Circuit de Prague -Season 2: Race #12

The race at Circuit de Prague was much better and more exciting than I anticipated. I had a chance to win the race, but in the end, due to issues mostly of my own making, I finished third.

There’s a term in racing called “red mist.” It can be defined as losing focus and getting caught up in the moment, and can be triggered by a mistake on track, an opponent doing something stupid, or really just about anything. I suffered from a little red mist in this race. Once I hit the wall on lap 8, I completely lost focus and went into a competitive survival mode. I drove to make up for my mistake (which is impossible to do), which led to more mistakes. As a result, I badly damaged my car and was just barely able to hold on to a top three position.

Overall, I guess I can’t complain. I started fourth and finished third. What happened in between, while not unimportant, doesn’t count in the points standings.

One thing I want to point out about the race occurred on Lap 4. I was in fifth place behind a Camaro when the Camaro suddenly hit the brakes while on a straight section of track. I’m flat out, as any driver should be, but the drivatar decided to brake.

This is something that happens occasionally in Forza Motorsports 7 and I will never understand why it happens. It’s not only unrealistic, but can ruin the race of the driver behind the car that inexplicably brakes. Does that make for a good gaming experience? It seems to me that it tends to ruin the experience rather than enhancing it. Come on, Turn 10 Studios. What are you trying to do?

After 12 rounds, the top five in points look like this:

  1. Andy Fairnight (153 pts)
  2. Antoine Gil (143 pts)
  3. Lou Mindar (130 pts)
  4. Derek Brightly (127 pts)
  5. Conor Clingschmidt (105 pts)

Next race: Watkins Glen – 90-minute (non-points race)

Prague: It’s Only Make Believe

After a brief break, the series heads to Circuit de Prague in the Czech Republic. The track is the brainchild of the folks at Studio 10, creators of Forza Motorsports 7. It is a make-believe track that snakes through the streets of the Czech capitol.  

Here’s what Forza has to say about Circuit de Prague:

“Prague is an ever-evolving city of spectacular architecture and Old World charm. It is an iconic destination for world travelers where historic landmarks are everywhere. This fantastical track weaves its way through the streets of Prague, offering a tour of its stunning magnificence while presenting a range of turns and straights waiting to be mastered.

“When designing the tracks of Prague the goal was to build a circuit that would offer something true to the city’s spirit and remain an amazing driving experience. Prague is a track that can be appreciated for its sheer beauty, and the array of curves, chicanes, and straights it offers make it perfect for all forms of competition and cars of any speed potential. It’s also an artistic expression masked in the backdrop of a city that can fascinate at nearly every turn.”

Initially, I was not aware that the Circuit de Prague wasn’t a real track. I don’t think it’s as good as the other made up tracks in the game, but it’s okay. There are a couple of challenging turns that I’m still struggling with.

We’re well into the second half of the season. I’m hopeful that I can manage a few good finishes and not lose too many points in the upcoming races. I have an uphill climb to take over the points lead, but that’s the goal.

Let’s go racing in Prague.

Mugello Autodromo Internazionale – Season 2; Race #11

If I had to describe my race at Mugello in just one word, that word would be sloppy. I had a good grid position—starting fourth—but I got a bad start. By the first turn, I had been passed by several cars. By the second or third turn, I had fallen to 14th position.

Throughout the race, but especially in the early laps, I missed my braking points, missed my turn in points, and had contact with lots of other cars. In the first lap, I couldn’t seem to get going without being hit from behind or having another car door me. Some of the contact was my fault, but much of it wasn’t.

In the later laps, I fell into a rhythm. I was able to move up into ninth position, and I set the fastest lap of the race. Things could have been much worse, but I can’t help but be disappointed with my results. Mugello could have been a very good track for me. I feel like I missed a good opportunity, and in the process, I fell further behind in the points.

Through eleven races, the top five in points are:

  1. Andy Fairnight (151 pts)
  2. Antoine Gil (131 Pts)
  3. Lou Mindar (115 pts)
  4. Derek Brightly (102 pts)
  5. Conor Clingschmidt (99 pts)

Next race: Prague Street Circuit

Visiting the Home of Scuderia Ferrari

Before I started testing at Mugello, I had no knowledge of the track. I like it, and think it will provide for some good racing. I’ve complained about tracks like Suzuka and Brands Hatch in the past that don’t lend themselves to passing. Mugello is the opposite. There are lots of places for overtaking, and the track design encourages close racing.

Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about Mugello:

“Mugello Circuit (Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello) is a race track in Scarperia e San Piero, Tuscany, Italy. The circuit length is 5.245 km (3.259 mi). It has 15 turns and a 1.141 km (0.709 mi) long straight. The circuit stadium stands have a capacity of 50,000.

“Grand Prix motorcycle racing host an annual event at the circuit (for MotoGP and smaller classes). In 2007 and 2008 the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters held an annual event. The track is owned by Scuderia Ferrari, which uses it for Formula One testing. The first race of the A1GP 2008–09 season was originally planned to be held at the Mugello circuit on 21 September 2008. However, the race had to be cancelled due to the delay in building the new chassis for the new race cars.

“The circuit hosted its first ever Formula One race on 13 September 2020, named the Tuscan Grand Prix, as part of the season being restructured due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This Grand Prix was the 1000th Grand Prix for Scuderia Ferrari.“

The Mugello race is just ten laps, so it’s going to be important to get a good grid position (Sadly, out of my hands), and get a good start. We’re on to Mugello.

Bernese Alps Circuit – Season 2: Race #10

There’s not much to say about this race. It started out bad (I qualified 20th on the grid), then got worse. In ten laps, I wrecked three times, had to pit three times, and finished in 24th position, a lap down.

Worst. Race. Ever.

The majority of the blame goes to me. I simply didn’t drive very well. But I’ll once again point at the horribly flawed tire model Forza Motorsports 7 uses. The tire starts off ice cold and never really comes in the way it should. I’ve complained about this multiple times, so no sense going on about it here. It just isn’t much fun driving a car with ice blocks for tires.

The poor finish dropped me to third in the points standings. After ten races, the top five in points are:

  1. Andy Fairnight (126 pts)
  2. Antoine Gil (123 pts)
  3. Lou Mindar (112 pts)
  4. Conor Clingschmidt (99 pts)
  5. Derek Brightly (98 pts)

The next race is a sprint race at Mugello Autodromo Internazionale.

Racing at a Place That Doesn’t Exist: Bernese Alps Circuit

Our next stop is at the Bernese Alps Circuit in… Well, I don’t know where it’s located. It’s a fictional track, so I suppose it is in a fictional country as well. Wherever it is, it’s a fun track to drive.

Jalopnik called the Bernese Alps Circuit one of the best road courses in the world, although it isn’t actually “in the world.” The track was created by designers at Turn 10 Studios and made its debut in Forza Motorsports 4 in 2011. From the beginning, it was a hit. The track is fast, it’s challenging, and the graphics are beautiful.

Here’s a look behind the scene of when and how Bernese Alps was created:

We have a 10-lap sprint race at Bernese Alps Circuit. It’s a shame we can’t go there in real life, but a virtual visit will do.

Here’s a look at the track:

Le Mans Circuit de La Sarth – Season 2: Race #9

In my previous post, I told the short story about how I had always dreamed of racing at Le Mans. Unfortunately, racing there virtually is kind of boring. There are several straights, and they are long and fast. There’s not a lot to do on much of the track but mash the accelerator and hold the wheel straight. I still love the romance of the 24 hour race at Le Mans, but the reality of racing there virtually didn’t live up to the hype.

The race itself turned out great, despite some less than stellar driving from me. I went off course a few times, had car-to-car contact a few times (mostly my fault), but still ended up coming home with the victory after starting in third position on the grid.

The race shuffled the points standings, and the win catapulted me into second place. After nine races, the top five in points are:

  1. Andy Fairnight (114 pts)
  2. Lou Mindar (112 pts)
  3. Antoine Gil (105 pts)
  4. Conor Clingschmidt (99 pts)
  5. Derek Brightly (98 pts)

The next event is a sprint race at the Bernese Alps Circuit.

The History and Romance of Le Mans

When I was a young race car driver, one of my dreams was to race at Le Mans. I can’t say that I knew a lot about the track, but I was attracted to the romance of the world’s most important endurance race. Think about it. The track was in a small town in the French countryside. Steve McQueen made a movie there. Names like Dan Gurney, Mario Andretti, Derek Bell, Brian Redman, and David Hobbs had raced there. Le Mans was literally the place—and the race—dreams were made of.

Alas, I never made it to Le Mans when I was racing, but the dream has persisted. So, I’m excited to get a chance to race there virtually in a 100-mile event.

Here’s what iRacing has to say about this wonderful historic track:

“Home of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans is hallowed ground in the world of motor racing.  Along with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (constructed in 1909), the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans is one of the oldest active racing facilities, having first hosted the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1923.

“Composed entirely of public roads near the French city of Le Mans, the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans of the 1920s was 10.7 miles (17.2 km) long.  A triangular loop that ran into Le Mans itself was eliminated in 1932 by a bypass that reduced the track to 8.3 miles (13.4 km) in length and formed the basis for the track’s modern 8.4 miles (13.6 km) configuration.

“Although the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans still incorporates public roads, the track has been modified over the years in the interests of safety, never moreso than when the pit straightaway was widened following a horrific accident in 1955 that claimed the lives of 83 people.  Subsequently, a purpose-built section of high speed curves (Porsche Curves) and increasingly tight chicanes (Ford Chicanes) was created during the early 1970s to slow cars as they approached the pits.  In 1987 another chicane was added on the approach to the first turn (Dunlop Curve) and, three years later, a pair of medium speed chicanes were added to what was once the 3.7 mile long Mulsanne Straightaway.

“Evolutionary changes notwithstanding, the essential nature Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans remains unchanged: it is a supreme test of race cars and race drivers, with long straights where low drag is paramount, the superfast Porsche Curves which place a premium on downforce, highly technical, twisty chicanes and tight corners at the end of high speed sections to test a car’s brakes . . . and a driver’s ability to use them.

“In its glorious history, the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans has witnessed countless epic battles among legendary drivers with names like Nuvolari, Fangio, Moss, Gendebien, Hill, Amon, McLaren, Gurney, Foyt, Pescarolo, Ickx, Bell, McNish and Kristensen and the world’s leading automakers from the Bentleys of the 1920s to the streamlined Bugattis and Alfa Romeos of the ‘30s.  Following World War II, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Aston Martin and Ferrari waged titanic battles at Le Mans, before the epic Ford v Ferrari showdowns of the mid-‘60s and the Porsche v Ferrari classics of the ‘70s featuring the fearsomely iconic Porsche 917s and Ferrari 512s.

“After Porsche emerged as the dominant marque in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Audi ruled the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans (first with its turbocharged V8 Audi R8 and, later, turbo diesel R10 TDI) for the first decade of the 21st century (notwithstanding Peugeot’s win in ‘09).  Of late, Le Mans has seen fantastically complex hybrid prototypes from Audi, Porsche and Toyota battle for the overall win while other marques including Aston Martin, Chevrolet (Corvette), Ferrari, Porsche, BMW and Ford have battled for GT honors around a circuit whose landmarks like the Dunlop Bridge and the Tertre Rouge, Mulsanne, Indianapolis and Arnage turns stir the souls of motor racing fans around the world.”

Although the race is 100 miles long, because of the length of the track, we’ll only being doing 12 total laps. We’ll have to do one pit stop, likely on lap 6 or 7. Traffic and tires will influence that decision.

Here’s what the track looks like:

My Beef with Forza Motorsports 7

I have spent much more time than I am comfortable with complaining about the shortcomings of Forza Motorsports 7. I try not to allow my race reports to turn into a bitch session, but that has happened a few times. Rather than allow that to happen again in the future, I’ve decided to devote an entire post to what I feel is wrong with Forza Motorsports 7.

Before I do that, let me concede that not everything is bad about Forza. In fact, there’s a reason that it is one of, if not the, most popular driving games around. One of the reasons is that Forza is available on Xbox, and is relatively inexpensive, making it affordable and easily accessible. It is a great sim racing game to get started with.

Having said that, the game leaves a lot to be desired. Here are some of Forza’s shortcomings (in no particular order):

No Qualifying – One of the things that makes games like Asseto Corsa Competizione or iRacing popular is that they are more realistic that Forza. And one of the things that makes them more realistic is that you have to earn your spot on the starting grid. With Forza, that doesn’t happen. The most realistic option to set the starting grid is to have the game set the grid randomly, but that really isn’t very realistic. Having an option for a 10 or 15-minute qualifying session would improve the game tremendously.

No Real Pit Stops – In Forza Motorsports 7, when you enter pit lane, the game takes control of the car, and the player is relegated to simply watching the pit stop take place. If I’m playing a driving game, I want to drive. I don’t want to watch the game. Every other racing sim has figured out how to have real pit stops. Why can’t Forza?

No Race Car Skins – I don’t understand this one at all. Forza Motorsports 7 is a racing game. The only place you can drive the cars is on a race track. This isn’t Forza Horizon where you can drive on regular roads. So, why are the vast majority of the cars not race cars? Every race I run, I’m running primarily against regular street cars. They do not have special paint jobs, no sponsor decals, no roll cages. They’re just street cars. Why?

Horrible Tire Model – This might be my biggest complaint about the game. In a ten lap race, it’s not unusual for the tire to take three or four laps to come up to temperature and pressure, and then they start going off by lap six or seven. Not only is that not realistic, it’s not fun driving a car that feels like it’s sliding around on ice. The tire model really needs to be improved.

Inconsistent Drivatars – I’ve read other Forza players complain about how horrible AI is on Forza Motorsports 7. I don’t know much about AI, but I do know that it is very inconsistent in the way it makes the drivatars behave. They brake on the straight for no reason, they can’t seem to get through the first turn at most tracks, They drive like Mario Andretti when you’re behind them, but as soon as you get by them, they drive like Mario Bateli (He’s a chef).

Crashes on First Lap – In real racing, there is a saying that goes, “You can’t win the race on the first lap, but you can lose it.” The drivatars in Forza Motorsports 7 apparently never heard this saying. They go flat out into the first couple of turns, sending it into spaces that are guaranteed to cause contact (which ALWAYS results in me spinning or going off track). While some drivatars are going balls out into turn one, others are stopping for no reason, piling up cars behind them. It is not unusual at all for me to have to re-start a race a half dozen times or more to get through the first lap of a race without crashing.

Flawed Timed Races – Running races based on a number of laps is easy. It works well. So, if you want to run a 20-lap race, no problem. But if you want to run a 60-minute race, the game doesn’t handle it well. One problem is the race ends at 60-minutes. It doesn’t matter where the leader is. It doesn’t wait for him to finish his lap to determine a winner (the way real life works). The race simply ends at 60-minutes. Another problem is in timed races, the game doesn’t display your lap times the way it does in a number-of-laps race. Instead, it tracks your distance on a per lap and per race basis. This isn’t helpful at all. There should be an option to always show lap times.

Emphasis on Collecting Cars – Although Forza Motorsports 7 is nominally a racing game, there is a strong emphasis on collecting cars. I don’t know how many cars I own currently, but there are a bunch. In fact, many more than I will ever drive. I don’t have any desire to collect cars, but the game is built around it.

Unrealistic Physics – I understand that Forza is a video game, not an exercise in physics, but it gets infuriating to barely tap another car only to go flying off track, often in ways and directions that defy the laws of physics. It also is not unusual for a spin to result in the car facing a direction and/or wedged up against a wall that makes it very difficult to get back on track. Sure, that will happen occasionally in real life, but it won’t be the rule rather than exception.

Not Enough Tracks – Forza Motorsports 7 has lots of tracks, but there were three tracks that are mainstays in America that aren’t part of the game. For instance, Charlotte Motor Speedway, including the Charlotte Roval, is not part of the game. For some reason, I love that track. I was fortunate enough to be one of the first people to ever run the Roval when it was first opened, and it has always held a special place in my racing heart. In addition, neither Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course or Barber Motorsports Park are part of the game. Both of these tracks are considered among the best road courses in the U.S. They should be part of the game.

I’m sure if I gave it some more thought, I could come up with more complaints, but I think this will do for now. As you can see, Forza Motorsports 7 has a lot of shortcomings. That’s why I’ll be moving on to another game after this season.

Hockenheimring – Season 2 Race #8

They say that success is the best revenge. After finishing dead last at Sebring in my last race, I qualified 2nd at Hockenheim this week and brought home the victory. The Lambo of Yohan Krill and I went back and forth a few times exchanging the lead, but in the end, I secured the win. I also set the fastest lap of the race to earn the bonus point.

Of course, it wouldn’t be right to complete a race without having something to complain about. Going into lap four, my tires were still not up to temperature. I don’t know why that happens sometimes, but it’s not very realistic. The tires felt good on lap five, and then started to go off on lap six. That just doesn’t happen in real life.

Here’s the thing, the tires don’t do this on their own. The game has to be programmed to do this. Why would Turn 10 Studios (the creator of Forza Motorsports 7) do this on purpose? It’s not realistic, and more importantly, it’s not fun for the person playing the game. I want to be able to actually race the car, not chase it all over the track because the tires feel like they’re on ice. It’s so disheartening to look forward to running a race and then have the car feel like the tires aren’t hooked up at all.

As I was running the race, I started to ask myself why I continue to push forward with this season. I know I’m going to switch over to Asseto Corsa Competizione or iRacing next season. I just have to figure out which one. Why would I keep forcing myself to finish this season of Forza Motorsports 7 when the game is so flawed? I don’t have a good answer, but now that I’ve settled down, I’ve decided to stick to the plan. That could change with the next race. We’ll see.

I moved back into the top five in points with this race victory. The top five in points are:

  1. Conor Clingschmidt (99 pts)
  2. Andy Fairnight (96 pts)
  3. Derek Brightly (92 pts)
  4. Antoine Gil (90 pts)
  5. Lou Mindar (87 points)

Next race: Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe (100 mile Endurance Race)