Had to be at TC2000 at 6am so left the house at 4:45. Saurus as always had organized a 2 hour free run session. The weather started quite cloudy but it soon got hot. Our two hours on the track were from 8am until 10am so it was the best time.A month ago I had planned on using this 2 hour session to try different suspension settings and learn more about my car and what the different settings can do for me and how the car behaves. After 3 days of driving lessons this month though, this day was basically dedicated to trying out the new techniques, namely trying to turn the wheel earlier and trying to use my brakes help turn in faster. Hmmm.
Before this though, I'd cleverly spent an hour on Monday night practicing on GT4. Initially I crashed quite a lot but finally I was able to get into the 1'03 time zone with a best of 1'03.09 or something like that. So nearly a 1'02!!! Best I'd got before was 1'05! I'm a believer!
Reality of course is harder than virtual as there are consequences to going off the track. It had also been April since I'd been on TC2000. So quite a long time.
The first few laps, the track felt really narrow. I couldn't actually believe the size of the final corner. Was it really that small and tight? I guess after Fuji Speedway your perspective changes. I spent the first 10 minute session just getting used to the track. DSC off of course :-) I was also trying to practice turning early etc but keeping the speed down. Final lap I got a 1'12.9.
It was getting hot and I was sweating quite a lot again. Amazing how hot the car gets with no aircon and all the heat coming up through the center panel. Anyway, I was out again and this time, I'd decided to increase speed and see what could be done.
Naturally (for me it seems) I spun out 3 times in the next 2 sessions. I spun into the corner on entry each time. Seems I'm too good at turn in :-) I spun on the first corner twice, had a close call on the inner hairpin, and spun on the 2nd hairpin once. Each time I spin though, I find that I try to learn what I did wrong and try again with equal vigor. It doesn't really put me off that much. I'm only sorry if I do it in front of someone which I try hard not too. But I think my spins are mostly well controlled where the car behind me can easily predict where I'll end up and avoid me. The plan is not to spin though of course as that is safer for everyone!
I just watched the videos. I'm pretty happy with Dunlop corner where I really tried to turn early each time. I didn't use the brakes there at all this time, but I think I can still improve. I actually ended up taking most of the corners quite slowly due to concentration on braking. I didn't actually turn the wheel as early as I had been wanting (or thinking I had been doing though). I'm quite disappointed but that is one of the great things about videoing your driving. You can look at it later and see if you are doing what you are thinking you are doing. Turning the wheel early while braking hard is a lot of belief to ask of yourself.
Anyway, I ended up with a best time of 1'10.919 on the day. My best sectors are all over the place this time. I'm usually very consistent but I guess not when I'm trying new stuff. So here are best sector times compared with my previous best.
Sec1: 28.606 (before 28.872)
Sec2: 29.027 (before 28.707)
Sec3: 12.773 (before 12.385)
So compared to my previous best sector times, I seem to be doing a little better on Sector 1 which is the twistier part of the circuit but have lost time on the other sectors. Looking at my speeds my fastest all day was only 147.682 kmph compared with mostly 155s previously.. I guess that boils down to two things. 1 it was hot and 2 I didn't push it on the entry to the last corner this time as I felt it was more important to improve the other corners first technique wise.
Top 5 times for the record were:
1. 1'10.919 - 28.650 29.476 12.793
2. 1'10.936 - 28.606 29.523 12.807
3. 1'11.044 - 28.901 29.241 12.902
4. 1'11.090 - 29.202 29.115 12.773
5. 1'11.121 - 28.795 29.550 12.776
Anyway, great to be back on TC2000 and really great to be trying out new things and never stop learning! I'll see if I can stick a video up later on.
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