2013 Let's Race Championship

Hi all, just thought I'd make a little section for a race series that I've entered at my local simulator centre - Let's Race.
Let's Race (formerly known as Pure Tech Racing) is a cutting edge venue that caters for everything from "I could do that" racing fans through to full driver training facilities (you see a number of current drivers from various series in the centre, as well as other well known faces).  They have 10 (yes ten!!) F1-style monocoques mounted on 3-axis full-motion hydraulic platforms in 2 rows of 5 that allow you to race simultaneously whilst experiencing up to 2g during cornering/braking (higher g possible but dialled down to 2g for "public" sessions).
Recently the staff tried out a few new ideas, since the system can effectively run any car (it runs on a modified version of rfactor) and they ran championship trials sessions to gauge opinion and decide what they were going to run for their first championship since the rebrand from PTR.  The trials gave you 60mins in the simulator, running 10 mins each in Clio cup, Porsche GT3 Cup, GT1 (choice of DBR1, C6.R or Murcielago), F3 and then F1 1994 spec cars for a mere £20!  These sessions were also used to group drivers into the first two ranking tiers that would shape the first championship - Rookie and Amateur.  I qualified in the Amateur license group.  The staff decided that they wanted their first series to be run in "tin tops", and chose the Porsche.
Both classes will run on track at the same time, but the Rookies will have an extra 5 mins qualifying time, and the Amateurs will have 160kg ballast in-car.  During testing this showed that although the Amateur cars were slower on the straight, the drivers were better at putting the power down and maintaining corner/exit speed, so it puts everyone pretty much on par.

Round 1 (Donnington National) happened on Wednesday night (31st July) and saw a few teething problems with the system, and we had to fall back into the Clios.  This wasn't a problem though because we were all there to race, no matter the vehicle.  A race is a race, right?!?
I qualified in 7th (boo!), but got a blinding start, and by turn 4 (the Old Hairpin) I was in 2nd.  The system had been set up so that tyre degredation would play a role, and it looked from qualify as though we would need to pit at least twice.  One of the faster qualifiers managed to get back past me fairly quickly, but after that I settled into a rhythm and was even running around a second faster than I qualified.
When it came to the first stop I missed my box (DOH!) and had to back up, losing me a few seconds.  I emerged in 6th, but the fresh rubber meant I was able to pull some ridiculous passes on those who were still on their original tyres.  After things shook out I was in a solid 3rd again.
The second stop went like clockwork and I was feeling confident for a podium finish in my first race.  Considering the talent that I'd seen in the trial sessions, I hadn't even considered doing that well coming into the race so was well pleased (so far!).
I was still running in 3rd but unknown to me at the time, the driver who had been 4th had managed to get the under cut on me through the 2nd stop, and was ahead.  The driver who had been 2nd had suffered a puncture and was behind me!  With his much greater speed, the car now in 4th caught me with 1 lap to go, and with a nice tow down the home straight, passed me into turn 1 on the last lap.  I tried to keep on his tail, but didn't account for the amount of understeer running that close would cause going through turn 4, and ran a touch wide.  That gave him enough breathing space to seal the final podium spot for the remainder of the lap.
I have to say I was pretty gutted, but looking back I wouldn't have expected a podium in the first race coming into it anyway, so I can't complain that much, and the racing was truly excellent!

There are a total of 7 rounds (this was Round 1), and the score from 3 rounds will be dropped, so if anyone is interested in joining the series, you still can, and still stand as good a chance as the rest of winning!
If you'd like to sign up, please quote me (Chris Siddall) as having referred you so I can get some nice kickbacks(!!!!) aka discount for introducing you!  

http://letsrace.co.uk


Staff write-up:

http://letsrace.co.uk/blog/championship-round-1-results/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Results+from+Round+1+of+the+ChampionshipSummerBelgian+GP&utm_content=Results+from+Round+1+of+the+ChampionshipSummerBelgian+GP+CID_78ef0225ad31003f5ff153138a8de50c&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=Championship%20Blog%20page

Isn't this located in Britain?

Yeah it is. Near Gatwick if I remember correctly. Shame it isn't closer as I'd love to give it a go!

F4H Carrera wrote:Yeah it is. Near Gatwick if I remember correctly. Shame it isn't closer as I'd love to give it a go!

You are correct, in fact it's exactly 3 minutes (I timed it) from my work - very dangerous for my wallet!!!!



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Shame it isn't in America. I would so do that (although I don't know what the requirements for it are).

Sounds fantastic Chris. Hope you do reviews after every race. Certainly was a good read! Good luck in the championship

CQR Aero wrote:You are correct, in fact it's exactly 3 minutes (I timed it) from my work - very dangerous for my wallet!!!!

 I bet!
I've got The Race Centre about 15 minutes away from me but I've never gone, probably should some day!

we don't have that fancy stuff down here :/ we have simulators yes, but they're only at V8 events and it's the V8s at (mainly) bathurst, not a bad thing, but still

Some of the staff were lucky enough to go down in the centres very early daysalong with Nick and John from RLM. It really is the most immersive racing experience I've had next to the real thing.
If you're in the UK you must must go.

Hmmm trip 2mw Richy and Chris afterwards?

I've been once and it was amazing. I think we need to get a TORA trip going for there, if we can get enough interest we might get a discount if we block book it. Duncan, as long as I make my 18:30 train in Birmingham I'm game