WTCCX at KW Superspeedway
Practice
Decided to run the Alfa-X and dumped my BMW-X setup from last year’s messing around that had convinced me that this would be a fun event. I wasn’t wrong. Pity that there weren’t more drivers, but it was a Sunday night and few but the hardiest EU drivers would join. When I’d built the setup for the BMW-X, I’d been less used to driving RWD but since I’ve chosen the STCC BMW SEQ as my standard ride and having run more than a few GT-Pro and -Sport events, felt more confident with a looser set up. Started with understeer then stiffened rear springs until I felt comfortable enough.
Best times in the BMW had been just under 41 secs. I had a 5 speed+1 for the draft which meant that I could more or less run the whole lap in 1 gear with just a short change down at 3&4 to help with the turn in and drive away from that turn. Managed to get my undrafted times down into the 39.5’s which was good enough for me.
Quali
Didn’t see the message about superpole until I’d set up for 3 quick laps rather than 1. Surprisingly as the fuel load gets really light in these things 2 less litres is easily worth 0.1s per lap. Unfortunately, didn’t qualify too well starting in 8th overall. Gratz to Glenn on a blistering no draft lap.
Race 1
William Yunck dropped out in front of me before the formation lap. I wasn’t sure whether I should move up as this effectively gained me two places on the grid. So I left a car’s space which meant by the time that we got started, We were already off the back of the top 4. Little was I to know that this was a race that would be won by the crafty turtle (or Vincent Kan, as he’s better known). My slightly longer setup meant that I could run probably two laps longer than everyone else. Nailed the stop. But had miscalculated the amount of fuel needing topping up which meant that I was stationary for a little longer that I needed to be resulting in an exit behind Vincent, now running first (the rest of is were all waiting for him to run out of fuel). Was running 6th until Eric N’s S’n’G promoted me to 5th overall. Best lap was a 39.4. With consistent race laps at 39.6.
Race 2
Keith dropped out at this point just in front of me meaning that there was a blank space. Held my position around a slightly faster formation lap and latched quickly onto the tail of the Erics at the start. My longer 2nd gear meant that I could floor it crossing the line and made up 1 place very quickly now running in 3rd. I seemed to have good straight line speed down the back straight and 4th gear acceleration out of T4 meant that Eric N and I both passed Eric E fairly quickly. I then had a long tussle with Eric N until the pitstops where the lead changed 4 or 5 times until Glenn decided to stop saving fuel and open it up. After that, Eric and I had a good gap over Eric E. Eric N pitted 2 laps before me. Again an good stop but the same fuel problem ( I really need to fix that for the next time) . Came out in 6th (behind Eric N) as both Jesper and Vincent had eked out enough fuel to finish the race, or so they believed. Picked up 1 place on the last but one lap to finish 5th overall and 4th overall in the event – my best result so far. Best lap in this race here a 39.1
There’s more speed in this Alfa yet, it could be even looser in the rear to save the changedown in turns 3&4
Gratz to Vincent on his double win on his first race back!!!
Thnx to Eric for listening to my nagging and putting on the event. Thnx to all who turned up and of course RD for the equipment. Great fun 70 laps at near 200MPH.
PS the only time that i used the brakes here was to slow down for the fuel stop.
