Good to have you back!
Talking of TC, what settings does everyone use? I ended up sticking with 100% and for the first time in many months had a completely clean evening, but I always remember @Derek44 saying that any TC takes power away so will ultimately make you slower that you would be if you can manage it yourself. And I was definitely slower out of slow corners than most last night. Although that could be the AMG! Thoughts/help welcome!
I imagine it partly comes down to talent and partly down to equipment. And I should stress when mentioning talent that I also used 100% TC for both races, and rarely use anything but 100% TC in GT3 cars. What Crespi says will undoubtedly be true, in that lower TC can give a driver the potential to be faster, but it is only potential.
I doubt I'm good enough on my current equipment to drive the car at the same pace at anything under TC 80%, so I stick with 100% and learn to drive the car quickly on that basis. It was good enough for 2nd in the first race. I say keep it safe and potentially slower on paper in the knowledge that anything can happen in the race. A clean race is the priority.
On equipment - I only have a Logitech G29. Whilst a perfectly acceptable wheel, the FFB is not particularly detailed. So for me being able to judge the car's behaviour before it's too late on a lower TC becomes difficult. I think it's true that more expensive equipment does not automatically make you faster. But more detailed FFB does allow you to learn and explore a car's limits on lower TC a lot quicker, and more consistently, than you can on cheaper equipment.