Sunday 8.5 hour
We typically always fair better on Sunday races for whatever reason so we were stoked for an exciting day. With the forecast showing clear, but a bit colder weather, there was no need to worry about the evil Mid-Ohio track surface when wet.
We were starting P11 on the grid for Sunday so definitely in a better position to compete for a podium spot. We just looked to do the same as yesterday, only faster! Should be easy enough, right?!
Starting next to our friends on the grid, McParland Motorsport in their awesome S2000:
So the day was going according to plan, car and drivers were going faster and faster with speed at the pointy end of the class (for 2 of the 3 drivers). 1:39.xxx's all day long with open track.
A killer Porsche 964 from Team Aerkuhl:
All was going well and we were fluctuating between P2 and P3 in class all day. Car was easy to drive, brakes have felt the best yet, and yet we were still being out braked by the top BMW's in our class going into "China Beach." The main advantage; MK60 ABS. Almost every BMW in our class is equipped with the E46 M3 system.
Speaking of braking, then this happened in the 3rd driver's stint when being a bit too "binary" with his inputs:
https://youtu.be/4o8RcV68MtE?t=13298
Screen shot for lazy, ADHD people that can't watch video for 30 seconds. Might be facing the wrong direction!:
damage was minimal (shots from end of day):
Significant time lost there. With the field being as competitive as it was, our P3 position was somehow still maintained by the time we were approaching our last pit stop. We were unsure if the team behind us (#38 Team ACP, E36 with a.............S54 swap) had to pit again as they had taken advantage of a lengthy full course yellow about 30 laps prior to our last stop.
#38 Team ACP E36. Love the livery on this car:
Lo and behold, they didn't have to make another pit stop for the day. We had one pit stop left and were just over 1.75 laps up on them, which........... is about 3 minutes; the minimum stop length per AER rules! It was going to be insanely close after our last stop.
We got out about 4 seconds ahead of the #38 car with about an hour left after our last stop. It proved to difficult to hold them off. Even though we actually had a faster outright lap time than them in the same stint (and for the weekend). The bit of a power advantage, braking advantage, and I suppose aero advantage their car had proved to seal the deal as it was easier for them to weave through and deal with traffic.
It all boiled down to #38's excellent strategic move to pit during the FCY and their stint length capability. They were able to change their tires to fresh rubber and managed to pick up a lap on us because of the timing of when they were released from the pit. Had they not gotten that advantage, we would've finished P3. If our 3rd stint driver didn't spin, we potentially could've secured P2.
So, P5 overall in Sunday's race, and P4 in class.
Because we were very consistent (P4 and P4) for the weekend, we secured P3 in class for the weekend in points and managed to at least get one podium!. We'll take it for our first time at Mid-Ohio:
Ugly mugs podium shot:
Honorable mention; #133 Busy Guys racing winning Class 3 in their 370Z:
Team fastest lap: 1:39.150
Class 4 fastest lap: 1:38.319 (#724 Cardinal Racing LLC, E36 S54 swap, Randy Pobst driving)