Unfortunately I never got to race. Shunted the car into the outside wall at the back straight hairpin during the 2nd practice in moderate rain. Don't know what caused the tail to go out exactly, but I suspect it's a combination of aqua-planing and bit too much initial brake pressure on my part. Car was going about 230kph, braked early at around 230 meter mark, off racing line to see the Stradale ahead, but 20 meters into my braking my rear just snapped out. A GT3 was totalled at around the same spot during the 1st practice in wet condition as well. This and April event spin/crash by another Formula Renault driver at the same hair pin leads me to suspect the track may have slight bumps in that area just off racing line. Stradale finished 3rd and 5th I believe. My team mate could not do better than 7th, as our suspension setting and tire pressure was all wrong for the Hoosier tires. Didn't have any experience with the Hoosiers so we will have to do a lot of testing at ZIC during July and hope to dial in the car for Aug race. There is quite a bit of damage to my car so it probably won't be ready for Aug. Will use the spare car for Aug event.
OK, here is a picture of my car before the shunt. The new front spoiler and splitter was modeled after the 360 GT spec but has been modified to fit the narrower fenders of regular street going Modenas and Challenge race cars. I worked with a local supplier on the proto-type mould. It will be available to general public by end of July in either fiberglass or carbon fiber. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Here are 3 pictures of my team mate's car. A pretty big crowd turned out for the weekend. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Car won't arrive HK until next week earliest. IMSS will probably take at least another 10 days to give me an estimate. So as far as I know I'm driving the Verde Silverstone colored car in Aug. When the red car gets fixed then my brother can race it. Oh, BTW we are off to Sepang next week to race the Formula Renaults. It'll be my first time at Sepang so should be a lot of fun.
We are done at SIC for this year. The only remaining races are in Zhuhai at end Aug and Oct FIA GT support race. Macau is still up in the air. If you happen to be down here then you are most welcome to swing by and have some fun. As of now we are still considering to sign up our cars in the FIA GT race itself instead of the support race pending eligibility issues (fuel cell, roll cage etc.) If time & logistics permit, FIA GT 3 hour race is definitely more attractive than a 10 lap sprint.
I just found this thread after I posted in the Asia section, which I rarely even look at to be honest. Nice job on that front bumper Wayne. Rare shot of me working too!! (on the flat patch). Seriously, you worked me bl00dy hard that weekend!! Would do it again in a flash though. Shame dates have ovelapped badly for us since. What about Sepang then. The 12 hour on weekend 27th August.. Interested. I'll be there it seems with Ted and his GT. I think everyone suffers from understeer at Shanghai from what I've heard. Those corners just go onnnnn and onnnnn. The new splitter must help though. At 105mm splitter extension from bumper, Teds GT car data showed 170kg front downforce at 240kph recently.... that's gotta help!!
Who has time to eat or sleep. Work hard & play even harder. That was a marvelous weekend. Thorougly enjoyed everything. I'd say you probably needed a few days to recover after you got home. I don't know about the Aug event at Sepang. Details please. Hey maybe I can sign up for that one if I can get a car over there. In any case as soon as I get back from Sepang end of this month, I'll work on a date for you to help me do some test at Zhuhai.
