For those that cant be bothered reading, dont, and i dont care to know, nor does anyone else. Those that do read, have a stiff drink handy
To quickly answer your point...
Dave has gone at least 0.5sec faster, and while carrying race fuel. While you've gone 0.5s slower on qualifying fuel and qual setup.
Those are FACTS. You appear to be talking about 1-2 lap qualifying runs and suggesting theres an injustice going on with something, i havent quite seen a point to what your highlighting, im pretty sure your not bragging. Its a 24 hour race and will be based on 490-500 laps, and in that time i give you my assurances, we wont be doing 1-2 flying laps and then pitting and going at it all over again. So as usual, i dont see what the point is of highlighting 1 lap qual times brings to a discussion about Shift+P penalties. Qualifying means jack, at South City we started 4th i think, the lights went green at the pit entrance and we were leading by a good car length before we'd even got to the start finish line. It means very very little in terms of race pace, or in terms of its importance in a 1hr race let alone 24hrs.
Also, i never said or implied my opinion is worth more than anyone elses, however its my opinion, and im entitled to my own, and my opinion partly differed from DWB's, no more, no less.
regarding the 'bullshit' unbalancing debate...
Im not saying the cars need the balancing re-assessing, heres an overview of the 2 cars as they are now, im pretty sure it includes most things.
The cars produce similar laptimes.
They use the same gearbox.
They use the same engine.
They have a similar fuel usage.
The FXR is easier to drive cleanly.
The XRR is harder to drive cleanly.
The top speeds are almost identical (FXR actually 1mph faster)
The FXR is slightly better on acceleration (AWD)
The FXR uses R3s and goes 4-5 laps further because of it.
The XRR uses R2s and does 4-5 less laps.
The FXR drives out if stuck in gravel, loses 10-15sec.
The XRR gets stuck in gravel, loses time spent on current lap, has to start at S/F pitlane, and gets -1 lap penalty.
Most things are balanced nicely, however you cannot deny that there is no other issue out there which you could use to say the XRR has an major or minor advantage because of X & Y. However the biggest disadvantage the XRR has is that if it gets stuck in gravel, it cant drive out, while the FXR can. Because of that, it means if you make a mistake it goes punished by about 10-15sec while you get back on track. The XRR loses a lap and whatever its done on that lap. How can the 2 cars be considered equal while thats considerable problem for 1/2 the GT2 cars.
All i've suggested is that rather than it being -1lap it should be changed to +30sec because even that will cost an XRR anywhere between 50sec and 3min, while the FXR has no issue at all. If nobody gets stuck, nobody 'wins' nobody 'loses', however if someone does get stuck while you could carry on, the rest are effectively out of the race. Is that 'in the best interest of close racing'??
+30sec would have served as a big penalty on top of losing time getting to wherever you crashed. -1lap is a race ruiner, and in a weeks time when you look at the results and see those -1lap's in there, remember they'll be there because because despite the cars being even on the track, off the track they're not even close.
How many places will be 'won' because of this disadvantage? places taken because your previous weakness (lack of speed) is now fixed, while ours is left in there (lose laps if stuck). We're balancing 1 way, not the other, and i feel they're now vulnerable to being 'unbalanced' in an entirely different way.
Its not an issue which applies to both teams like a disconnection, everyone runs that risk. Its an issue which affects 1 car, and its a MoE issued punishment that does the real damage. Its in the interest of fair & close racing, nobody gains anything from it, it stops them losing something, the right to a fair and even race.
If you look at it from a clear headed perspective, teams gaining/losing places because of something 1 car can do that the other car, while everything else is now pretty much equal, how is that fair and entertaining racing?? Its removing a disadvantage, and in no way creates an advantage, only a slightly more even playing field IF the worst comes to the worst. if it doesnt, play on, but if it does, should it be a race ruiner?
If they dont feel its an issue, then so be it, IMO it is an issue, and im entitled to that as much as anyone else is entitled to theres. However everything ive heard from yourself (some T7R members) convinces me either your well aware of this disadvantage and are quite happy to gain places 'undeservedly' (in my view), or hopefully that you dont see the full picture, and thats why its winding me up when im getting comparisons to disconnections and other odd things all drivers could suffer from equally. This isnt equal, if it was equal, you'd get stuck in gravel too, but its something inherent within the car that creates an 'unevenness'.
If you still disagree with it, so be it, thats as good as i can put it and if that doesnt work then you'll have noted from earlier tone im getting tired of feeling like it needs spelling out. But if you dont understand my view after that, or you understand and still disagree, then going on about it wont get anyone anywhere. Thats my view on the subject for entrants and organisers alike, i hope people understand and see my point, but i dont hold much hope as im well aware most just wont bother reading, but nor will i sumerise my opinions into 2 sentences.