Thursday, May 25, 2017

Supercars 17 - Phillip Island R5-6

Our third venue came to the European-style road course off the southern coast of Australia. We took to the winding turns that left a couple twists in the season.

Race 1:

The first twist of the night was the 008 was not on the front row. After a botched qualifying, he was well down the order.

And if that wasn't enough, he hung it wide through the South Loop, hitting the gravel and setting back not once...

...but twice, again on Lukey Heights. No damage but definitely some time lost. Did that both the Gurt? What do you think?

Webster was having a fairly good run and we in the top ten when he had a run in with Courtney.

They both rounded about turn one but mostly kept from getting killed. Jamie got a good view as he was moving up the field.

Zack hit the pits early and would try it again.

About five laps in, Buster was up in the top ten. Cutting the field like a surgeon.

By the time I pit around lap 11, the Clipsal ride waved good bye.

Of course, he would need to take his stop and he was off the jack as I swung by. The drag race to the finish began and there were about six laps left.

In this frame, Gurton Buster isn't even to Stoner Corner, not even to the crane.

He turned the boosters to max and by the final lap, he was within seconds.

While he had the pace, he didn't have enough laps to take the win. Still, a second place finish is pretty impressive.

Race 2:

You would think after the amazing run he had, Buster would have been on the front row. Yet again, he ruined his qualifying run and started at the rear. I think at this point, he's just getting bored and looking for a challenge.

Everyone got a good run off the line and it got very exciting through the Loop.

Darrel left a little too much room on the inside and David Wall was there, giving him a little tap and sending him straight into the Clipsal machine.

Zack was already having a wild ride to the outside and saw the 008 slam on into the tire wall. His run to the front might be even more challenged at this point.

After initially running wide, Webster struggled with his tires and had to park.

Several laps in, Hamilton was running well, pacing to be in the top 15 like in Race 1 when he got distracted by...something...and ran out wide.

That wouldn't have been too bad except when he came back on course, Shane van Gisbergen railed him, ending his race.

Gurton managed to make it back to the pits and assess the damage. Turns out his fastest lap will only be around the track record pace. Poor bastard.

In an effort to climb back to the top, he came into contact with David Wall. What a coincidence.

The result was two Walls coming together and not moving any more.

I then carried on at a more leisurely pace and swept the venue.

We now go to Barbagallo Raceway where Gurton Buster has been making some modifications to get the new pit road in place.

Race 1

Track: Phillip Island HR

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	008	J Zolecki	1:28.783
2	013	T Nadz	1:31.144
3	023	Z Webster	1:32.470
4	5	M Winterbottom	1:32.982
5	9	W Davison	1:33.129
6	6	C Mostert	1:33.238
7	1	J Whincup	1:33.257
8	888	C Lowndes	1:33.271
9	97	S Van Gisbergen	1:33.620
10	2	G Tander	1:33.725
11	14	F Coulthard	1:33.738
12	8	J Bright	1:33.903
13	21	D Wood	1:33.967
14	061	D Hamilton	1:34.134
15	55	D Reynolds	1:34.274
16	18	J Perkins	1:34.297
17	47	T Slade	1:34.303
18	15	R Kelly	1:34.651
19	33	S McLaughlin	1:34.720
20	222	N Percat	1:34.953
21	16	S Pye	1:35.054
22	4	L Holdsworth	1:35.148
23	23	R Ingall	1:35.222
24	17	D Wall	1:35.486
25	360	J Moffat	1:35.785
26	22	J Courtney	1:35.965
27	34	R Dahlgren	1:36.037
28	36	M Caruso	1:36.207
29	7	T Kelly	1:36.249

Weather: Clear, 65 °F, West 16 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	1:29.894
2	1	J Whincup	1:31.297
3	97	S Van Gisbergen	1:31.301
4	5	M Winterbottom	1:31.417
5	6	C Mostert	1:31.799
6	14	F Coulthard	1:31.807
7	888	C Lowndes	1:31.829
8	8	J Bright	1:32.135
9	9	W Davison	1:32.205
10	16	S Pye	1:32.208
11	21	D Wood	1:32.223
12	2	G Tander	1:32.440
13	15	R Kelly	1:32.705
14	55	D Reynolds	1:32.772
15	4	L Holdsworth	1:33.053
16	18	J Perkins	1:33.182
17	023	Z Webster	1:33.183
18	33	S McLaughlin	1:33.294
19	47	T Slade	1:33.638
20	360	J Moffat	1:33.690
21	22	J Courtney	1:33.948
22	23	R Ingall	1:34.005
23	222	N Percat	1:34.128
24	17	D Wall	1:34.430
25	34	R Dahlgren	1:34.711
26	7	T Kelly	1:34.805
27	36	M Caruso	1:35.158
28	008	J Zolecki	1:38.701
29	021	T Bear	--
30	061	D Hamilton	--

Weather: Clear, 65 °F, Northeast 11 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	1:30.654
2	008	J Zolecki	1:31.171
3	021	T Bear	1:32.684
4	5	M Winterbottom	1:32.809
5	9	W Davison	1:33.035
6	14	F Coulthard	1:33.075
7	1	J Whincup	1:33.105
8	8	J Bright	1:33.343
9	97	S Van Gisbergen	1:33.346
10	888	C Lowndes	1:33.421
11	6	C Mostert	1:33.453
12	2	G Tander	1:33.632
13	21	D Wood	1:33.956
14	55	D Reynolds	1:33.958
15	15	R Kelly	1:34.112
16	33	S McLaughlin	1:34.238
17	222	N Percat	1:34.333
18	16	S Pye	1:34.339
19	023	Z Webster	1:34.586
20	47	T Slade	1:34.654
21	18	J Perkins	1:34.727
22	22	J Courtney	1:34.848
23	4	L Holdsworth	1:34.895
24	34	R Dahlgren	1:35.109
25	17	D Wall	1:35.500
26	23	R Ingall	1:35.589
27	7	T Kelly	1:35.812
28	360	J Moffat	1:35.837
29	36	M Caruso	1:36.498
30	061	D Hamilton	1:36.707

Weather: Clear, 55 °F, East 3 mph

Session: Race

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	013	T Nadz	106.898	17	15*	185	Running
2	28	008	J Zolecki	-1.42	17	2	175	Running
3	2	1	J Whincup	-47.49	17	0	165	Running
4	4	5	M Winterbottom	-48.96	17	0	160	Running
5	6	14	F Coulthard	-55.26	17	0	155	Running
6	5	6	C Mostert	-58.02	17	0	150	Running
7	7	888	C Lowndes	-1:01.08	17	0	146	Running
8	8	8	J Bright	-1:01.14	17	0	142	Running
9	3	97	S Van Gisbergen	-1:01.43	17	0	138	Running
10	14	55	D Reynolds	-1:08.67	17	0	134	Running
11	10	16	S Pye	-1:15.40	17	0	130	Running
12	18	33	S McLaughlin	-1:22.60	17	0	127	Running
13	16	18	J Perkins	-1:27.01	17	0	124	Running
14	11	21	D Wood	-1L	16	0	121	Running
15	23	222	N Percat	-1L	16	0	118	Running
16	24	17	D Wall	-1L	16	0	115	Running
17	21	22	J Courtney	-1L	16	0	112	Running
18	30	061	D Hamilton	-1L	16	0	109	Running
19	20	360	J Moffat	-1L	16	0	106	Running
20	22	23	R Ingall	-1L	16	0	103	Running
21	25	34	R Dahlgren	-1L	16	0	100	Running
22	26	7	T Kelly	-1L	16	0	97	Running
23	29	021	T Bear	-1L	16	0	94	Running
24	15	4	L Holdsworth	-1L	16	0	91	Running
25	12	2	G Tander	-3L	14	0	88	Running
26	27	36	M Caruso	-4L	13	0	85	Running
27	13	15	R Kelly	-6L	11	0	82	Retired
28	19	47	T Slade	-6L	11	0	79	Accident
29	17	023	Z Webster	-6L	11	0	76	Retired
30	9	9	W Davison	-11L	6	0	73	Accident

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (2 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 54 °F, Southeast 6 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 2x

AI Strength: 93%

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	1:30.768
2	5	M Winterbottom	1:31.541
3	1	J Whincup	1:31.626
4	6	C Mostert	1:31.794
5	888	C Lowndes	1:31.880
6	97	S Van Gisbergen	1:31.971
7	15	R Kelly	1:32.297
8	8	J Bright	1:32.320
9	14	F Coulthard	1:32.452
10	9	W Davison	1:32.508
11	21	D Wood	1:32.563
12	2	G Tander	1:32.677
13	16	S Pye	1:32.867
14	33	S McLaughlin	1:32.938
15	55	D Reynolds	1:33.130
16	18	J Perkins	1:33.442
17	47	T Slade	1:33.754
18	222	N Percat	1:33.879
19	4	L Holdsworth	1:34.345
20	23	R Ingall	1:34.408
21	7	T Kelly	1:34.545
22	061	D Hamilton	1:34.641
23	360	J Moffat	1:34.683
24	17	D Wall	1:34.732
25	34	R Dahlgren	1:34.847
26	22	J Courtney	1:34.953
27	36	M Caruso	1:35.477
28	008	J Zolecki	1:43.896
29	021	T Bear	--
30	023	Z Webster	--

Weather: Clear, 76 °F, West 11 mph

Session: Race

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	013	T Nadz	103.952	17	14*	185	Running
2	3	1	J Whincup	-15.83	17	0	170	Running
3	2	5	M Winterbottom	-16.30	17	2	170	Running
4	4	6	C Mostert	-17.83	17	1	165	Running
5	10	9	W Davison	-21.63	17	0	155	Running
6	8	8	J Bright	-25.01	17	0	150	Running
7	9	14	F Coulthard	-25.28	17	0	146	Running
8	11	21	D Wood	-33.61	17	0	142	Running
9	7	15	R Kelly	-39.31	17	0	138	Running
10	12	2	G Tander	-39.66	17	0	134	Running
11	16	18	J Perkins	-41.93	17	0	130	Running
12	15	55	D Reynolds	-42.28	17	0	127	Running
13	6	97	S Van Gisbergen	-49.35	17	0	124	Running
14	13	16	S Pye	-52.64	17	0	121	Running
15	5	888	C Lowndes	-52.80	17	0	118	Running
16	18	222	N Percat	-1:00.75	17	0	115	Running
17	21	7	T Kelly	-1:07.82	17	0	112	Running
18	25	34	R Dahlgren	-1:08.12	17	0	109	Running
19	20	23	R Ingall	-1:08.29	17	0	106	Running
20	17	47	T Slade	-1:15.12	17	0	103	Running
21	27	36	M Caruso	-1:29.44	17	0	100	Running
22	26	22	J Courtney	-1L	16	0	97	Running
23	19	4	L Holdsworth	-1L	16	0	94	Running
24	29	021	T Bear	-1L	16	0	91	Running
25	28	008	J Zolecki	-1L	16	0	88	Running
26	23	360	J Moffat	-2L	15	0	85	Camshaft
27	14	33	S McLaughlin	-3L	14	0	82	Puncture
28	22	061	D Hamilton	-12L	5	0	79	Retired
29	24	17	D Wall	-13L	4	0	76	Accident
30	30	023	Z Webster	-16L	1	0	73	Retired

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 3 (3 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 76 °F, Northeast 13 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 2x

AI Strength: 93%

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Supercars 17 - Symmons Plains R3-4

Only a few rounds in and things are already getting interesting. We took it to a wet Symmons Plains for the second venue and there were some clear winners and losers in the match up. And there was also some grade A f***ery! Cheers!

Race 1:

Jamie and his rocket boosters got the pole with Zack and me right around him. We fogged for mosquitoes and took off.

The turn 4 Brambles Hairpin was fairly tidy on lap one although Darrel did manage to cause some drama.

While keeping it a three-man-show at the front, I overdrove turn 6 and Zack slipped by.

Darrel would continue to harass and be harassed by mid pack drivers. Here he took a nasty shunt from the wall.

As his teammate, The Bear, came around the apex, one of the Volvo's gave him a hard smash, lifting all four tyres off the ground.

While trying to reclaim my podium spot, I got entangled with Whincup and forfeited more positions.

Webster started using up his rubber as well and overcooked some going through the chicane.

This forced an earlier stop than anticipated.

Once he was back out, he was right in front of Buster but the two went without incident for the better part of a lap before the Clipsal ride slipped by.

The Bear continued having issues throughout the race while struggling with the wet setup, staying just out of points position. Fortunately, he wouldn't stay there long.

Around lap 18, Gurton Buster came in for his stop but had considerable issues with lining up in his stall. Fortunately, his mammoth lead not only allowed him to take his time to readjust but he also ordered some take out, made a few Facebook posts and even started learning a foreign language. When he finally did pull of pit road, I was coming in for my mandatory as was Hamilton.

Some may have missed this odd exchange between Sandy Smith and Fabian Coulthard. It was quite interesting as there didn't look like there should have been any contact and then suddenly there just was. Both escaped without injury.

Zack's injuries, however, were mounting. The tires weren't the only things wearing quickly from these exchanges as he vented frustration at the competition and his spotty network connection.

Lap 21 and Buster had a very large moment at Brambles but was able to use the banking and Scotty Pye to keep eyes forward and in control of the lead.

The last lap was definitely exciting. More for avoiding spins and spewing vehicles than anything.

But he held on for his first win of the season.

Race 2:

A similar start to the first go with Jamie popping off an early lead from Zack who was on the front row.

Things immediately went awry as I closed too fast and dropped anchors to try and avoid a collision with GB.

But the tap was too much at a heavily loaded corner and the 008 was around. Zack capitalized but his spotty connection kept him from knowing exactly where everyone was and...

There was a might hit! Buster rolled the car and this looked like doom and gloom without even the first lap over.

But he landed and carried on as if nothing happened.

In fact, after only a few laps he was already challenging for the lead back.

While I was only a few spots behind, I was shuffled off course by a now-targeted Jason Bright.

Hamilton was making his presence known around the circuit as he took out Rick Kelly at turn 6.

Not a half lap later and he was collected by Reynolds while fighting for position off the hairpin.

Meanwhile, I was making my charge back to the front, hoping for an eventual shot at a podium finish when Scott McLaughlin took a bite out of my right hand side, sending me into the fence off of 3.

I, along with several other cars, was bashed about, filling the track in one of the fastest spots on the circuit.

Further ahead, Darrel was in trouble again, this time with James Courtney.

Thankfully, it looked like I might be OK if I could only get back to pit road to change out tires.

Alas, Rick Kelly was there to slap me out of the way...

...and into the unrelenting grasp of the tire barriers. Out and without points.

Up front, Zack Webster was making inroads on the lead, stretching his legs and gaining valuable time on the indomitable GB.

The Bear was having a relatively uneventful race with some backmarkers but it was highlighted by some run-ins with other such as Jamie Whincup.

About a quarter through and Webster came up on Todd Kelly.

The combination of closing speed and flaky net caused him to lose it up into the embankment, causing some real damage and losing him the lead.

If that weren't bad enough, he sped on pit road, had the lug nuts not align properly AND his crew jammed an air hose. If I had to guess, his crew was not getting ice cream at the end of the race.

Back in the mix, Todd Kelly was giving Hamilton a tour of the beach at 6.

And only a few laps later, Coulthard was returning Sandy's favor from Race 1.

While most everyone continued to struggle with damage, conditions and traffic, Gurton Buster cruised on to his second victory and a massive points lead early on.

We'll take a break this week and continue on the 24th at Philip Island.

Race 1