Discussion
Hi all,
So after our disastrous 1000km race, we completed a very successful days testing last Tuesday at Donington Park ready for the 2 hour night race this past weekend.
We had Jonny MacGregor and Damian Hudes behind the wheel, with Damian being new to the car, he showed impressive pace in testing so we were looking forward to a great event.
Qualifying was hectic - the trick was to catch a dry track between the two stoppages and the shower, and Jonny initally put in a safe 1:09 lap go 3rd on the grid provisionally. Damian went back out, but traffic and a series of yellow flags inhibited a fast lap. The Mosler MT900 and the Ferrari 458 pipped our time, so Jonny went back out with 10 minutes to go, as there was a good 2 seconds left in the car with the current setup. A yellow flag on his flying lap which then turned into a red flag ended the chances of a quicker time, but 5th on the grid would be fine to start the race.
Qualifying Lap Video
Damian started, and got of to a strong start, immediately diving up to 3rd. Unfortunately the auxiliary LED lighting fused, which hampered progress round the darker sections of the track, and with the drizzle coming down, lap times suffered. 30 minutes into the race, a slippery kerb on the outside of the Roberts Chicane caused the Ultima to spin across the track and hammered head first into the pitwall, causing extensive damage to the front of the car, losing lights, canards, splitter and the central portion of the front clam and air dam.
We lost 15 minutes whilst the car was recovered, but the crew inspected the car and removed some parts that were loose, removed the parts of the bodywork that were hanging off and rewired the front auxiliary LED - amazingly the radiator was misplaced but not leaking, so it was secured, the scrutineer inspected the repairs and we were given the all clear. An excellent job by the team - once again proving why they are the best and most determined crew in the pitlane.
Jonny went out on fresh wets onto a damp track, and despite the lack of front splitter, brake ducting and only having a single front light, was running alongside the GT3 Aston and the Mosler MT900 in 1:17's, 4 seconds faster than the rest of the field. After 40 minutes and clawing back 5 laps on the guys in front, Jonny came in, the team put slicks on and Damian was sent back out, and brought the car home safely, managing to pull a couple of laps over the Rapier which gave us 3rd in class.
Apart from the lights fusing, the car was sensational, running trouble free all weekend - even with a significant portion of the front aero missing - proved by how effortless a 1:09 qualifying lap was on tyres that were not up to temperature. The result gives us something to build on over the winter and into next year.
So after our disastrous 1000km race, we completed a very successful days testing last Tuesday at Donington Park ready for the 2 hour night race this past weekend.
We had Jonny MacGregor and Damian Hudes behind the wheel, with Damian being new to the car, he showed impressive pace in testing so we were looking forward to a great event.
Qualifying was hectic - the trick was to catch a dry track between the two stoppages and the shower, and Jonny initally put in a safe 1:09 lap go 3rd on the grid provisionally. Damian went back out, but traffic and a series of yellow flags inhibited a fast lap. The Mosler MT900 and the Ferrari 458 pipped our time, so Jonny went back out with 10 minutes to go, as there was a good 2 seconds left in the car with the current setup. A yellow flag on his flying lap which then turned into a red flag ended the chances of a quicker time, but 5th on the grid would be fine to start the race.
Qualifying Lap Video
Damian started, and got of to a strong start, immediately diving up to 3rd. Unfortunately the auxiliary LED lighting fused, which hampered progress round the darker sections of the track, and with the drizzle coming down, lap times suffered. 30 minutes into the race, a slippery kerb on the outside of the Roberts Chicane caused the Ultima to spin across the track and hammered head first into the pitwall, causing extensive damage to the front of the car, losing lights, canards, splitter and the central portion of the front clam and air dam.
We lost 15 minutes whilst the car was recovered, but the crew inspected the car and removed some parts that were loose, removed the parts of the bodywork that were hanging off and rewired the front auxiliary LED - amazingly the radiator was misplaced but not leaking, so it was secured, the scrutineer inspected the repairs and we were given the all clear. An excellent job by the team - once again proving why they are the best and most determined crew in the pitlane.
Jonny went out on fresh wets onto a damp track, and despite the lack of front splitter, brake ducting and only having a single front light, was running alongside the GT3 Aston and the Mosler MT900 in 1:17's, 4 seconds faster than the rest of the field. After 40 minutes and clawing back 5 laps on the guys in front, Jonny came in, the team put slicks on and Damian was sent back out, and brought the car home safely, managing to pull a couple of laps over the Rapier which gave us 3rd in class.
Apart from the lights fusing, the car was sensational, running trouble free all weekend - even with a significant portion of the front aero missing - proved by how effortless a 1:09 qualifying lap was on tyres that were not up to temperature. The result gives us something to build on over the winter and into next year.
Been looking at LED lighting myself.
Don't what make you've been using but I have been looking at
http://www.bajadesigns.com/ProductDetail?ItemNumbe...
Their lightbars look pretty pokey
http://www.bajadesigns.com/products/led-lights-led...
Don't what make you've been using but I have been looking at
http://www.bajadesigns.com/ProductDetail?ItemNumbe...
Their lightbars look pretty pokey
http://www.bajadesigns.com/products/led-lights-led...
BogBeast said:
Been looking at LED lighting myself.
Don't what make you've been using but I have been looking at
http://www.bajadesigns.com/ProductDetail?ItemNumbe...
Their lightbars look pretty pokey
http://www.bajadesigns.com/products/led-lights-led...
We used Wilderness Lighting, quite unbelievable how effective they are. Wouldn't touch normal lights again given the choice.Don't what make you've been using but I have been looking at
http://www.bajadesigns.com/ProductDetail?ItemNumbe...
Their lightbars look pretty pokey
http://www.bajadesigns.com/products/led-lights-led...
http://www.wildernesslighting.co.uk/
Considering the car went head on into a wall, its also impressive that apart from a few scratches, the lights are fine.
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