Result
Changes to the car since 2015
- New front hubs and bearings
- Ball joints
- Rront pads and rotors
- Revised caster settings
- Front splitter
Wednesday
We gave the car a wash before we hit the road
The drive up was about as enjoyable as one can imagine in a car with a 3″ exhaust and no interior
That being said the journey was uneventful and we made it to Sydney in good time
Thursday
The first session was spent bedding in the brakes and getting familiar with SMSP again, it went well and the car seemed to be more stable than last year with the newly fitted front splitter.
In the second session Tom was just starting to get into a rhythm when all of a sudden the car got really loud!
Once the car was back in the pits we found the slip joint behind the header had worked it’s way loose and the B-pipe had slid off.
We missed the 3rd session fixing the exhaust.
In the final session Tom had confidence in the car and so started to push a bit harder which resulted in the fastest lap of the day
The fastest lap of the day was a 1:49.6!
This was already 5 tenths quicker than last years best time and a promising early result.
Friday
Friday is the first day of the main event, the pits are noticeably busier with the addition of all the spectators
We knew that the morning session was going to be our best opportunity to set a good time and so Tom went out and did just that achieving a 1:48.9 before lunch
Tom found it difficult to get a clean lap in during the afternoon session so instead he just focused on improving in sectors where he could and staying out of trouble everywhere else.
The fastest lap of the day was a 1:48.9
Honed has a WTAC tradition of friday night beers at Parramatta’s Bavarian Bier Cafe
Saturday
Tom took it pretty easy in the first session and focused on nailing his lines and braking points
In the second session Tom went out at the rear of the pack, ran a lap then came in to the pits to wait for some clear track.
The strategy worked perfectly and Tom was able time it so he exited the pits with nothing but open track in front of him.
With a clear run at it he managed to put together his best lap of the event a 1:47.7.
2.4 seconds faster than last year without any power upgrades to the car!
Our goal for next year will be to take another 3 seconds off and run a 1:44.X lap
2015 vs 2016 Best Lap Comparison
Below is a comparison of the data from the fastest laps of 2015 and 2016. Click the image to get the full size graph.
Looking at the data comparison, there are a few take interesting points:
- T1 minimum speed is up 10km/h to 175 km/h and the braking point has been pushed back 25m to beyond the 100m mark, though there’s definitely gains to be made in the braking zone here by braking a little later and trailing the brakes further into the corner.
- The exit and run through T2 to T3 was better this year, picking up nearly 10 km/h before braking into T5. I chose to short shift to 4th and focus on positioning the car as far to left of track at the exit of 2 as possible to improve the line through T4. Mid corner speeds through T4 and T5 are improved, but the exit from T5 isn’t much better probably due to running out on to the south circuit pit exit and unsettling the car.
- Speed over corporate hill has improved, and a bit more bravery at T16 has resulted in better speed there.
Thanks to the following people for their support:
Noisy Ninja for the photos and unfailing enthusiasm
Modbox for last minute wrap work to make the car presentable
Close Enough Racing for having the best attitude in the whole pits and making it a fun weekend
Congratulations to all the class winners, particularly Dan Meridith for going back to back in Clubsprint. He’s set a massive benchmark that hopefully one day we can match.