The race track is where the car and I really come to life... The feeling of being back at the track was nothing short of amazing. The sounds of engines and tyre squeal and the smell of rubber and fuel, and sight of everyone strapped into their cars chasing down PBs. It's good to be back!
BRZ driving impressions? It is a fun car to drive at the (my) limit. Initial turn-in can have a bit of understeer, but through the corner and on exit it is very planted. *Insert not enough power to break traction jokes*, but I was also on the stock tyres which are OK but not really up for track duties. I did have a moment where I got greedy when gunning for PBs and lost the rear coming out of the S (see video!), but other than that it was more understeer than oversteer. Overall, great handling car and quite forgiving even at the limit.
The objective: Go fast and PB. PB was by default and at a fast-ish 1:47.4220 in exact Natsoft numbers. The theoretical PB was 1:46.56, but the tyres were way too hot by the middle of the day that I didn't feel like they had it in them anymore for the day.
Other than the tyres, the brakes were getting a bit sketchy too. They felt a little rough and looking at them afterwards the brake rotors have been scored quite badly in the front passenger side, but they have similar marks all round. I suspect the stock pad material must have overheated and got a bit weird on the rotors.
Time for some new brakes and tyres, and a new PB next time!
Looking a little angry whilst waiting to get out there.
Could not have asked for better weather than this!
Summary of the day. Happy I got under 1:50, but a little disappointed I couldn't get it closer to that 1:46 once I knew what was possible...
PB analysis. Overall happy, with a few exceptions like corner 11 exiting the S. If I had stayed calm and not lost the rear that would have saved me several tenths
Not enough green! Or maybe the acceleration is so dismal it thinks I'm coasting! Poor BRZ. Just kidding, I still love you 😆
More analysis: I hit the limiter coming out of corner 9, so it looks a little yellow there when it should have been flat green.
Note to self: Remember to change gears!
Tyre squeals courtesy of the OEM Michelin Primacy HP
Natsoft Official Timing - 1:47.4220
Racechrono Timing - 1:47.39
I didn't fill up after arriving in Benalla and decided to see how many laps I could do. 25 laps later I got fuel light.
Heavy scoring on the brake rotors. This was the worst of them. Unlikely something got stuck in all 4 of my brakes, so maybe the compound of the stock pads do some weird things when hot?
The only other pic I took for the day: A very very very fast Lotus getting ready to go very very very fast!
Thanks EXE Crew and track friends for another successful track day!
For reference:
Natsoft Official Timing - 1:47.4220
Racechrono Timing - 1:47.39
Racechrono Optimal - 1:46.56
Power/Handling/Brakes: Stock
Tyres: Michelin Primacy HP (32 psi hot)
Engine Oil: Redline 5w30
Diff/Gearbox fluid: Motul Gear 300 75W90
Tracking App: RaceChrono Android
External GPS: Qstarz GPS (5Hz)
Camera: GoPro Hero 3
Overlay Software: RaceRender Povo Edition
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