|
|
|
Suzuka 27 August |
|
“Are you sure you want to do this race – it’s a long way and it does get quite warm?” For
those unaccustomed to the proprietor of Lister Cars the language was slightly
more profuse than this …… “Absolutely”
was my reply – "It will be great to try to finish this famous race at
what is purported to be the best driver’s circuit in the world…"
As
it fell between races and we would be using my own car the deal was done. I would be joined by the FIA works drivers Julian Bailey and
Jamie C-W and we would attempt to beat the others in the International GT class. We
set off on the Tuesday and arrived late on the Wednesday and one thing became
abundantly apparent - it was bloody hot and bloody humid!! Thursday
was spent setting up the pit and trying our new cooling system – not for the
engine but for ourselves. This was
also the very first time I had seen my car and it looked stunning!
The
three of us then hit the arcades to ‘learn’ the Suzuka Circuit.
Julian of course had been here before but it was new to Jamie and myself.
Needless to say I came last in the game but at least the twists and turns
of this famous circuit were becoming familiar. Friday was our first venture on to the track itself and it didn’t look anything like the arcade game!! My first lap was very slow as I took in the new surroundings but I still managed to go straight on at the chicane which ‘arrives’ very quickly!
By the end of my stint though I was going quite well and could
appreciate all the praise that the circuit attracts.
There are many gradient changes, blind rises and the awesome 130R which
it is advisable to build up to. By
the end of practice on the Friday we were quickest but had some concerns over
the heat in the car. Head cooling
was not going to be enough was the conclusion from all of us.
We decided to set the task of locating some “cool suits” to our
Japanese pit co-ordinator.
Remarkably
he managed to find two and we plumbed them into the car.
We did not need them for qualifying though where Julian ensured that we
retained our number one position in the Saturday morning session.
Jamie and I ran for a few laps and we decided against
the afternoon session preferring to change the gearbox in readiness for
the race itself.
Early
to bed but sleep alluded me - the nine hours time difference was playing havoc
with my system. I felt grim in the
morning but not as grim as I would later. Jamie would start the race and I confess I didn’t envy him as it was incredibly hot out there on the grid. He found himself boxed as the lights changed and dropped down the order. This was not to last long though as he fought his way back up and by the end of his stint he was thirty seconds up. Julian
was next out but problems were not far away.
Within two laps he reported engine problems and he slowly re-entered the
pits. A rogue stone had thrown a
belt which was duly fixed and the car was dispatched again.
Unfortunately it was not to be for long as the brakes then seized. An even slower return to the pits followed and although it was fixable we were running out of time to be classified. As it happened only two finished in our class but first you have to finish to finish first ….. Next year …. I’m definitely going back!
|
Hot ...me??
