SLS 2019 rounds 7/8 - 7/8th September

[AK]

LIVE TIMING - http://www.smart-timing.co.uk/Live%20Timing.htm

Round 7




Round 8


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Impreza Race Car, 1200kg, 480bhp - SLS/SMRC
Mini Race Car x3 - SMRC, SMRC, SLS
911 - 1981 Air Cooled 3.0
500 - 1969 Fiat 500 L
X5 40d M Sport
Mini Cooper Park Lane
MB Sprinter Camper
Track Scotland

[Steve H]

Weather is looking good too!

[AK]

Great weekend....

Write Up

Why SLS in Mini?

2018 didnt have much competition in B so chose to do a few rounds in G... and loved it! It's so much more difficult (IMO) to get a quick lap in the Mini when compared to Impreza. Your lines and braking points need to be near perfect. SLS gives great value for money when you consider it's a competitive event run under MSA permit. You cant really drive like that on a public trackday (again, my opinion). I chose to lose some weight out of the car after the first rounds, with a view to testing out some setups for RoR in November. Still not quite there but so far, so good.

We used the blue car as a 'guest' car for the weekend too. Helping our RoR team mates get some seat time. Craig Dillon in for Round 7, Lowell Forsyth for Round 8.

Played around with setup a bit more (Simon at MB Garage Services and Motorsport) to try and dial in the car. Its much more nervous with the weight out but felt better this time round with the ride heights adjusted. May need to tame the rear a bit more though... its feels like its sideways everywhere, but it certainly turns quickly!

SATURDAY

Being honest.... I'm not as good at Reverse as Normal. 500 laps vs 5000 laps perhaps

Warmup - P1 in class with a 62.4. Not great but wasn't pushing 100% so happy enough.

Practice - P1 in class but didn't go well. Got fuel starvation so had to lose a lot of the session time heading back to paddock for a top up. 1 lap to set a time... BOSH. 62.0 and a new PB Not perfect by any means, but happier. Still on Yoko 050

VID - https://youtu.be/XP7XxN67Vgo

Qualifying - Made a right mess of it. Fuelled it... and promptly got slight hesitation from starvation. Stupidly thought a cool lap would help the tank balance side to side and went again... nope. Same. Now wasted most of the session with a fairly tame 62.4 to show for it. No time to refuel... and P3 in class! Not part of the plan. Trying out brand-new 052s here.... unconvinced.

Final - Usual - try to be quick, but you have to be clean! Another 62.4... good enough for P1

FINAL - https://youtu.be/n_SQHy_c5AA

Thanks to Fee for the pit support and radio comms (for both cars) - Simon and Liam for the fuelling I'll let Craig explain his day! Hope David Christie enjoyed his leaving gift Rockstar shower. Adam and Craig - some good laps in the Mini train

SUNDAY

Back to Normal direction and straight away a little more comfortable.

Warmup - Used this session to try and get Lowell up to speed with braking points so wasnt really on any amazing laps. Surprised to find I was P1 in session though, 62.6s lap.

Practice - Head down and brain engaged. Lined up early, no waiting for teammates. Slow out lap to heat the tyres as I require them then GO! First flyer i messed up a bit, mid 62 but next lap was better (still on 050) 61.860. New PB and P1 again. FINALLY a 61s lap in the Mini I was also aware there was more time left in the lap, so I went out again at end of session after a brief stop in the pits for some banter. First half of the lap felt REALLY good and the lap time was ~0.5s up after the chicane. I think i just go too carried away/greedy and tried to take Clarks +5mph faster. It didnt work and I ended up in the gravel trap. Oh well.... I tried and it didnt work. Still P1 though.

Practice off - https://youtu.be/CeBFchrs7B8
61s lap - https://youtu.be/Q4rbTT7cbhI

Qualifying - Tried the 052s again (didnt think much of them on Sat)... and had decent grip on first lap compared to the hit/miss lap1 on the 050. I know the 050 so know how to get them up to temp and pressure. Still learning the 052 perhaps. First 2 flying laps arent great but still have me P1 in class. Decide to improve and get a 61.800 on first flying lap out of pits. Happy with that and park up P1 and another new PB.

VID - new PB - https://youtu.be/u0aWFp70L-k

Final - little spash of fuel and some checks.... car felt good so best to leave it! As always, its such a fine balance to the SLS Final 'Super Lap'. Go too hard = go off. Go too cautious = lose.
I decided to go for it this time.... 0.2 up on PB on approach to McIntyres and promptly over cooked it dipped a wheel into the gravel and got sucked out and a little sideways. Held it reasonably together and then just threw caution to wind. Flat out over chicane (first time in the car with weight out of it) and started clawing the time back on the lap. Managed to salvage enough to beat Adam Morrison by 0.1s :O Very unlucky for him, but lucky for me!

Looking at the data.... I lost ~0.35s with the mistake at McIntyres. DOH!

P1 in each session and new PB. Great end to the year. Thanks to Craig for the pit support and team boss comms.

FINAL - https://youtu.be/JRLDNUnAOD0

Thanks again to all the marshals, stewards (sorry to have taken so much of your time this weekend :/ ), medical staff and KH staff! Great series. Dried out yet Duncan?

Couple of fun comparison laps between 2x Mini Cooper (one lightweight)

Reverse - https://youtu.be/gkn00qHKMJw
Normal - https://youtu.be/14m1XaUTfyY
_________________
Impreza Race Car, 1200kg, 480bhp - SLS/SMRC
Mini Race Car x3 - SMRC, SMRC, SLS
911 - 1981 Air Cooled 3.0
500 - 1969 Fiat 500 L
X5 40d M Sport
Mini Cooper Park Lane
MB Sprinter Camper
Track Scotland