I played around with the new physics before heading into work. In one of my lounges I didn't notice any difference between the old version and the new update.
I was hoping to run some laps in the Viper, but I simply couldn't. I pitted after 3 laps and changed cars. My tune might suck, but it felt good and planted all the way around the track, it's simply not fast enough. I did an engine refresh and that gave me the 1 PP I was missing so I've got all three cars running at 643 (though the Ford will hit 645...more on that later).
After pitting, I grabbed the Ford to see the number of laps I could expect running a bit easier than last week. I lessened the downforce a bit up front and in the back to see if I could extend the tires a bit. Last week I went 16 laps and the last couple were pretty hairy, but I ran balls to the wall the whole time. This time I eased up a bit, stayed in a taller gear for the sweepers, and squeezed the throttle instead of trying to put it through the firewall.
My first almost spin was on lap 12, which I believe was the same as last time. However, I babied it a bit and got 18 laps out of the rears (still plenty on the fronts). I really think I could have gone 19 but the passenger side rear was way low and it was getting pretty squirrelly. The laps were very consistent and despite not really pushing the car, I cracked my first 1:37.
Unless someone is simply into Detroit iron, I can't see anyone taking the Viper in this race. It seems pretty far off the pace of the other two cars and doesn't make up for it in handling (maybe you can go 20+ laps on the tires and that might make it competitive).
I see this race coming down to the Corvette and the Ford GT LM. The Corvette is cake to drive and you'll get 20 laps easily (unfortunately, I'm going to have to run another session in the Corvette to see if babying the car on the new physics increases tire wear). The Ford is over a second a lap faster, but it's going to get a minimum of 2 laps less on the tires.
My best time in the Ford is 1:37.8 and my best in the Corvette is 1:39.1. I think I can see 37.5 in the Ford and 38.8 in the Corvette. Also, the Ford still has a couple PP to play with if we run the cars stock (the Corvette runs at 643 and the Ford at 645). I think we should run the cars at the PP they come with, meaning the Ford is a couple up on the other two cars, to offset the shitty tire wear and the fact that people are more likely to spin out in the Ford as the tire grip diminishes.