The Rollercoaster Of Robin’s iRating (Pt. 5): The 2022 Update
- Kabort Motorsport
- Dec 5, 2022
- 13 min read
Prologue
"I never imagined making this blog" - sounds overly cliché, I know, but I felt as though my first three parts (below) showed my real progress up from 620, whilst this is...less progress, and more of a "2022 update/Year In Review"
Pt. 1: 620 --> 1022
Pt. 2: 1022 --> 1198
Pt. 3: 198 --> 1339
Pt. 4: 1339 --> 1316
(You Are Here)
Season 1, 2022 - A Tough Start To The Year
2022 very much started the same way that 2021 ended - tricky and below 1K - in fact, that last time I was below 1K iRating was March 2021 - this streak ending with a pole to win at Monza in the Formula 3.
The first race of the year (which kept me below 1K) was an annoying one - the 3hr VRS Endurance Race at the Red Bull Ring very much started off in a "Zero To Hero" sort of fashion - starting from 51st and plum last, and managing to dodge and weave through the field up to 17th...
The Red Bull Ring pit-entry is tricky at the best of times, but on this occasion, it was a race-ender. On slowing to enter the pit-lane, the driver behind didn't realise I was pitting and pummelled my up the rear.
As the pit-entry is downhill, I slid down the hill and had to cut the pit-entry to rejoin – the damage and penalty (unsafe pit-entry) being too much to recover for 3 hours.
After my first race of 2022, I was on just 934 iRating. I HAD to get out of this ditch before any more damage was done.
Redemption At Last
After the headaches of both Red Bull Ring and Zandvoort (2021), Week 4 (Or Week 2 of 2022) was Philip Island. I had only raced at Philip in Skippies – and when I did…it didn’t go well, so I was apprehensive about the week’s race.
I needn’t be scared as I came home to finish 4th from 9th on the grid, collecting a healthy +49 iRating along the way, boosting me up to 983 iRating.
My little Top 10 streak would only further continue as I’d finish in 10th at Silverstone (Week 5) (despite starting 11th and getting to 7th) – this would lead to only a 5 iRating increase, pushing me up to 987 iRating.
At the time, it wasn't significant, but it'd turn out to be my last time under 1000 iRating in 10+ months.
Whilst the increase was only small, the excitement was huge as I pulled this move off, only to spin later in the lap.
To end my streak, I somehow (and miraculously) finished 4th at the ROAR Before the 24 – even more bizarrely qualifying 5th – yes, okay, the strength of field was 818 but being a special event, that’s certainly something to marvel at.
After 2 hours and 40 minutes of intense racing, I was awarded a dollop of +73 iRating, and sat high and proud at 1060. The last time I had 1060 iRating was back last year in 2021 (har har har, so funny.) - but prior to December, I was last 1K, as mentioned in March 2021.
After ALMOST finishing 7th at Silverstone in the GT3 Challenge, ("Around The Outside Of Copse" I called upon my favourite Swiss Kabort Driver, and we had a blast of a time in the 3hr VRS Endurance race – finishing 9th and gaining +36 iRating – and jumping up to 1096 iRating. Sweet.
My iRating streak eventually ended on 1131 at the Sebring GT3 race on my birthday. (19th Jan)
What Goes Up, Must Come Down…
It was all going so well – but I should have looked out for the warning signs. A retirement from both Daytona Practice races (in both a Ferrari GTE and Lamborghini GT3) should have been enough warning not to race in the 24 Hours Of Daytona – and with a history darker than <comment retracted>, I should have taken care whilst approaching Daytona.
Robin's Daytona 24 Hours
2018: Didn’t Have iRacing/Didn't know sim existed
2019: Didn’t have licence to compete (Rookie)
2020: Driver signed up for wrong team (DNS)
2021: Driver reversed up pit-lane (DSQ)
2022: Crashes, bumbling outside of Top 10, after my double stint, didn’t get in until 2 hours from the end of the race (DNF) (We did two time-slots as well!)
2023: Alien Abduction. I'm calling it.
As I foolishly completed more than 2 hours-worth of laps – iRacing saw that I contributed to the team and deducted iRating from me too. I can’t complain as it was only 3 iRating taken.
For the first time since 2019, I attended school/college/uni as normal. In 2020, lockdowns plagued colleges and Universities from March onwards.
In 2021, lockdowns plagued colleges and Universities from April onwards.
As I headed off to Uni, my iRating sat at a dormant 1128 iRating - still plenty of improvement to be had.
The Experimental Era (April 2022)
On the 30th March, I’d head to Essex to play on my rig, as I had completed all my lectures for that week – and the following week was half term.
It was then when I had a very hard choice to make: Which series to race in?
I had 7 choices.
Full Length Grand Prix Series – Busy most of the time – and the limited number of “Grade One” (Formula One Graded) circuits didn’t make it worth it
The Production Car Challenge (See Below)
IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (Open Setup – No thanks)
GT4 Challenge (See below Production Car Challenge)
GT3 Challenge (Already did 3 seasons in a row)
Porsche 911 Cup – Hadn’t tried
Kamel GT Series – The Audi (I tried) was VERY hairy to drive.
I did a couple of “test-races” to find out.
The first of these was in a Ford Mustang FR500S, in the Production Car Challenge.
It didn’t go well. In the end, I lost -34 iRating, ending up at 1094 iR.
All things considered, despite losing -34 iRating, MY race, in itself, went pretty well – I didn’t crash, I learnt the characteristics of the car, I learnt about the series and it was incredibly informative.
Participation marred the race.
Low Participation (few people entering/starting a race) very much starts an avalanche of problems – and the only thing iRacing can do is combine it with another “failing” series, or completely scrap it (the series) altogether – but the question then is: What do you do with the car people have paid money for? Refund?
In this instance, just four Mustangs started the 11:30am (GMT) Production Car Challenge race at Watkins Glen. There was a total of two splits. Splitting the Mustangs into the two splits would be non-sensical – especially if one retired or did not start.
This further meant that I was in the top-split – against the best racers on the server in that series, at that time.
To show you the level I was up against, here are the qualifying results of that same qualifying session
Pole - 2:03.958 (3710 iRating)
2nd - 2:05.031 (2346 iRating)
3rd - 2:05.775 (2103 iRating)
4th - (Mazda) – 2:08.127 (2659 iRating)
5th – 2:08.183 (1128) (Me)
The race didn’t go any better, and the remainder of the Mustangs shot off into the Horizon.
Late in the race, it got to the stage where I had the leaders of the Mazda class bearing down on me – and I was in no position to battle them, so I let the top 4 past, and managed to only re-take one of these Mazdas.
This race put me off racing in the Production Car Challenge – I’m not going to sabotage my iRating in the hope that the Mustang class grows, or I end up in the second split with some equally as fast drivers.
In the end, only the Top 2 Mustangs gained iRating. The winning Mazda driver had an iRating of 4091.
Overall, out of a grid of 22 drivers, I was car 22 – meaning I had the lowest iRating out of the entire pack. I would have quite honestly preferred to have a hollow win in the second split with drivers closer to my calibre.
The Strength Of Field (average iRating) of top-split was 2024, the other split had a SOF (Strength Of Field of just 861 and one class-A driver. Problem series.
As a result of my experiment, I fell to 1094 iRating.
The Goldilocks Series
The second series I tested was the GT4 Challenge – and it was love at first corner – the Aston was just as incredible as it looked, and very much saved me from the ditch I was in, gaining ALMOST 100 iRating over half-term.
(W3) - 7th - Watkins Glen (+22 iR) – 1116
(W4) - 8th – Spa Francorchamps (+24 iR) – 1140
(Nurburgring 24 Hours) (+4 iR) - 1144
(W5) - 8th – Interlagos (+26 iR) – 1170
(W6) - 4th – Barber Motorsports Park (+35 iR) – 1205 – Should have been 3rd, but made mistakes
During this time, I also competed in the Nurburgring 24 Hours (9th April), and after many of our competitors got involved in a MONSTER shunt on the first lap, somehow we ended up leading 26 laps from 19th on the grid (myself 6, and my team-mate 10).
Unfortunately, we wouldn’t finish the race, but due to the sheer amount of retirements, we each gained a slice of iRating – myself 4, my team-mates 3 a-piece, ending half-term on 1144 iRating.
A Regrettable Season…
In Mid-June, I’d return to iRacing after a difficult end to Uni.
Once again, some new content dropped, (Merc AMG GT GT3 & GT4) and I wasn’t overly sure on what I wanted to do, I was stuck between GT4 at Circuit De Gilles Villnerve and GT3 at a pitch black Hockenheim.
In the worst decision since joining iRacing (JK – I’m addicted, that’s all), I decided to race at Hockenheim, to prove to myself that I wasn’t afraid of the dark/I wasn’t backing out because it was dark – I then decided that I’d do the Merc AMG GT3 for the season…which was a really bad decision.
But before we come to bad decisions, we come to bad luck. Following Hockenheim (Week 1) it was the Glen 6hrs, and long story short, I pinged it into the wall, and threw away a potential podium – or even win. Lorenzo’s pace was supreme – and I guess the pressure just got to me. I said goodbye to 19 iRating and fell to 1202 iRating.
Another Day, Another Ditch…
Summer didn’t go overly well – racing in a series I wasn’t overly enjoying, in a car I wasn’t overly enjoying – but I wanted to see it through.
Previous Summer Periods (21st June – 22nd September)
2019: 955 🡪 904 ☹
2020: 714 🡪 1050 😊😊
2021: 1247 🡪 1290 😊😊
2022: 1230 🡪 1186 ☹
2023: TBC
Season 3, 2022
W1: Hockenheim
13th 🡪 8th (+16 IR) 1221
(Followed by DNF @ Watkins Glen 6hr (-19 iR) 1202)
W2: Long Beach
9th 🡪 6th (+28 IR) 1230 (clipped wall AFTER quali lap, and it didn’t count!)
W3: Fuji
N/A – Didn’t have Fuji at the time, busied myself.
W4: Watkins Glen
13th 🡪 11th (-15 IR) 1215 (beginning of downfall) – car wasn’t competitive at all
W5: Circuit Gilles Villneurve – On set for podium, got spun, fell to 6th, finished 5th
5th 🡪 5th (+39 IR) 1254
(Followed by DNF at Peachtree 3hr/Road Atlanta – 7th 🡪 DNF (-80 iR) 1174
Also DNF @ NEC – Gumi came together with another car F.
W6: Prep. For Spa 24 Hours – Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo
7th 🡪8th (+23 IR) 1204
Spa 24hrs 🡪 21st 🡪 14th (+13 IR) 1217
W7: Sandown (Flew off wide at start, didn't hit anything but never regained slip-stream)
14th 🡪 12th (-35 IR) 1182
W8: Hungaoring
12th 🡪 DNF (back stepped out on lap 2 and ploughed into wall).
(-72 IR) 1110
To make up for this absolute tragedy, I tested out RFactor's "Competition System" feature - only to be disappointed at the lack of participation, and then made an early start on my bid for the next season, Week 9 being the last time I was available in a while - so I celebrated it by racing in the GT4 Challenge in the McLaren (the series I'd be doing in S4, 2022)
GT4 (W8 - Road America) - P6 - (+41 iRating) 1151
GT4 (W9 - Brands Hatch) - P10 - (+20 iRating) 1171
Le Mans-ish 24 Hours (That Weekend) - 7th in Class (+5 iRating) 1176
A Tricky Off-Season
Having a tricky “main” series is one thing, but when your special events are also going to shit, it can start to play around with your confidence. As mentioned, 2022 was the first year without a lockdown (and at Uni) – so 2022 probably saw my worst Special Event year since arriving on the service.
Jan – ROAR Before The 24hrs – 4th
Jan - Daytona 24hrs – DNF
Feb – Bathurst 12hrs – DNS (Uni)
Mar – Sebring 12hrs – DNS (Uni)
April – Nurburgring 24hrs – DNF
June – Watkins Glen 6hrs – DNF (my own fault) (Return to iRacing after Uni)
July – Peachtree 3hrs – DNF
July – Spa 24hrs – 14th
Aug – GES LM24hrs – 7th (Despite a brake failure/throttle jam from Lars)
Sept – Bathurst 1000km – DNS (Was away//PC Problem)
Oct - Petite Le Mans (2nd)
Nov - Suzuka 10 Hours - DNS (Wasn't around)
Returning To Goldilock’s House…
After a devastating race at Hungaoring, I thought “I’ve had enough, I’m trying GT4!
In my very first race, I matched my second best result of the previous season – and with that I was hooked onto GT4 – all because of the ROAR Before the 24!
The following week (Week 9) – as I was busy for the next few weeks, I decided to dedicate that week to the GT4 series (and save myself from racing a Mercedes at Suzuka).
Brands hatch went meehh, alright. 14th 🡪 10th (photo finish!) finishing with +20 iRating – from 1151, it was a healthy jump.
Le Mans 24hrs – 1176 +5
And then week 13 a jumpity humpity time indeed.
Week 13 (Yes, I did an official series during W13!)
Honestly it was like this rollercoaster – starting on a massive high, (P6, Le Mans), then having a massive drop, and then another raise, then dropping again.
Le Mans 🡪 13th – 6th (Good!)
Spa 🡪 4th – 19th (BAAD) – Jump-start/stop and go.
Road Atlanta 🡪 9th to 4th (ALMOST podium, marred by world events.)
Rudskogen 🡪 11th to DNF (Killed on start-line)
Twin Ring Motegi 8th 🡪 6th (Rather Boring)
Road America – the last race before well….The computer died
Season 4, 2022
I was mildly disappointed I didn’t manage to race at Daytona or Okayama but having had no other option (to race) and having had University the previous two years – ultimately it didn’t make all too much difference. And I’d rather have 1195 iR than blow it all at either Okayama or Daytona.
(ROAR Before the 24 is at Daytona and that's why I drove the McLaren, Okayama is just a tight exciting circuit)
After a visit to Curry’s on the 26th September, I’d eventually make my iRacing return on that very Wednesday (28th) – debuting in the GT4 Challenge at Barcelona.
W1 - Okayama: DNS (PC Broke) (+ 0 iR)
W2 - Daytona Road: DNS (PC Broke) (+ 0 iR)
W3 - Barcelona: 13th --> 9th (+9 iR) 1195 iR
W4 - Road Atlanta: 7th --> 6th (+55 iR) 1250
W5 - Oscherslaben: 26th --> 21st (-15 iR) 1284
W6 - Sebring: 8th --> 8th (Car #8) (+9 iR) 1311 (Raced with Dominik)
W7 - Sandown: 17th --> 14th (+12 iR) 1311 (Raced with Dominik)
W8 - Nurburgring Nordschliefe
Attempt 1: 23rd --> 13th (+4 iR) 1223
Attempt 2: 1st --> 3rd (Qualified) (+65 iR) 1288
W9 - Mid-Ohio (N/A - Pitch Black)
W10 - Road America: 10th --> 9th (-3 iR) 1285 (Raced with Dominik - he won from pole)
W11 - Rudskogen: 14th --> 7th (+27 iR) 1312
W12 - Laguna Seca (N/A - Out W/ Friends)
Off-Season Victories
On the Weekend of Week 4 (Road Atlanta), it was Petite Le Mans.
Since my debut in 2019, I've always been at college or University...until now.
Being at home, On the 7th – 8th October I was finally able to compete in the “Petite Le Mans” at Road Atlanta, and I’m not sure how, but SOMEHOW myself and Lorenzo finished 2nd, despite many odds being stacked against us – quite honestly, it still remains to be a massive achievement – not least because I managed to get 1299 iRating – my highest since 30th July, 2021.
From here, I had a little bit of a dip – starting 26th and finishing 21st in an 1.8K (ave. ir) split – losing iRating due to not making enough positions/finishing in the top half, but this was quickly rectified by an INSANE finale of the Nurburgring Endurance Championship.
This race was very special as it marked the end of the Nurburgring Endurance Championship which had been running since March that year. To commemorate this, we decided to switch it up slightly and race in the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 and had an absolute blast - at one point 3rd - 6th in class were in the pits at the same time - and on the back of this (and indeed gaining +18 iRating for finishing 5th in class (29th overall), me and Dominik decided to do the NEC (Nurburgring Endurance Championship) in GT4 once the NEC returns in 2023.
Off-Season Hardships
As a famous person once (probably) said, "You can't have a rainbow without a little rain" - and in late October/early November, I had a little bit of a rain storm.
SCCA Run-Offs
Problems began in the VERY odd "SSCA Run-Offs" series - first losing 1 iRating in the first race, before then losing -13 in the next.
It was a indeed a very bizarre series - To qualify for the race (that weekend), you had to be within the Top 40 points - and after my first race, I was 41st - If one driver didn't show up, I would have been in - but by the second, I was 48th - but I was thankful that I was 48th as I got HUMILIATED in both races (destroyed one may say) - I'm just glad that only those competing saw me get...humiliated and not the thousands of viewers on the broadcast.
Endurance Agony
Since Season 3, 2020, I've focussed my attention slightly away from endurance racing - and two years (and one season) later, the same was still the case.
Despite focussing primarily on an alternative series I still did the occasional endurance race (two, or six...) in between
Currently, I'm not "actively" looking to do endurance racing, I only race if there's a combination that I'm good at or enjoy.
The weekend of the 22nd - 23rd October was one such weekend - VRS E at Barcelona, and the EES (European Endurance Series - GTE's) at Silverstone.
We took two attempts of the VRS E (3hr) Barcelona race - one with me starting (and doing a double-stint) and one with Dominik starting (and doing a double stint)
Me Starting: 24th --> 20th (started last of those who did a lap) (-13 iR) - 1284 iR
Dominik Starting: 26th --> 11th
By the end of that weekend, I was at 1299 iRating (again!) and Dominik was at 1179.
We also attempted to race the 6hr race at Silverstone in the Chevrolet GTE, but the car retired before I could complete a stint.
After four more GT4 races (x2 at the Nurburgring), my next opportunity for a fun weekend of endurance racing arose...
The IMSA Endurance Series headed to Imola, and the VRS Endurance Series headed to Indinapolis Roval - the first time it had done so in a while.
Long weekend short, we were murdered out of the IMSA Endurance Series (before I got in) and I (verbally) forced my way into starting the Indianapolis Road Course race - my pace wasn't there, but Lorenzo saved us and helped us to a 21st place finish from 23rd on the grid. I gained a tiny weeny bit of iRating.
As a result of this weekend, I gained +4 iRating and currently sit at my 3rd best iRating of all time - the best of 2022.
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