I just played my first race in the new Featured Multiplayer Spec Series, the Vintage Le Mans Sportscar Series and I must say I really enjoy the class! But there’s something weird going on that splits the cars…
I chose the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, I mean just look at her, what a beaut! When doing my practice runs I noticed that I was quite a bit off the pace compared to others. The open cockpit and more prototype styled cars are way quicker through the corners. The DB4 does make it up on the straights, it’s like everyone’s driving in reverse. Man what a rocketship! But still I was about 3 seconds off the pace in practice.
What I did notice is that after 7 laps of running the tyres were only halfway through their life and that’s a full race distance!
I did some tuning magic and got within 2 seconds for qualifying, coming in 6th. Not too bad with the difference in cornering speed I’d say. again, barely any wear after 3 laps of non stop pushing.
Knowing this I went to the race, not planning to stop going for enough fuel for the entire race.
At ther launch I already noticed the difference in straightline speed, the Aston went flying past everyone and everything, only to be professionaly blocked by the racer that started 1st (Merc 300SLR), a good defence. No trouble in T1, see it can be done! Trying to keep up with 1st place I quickly had to give in to the difference in cornering speeds and saw him driving away, but the racers behind me also couldn’t keep up eventhough they were in the more prototype style vehicles.
Halfway through lap 2 a Jaguar D-type quickly came up to me through the corners. I really tried my hardest to defend, but I just wasn’t a match in the corners. Coming back past them on the stright going into lap 3 I couldn’t make the move stick through the first corners. Okay, we’ll make p3 work!
At the end of lap 3 I noticed that the leader came in to the pitlane. Weird, my tyres barely had any wear on them… Lap 4 more cars came in to the pitlane, like the D-type that overtook me and several cars behind me. Still no wear for me.
After this no real challenge for me, just drove cleanly to the finish. I did see that the people that had pitted we’re moving up the field. The racer that started 1st was fighting with p2 and p3 behind me, but ended up coming 4th (don’t know that happened, just saw them changing positions on the leaderboard).
In the end the podium was taken by:
- Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato (me) - 0 pit
- Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato - 0 pit
- Jaguar E-type - 0 pit
In the post-race leaderbord it was clear that the cars that did pit still had faster laps, up to 2 seconds faster than me, but couldn’t make up for the time lost in the pitlane. I must add that the nature of Catalunya allowed me to not lose as much time compared to the prototype style cars, but on a more twisty circuit like Suzuka I think I wouldn’t be able to make up for the loss in the corners.
Having discussed with a couple of friend, the experienced the same. Some chosing for the higher tyre wear and corners, others for lower wear and endurance. It is clear that the balance shifts per circuit (and driver).
This might prove a fun balance to play around with on the various circuits!
TL;DR
In the current Vintage Le Mans Sportscar series there’s different tyre wear on the cars. The more road-going cars (Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, Jaguar E-type) have a lower wear, but lose out in the corners. The more prototype-style cars (Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, Jaguar D-type) have more tyre wear, but are also faster in their laps. It’s as if half the field is running softs and the other half is running hards, but the car determines which compound you’re using.
I think Forza/T10 has done this on purpose and it’s definitely fun to play around with this balance!
What do you think? Do you experience the same?
