:: Episode V ::
An M3 on S3's at GVE | January 4, 2012
Race Report by GTP_Chuk
BMW M3 Coupe '07 in Red @ Grand Valley East Reverse
Jake helped me immensely this week. His guidance helped me get fast with the combo, but it still took all week for me to catch him. I knew he would be tough to beat in the race! I drove the WRS event for about 30 hours this week, and wanted to put in a good showing at the 3D3 races. I did a few practice sessions and found one big weakness: my starts were SUPER slow. It would come back to haunt me all day on Wednesday. The other issue was setting my brake balance before the race started. Another weak point that cost me dearly! But I was starting from the pole, so I still had hope!
It was a misguided hope, at best!
I tried to set my brake balance as the Sprint race was counting down, and didn't make it. I mashed the gas and started with stock settings. It was pure carnage! By the end of lap 1, I was last, but found time to make the adjustments to my brakes.
I raced as hard as I could, pushed too much, and biffed the tunnel entry!
I finished sixth, which ironically gave me pole for the B feature. The feature race started like the sprint, but I had my brake balance set. My start was another disaster, though, and I was seventh by the end of the first lap.
Believe it or not, I felt pretty good about my chances. I knew I had speed, I just needed to work through traffic cleanly and have a good pit-stop. The traffic was intense.
The first ten laps I waited and waited for a chance to get through, finally getting third place at about 7.5 seconds behind the leaders. I slowly climbed to about six seconds back, when Marc unexpectedly pitted on lap 16, leaving me chasing Lucas. I was going to pit with the leader, regardless of the lap. It turned out to be lap 19, and now we know Lucas got the penalty. When I came out in front of him, I figured he'd be back, for now I had to find Marc. Or rather, Marc found me, and I had to let him go as my tires warmed up. I chased him for 15 laps or so, and then decided it was time.
Lucas and Hasslemoff were catching up, and time was running out. I got a run on Marc going down the front straight, and made my move!
We both made it through, barely, and hadn't lost much time to those chasing us! Marc's tires were a little less than mine, so I just concentrated on hitting my marks, and I had my very first win!
The NA Sprint started of pretty good. My start was better, but there was no way I could pass Kevin or Marc, and finishing third in the Sprint meant I started sixth in the Main. With such a competitive field, I had my work cut out for me. I held my own on the start, but never gained any time, and Jake was GONE! Everybody was driving good.👍 I was thinking about pit strategy when I clipped some grass and hit the wall. My lapse in concentration cost me any chance at finishing with the leaders, and I limped home a couple of laps down.
I was satisfied with my day. I got my first 3D3 win and gained some valuable experience. I've got to work on my starts and keep the "pit-stop penalty" in mind for future events. Next week is Autumn Ring, a track I'm normally good at. I expect the racing to be tight. There are a lot of places here to wreck, and the Lotus is a tricky platform to drive!
Thanks Chuk! Here's Chuks fast lap from his EU Feature B Race winning performance:
. I guess it's better I didn't know that
