YRS Sprint Race Round 1

"Course 1000" in Tsukuba Circuit (Ibaraki Pre.), January 19, 2003

Weather：Cloudy

Condition：Dry

Lap Time

- REPORT -

Endurance Race

There was another event at the same day like this, though I did not join then. Somebody entered both of Endurance and Sprint!

Grouping

This Round 1 of YRS Sprint attracted 63 cars' entry. I was grouped with Class A that was for the slowest. The following is with Class A in order of car number.

43 MGF
44 MAZDA Demio 1300
45 HONDA Civic Ferio
46 HONDA Integra iS
47 TOYOTA MR2
49 MITSUBISHI Lancer Cedia Wagon
50 HONDA Integra Type R
51 NISSAN 180SX
52 TOYOTA Curren
53 NISSAN Silvia S14 Q's

I wonder if I can drive along with Type R...

Practice & Qualifying Heat

The way of the practice and the qualifying heat have been changed since this year. The both are done as a same session like the first half for practicing and the latter half after green flag for qualifying. I went in the track at the head of the class, and gradually speeded up as warming up the tires and the brake pads. Soon, the qualifying heat started with the green flag. I was surprised to find that I quite forgot how to drive! Although I would try how well the new brake pads would work by gradually making later points to brake, I completely forgot about that after starting. But anyway, it is OK because I could get my best time. The standings for qualifying are as below.

Standings
1. Integra Type R
2. 180SX
3. Silvia
4. Curren
5. Civic Ferio
6. MGF
7. Lancer Cedia Wagon
8. MR2
9. Integra iS
10. Demio

Heat 1

It starts by rolling start as usual in YRS. 10 cars of Class A lined in double file on the track. I was in the fourth row, behind MGF, and could see MR2 in the left hand. We marched around the track, and just after the green flag on the back straight, fully stepped on the gas all together! The top four with Integra R, 180SX, Silvia, and Curren went away at once, followed by MGF, Ferio, Cedia Wagon, MR2, Demio, and Integra iS. The six after MGF ran very closely with almost the same speed. I tried to go into the side of Ferio on the hairpin corner, but I could not. Then, we got the checker flag.

Standings
1. Integra Type R
2. 180SX
3. Silvia
4. Curren
5. MGF
6. Civic Ferio
7. Lancer Cedia Wagon
8. MR2
9. Demio
10. Integra iS

Heat 2

The situation changed in this heat. In the sixth round, Ferio before me went to the side of MGF on the first corner. The two cars ran side by side, and finally Ferio overtook MGF on the hairpin corner. Then, I also could almost get to the side of MGF in the infield section, but could not pass by nearly hitting with him who was in the right hand on the left turn. MR2 following me came to my side when I lost the speed there, and overtook me on the last corner. Integra R heading the race spun round and helped me get the same position as Heat 1 as the result of this heat.

Standings
1. 180SX
2. Silvia
3. Curren
4. Civic Ferio
5. MGF
6. MR2
7. Lancer Cedia Wagon
8. Demio
9. Integra iS
10. Integra Type R

Final Heat

After Ferio I chased until Heat 2 ran after the top group, my Cedia Wagon ran after MGF and MR2 that were both midships. MR2 overtook MGF in the middle of this heat, and then I would do next. However at last, not finding timing to pass, I got the checker flag at the same position.

Final Standings
1. 180SX
2. Integra Type R
3. Silvia
4. Civic Ferio
5. MR2
6. MGF
7. Lancer Cedia Wagon
8. Demio
9. Integra iS
(Dropped out) Curren

I amazingly got the same position of the seventh from the qualifying heat to the final. "Kuma-san" driving the yellow 180SX became the first winner of YRS Sprint as a woman. Congratulations!

Afterword

I think the qualifying heat is the most important after all. It is hard for me to overtake in the racing heat. But I wonder if I could have driven so fast if I had headed the group. That means that today's my best time was given by others' pulling me.
I was impressed by not only the strong braking power, but also the excellent controllability of the brake pads changed just before the race, named "TITAN Kai" . It was easy to get how much they were working, for example, while braking by my left foot and also stepping on the gas by my right foot on the left turn in the infield section because it started naturally working as soon as pedaling. The new bucket seat was very effective for driving as well, like I was surprised that I could certainly feel the actions of the car by my hips, instead of how well its holding me. I also could feel the skidding rear tires even when just a little stepping on the gas. But it will have to be fixed that my body sometimes moves forward while running.