Manufacturers cup physics

I know I’m not crazy. But maybe I am. I was racing in today’s manufacturers cup. I drive the Nurburgring daily, it’s quite literally home track for me in game. I noticed that during practice the cars are lighter than in race. I drive the nsx and I’m quite familiar with what corners I can cut and how much. But I noticed during the race the car just felt so much heavier and I barely clipped a curb that I always touch but this time the car bounced real hard and it threw me off. The second time it happened it was on the dip after YouTube corner. I normally get off throttle and if I need to I tap the brake on landing, but this time it just felt sooo heavy when it was turning and I threw it in the gravel. I know it wasn’t tire wear because it was the first lap on hot softs. And I know it wasn’t me because I hit it the same way in practice and qualifying and well…. Every other day I drive this track with this car. Also btw I’m not complaining about taking a L, I genuinely just did not feel like it was on me considering how much I drive this track and car.

Long story short if you didn’t wanna read everything I just said; do the physics change when the race starts? Because I swear they do. Especially whatever has to do with curbs.