Vader Trophy - Solitude

[Wednesday - 26th of April]

Track Map

The start was an absolute mess, the field taking over a minute to actually make it through the first two corners. I'd started in 9th but due to me not getting too badly involved in the carnage, I crossed the line after lap 1 in 6th. A small spin late in the lap relegates me to 7th, and another one exactly one lap later puts me back down in 9th. On lap 6 I overtake Chris Kirk's slow Ferrari, I also get to practise my three point turn after spinning in the twisty section near the end. Two laps later I have a rather exciting completely sideways moment under braking for Schatten, but luckily my front wheels in the grass bring the car around and I continue unharmed. A mass disconnection on the next lap bumps me up to 4th, and that's where I (un-offically) finish. The offical result had a coutback to the last lap before the mass-disco, so I actually ended up in 8th.

They didn't call this place "Solitude" for nothing!

NGPLS - Snetterton

[Tuesday - 18th of April]

Track Map

I did some testing beforehand this time, and actually came pretty close to my old PB. From 11th on the grid in a 13 car field I shoot through to 10th by Riches, due to two cars blowing up. Another car is passed between Riches and Sear, but I leave my braking a bit too late and go off. I get going dead last, but manage to pass two spun off cars in the esses plus two more in the Bomb Hole. A good little scrap is had with my quasi-namesake Espen Baklid until I have a little off at the end of the fourth lap. He is gradually reeled in, and by the eighth lap I'm within striking distance. It takes me until the end of lap 10 to get by, as he makes a slight mistake exiting the final chicaine. He manages to stay close for several laps, but when trying to pass me six laps later in the hairpin he spins, almost collecting me. A Lotus has also spun off, so I advance one position up the order.

A few laps go by, and my sock is feeling a little loose. I bend down to adjust it on lap 21 heading towards the Hairpin. Whoops! Was that my left rear wheel that just overtook me? That's right ladies and gents, I broke the third rule in Esben's Big Book of Racing Rules: Never, under any circumstances, adjust your socks while driving. I lose two positions after resetting, but one of them pops their engine on the run down to the esses. Despite this, I still have another Eagle on my tail, and can't do much as his superiour straightline speed promotes him to my position on the run down to the hairpin. Espen spins off in the esses on lap 24 and hands me 6th. I spin in the hairpin with five laps to go, but keep my position. Unfortunately this means that I get lapped by the leader (embarrasing, I know) and I pretty much cruised in to an alright 6th place.

I could have done much better, I really need to cut out this crashing/spinning off business. It's not doing me any good :P

I now have a mascot!

That's right, the ever unlucky prehistoric squirrel Scrat is now my mascot. I went to the cinema with my little (6 year old) sister today to watch Ice Age 2, and the little feller was such an inspiration. Watching him getting up and trying again and again and again to get that ever elusive nut, despite the most heartbraking of failiures and injustices. His never-say-die attitude makes him a true role model, so here's to Scrat!

SSCA - 12 Hours of Daytona

[Saturday - 8th of April]

Track Map

This was quite the spur-of-the-moment decision, as Brendan Kaczmarek (Northstar Racing captain) didn't ask me to join in until the day before on Friday. He originally had enough drivers to comfortably enter two cars, but now he only had himself and Andras Kiraly (from SFH, VTR's toughest rival in WOSEC). I hadn't planned on doing anything that day, and Brendan is a good buddy of mine, so I was glad to help out. It did mean learning to drive the Mazda though, the only car I haven't actively driven in GTP yet. The Mazda runs in it's own class for this series, due to it being so incredibly slow.

I started the race in the #24 Sauber and Brendan in the #124 Mazda. Not surprisingly, he out-qualified me (come on, I had a day to prepare :P) and ran near the top during all of his stint. Then, right on cue, directly after starting my second or third (can't remember) fuel run, mum and dad announced dinner. Brendan had already decided that the Mazda was taking priority, he wanted the class victory. I agreed, and simply parked the Sauber in the pits and rushed off for dinner. When I returned, I found that Brendan had let some random guy do a stint in our car. He wasn't all that good, and actually got us an un-clearable black flag. The car got disqualified and I was fuming. In hindsight though it was a good thing, because three drivers sharing two cars for 12 hours doesn't add up anyway.

I then go to do some testing offline, and just when I'm happy with the setup Brendan comes on the radio and reminds me that he's lost second gear. A few minutes of tinkering and I've got a setup ready, then Brendan comes on the radio again to tell me that we've also lost third! I quickly set the ratios for fourth and fifth (going all through the box to include first would be too risky). I then hop in and do a fuel run without much drama at all before handing over to Brendan, who did half a fuel run. During which he also lost fourth and mysteriously CTD'd, I jump in with my sequential shifter set to first and fifth gears only. I did another fuel run before handing over to Andras Kiraly, who just arrived, who did three very quick fuel runs. I then do one final fuel run, before handing over to Brendan who was set to do the last three.

By that time we were leading in class, but another CTD for Brendan suddenly put us back to second behind the 336team from Russia. He eventually caught and re-passed for the class lead, and the 336team also had another disconnection. Basically we were in the clear as long as Brendan could keep the car on track for another hour or so. By this time it was 3 am for me, but I wasn't willing to leave because that would involve missing the finish! He eventually cruised home to an easy class win, and also his first finish in an endurance race for a long time. The win also secured us each a free shifter! There was much rejoice :D

Vader Trophy - Buenos Aires

[Wednesday - 29th of March]

Track Map

I managed to completely forget about this race, and the only real reason I actually took part was the fact that I randomly joined VROC because I was bored. I'd done a few laps beforehand, but not really enough to really know the track all that well, and after practise I was still way off the pace. The actual race consisted of me plodding around by myself, spinning off and getting lapped. More exciting things have happened to chartered accountants...

WOSEC - Spa

[Saturday - 25th of March]

Track Map

Richard Dickson qualified the VTR3 car 5th on the grid, with VTR2 and VTR1 in 3rd and 2nd respectively. He did one stint before I was due to take over for two fuel runs. Nothing too major happened during the two fuel runs, apart from the leading ruGTP car flipping me in the Bus Stop. I was trying to pit in, I announced my intention to pit in well before the braking zone, but he still managed to clip my right rear and send my flying. Luckily I had enough fuel to make it around the lap, but I wasn't far off running on mere fumes.

Aussie Neil Pearson then took over for a fuel run, and during it actually lost second gear. I do some testing offline, and manage to adapt the ratios rather well. Laptimes drop, obviously, but not by much. Now I have three fuel runs, all of which go smoothly and drama free. Except for a 10-minute period in the middle of the second fuel run in my final stint, when looking for the adjust spoiler setting, I accidentally set off Fraps capturing. As a result, my framerate drops to 20 FPS and my microphone suddenly doesn't work. This was obviously going on without my knowledge, so thank heavens it automatically stopped before it melted my HD. I then hand over to Neil Stratton who drives a stable two fuel runs to the finish. Final standings for VTR is as follows:

VTR1: 1st
VTR2: 3rd
VTR3: 4th

Gav got a stop/go penalty for speeding in the pits on his last stop in the VTR2 car while in second. Exiting the pits with 11 laps to go, the SFH car ahead was exiting Rivage. Twentey minutes later Gav had narrowed the gap down to single figures, and would surely have caught right up with him if he'd have had another lap. Below are three videos, one onboard with me live during the race and two onboard Gav during the whole of his alien-esque stint at the end.

NGPLS - Brands Hatch

[Tuesday - 21st of March]

Track Map

I actually practised this time around, lapping rather competitively without too much trouble. It's really easy to screw up on this track, particularly in Paddock Hill Bend and the compression at Dingle Dell, so I was going to be prepared for this one. For qualifying I just loaded the car up with race fuel and pootled around for the whole session to get my consistency up. 9th on the grid.

The start was actually completely accident-free, and I could easily settle into a rythm as cars gradually started falling off. Blam, I'm up to third. Unfortunately I spin in South Bank on lap 8, and drop to 4th. I catch him a few laps later, and pull a pass on him in Hawthorne on the next lap. He stays on my six for quite a while, a great help for my concentration, and I keep lapping consistent and quick laps. Gradually I pull away, and I'm all by myself but still going strong.

Then, with two laps to go, the engine starts spluttering. Out of fuel! I reset without losing any positions and set off again. But on the last lap, forgetting about the cold tyres and full tank of fuel, I outbrake myself in South Bank and lose two positions en route to a heartbraking 5th place finish.

Vader Trophy - Rouen

[Wednesday - 15th of March]

Track Map

I qualified 9th on the grid, but the car ahead got a slow start and as a result so did I. Repassed a car who spun off in T2, but while trying to pass Alex Martin's Brabham on the outside in T3 (he used a lot of the road :P) my rear wheel hits the grass and I spin. I turn the car around, and before I could say "Oh crap!" I got nailed from behind by a good three cars. One of which went flying into the stratosphere. I get going again behind a slower Eagle, who I collide with under braking for Sanson. Luckily I get going without any spins or damage.

Three laps later I pass Max West just before Paradis, up to 10th! Then on lap 7 I encounter a spun off Ferrari in the Hairpin. I try to pass him on the inside, but lag happens and we both spin. I attempt a reverse 180 (Trust me, I do it all the time), but this one backfired and I....kinda hit him :P. I get passed, but re-take the position when he spins exiting Beuval. Simon Steele has spun in the hairpin, *yoink* up to 9th. Gradually, I start reeling in Alex Martin in the Brabham.

He messes up the hairpin bigtime with three to go, but fearing for my own safety I couldn't get past. He screws up again on the next lap, I get the inside line, but due to him being in the Brabham and me in the BRM the bastard gets ahead again :P. So I resort to the ultra-lunge of death in Sanson, and I would have made it stick if only I'd remembered to shift down to second from third. I stay hot on his six through all the last lap, ready to pounce at any opportunity. He waits until the very last corner on the very last lap to mess up. I go right, he moves over, I go left and get alongside, he moves over on me and we cross the line in a shower of sparks...

He beat me by 0.011 seconds.

The race overall wasn't that great, but the closing laps more than made up for it.

NGPLS - Monaco

[Tuesday - 7th of March]

Track Map

The plan here was to not, under any cirumstances, crash. A tall order considering the track, but that's why I devised this cunning plan. Thinking everybody else would fall off and I'd just pick my way through the wreckage(s). During qualifying I slowed right the way down at the end of the lap to make sure I started near the back. This division in this league isn't exactly know for clean starts, so I thought I'd maximise my chances of survival by starting at the back.

Sure enough, there was a huge wreck in Saint Devote, and thanks to my low starting position I missed it all. The rest of the 31-lap long race consisted of me driving smooth and consistent laps while most of the rest of the feild crashed and burned. With only a handful of laps to go, I overtook the last car I would pass that race, and cruised in to a strong third position. The plan worked, and for the first time in a while, I was genuinely happy with my result in a GPL race.

WOSEC - Elkhart Lake

[Saturday - 25th of February]

Track Map

Happy birthday to me, as of the 24th I am officially 17 years old! Woo yay hooray and stuff!

Sim qualified in 23rd, and after almost one hour he'd climbed all the way up to 19th. After Sim handed the car over to me, it was in 17th. Somewhere in my stint I had a somewhat interesting overtaking of the Ringrace car. Where I went left, he went for the middle and the third placed SFH car went for the inside. I go around the Ringrace car, and the SFH car flies into the gravel right in front of my nose, hehe. I hand the car back to Sim in 11th, hoping for a top-10 finish. Unfortunately it was not to be, as I took over the car with 30 laps to go. Going through the last corner, I hit an invisible bump at the end of the kerb. This sends me flying into the inside wall on the right hand side. I hit the wall with the left front side of the car, and the impact actually killed the engine. Game over.

On the plus side, VTR1 won yet agaon, VTR2 came home fifth and VTR3 rounded it off with sixth. I'd post a picture, but I forgot to save the replay and the league admin STILL hasn't posted the server replay yet.

NGPLS -Zandvoort

[Tuesday - 21st of February]

Track Map

Qualified 4th on the grid with relative ease, and was looking forward to consistantly running to the finish. Unfortunately I got boxed in in T1 by a guy in front braking too much and a guy behind not braking enough. Pretty much the whole field (apart from the leader) got caught up in the carnage, and it took a while for the pack to settle into the race. Crossed the line in 7th and steadily climb my way up to second place 32 laps later, although I almost lost second on the last lap when I went off in the last corner...

Vader Trophy - Silverstone

[Wednesday - 2nd of February]

Track Map

Get ready....for the world's shortest race report!

Got good initial getaway. Took it easy. Got caught up in L1 carnage. Lied on head for long period of time before being allowed to reset. Drove a bit. Passed a few cars. Spun. Lost will to continue. Continued. Spun again. Lost will to continue. Continued. Spun in Stowe and ripped off wheel. Retired.

NGPLS - Clermont Ferrand

[Tuesday - 1st of January]

Track Map

Unfortunately I didn't practise much for this race beforehand. Fortunately I've raced here before, albeit not in the BRM. Things loosened up in qualifying though, and somehow I was able to do consistant laps. I qualified 4th on the grid with race fuel in the tank. The start and first lap was a catastrophe, with me crashing in T1, T2, Le Belvedere and the last corner. Next lap I manage to pass a car and I'm up to 9th.

The rest of the race was just a massive crash/spinfest, luckily a lot more so for the others than me. I eventually ended up in 4th, extremely tired and slightly disappointed with myself for messing up so badly on the first lap.

WOSEC - Norisring

[Saturday - 28th of January]

Track Map

Ah, Norisring, 2.2 miles/3.7 kilometres of german streets. A perfect place for a 6 hour race! This is the first race of WOSEC's second season, and not only is it at the shortest track yet but we've also set an attendance record with 35 cars qualifying. Vader Trophy Racing enters this race with the simple aim of surviving all the 6 hours. The attendance record is applying for VTR as well, as we entered four cars with two/three drivers per car.

I was given the job of qualifying and starting the race for the VTR4 car, paired with Simon Steele and later with Neil Stratton. I qualified in 16th, in the top half of the grid, and amazingly managed to avoid killing myself to death in the first few laps. And let me tell you, being one of 35 GTP cars snaking through the Norisring circuit is nothing to sniff your nose at. The first laps were really tense, and it took a long time for the field to settle down to a calm (for this track) rythm.

I was pretty consistant throughout my first stint, but I did manage to flip/get flipped about four times (one of which was actually a James Bond style barrel roll). The car was a bit down on power, but she kept going at it until I handed over to Simon in 3rd. In the midst of all these flips, the dE Racing car got taken out by a runaway car in the hairpin, right in front of me. After the driver change we were down in 9th, and Sim did a nice and steady stint without too many moments. Neil Stratton - who was originally going to do a stint in VTR1 but decided to let Gav Wilson, who'se car had been wrecked early on, drive in it instead - then took over and brought us back up through the order.

I took over with about an hour to go, and drove relatively drama free all the way to the finish. I came home in 7th, and VTR1 actually won the whole thing! Forza VTR!