Sandown 23/24 July 2010
Having joined the Air New Zealand Koru Club Dad and I enjoyed free food and drink in plush lounges, cool. We picked up our rental car and off to the workshop for a fitout in a 2010 car which has a better aero kit then our 2008 Mygale.
This meeting was going to be huge, 35 cars including most of this years aggressive National pack. Weather mostly wet.
Friday testing
Continuous light rain and very cold. All sessions were rather chaotic but we got a couple of decent runs. I managed to piece together one very hot lap 1/2 second faster then anybody but in the main I figured in the top 5. Car ran well.
Saturday Qualifying
Went out with high hopes, came back disappointed. My car didn't like the heavy rain and was oversteering badly, I didn't have time to pit and make adjustments because it was red flagged very early due to cars flying off all over the track.
Race 1
Rain again, starting from P14. A great start saw me make up 5 places in the first 2 laps. The car was handling well, gear change smooth, I was feeling confident. Once again cars was leaving the track and hitting each other all over the show. The race lasted only 2 laps and was red flagged!
Obviously this was to be a super aggressive "give no quarter" meeting. The driving at times was beyond belief; I backed out of moves that I would have normally committed to.
Race2 Sunday
Dry overcast, track damp and cold. Another strong start from P9, would have been my best ever had a driver on P6 not made it his life's mission to block me. I made up 3 places in lap 1 by which time the place was already littered with crashed out cars. I waited for the inevitable Safety Car and watched with delight as the 2 Cams Rising Stars in front of me took each other out. I was in 3rd place and closing on 2nd. My speed out of corners all weekend was improving, we had to increase my final gear ratio so I wouldn't sit on the rev limiter at the end of straights.
In my haste to catch the 2nd placed car I went into the corner at the bottom of the hill at the end of the main straight too hot, hit one of those massively high ripple strips and launched off the track, landed and skidded into a barrier neatly between 2 other cars who had attempted the same feat. A moment later a 4th car flew off and nearly hit me. I was badly winded and suffered a minor cut to my hand. I cursed myself for that momentary lapse of judgment. The race was red flagged.
Race3
Race 2 damage was considerable including a new $8,000 bellhousing. My mechanics worked furiously to have the car ready for race 3 just seconds before close off. The car set up was approximate; the steering wheel was 40 degrees out of square. Made up 5 places by lap 2 when the safety car came out. The race was restarted behind the SC with 1 lap to go. I was stunned to be overtaken by a car at the start before crossing the start line (got that place back on appeal).
Conclusion
One word descries the meeting best "insane".
Only 7 race laps over 3 races. Damage in terms of dollars for all cars must have been huge.
Apparently Sandown is known for mayhem in Form Ford, it has tricky corners that seem to narrow as you enter and. the ripple strips are mountainous. You either get beached on a ripple strip like a whale or it fires you off the track, or it wrecks your suspension. I think some Super Car guys must have been there watching because everybody was trying to prove something!
My driving has moved up a notch I feel. Pity I couldn't translate that into good points however, drivers ahead of me on points suffered at least as much. My team mate Matt had 2 DNFs and took a last place in a badly damaged car.
Next meeting at Winton on August 27/28. I shall be testing both in NZ and Oz in the lead up.
Cheers
Andre
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