If I remember correctly, it is has been more than a year since I last did a sprint race/event…
I’ve to admit that the short and intense racing it produces is no doubt fun.
Mechanical longevity isn’t in question here; so the rule is to rev that engine at will with some careful since the
997 rear tyres like to light-up (
fun but can be tricky).
I always go with the
997, just like the RWD + rear engine combo “fun”…
As it is well known the
430 is the quickest car of the GTS+mod class, until recently it was though that over an endurance race, the brittle
Ferrari engine would give the 997 the advantage. As many of us learned in a recent endurance event here at the club, even in there a careful
430 racer will have the advantage over the
997. We really have to go to very long events to favor the
997, and even here, the late stint race pace of the
997 can be a real problem (
the 997 needs more grip at the rear, and when the tyres degrade… the fun starts :wink
.
Qualifying (
8th, 5th 997)
Here the ever turning track helped an “edge driven” 997, the 430 (excel in) mid-high rpm range only helped it in the single straight. So wasn’t too surprised with the 3 997 in the top 3 of the grid. Did a 28 mid sufficient for 8th, some way away from the 27 high of the pole-man, nevertheless it would do the trick since the race would be about the last 8 laps, when the tryes would go below the “necessary” grip level.:wink:
1st Race (
5th, 1st 997)
It has been a long time since I raced here, so I completely forgot how "dangerous" the outside line can be after the start here (
using the outside car to do the turn).
Did a so-so start, arrived at the first turn in 7th but unfortunately on the outside line…
The future race one winner starts a three
430 carambole that ended up with a strong tap on my
997 rear just at the top of the turn… immediate
kitty litter route, luckily avoided the wall, dropped to 18th:frown:.
Mid peloton fun race it would be for the first ½ of the race, with a few more 1st lap carnage in front, finished the first lap in 14th.
Even with the about 10 seconds lost at start, with the quicker
997 carnage in front, I would go to climb to 4th and first
997 by mid race… Things weren’t going that well for us rear engine racers.
Had a good fight with
Leonardo (
430), lost it near the end and finished the first race in 5th. Well, well… Four
430 in the top 4… I guess we took one (
another)…:tongue:
(
3rd, 1st 997)
Start from 4th but this time "dived" to the inside line ASAP, was 3rd by the 2nd turn.
This time I could see the front runner, a fellow 997 racer, so was happy with the first lap. Lost a place to the future race 2 winner and ended-up in a fight with the 2 other 997 near the top of the GC at the time.
As we had very different setups, had a good & hard fight with Giorgio (997) until he DNF. Near the end had a strong fight with Caramidaru’s 430 for the last podium place.
Entering the last lap, Caramidaru went definitely in front; I didn’t give up and kept the pressure. Entering the long circuit we found out Leonardo’s 430 in the middle of the road, had to take the foot off, lost the so much needed draft for the straight, 3rd it would be (Leonardo with car damaged dropped from 2nd to 4th in the last lap).
Congratulations to
both race podium goers, thanks
everyone who took part, really had many interesting battles, much thanks.
Thanks
Hugo &
RD for organizing, until a next one :wink:
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