My Snetterton Time Attack
13 October 2008, 02:20 PM
#1
My Snetterton Time Attack
I know I have a project thread where some of you read this stuff but I thought a separate report might be nice to give a little insight of Time Attack from the drivers side hence writing a report ...
I was optimistic about this event as it is a track that I know well and convinced that most others were underestimating how difficult it is thinking it is two big straights connected by 4 corners but having had the luck on TA rounds that I have had so far, I was very nervous.
Sunday morning and a brief distraction watching the farce that is F1 and we were on our way through the depths of Norfolk and fenland fog to the track. The visibility at the track was very poor and the start delayed by an hour. It was the plan for my friend Nige to come out for the first warmup session with me but this was cancelled and instead a rush to get 30 cars out to follow a safety car out. I needed to get out on track to cure some nerves so sent Matt to run for Nige whilst I joined the queue of cars waiting to go out. If I didnt do this I wouldnt have got out in the first session. Unfortunately Nige turned up just after I had left.. sorry mate.
A tad foggy !
This seemed to help clear the fog and we appeared to be back on schedule for the day.
Nige was setting up the camera:
but every now and again coming back with rachel and nige to enjoy our VIP suite we had arranged:
First practice was about to start and the nerves kicked in again... the pressure was on as people expected me to do well as it was my home circuit. I wasnt worried about the track or the car but didnt want to let Rachel, Annabelle, Nige and Lou down.
I was out in Group B because previous results hadnt been good, but it allowed Zen Performance to fully support me during my sessions holding out pitboards and effectively telling me how to run the session ie do one warm up - 1 hot lap then come in, we will check and adjust tyre pressures. It was awesome, and so reassuring to have someone with detailed knowledge and experience setting your car up on event. I was calm and focused. The first session went well with me posting 4th fastest in my group with a time of 1.20.2 which was 2 seconds faster than I had ever driven Snetterton. I knew it would go quicker though as I had messed that lap up.
The next session was qualifying. This is what would make or break the day for me.
From looking at the times of the two combined groups. I thought a sub 1.20 would be enough to get to the final from how people were going. This was my target and I thought I could do it.
Rolling out of the pit lane and into my warm up lap and then pull really wide for the final chicane to give a straight line and max exit speed for the opening straight - this one would do it. The lap felt great but as I came across the line to finish it my lap timer said 1.20.08 bugger. Cool down, re-focus and start again the next lap. This was clean again but 1.20.05 bugger again. Time to come into the pits and chat to Paul from Zen.
Paul (with able assistance from Steven Darley) sorted tyre pressures and checked stuff over whilst I sat in the car and sent me back out for one more hot lap. Nice wide line to the chicane and nail it up the straight, slightly later on the brakes and turn in for richies, that felt good. Into the main straight and into 6th gear now through the esses, bombhole and coram and brake heavy down to the chicane taking all of the kerb and a bit more
and through to finish the lap. Yes - 1.19.6 result. That would do it !!
I cooled down for a lap. There wasn't much left of the 20 min session so I headed into the pits. Paul made some adjustments to the suspension settings, checked under the bonnet and changed tyre pressures. He told me I had qualified already but thought that these would be an improvement. I had enough time for another hot lap. The car felt great and I headed round coram much faster than before and as a result I missed my braking point for the chicane - *****. Heyho, laughing to myself and shaking my head I cruised up to the line for the chequered flag and was almost crying to myself to know that I had qualified for my first final. I qualified 15th O/A and 13th in F/I
I was quite happy
Everyone was chuffed for me too and it was great to have so much positivity around me.
Still happy.
Time for the final and I needed to put more fuel in
Unfortunately I overfilled it so could have run lighter but that is no excuse.
The car had been getting too hot in the qualifying session so was going to have to play it sensible in the final by making space to start with to make the first lap count. I warmed the tyres up and went for it. Unfortunately my GPS lap timer decided that this was the time to not show me a time. It felt good but how good?? I came into the pits to find out... 1.19.2 !!
I headed out again convinced I could go quicker still but on a hot lap the car decided to det quite heavily so I decided to back off and abort the lap let it cool down for a couple of laps then try again.... it did the same. Hmm. into the pits and Paul suggested doing 3 cool down laps to see whether it would clear it but alas not. I only got the one hot lap in the final but chuffed that it counted well finishing 13th O/A and 11th F/I and I got to drive home in one piece afterwards
As for my support - I owe huge debt of gratitude to Paul & Liz and the rest of the guys at Zen Performance for this result, with their car not running it would have been very easy for them not to turn up but they decided to head over to support me and Steven anyway - for this I am very grateful. Also big thanks go out to Mark at Lateral Performance and to everyone else for the words of encouragement and assistance.
Here's to 2009 !
I was optimistic about this event as it is a track that I know well and convinced that most others were underestimating how difficult it is thinking it is two big straights connected by 4 corners but having had the luck on TA rounds that I have had so far, I was very nervous.
Sunday morning and a brief distraction watching the farce that is F1 and we were on our way through the depths of Norfolk and fenland fog to the track. The visibility at the track was very poor and the start delayed by an hour. It was the plan for my friend Nige to come out for the first warmup session with me but this was cancelled and instead a rush to get 30 cars out to follow a safety car out. I needed to get out on track to cure some nerves so sent Matt to run for Nige whilst I joined the queue of cars waiting to go out. If I didnt do this I wouldnt have got out in the first session. Unfortunately Nige turned up just after I had left.. sorry mate.
A tad foggy !
This seemed to help clear the fog and we appeared to be back on schedule for the day.
Nige was setting up the camera:
but every now and again coming back with rachel and nige to enjoy our VIP suite we had arranged:
First practice was about to start and the nerves kicked in again... the pressure was on as people expected me to do well as it was my home circuit. I wasnt worried about the track or the car but didnt want to let Rachel, Annabelle, Nige and Lou down.
I was out in Group B because previous results hadnt been good, but it allowed Zen Performance to fully support me during my sessions holding out pitboards and effectively telling me how to run the session ie do one warm up - 1 hot lap then come in, we will check and adjust tyre pressures. It was awesome, and so reassuring to have someone with detailed knowledge and experience setting your car up on event. I was calm and focused. The first session went well with me posting 4th fastest in my group with a time of 1.20.2 which was 2 seconds faster than I had ever driven Snetterton. I knew it would go quicker though as I had messed that lap up.
The next session was qualifying. This is what would make or break the day for me.
From looking at the times of the two combined groups. I thought a sub 1.20 would be enough to get to the final from how people were going. This was my target and I thought I could do it.
Rolling out of the pit lane and into my warm up lap and then pull really wide for the final chicane to give a straight line and max exit speed for the opening straight - this one would do it. The lap felt great but as I came across the line to finish it my lap timer said 1.20.08 bugger. Cool down, re-focus and start again the next lap. This was clean again but 1.20.05 bugger again. Time to come into the pits and chat to Paul from Zen.
Paul (with able assistance from Steven Darley) sorted tyre pressures and checked stuff over whilst I sat in the car and sent me back out for one more hot lap. Nice wide line to the chicane and nail it up the straight, slightly later on the brakes and turn in for richies, that felt good. Into the main straight and into 6th gear now through the esses, bombhole and coram and brake heavy down to the chicane taking all of the kerb and a bit more
and through to finish the lap. Yes - 1.19.6 result. That would do it !!I cooled down for a lap. There wasn't much left of the 20 min session so I headed into the pits. Paul made some adjustments to the suspension settings, checked under the bonnet and changed tyre pressures. He told me I had qualified already but thought that these would be an improvement. I had enough time for another hot lap. The car felt great and I headed round coram much faster than before and as a result I missed my braking point for the chicane - *****. Heyho, laughing to myself and shaking my head I cruised up to the line for the chequered flag and was almost crying to myself to know that I had qualified for my first final. I qualified 15th O/A and 13th in F/I
I was quite happy
Everyone was chuffed for me too and it was great to have so much positivity around me.
Still happy.
Time for the final and I needed to put more fuel in
Unfortunately I overfilled it so could have run lighter but that is no excuse.The car had been getting too hot in the qualifying session so was going to have to play it sensible in the final by making space to start with to make the first lap count. I warmed the tyres up and went for it. Unfortunately my GPS lap timer decided that this was the time to not show me a time. It felt good but how good?? I came into the pits to find out... 1.19.2 !!
I headed out again convinced I could go quicker still but on a hot lap the car decided to det quite heavily so I decided to back off and abort the lap let it cool down for a couple of laps then try again.... it did the same. Hmm. into the pits and Paul suggested doing 3 cool down laps to see whether it would clear it but alas not. I only got the one hot lap in the final but chuffed that it counted well finishing 13th O/A and 11th F/I and I got to drive home in one piece afterwards
As for my support - I owe huge debt of gratitude to Paul & Liz and the rest of the guys at Zen Performance for this result, with their car not running it would have been very easy for them not to turn up but they decided to head over to support me and Steven anyway - for this I am very grateful. Also big thanks go out to Mark at Lateral Performance and to everyone else for the words of encouragement and assistance.
Here's to 2009 !
13 October 2008, 03:14 PM
#3
Scooby Regular
Duncan,
Nice write-up!
As a matter of interest, how many times have you done Snetterton now? I would imagine quite a few as you are down the road. It's one of my favourite tracks...... is great for learning your car and progressing your ability.
Nice write-up!
As a matter of interest, how many times have you done Snetterton now? I would imagine quite a few as you are down the road.
It's one of my favourite tracks...... is great for learning your car and progressing your ability.
13 October 2008, 03:23 PM
#5
Scooby Regular
Good blog dynamix,
It sure was foggy 1st thing! I put some pix on myspace and I have yet to upload my videos. I filmed the parade laps too of the time attack and the clubs cruising the track. Have some footage of the green wagon flaming
Was a good day all round.
It sure was foggy 1st thing! I put some pix on myspace and I have yet to upload my videos. I filmed the parade laps too of the time attack and the clubs cruising the track. Have some footage of the green wagon flaming
Was a good day all round.
Trending Topics
14 October 2008, 03:57 PM
#11
Bob - thanks.
Thanks Iain - will be nice when I am running more power then
Another success story for std Brembo calipers and Performance Friction discs/pads
Although I have to say that the calipers are no longer gold - they are brown and the writing is now black
14 October 2008, 05:26 PM
#12
Hey Duncan, glad it all came together for you at the end of the season and the car is running well!
Bring on 2009.
I really need to take you out in my full fat 05 STi running K-Sports front and back ... I think you would be surprised at just how good they are. Might be worth a few seconds per lap on track.
and the car is running well!Bring on 2009.
Another success story for std Brembo calipers and Performance Friction discs/pads Although I have to say that the calipers are no longer gold - they are brown and the writing is now black
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