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

Track: Symmons Plains Raceway

Session: Practice


P#DRIVERTIME
1008J Zolecki50.658
2013T Nadz52.170
3023Z Webster53.213
41J Whincup53.498
597S Van Gisbergen53.859
65M Winterbottom53.902
79W Davison54.013
86C Mostert54.016
92G Tander54.151
10888C Lowndes54.340
1121D Wood54.430
1214F Coulthard54.438
1355D Reynolds54.502
1416S Pye54.547
158J Bright54.581
1615R Kelly54.691
174L Holdsworth54.826
1822J Courtney55.011
19061D Hamilton55.070
2023R Ingall55.094
21222N Percat55.132
22021T Bear55.264
2318J Perkins55.267
2433S McLaughlin55.298
2517D Wall55.317
26360J Moffat55.543
2747T Slade55.590
2836M Caruso56.235
297T Kelly57.315

Weather: Cloudy, 70 °F, North 0 mph


Session: Qualifying


P#DRIVERTIME
1008J Zolecki51.167
2013T Nadz51.799
3023Z Webster52.122
41J Whincup54.561
59W Davison54.623
65M Winterbottom54.682
76C Mostert54.702
897S Van Gisbergen54.732
98J Bright54.791
1014F Coulthard54.937
112G Tander55.034
12888C Lowndes55.188
1321D Wood55.573
1415R Kelly55.745
1518J Perkins55.745
1633S McLaughlin55.814
1716S Pye56.030
1855D Reynolds56.201
1917D Wall56.297
20222N Percat56.312
21360J Moffat56.397
224L Holdsworth56.502
2323R Ingall56.756
24061D Hamilton56.821
2522J Courtney57.065
2634R Dahlgren57.103
2747T Slade57.153
287T Kelly57.313
2936M Caruso57.690
30021T Bear--

Weather: Cloudy, 70 °F, North 0 mph


Session: Happy Hour


P#DRIVERTIME
1008J Zolecki50.885
2023Z Webster52.647
3013T Nadz52.689
41J Whincup53.676
514F Coulthard53.758
6061D Hamilton53.800
75M Winterbottom53.835
8888C Lowndes54.039
997S Van Gisbergen54.150
109W Davison54.235
112G Tander54.239
126C Mostert54.316
1321D Wood54.464
14021T Bear54.726
158J Bright54.745
1618J Perkins55.025
1755D Reynolds55.054
1833S McLaughlin55.211
1916S Pye55.242
204L Holdsworth55.301
21360J Moffat55.307
2215R Kelly55.327
2347T Slade55.495
24222N Percat55.539
2522J Courtney55.620
2617D Wall55.672
277T Kelly55.963
2823R Ingall56.024
2934R Dahlgren56.136
3036M Caruso56.874

Weather: Cloudy, 70 °F, North 0 mph


Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS


FS#DRIVERINTERVALLAPSLEDPOINTSSTATUS
11008J Zolecki99.7193029*185Running
22013T Nadz-29.61300170Running
33023Z Webster-1L290165Running
459W Davison-1L290160Running
5112G Tander-1L290155Running
61321D Wood-1L290150Running
798J Bright-1L290146Running
81518J Perkins-1L290142Running
91716S Pye-1L290138Running
101855D Reynolds-1L290134Running
1176C Mostert-1L290130Running
1265M Winterbottom-1L291132Running
13897S Van Gisbergen-1L290124Running
141014F Coulthard-1L290121Running
1512888C Lowndes-1L290118Running
1641J Whincup-1L290115Running
17224L Holdsworth-1L290112Running
181917D Wall-1L290109Running
192323R Ingall-1L290106Running
201633S McLaughlin-1L290103Running
212747T Slade-1L290100Running
2220222N Percat-2L28097Running
2321360J Moffat-2L28094Running
242522J Courtney-2L28091Running
252634R Dahlgren-2L28088Running
2630021T Bear-3L27085Running
272936M Caruso-3L27082Tire
2824061D Hamilton-3L27079Running
291415R Kelly-15L15076Accident
30287T Kelly-22L8073Gearbox

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (2 drivers)

Weather: Cloudy, 70 °F, North 0 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 2x

AI Strength: 93%


PENALTIES

LAP#INFRACTIONPENALTY

Race 2

Session: Qualifying


P#DRIVERTIME
1008J Zolecki51.230
2023Z Webster51.784
3013T Nadz52.075
41J Whincup54.393
55M Winterbottom54.700
66C Mostert54.737
7888C Lowndes54.967
897S Van Gisbergen54.981
98J Bright54.996
109W Davison55.020
1114F Coulthard55.037
122G Tander55.094
13061D Hamilton55.263
1415R Kelly55.510
1521D Wood55.563
1616S Pye55.883
1733S McLaughlin56.074
1818J Perkins56.144
1955D Reynolds56.274
2047T Slade56.444
21222N Percat56.604
2223R Ingall56.664
234L Holdsworth56.692
2422J Courtney57.000
2517D Wall57.105
267T Kelly57.258
2736M Caruso57.512
2834R Dahlgren57.569
29360J Moffat57.636
30021T Bear--

Weather: Cloudy, 70 °F, North 0 mph


Session: Race


FS#DRIVERINTERVALLAPSLEDPOINTSSTATUS
11008J Zolecki98.3813019*185Running
266C Mostert-28.12302175Running
341J Whincup-36.82300165Running
455M Winterbottom-37.99300160Running
51114F Coulthard-43.27300155Running
6109W Davison-47.81300150Running
7897S Van Gisbergen-47.82300146Running
87888C Lowndes-54.73300142Running
998J Bright-54.75300138Running
101521D Wood-1L290134Running
111818J Perkins-1L290130Running
121733S McLaughlin-1L290127Running
132047T Slade-1L290124Running
141955D Reynolds-1L290121Running
1521222N Percat-1L290118Running
162023Z Webster-1L299120Running
1729360J Moffat-1L290112Running
181415R Kelly-1L290109Running
192517D Wall-1L290106Running
20122G Tander-2L280103Running
21267T Kelly-2L280100Running
222422J Courtney-2L28097Running
232834R Dahlgren-2L28094Running
2413061D Hamilton-2L28091Running
252736M Caruso-2L28088Running
2630021T Bear-3L27085Running
271616S Pye-3L27082Running
28234L Holdsworth-24L6079Retired
292223R Ingall-24L6076Accident
303013T Nadz-25L5073Accident

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (3 drivers)

Weather: Cloudy, 70 °F, North 0 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 2x

AI Strength: 93%




Thursday, May 4, 2017

Supercars 17 - Adelaide R1-2

Things got off to a great start.  No major issues...at least technically.

Race 1:
Gurton Buster was absent for Race 1 so it was me and Zack on the front lines making smoke.

Things were clean at the Senna Chicane so it wasn't until Darrel started rocking bumpers onto Babrahm Straight.

I didn't think cars would roll here but Darrel was doing Scot's work.  He would spend the remainder of the race limping about.

Sandy, looking to capitalize, tried to take an inside line.

But his tires couldn't take any more abuse and he sailed right into the barriers.

Up front, Zack and I were pulling away and he was staying close on my tail.

But after a few laps, he spun the tires onto Bartels Road.

After that his rubbers were spent.

Eventually he had to drop out after his car became useless.

The remainder was fairly uneventful and I came home with the win.

Race 2:
Buster joined us for the second round and we started off in style.

Zack quickly made up for a slightly mediocre qualifying.

We made it through one and two with little issue.

The same could not be said of others.

The melee ensued.

Sandy slowed down for the wreck when his teammate, Darrel, came by to lend a hand.

In the pole vault.

The Bear almost got away with it to continue past stopped cars but he got bogged down in the sand and fell on back.

Back up front, we waged a conservative battle.  Trying to save tires and fuel while not killing or losing each other.

A lap or two later, I lost focus and missed my crucial breaking zone at the Dequetteville Hairpin.

Gurton almost ran away with the show but a lap later he slipped the wheels and rotated.

He got going but fell to 3rd.  But Buster eventually pulled up the boot straps and slid back into 2nd.

While that action was going down, Darrel was making up from Race 1 and his early friendly fire.  But he couldn't help getting a little carried away trying to make moves.

He too fell victim to a spent car.

Gurton was still making a charge but Zack's charges combined with traffic were holding back his times and performance.

For Zack, he again came up against broken tires.

Lap 11 and I was in, handing the lead back to Gurton.

A lap later and he was in for his mandatory, surrendering the lead.

The cycle should have given him a slight advantage but he again ran into trouble with backmarkers.

Which he was handling deftly.

But with friends like these, who needs a win?

While he managed to close within about five seconds, it wasn't enough to make a move for the win.  Which went to me.

We'll now go on to the next venue at Symmons Plains.  Probably our simplest course of the series but not the easiest.

Race 1

Track: BAR Adelaide

Session: Practice


P#DRIVERTIME
1013T Nadz1:15.023
2023Z Webster1:15.630
36C Mostert1:17.782
414F Coulthard1:18.295
597S Van Gisbergen1:18.464
6888C Lowndes1:18.688
72G Tander1:18.695
821D Wood1:18.881
99W Davison1:18.966
105M Winterbottom1:19.002
1115R Kelly1:19.249
128J Bright1:19.273
1316S Pye1:19.329
14061D Hamilton1:19.348
151J Whincup1:19.432
1623R Ingall1:19.456
174L Holdsworth1:19.488
1818J Perkins1:19.550
1933S McLaughlin1:19.570
20021T Bear1:19.889
21360J Moffat1:20.248
2255D Reynolds1:20.402
2334R Dahlgren1:20.480
2447T Slade1:20.492
25222N Percat1:20.615
267T Kelly1:21.157
2736M Caruso1:21.179
2817D Wall1:21.215
2922J Courtney1:21.690

Weather: Cloudy, 100 °F, West 3 mph


Session: Qualifying


P#DRIVERTIME
1013T Nadz1:14.495
2023Z Webster1:16.004
35M Winterbottom1:16.970
414F Coulthard1:17.313
56C Mostert1:17.469
61J Whincup1:17.526
79W Davison1:17.653
8888C Lowndes1:17.676
997S Van Gisbergen1:18.071
102G Tander1:18.175
118J Bright1:18.215
12061D Hamilton1:18.308
1321D Wood1:18.351
1415R Kelly1:18.598
1518J Perkins1:18.619
1616S Pye1:18.648
1755D Reynolds1:19.133
18222N Percat1:19.558
1947T Slade1:19.616
20360J Moffat1:19.941
2122J Courtney1:19.971
224L Holdsworth1:20.112
2317D Wall1:20.648
2423R Ingall1:21.144
257T Kelly1:21.309
2636M Caruso1:21.515
2734R Dahlgren1:21.591
2833S McLaughlin1:26.079
29021T Bear--

Weather: Cloudy, 100 °F, Northwest 5 mph


Session: Happy Hour


P#DRIVERTIME
1013T Nadz1:15.993
2023Z Webster1:18.528
314F Coulthard1:18.686
48J Bright1:18.710
56C Mostert1:18.875
6061D Hamilton1:18.883
797S Van Gisbergen1:18.930
81J Whincup1:18.935
921D Wood1:19.149
10888C Lowndes1:19.202
1116S Pye1:19.545
125M Winterbottom1:19.560
1333S McLaughlin1:19.601
14360J Moffat1:19.679
1555D Reynolds1:19.698
1618J Perkins1:19.811
1715R Kelly1:19.962
184L Holdsworth1:20.094
1922J Courtney1:20.123
202G Tander1:20.205
2117D Wall1:20.247
2223R Ingall1:20.471
239W Davison1:20.504
24222N Percat1:20.701
2547T Slade1:20.791
2634R Dahlgren1:21.004
277T Kelly1:21.507
28021T Bear1:22.348
2936M Caruso1:22.767

Weather: Clear, 90 °F, Northeast 18 mph


Session: Race


FS#DRIVERINTERVALLAPSLEDPOINTSSTATUS
11013T Nadz122.8922020*185Running
256C Mostert-20.39200170Running
3414F Coulthard-22.42200165Running
435M Winterbottom-23.46200160Running
58888C Lowndes-24.62200155Running
679W Davison-32.05200150Running
71755D Reynolds-33.00200146Running
861J Whincup-34.75200142Running
91415R Kelly-42.52200138Running
102833S McLaughlin-1:03.33200134Running
112423R Ingall-1:11.67200130Running
122734R Dahlgren-1:17.52200127Running
13118J Bright-1L190124Running
14224L Holdsworth-1L190121Running
152317D Wall-1L190118Running
162636M Caruso-1L190115Running
172122J Courtney-1L190112Running
1818222N Percat-1L190109Running
1920360J Moffat-1L190106Running
20257T Kelly-1L190103Running
211616S Pye-3L170100Retired
2212061D Hamilton-3L17097Running
23997S Van Gisbergen-8L12094Accident
241947T Slade-9L11091Retired
25102G Tander-10L10088Accident
262023Z Webster-11L9085Retired
271321D Wood-19L1082Accident
281518J Perkins-19L1079Accident
2929021T Bear-19L1076Accident

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 0 (1 driver)

Weather: Cloudy, 89 °F, East 27 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 4x

AI Strength: 95%

Race 2

Session: Qualifying


P#DRIVERTIME
1008J Zolecki1:14.538
2013T Nadz1:14.896
3888C Lowndes1:17.059
49W Davison1:17.082
51J Whincup1:17.082
614F Coulthard1:17.110
76C Mostert1:17.178
85M Winterbottom1:17.197
9023Z Webster1:17.673
1021D Wood1:17.686
118J Bright1:17.891
1297S Van Gisbergen1:17.923
132G Tander1:18.293
1415R Kelly1:18.309
1516S Pye1:18.514
1623R Ingall1:18.769
1733S McLaughlin1:18.882
1818J Perkins1:18.905
19061D Hamilton1:19.014
2055D Reynolds1:19.032
2147T Slade1:19.327
22222N Percat1:19.410
234L Holdsworth1:19.853
2422J Courtney1:19.880
25360J Moffat1:19.908
2617D Wall1:20.088
277T Kelly1:20.284
2836M Caruso1:20.429
2934R Dahlgren1:21.013
30021T Bear--


Weather: Cloudy, 86 °F, Southwest 16 mph



Session: Happy Hour


P#DRIVERTIME
133S McLaughlin1:18.895
216S Pye1:19.791
318J Perkins1:25.920
423R Ingall1:26.392
5061D Hamilton2:33.528


Weather: Clear, 85 °F, North 7 mph



Session: Race


FS#DRIVERINTERVALLAPSLEDPOINTSSTATUS
12013T Nadz126.3262017*185Running
21008J Zolecki-13.28203175Running
31297S Van Gisbergen-1:07.27200165Running
449W Davison-1:08.81200160Running
5118J Bright-1:07.25200155Running
63888C Lowndes-1:08.34200150Running
7614F Coulthard-1:14.13200146Running
82055D Reynolds-1L190142Running
91516S Pye-1L190138Running
101733S McLaughlin-1L190134Running
11234L Holdsworth-1L190130Running
121623R Ingall-1L190127Running
131415R Kelly-1L190124Running
14132G Tander-1L190121Running
1519061D Hamilton-1L190118Running
162617D Wall-1L190115Running
1776C Mostert-1L190112Running
1885M Winterbottom-1L190109Running
191818J Perkins-1L190106Running
2025360J Moffat-1L190103Running
219023Z Webster-1L190100Running
222934R Dahlgren-1L19097Running
232422J Courtney-1L19094Running
24277T Kelly-1L19091Running
252836M Caruso-1L19088Running
2630021T Bear-3L17085Running
271021D Wood-3L17082Running
282147T Slade-8L12079Accident
2951J Whincup-11L9076Retired
3022222N Percat-18L2073Clutch


Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 4 (2 drivers)

Weather: Cloudy, 85 °F, Northwest 6 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 4x

AI Strength: 95%