's very close at the front, Gildoorf and I taking the early advantage, but the field is only spread by just over six tenths of a second at this stage. It's incredibly close between KerleyF1 and 32bobo32. 

Turn 7 is high speed, three drivers, Gildoorf, 32bobo32 and Kerley use a bit of their brakes, whilst Prblanco, Carl and I all opt to lift off the throttle to control our speeds. It's really tricky on the wheel, and both Carl and I turn in earlier than the CC-line (which you can see is the darker tarmac), which shows a lack of confidence. 

Prblanco updated the track mid-week, and the previous version had an exit kerb here, whilst this final version does not. However the grass still behaves as though there is a kerb there, and Gildoorf and I are able to run onto the 'grass' on the exit and not be penalised. 

As we cross the white line, I have retaken the lead from Gildoorf by the smallest of margins. Prblanco is all alone in a solid third place. 32bobo32 has edged ever so slightly ahead of Kerley, with Carl a little way back now. 

There's not much time before Turn 8 is upon you, down another gear or two and it's another quick right flick, which we all take without any real dramas. 

0:41 - Into the tricky long curves of turns 9 and 10, which should favour the wheel users as it offers alternative lines and you have more control over your exit speed. None of us are on the apex of Turn 9, but we are all able to straighten up before the exit, 32bobo32 really kicking out the rear here. There's really nothing to choose between me and Gildoorf at the white line but now Prblanco has closed right in on us. 32bobo32 and Kerley are locked close together in their midfield fight too... it's all very close. 

Into turn 10 and Gildoorf and I both opt to brake inside the CC-line, with 32bobo32 and Carl following suit whilst Prblanco and Kerley opts to stay on it. On my keyboard lap, I opted to overshoot the corner and slingshot out of it from a wide line, but on the wheel I'm a bit hesitant and I'm late on the power. All this means is that I don't take enough advantage from the wheel here, and Gildoorf is able to keep up with me through these turns. Prblanco drops back a little through turn 10, whilst 32bobo32 gains an advantage on Kerley for the first time in the lap. Carl is closing back in. 

0:57 - Sector 2 times have now been set:

1	Fongu	00:25.697	+0.000
2	Prblanco	00:25.795	+0.098
3	Gildoorf	00:25.876	+0.179
4	32bobo32	00:26.494	+0.797
5	Carl_gpgames	00:26.600	+0.903
6	KerleyF1	00:26.727	+1.030

Prblanco closes in on the battle at the front, but I just about manage to keep ahead in the sector times, but it's very tight in the top three. 32bobo32 has a good second sector, but he's got his bogey third sector coming up, we'll see if his achilles heel strikes again. Carl and Kerley are setting similar times, albeit about a second off the leaders. 

Overall, this is how it stands after two sectors:

1	Fongu	00:50.469	+0.000
2	Gildoorf	00:50.587	+0.118
3	Prblanco	00:50.754	+0.285
4	32bobo32	00:51.669	+1.200
5	KerleyF1	00:51.900	+1.431
6	Carl_gpgames	00:51.970	+1.501

I now hold a slender lead over Gildoorf and Prblanco. The midfield is a second behind now, with 32bobo32 leading the charge from Kerley and Carl who is closing in. 

Into turn 11, and the wheel users have no problems using the kerb on the inside, but only Prblanco and 32bobo32 are able to do so on the keyboard. Through the long turn 12, and Gildoorf closes in on me by the time we exit the curve. However, Prblanco drops back a little from the fight for the lead. It continues to be quite close for the bottom three. 

1:07 - There's really nothing to separate the top three in terms of approaches to the final two turns, the three of us keeping to the right of the track, the smallest distance and not losing any speed on the hump on the exit. Gildoorf is able to carry a bit more speed out of the final banked curve as we head towards the finish line. 

It's a bit more dramatic in the battle for fourth as both 32bobo32 and Kerley are really high on the exit kerb of turn 12, but Kerley manages to keep the speed up despite sticking a wheel or two on the gravel. But watch out for Carl, because he is carrying so much speed through these turns and he's closing in. 32bobo32 opts for a high line through the final bend, it's either going to really work for him, or he's going to lose out... judging by the fact this is the final sector, I think we all know how which way this is going to go!

1:23 - It's quite a short lap, and quite high speed, so the full lap times are not much over a minute long, but let's first look at the S3 times alone:

1	Fongu	00:23.141	+0.000
2	Gildoorf	00:23.202	+0.061
3	Prblanco	00:23.602	+0.461
4	KerleyF1	00:23.775	+0.634
5	Carl_gpgames	00:23.874	+0.733
6	32bobo32	00:24.060	+0.919

The leading pace is close once again between Gildoorf and I but I just edge this sector by the smallest of margins. Prblanco's challenge for the lead ends in this sector. But it's 32bobo32 who once again loses out in the final sector, nearly a second down, mostly because of choosing to run a high line on the final bend. 

The final lap times are:

1	Fongu	01:13.610	+0.000
2	Gildoorf	01:13.789	+0.179
3	Prblanco	01:14.356	+0.746
4	KerleyF1	01:15.675	+2.065
5	32bobo32	01:15.729	+2.119
6	Carl_gpgames	01:15.844	+2.234

I'm back to winning ways on my return, but it was a tight fight with Gildoorf, not for the first time this season. Despite us using different input methods, both of us ended up using very similar lines and techniques, and this race was won by tiny differences. Prblanco was right in there until the final sector where he lost nearly half a second. Still, a thoroughly we deserved podium to add to his tally, and congrats on making this excellent track. 

Back to the battle for fourth place, and it's Kerley who wins this one, just a tenth ahead of 32bobo32, who himself is just able to keep ahead of Carl. Congratulations to Kerley, this is his most competitive showing this season so far, playing a key role in an exciting tussle in the midfield. 

Reactions

What you don't see in the video is the run up to us setting those final laps, and it's Gildoorf and I who started out posting times slightly earlier in the week than the others. Gildoorf and I were trading fastest laps throughout the week, but whilst I had a big session on the wheel at the end of the week, Gildoorf was tied up and unable to improve further. 

Gildoorf gives an interesting insight into his approach to setup:
"I compromised low downforce, short-range gears and basically all brake bias at the rear for some drifting at Turns 2 and 11"

"Steering wheel assistance ruined my lap at some key points such as turn 10 exit and turn 13 cornering🤔"

Ultimately, my keyboard lap time wasn't enough to eclipse Gildoorf's lap, but my improved time on the wheel ensured I just took victory this round. 

Gildoorf: "@Fongu Excellent lap. You nailed it!"

KerleyF1: "Great lap @Fongu"

Carl_gpgames: "Congrats to @Fongu to his P1 combeack! 🏆🍾🏎️!"

Carl_gpgames: "This was probably my worst lap ever, but at least I got @32bobo32 in S3 😀"

32bobo32: "Ahahahahah I can't understand why my S3 is always the worst"

Carl_gpgames: "@Kerley: congrats on P4! huge improvement, probably your best lap so far!!!"

Gildoorf: "Indeed, steady progress, flawless lap, well done @Kerley!!!"

Fongu: "Well done @Kerley very close between you and @32bobo32 all the way around, you were braver around the final sector"

Prblanco: "congrats to all especially @Fongu for the win and @Kerley for the season best"

We're all in praise for this track:
Kerley: "Superb "caroussel" @Prblanco ! I love the old tracks, and love more drive the old tracks in GP4. Thanks for this great track." 

Fongu: "I really enjoyed pounding round @Prblanco & @Oggo's version this week, love all the banking and exploring different cornering techniques... really enjoyed this track."
Gildoorf: "One of the best experiences of GP4 this year! Thanks, @Prblanco & @Oggo for such fun."

Championship Standings

1	Fongu	+10	108
2	Gildoorf	+6	82
3	Prblanco	+4	44
4	32bobo32	+2	39
5	Carl_gpgames	+1	32
6	Duffer		20
7	KerleyF1	+3	12

There's no change in the standings. I'm now into triple digits, extending my lead on the championship. Prblanco cements his third place, continuing his great form of late. Kerley is now into double digits after this fine performance. 32bobo32 will be fighting hard to regain third place, with Carl not too far behind him. We all hope to see Duffer in the next round at Monza, where we'll be racing on the original GP4 version, albeit with updated sector locations. 

Duffer: "I miss a lot of rounds 😂🤣. I may possibly make monza!"

Gildoorf: "Congrats @Fongu, I do not give up easily, championship is a long run 😀."