Unexpected Outcomes at Zolder in the Porsche Cup Series
Welcome to my detailed recap of a truly eventful race at the Zolder Circuit in the Porsche Cup Series. The race, characterized by its Strength of Field of 2076, started off with high hopes as I began in the 12th position and, despite numerous challenges, ended in the same spot.
Despite maintaining my position, my iRating took a hit with a decrease of 33 points, and my Safety Rating dropped significantly by 0.79 due to 13 incidents during the race. Curiously, other drivers with a similar number of incidents, or even higher, faced less severe deductions, some losing just 0.37 in Safety Rating. This discrepancy in the penalty system has left me puzzled and questioning the nuances of iRacing’s Safety Rating calculations.
The race was fraught with incidents, beginning with a rear touch by another car in just the second lap. A miscalculated maneuver at the Sintner corner later led me to shortcut through a chicane, forcing me to slow down considerably. This resulted in being hit not once, but twice in the subsequent sections. Lap 10 nearly escalated these challenges when I incorrectly judged a braking point at a hairpin turn, sliding perilously between two cars in front. It was a narrow escape from what could have been a far worse situation.
This race, experienced on my D-Box Full Motion Simulator, delivered an intense and realistic driving sensation, though the result was far from what I had anticipated. Despite a week’s worth of practice, this race stands out as one of my less impressive performances in my iRacing career.
As we dissect this race, I invite you to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. How do you manage unpredictability and maintain your ratings in virtual racing? Your insights not only help me but also enrich our community of racers.
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| Fin Pos | Name | Start Pos | Interval | Average Lap Time | Fastest Lap Time | Inc | Club | New iRating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roland Ramsauer | 1 | -00.000 | 1:31.176 | 1:30.603 | 3 | Iberia | 4659 |
| 2 | Lukas Ryz | 3 | -14.561 | 1:32.086 | 1:30.793 | 10 | Central-Eastern Europe | 4021 |
| 3 | Jesper Lindman | 9 | -15.479 | 1:32.143 | 1:30.860 | 8 | Scandinavia | 2171 |
| 4 | Ivan Harasta | 5 | -15.632 | 1:32.152 | 1:30.978 | 10 | Central-Eastern Europe | 2523 |
| 5 | Angelo Dal Piva | 8 | -21.258 | 1:32.504 | 1:31.273 | 1 | Italy | 2180 |
| 6 | Dan Mone | 6 | -22.472 | 1:32.580 | 1:31.211 | 14 | UK and I | 2598 |
| 7 | Jon Piontek | 4 | -23.298 | 1:32.632 | 1:30.927 | 15 | DE-AT-CH | 3800 |
| 8 | Josevi Ferrer | 2 | -23.530 | 1:32.646 | 1:30.896 | 5 | Iberia | 3463 |
| 9 | Daniel Röwer | 13 | -33.041 | 1:33.240 | 1:31.644 | 11 | DE-AT-CH | 3007 |
| 10 | Nicola De Val | 10 | -33.237 | 1:33.252 | 1:31.264 | 13 | Italy | 3741 |
| 11 | David Rooms | 16 | -33.813 | 1:33.288 | 1:31.292 | 9 | UK and I | 2504 |
| 12 | Philipp Geppl | 12 | -36.708 | 1:33.469 | 1:31.390 | 13 | DE-AT-CH | 2463 |
| 13 | Thomas Baptiste | 11 | -40.729 | 1:33.721 | 1:31.319 | 6 | France | 1957 |
| 14 | Matthias Bolz | 7 | -5 L | 2:18.407 | 1:31.861 | 5 | DE-AT-CH | 2488 |
| 15 | Clement Angelisanti | 15 | -14 L | 1:43.022 | 12 | France | 2697 | |
| 16 | Nick Lancs | 14 | -15 L | 3:01.403 | 3 | UK and I | 1921 |
