As soon as i hit the track i was feeling good. 2.06 popped up on the timer after the first flying lap of the day and i hoped it was a sign of good things to come. The car felt really good, the suspension felt much better right from the get go. Not hitting a speed limiter down the main straight made judging turn one very different. With the track wet off the race line it was hard to be totally committed and with every miss judgement it was understeer to oversteer and slide...
Session 1
Lap 1 02:31.60
Lap 2 02:06.50
Lap 3 02:07.20
Lap 4 02:06.70
Lap 5 02:11.30
Lap 6 02:12.60
Lap 7 02:11.50
Session 2 was over before it began with this lovely skyline in the inside wall of turn 12 before i made it onto the track.
Session 3 was run in the rain. This was the first time i have run on a wet and raining track and the amount of spray thrown up from the cars in front of you is amazing. When there isn't a car in front there is a mist that seems to raise from the track making it difficult to judge distances. And as we know the rain slows us down.
Session 3
Lap 1 02:35.70
Lap 2 02:15.80
Lap 3 02:14.00
Lap 4 02:22.70
Lap 5 02:24.10
Lap 6 02:29.80
Then next session yielded much of the same, with plenty of slipping and sliding as i tried to set my fasted wet time.
Session 4
Lap 1 02:29.60
Lap 2 02:18.20
Lap 3 02:12.00
Lap 4 02:12.70
Lap 5 02:09.30
Lap 6 02:09.30
Lap 7 02:08.70
As the day was drawing to a close finally some sun appeared and a dry line was burnt into the track. If i was going to have a shot at a 2 minute lap this would have to be it. Once i got out there conditions seemed very similar to the first session of the day, if anything the dry line was a little wider but to make up for it, it was raining and wet on turn 12. The first flyer felt good with a 2.04, then the dreaded traffic, 2.07, more traffic but more of a dry line to get around them, 2.02.9. I think to myself 'please be no traffic!'. A car appears in front of me out of turn 2 and then thankfully swiftly pulls aside to let me through. From turn 3 you can see all corners to turn 9 and not a car in sight. Coming out of turn 11 all still feels good, still feels fast, yet it has been raining every lap prior on turn 12. As i approach i can see a dry line the width of a tyre embedded in the corner. At that point i decide i going to commit and trust i can put my outside tyres in that dry groove. Out of turn 12 i come and a quick glance at the lap timer and at this stage its a touch and go for the PB. The start finish line fast approches at 210km/h and there it is 2.01.7!! A new PB. From there i thought i would go for it again but traffic slowed the progress again and i decided to chill the next couple of laps.
 |
| Old PB 2.02.9 v New PB 2.01.7 |
Lap 1 02:12.70
Lap 2 02:04.70
Lap 3 02:07.00
Lap 4 02:02.90
Lap 5 02:01.70
Lap 6 02:07.80
Lap 7 02:07.00
No sooner had i made my way back to the pits after the session, a call over the PA called all available cars to the track for the last free for all of the day. So excited i rushed back to pit lane, maybe i would break the 2 minutes after all. But while sitting in pit lane waiting, those big black clouds appeared then promptly wet the track again. Needless to say it was another wet session, probably the wettest of the day. Times from the session tend to agree.
Session 6
Lap 1 02:33.70
Lap 2 02:25.40
Lap 3 02:24.00
Lap 4 02:26.70
Well with another 31 laps under my belt and plenty of new experiences on the track, bring on some dry weather for a chance at that sub 2.
Mad Shout outs to Owen and Rob! Early starts arnt easy. To Kaz for keeping the family in check! Will, Josh and co. for dropping in and giving me hassle!! Till next time.. CHEERS
All I can say is you have balls for going out in the wet and I don't care that its a GTR! BALLS!!!
ReplyDeletehassle my balls in your mouth
ReplyDeleteYO CHILL mega chill
ReplyDelete