After a 3 month break the series is starting up again. This time we were at Lime Rock Park . This year I will be driving with a new co-driver named Peter Ludwig. Peter is not new to the Koni Challenge series as he raced in 2 races last year which both resulted in a podium finish.
We arrived at limerock friday for 2 short 30min practice sessions. These sessions are important for not only re-learning the track but also important for setting up the car. Both Peter and I got up to speed quickly; however, the set - up on the car was just not there. We were struggling with some new suspension components which resulted in a poor handling car. However, for Saturday the team had the car figured out and we were back on track. On Saturday I would only drive for a total of 10 +/- min so it was important to get a good feel for the car. Luckily the car was real good and I managed to slip in a time good enough for 2nd in the final practice session and 3rd fastest time of the weekend. Saturday was also the day for qualifying. Peter in the 15min qualifying session managed a lap good enough to place him 7th.
Come race time I things were looking good. Peter did a great job in the opening laps and got up to 4th place. However, on lap 37 Peter reported hearing a loud noise and there after the handling of the car went away.
Peter held 4th till a full course yellow at the 1 hr mark of the race. At this point It was my time to get in the car. The crew did a good job and got me out in the same position I came in (4th). However, the driver chance went wrong and as a result I did not have radio, a drink bottle, or a cool suit. It was hard to get a feel for the ill handling car during the full course yellows mainly due to the fact that i was playing with my radio cords trying to get it figured out. Because of this I lost a couple positions when it went green before I got used to the car. Things were looking alright considering the situations. However, about 30 min in to my stint things got even worse. Going down the front straight I got hit side to side by a BMW. As a result my front right wheel was knocked a bit out of alignment,,, which now made the car even worse to drive. At the end of the day we did not get nearly the result that we wanted or that it looked like we were going to get and ended up 16th.
I now head up to Watkins Glen to do some private coaching at a PCA weekend. Then I have about 10 days at home before heading to Mosport in Toronto.
-scott
