- 2,238
- Brisbane
- Fisho_Man
My first go at a write up so gentleness is appreciated. I'm looking to A-Spec all the enduros, and with only the 2 Nurb enduros, both De Sarthe 24 Hr races, Suzuka, Motegi and Tsukarba left, i figured i should give writing up a shot.
Inspired by a few other write ups on this one, i'm using a stock NSX-R Concept '01, with 79 points on offer.
The Field
1. NSX Type R '02
2. Chevrolet Camaro SS '00
3. Pontiac GTO 5.7 Coupe '04
4. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR GSR '04
5. NSX Type S '01
6. NSX-R Concept '01 (moi)
Using the tactics of other racers, i'm going to use a 4 pit strategy, run S2's for rubber and allow 40 units of juice for each stint.
1st Stint
The Type R quickly shoots off, leaving the pack to dice it out through the first few corners. I manage to get a nice trail through the carnage created by the Camaro, Evo and GTO through Hatzenbach, find myself a clear third behind the Type R and Type S. As we come through Aremberg, i'm sitting on the bumper of the Type S with the margin to the Type R in first 6 secs. I had consciously decided to take it easy the first couple of laps, and so was quite content to trail the Type S to get a feel for the track early on. He was giving me a nice run through, and though i had a couple of 'offs' over the first two laps, managed to stay well controlled and stay in contact with him. The Type R was extending his lead by about a second per section, so i felt confident enough to take the Type S.
Swapping paint at various stages with the Type S and with both of us hitting the grass and gravel, the Type R had taken advantage of our deficiencies and extended his lead to about 30 secs as we hit the time point at the start of the Dottinger straight for the fourth time.
Lap 4. I had a lead of about two car lengths coming into the pit lead in, but as i slowed to enter the pits, the Type S knocks me sideways into the leading edge of the pit wall, costing me about 5 secs to adjust and get into the pit. Seriously pissed off! 🤬
I exit the pits in third position, and about a minute behind the Type R, but not overly anxious regarding my duel with the Type S as i feel i am starting to develop some sort of rhythm and i feel quite confident of picking him up when he pits. I have clocked a best lap of 8'08, which was fairly ragged.
Insanity rules at the end of lap 5. I was surprised to see the Type R continuing on his way, totally contradictory to all reason given the write ups i have seen regarding this event. The Type S pits, and I take second place, passing him as he exits from pit lane. Rounding Aremberg in second, the deficit to the Type R is 1'32, and i am feeling a tad bemused and more than a little concerned regarding my prospects if his pit strategy continues in this vein. Concentrating on my driving (which isn't helped by the ever present and persistent Type S, i feel good when the next deficit drops to about 1'20, then the next to about 1'17. I reason that somehow or other my driving is picking up. I am more than a little bemused when the margin drops to 57 secs at the next point, but the picture is becoming clearer - he obviously stuffed his pit entrance at the end of lap 5 and is running on rapidly deteriorating rubber .
This is confirmed when the deficit drops to around 30 secs, then THREE (yes, count 'em, THREE) seconds. Coming around a sharp bend, i am utterly shocked by an obviously unmanageable Yellow Honda NSX Type R sliding sideways across the track and taking me with him into the grass. Fortunately, my car bounces back and through and i end up with the pointy end of the car facing the right direction and enough momentum to drop back to second gear and go my merry way. No such luck with the Type S, and he is soon on my tail again.
The hour ends with me in the pits at 1:06 at the end of lap 8, and in second place, the Type S having passed as i entered pit lane. My best lap time is 8'06, but i'm feeling a little more comfortable behind the wheel.
HOUR TWO
More of the same, with me retaking the lead when the Type S pits at the end of his 10th lap. I set up a ten second lead, which fluctuates over the next couple of laps until i pit at the end of lap 12. I hear the growl of the Type S as he slides through, retaking the lead. I'm down by 3 seconds exiting pit lane. This third stint was a good one, with a fastest lap of 8'01 and an 8'03 providing tangible proof that my times showed is was going as quick as i felt. I was starting to get a better feel through the tighter corners and going through the faster curves with more confidence. Lap 12 sees him extend his lead out to 12 secs at various times, i'm driving a little ragged
due to having had to take a break to attend to domestic duties. I start to reel him back in though, and a quickest lap of 7'59 helps me pass him whilst he is in the pits on lap 15 at 2:03'14.
HOUR THREE
I pit on 16, and exit pit lane still in first (can't quite recall the margin). What i do recall is the first of two crucial umpiring decisions going my way. With a lead of around 6 or 7 entering Dottinger, i am surprised (pleasantly) to see the next margin posted as 18 secs. He obviously had some troubles through the right hander leading onto the straight. Then the second piece of good fortune. A nice 8'01 lap sees me gaining rapidly on the GTO, and i take him with a smooth pass on the exit at Aremburg (considering the horror stories i have heard about passing this thing it was pretty smooth). Rapidly pulling away, i take a keen interest on the margin to the Type S to see if he has similar luck.
He doesn't! The margins increase by around a second and a half at every checkpoint, which sees my lead blow out to 31 secs by the time i slide into pit lane on lap 20. I'm feeling pretty good at the wheel (DS2) 
now, with quite a few laps around the 8'02 mark.
Overconfidence ( and the fact that it is midnight) gets me, and i clock a 8'09. Reality check, and a strong coffee, brings me back on an even keel, and i bring the third hour to a close with an even 8'00.000 at 3:00'26.240, leading by 33 secs. I haven't worked out the pit counts for both of us at this stage, will do that whilst i boil up another cup of java. The 33 sec lead should more than compensate for any discrepancies, however. Remind me to send Pontiac Pete a bottle of Wild Turkey Rare for his valuable assistance.
HOUR FOUR
Not the best start to the last stint. A sloppy lap, including an off into the gravel at Schwalbenschwanz, gives 7 secs back to the Type S, now trailing at the lap change by 26 secs. I recover, however, and post a smooth lap to send me into my second last stop up by 31 secs. Given the lead i have, and by my reckonings he should also have 2 more stops, the second being the last lap of the race in lap 30, i should be safe. The last 6 laps are a blur. I'm still posting some nice times, with a 8'00.066 the best, and averaging around the 8'02 mark excluding pit laps. I lap the GTO again coming down the Dottinger, and he promptly unlaps himself as i pit. This is soon rectified on lap 29, again with a troublefree pass. Lap 30, and i have a lead of 22 seconds, i've spotted the Evo leaving the pits, and my mind is feeling like gloggy spaghetti. Trying to keep my thoughts concentrated on the task at hand, and it's 2 a.m. I take the Evo through Adenaur, and move smoothly onwards to the chequered flag. A mistake free run, then momentary panic as a third of the way along dottinger i notice a blue dot seemingly gaining ground at a suspicious rate of knots. Is this Polyphony pulling a swiftie and bringing the Type S up for one last go? Then relief as i see the final margin posted - the Type S adrift by 25 seconds, somehow the Evo has kicked in the spare triple turbo he keeps in the glovebox and made up unbelievable ground out of nowhere.
The flag drops on lap 30, in a time of 4:05'37.868, with a quickest lap of 7'59.055. Apart from the odd abberation, average lap times where around the 8'03 mark.
Finishing order:
1. NSX-R Concept '01
2. NSX Type S '01 +0.25
3. NSX Type R '02 + bout 4 mins
4. Lancer Evo VIII MR GSR '04 +1 lap 13 secs
5. Chev Camaro SS '04 +1 lap and about 7/8
6. Pontiac GTO 5.7 Coupe '04 +2 laps
After pocketing a cool $200,000 (vastly underfunded in my opinion when compared to the effort in winning at Super Speedway) and the keys to a nice clean Chaparral, i head for the pillows.
Inspired by a few other write ups on this one, i'm using a stock NSX-R Concept '01, with 79 points on offer.
The Field
1. NSX Type R '02
2. Chevrolet Camaro SS '00
3. Pontiac GTO 5.7 Coupe '04
4. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR GSR '04
5. NSX Type S '01
6. NSX-R Concept '01 (moi)
Using the tactics of other racers, i'm going to use a 4 pit strategy, run S2's for rubber and allow 40 units of juice for each stint.
1st Stint
The Type R quickly shoots off, leaving the pack to dice it out through the first few corners. I manage to get a nice trail through the carnage created by the Camaro, Evo and GTO through Hatzenbach, find myself a clear third behind the Type R and Type S. As we come through Aremberg, i'm sitting on the bumper of the Type S with the margin to the Type R in first 6 secs. I had consciously decided to take it easy the first couple of laps, and so was quite content to trail the Type S to get a feel for the track early on. He was giving me a nice run through, and though i had a couple of 'offs' over the first two laps, managed to stay well controlled and stay in contact with him. The Type R was extending his lead by about a second per section, so i felt confident enough to take the Type S.
Swapping paint at various stages with the Type S and with both of us hitting the grass and gravel, the Type R had taken advantage of our deficiencies and extended his lead to about 30 secs as we hit the time point at the start of the Dottinger straight for the fourth time.
Lap 4. I had a lead of about two car lengths coming into the pit lead in, but as i slowed to enter the pits, the Type S knocks me sideways into the leading edge of the pit wall, costing me about 5 secs to adjust and get into the pit. Seriously pissed off! 🤬
I exit the pits in third position, and about a minute behind the Type R, but not overly anxious regarding my duel with the Type S as i feel i am starting to develop some sort of rhythm and i feel quite confident of picking him up when he pits. I have clocked a best lap of 8'08, which was fairly ragged. Insanity rules at the end of lap 5. I was surprised to see the Type R continuing on his way, totally contradictory to all reason given the write ups i have seen regarding this event. The Type S pits, and I take second place, passing him as he exits from pit lane. Rounding Aremberg in second, the deficit to the Type R is 1'32, and i am feeling a tad bemused and more than a little concerned regarding my prospects if his pit strategy continues in this vein. Concentrating on my driving (which isn't helped by the ever present and persistent Type S, i feel good when the next deficit drops to about 1'20, then the next to about 1'17. I reason that somehow or other my driving is picking up. I am more than a little bemused when the margin drops to 57 secs at the next point, but the picture is becoming clearer - he obviously stuffed his pit entrance at the end of lap 5 and is running on rapidly deteriorating rubber .
This is confirmed when the deficit drops to around 30 secs, then THREE (yes, count 'em, THREE) seconds. Coming around a sharp bend, i am utterly shocked by an obviously unmanageable Yellow Honda NSX Type R sliding sideways across the track and taking me with him into the grass. Fortunately, my car bounces back and through and i end up with the pointy end of the car facing the right direction and enough momentum to drop back to second gear and go my merry way. No such luck with the Type S, and he is soon on my tail again.
The hour ends with me in the pits at 1:06 at the end of lap 8, and in second place, the Type S having passed as i entered pit lane. My best lap time is 8'06, but i'm feeling a little more comfortable behind the wheel.
HOUR TWO
More of the same, with me retaking the lead when the Type S pits at the end of his 10th lap. I set up a ten second lead, which fluctuates over the next couple of laps until i pit at the end of lap 12. I hear the growl of the Type S as he slides through, retaking the lead. I'm down by 3 seconds exiting pit lane. This third stint was a good one, with a fastest lap of 8'01 and an 8'03 providing tangible proof that my times showed is was going as quick as i felt. I was starting to get a better feel through the tighter corners and going through the faster curves with more confidence. Lap 12 sees him extend his lead out to 12 secs at various times, i'm driving a little ragged
due to having had to take a break to attend to domestic duties. I start to reel him back in though, and a quickest lap of 7'59 helps me pass him whilst he is in the pits on lap 15 at 2:03'14.HOUR THREE
I pit on 16, and exit pit lane still in first (can't quite recall the margin). What i do recall is the first of two crucial umpiring decisions going my way. With a lead of around 6 or 7 entering Dottinger, i am surprised (pleasantly) to see the next margin posted as 18 secs. He obviously had some troubles through the right hander leading onto the straight. Then the second piece of good fortune. A nice 8'01 lap sees me gaining rapidly on the GTO, and i take him with a smooth pass on the exit at Aremburg (considering the horror stories i have heard about passing this thing it was pretty smooth). Rapidly pulling away, i take a keen interest on the margin to the Type S to see if he has similar luck.
He doesn't! The margins increase by around a second and a half at every checkpoint, which sees my lead blow out to 31 secs by the time i slide into pit lane on lap 20. I'm feeling pretty good at the wheel (DS2) now, with quite a few laps around the 8'02 mark. Overconfidence ( and the fact that it is midnight) gets me, and i clock a 8'09. Reality check, and a strong coffee, brings me back on an even keel, and i bring the third hour to a close with an even 8'00.000 at 3:00'26.240, leading by 33 secs. I haven't worked out the pit counts for both of us at this stage, will do that whilst i boil up another cup of java. The 33 sec lead should more than compensate for any discrepancies, however. Remind me to send Pontiac Pete a bottle of Wild Turkey Rare for his valuable assistance.
HOUR FOUR
Not the best start to the last stint. A sloppy lap, including an off into the gravel at Schwalbenschwanz, gives 7 secs back to the Type S, now trailing at the lap change by 26 secs. I recover, however, and post a smooth lap to send me into my second last stop up by 31 secs. Given the lead i have, and by my reckonings he should also have 2 more stops, the second being the last lap of the race in lap 30, i should be safe. The last 6 laps are a blur. I'm still posting some nice times, with a 8'00.066 the best, and averaging around the 8'02 mark excluding pit laps. I lap the GTO again coming down the Dottinger, and he promptly unlaps himself as i pit. This is soon rectified on lap 29, again with a troublefree pass. Lap 30, and i have a lead of 22 seconds, i've spotted the Evo leaving the pits, and my mind is feeling like gloggy spaghetti. Trying to keep my thoughts concentrated on the task at hand, and it's 2 a.m. I take the Evo through Adenaur, and move smoothly onwards to the chequered flag. A mistake free run, then momentary panic as a third of the way along dottinger i notice a blue dot seemingly gaining ground at a suspicious rate of knots. Is this Polyphony pulling a swiftie and bringing the Type S up for one last go? Then relief as i see the final margin posted - the Type S adrift by 25 seconds, somehow the Evo has kicked in the spare triple turbo he keeps in the glovebox and made up unbelievable ground out of nowhere.
The flag drops on lap 30, in a time of 4:05'37.868, with a quickest lap of 7'59.055. Apart from the odd abberation, average lap times where around the 8'03 mark.
Finishing order:
1. NSX-R Concept '01
2. NSX Type S '01 +0.25
3. NSX Type R '02 + bout 4 mins
4. Lancer Evo VIII MR GSR '04 +1 lap 13 secs
5. Chev Camaro SS '04 +1 lap and about 7/8
6. Pontiac GTO 5.7 Coupe '04 +2 laps
After pocketing a cool $200,000 (vastly underfunded in my opinion when compared to the effort in winning at Super Speedway) and the keys to a nice clean Chaparral, i head for the pillows.
No fun in that! 👎
