YRS Sprint Race Round 2

"Course 1000" in Tsukuba Circuit (Ibaraki Pre.), March 8, 2003

Weather：Fair

Condition：Dry

Lap Time

Participants （Class D）：

No.　Machine

48　TOYOTA AE92 Levin
49　MAZDA Demio
50　HONDA Civic Ferio
51　MGF
52　TOYOTA Vitz
53　HONDA Civic
54　TOYOTA MR2
55　VW Golf
56　 MITSUBISHI Lancer Cedia Wagon
57　HONDA Integra iS
58　MAZDA Demio
59　MAZDA Demio

- REPORT -

Drivers' Meeting

Important instructions such as something you have to pay attention on driving are given to you here. You have to listen carefully to what the instructor tells you, and ask here if you have questions.

Practice & Qualifying Heat

I had realized at the previous race that I could not easily overtake others in the race, so aimed to get as a good lap time as I could in the qualifying heat. After the green flag showing us the qualifying heat started, passing Golf and attacking, and finally I could qualify with the second place! It was just what I had expected until then.

Result
1. MGF
2. Lancer Cedia Wagon
3. Civic Ferio
4. Vitz
5. Civic
6. MR2
7. Demio (49)
8. Levin
9. Demio (58)
10. Golf
11. Demio (59)
12. Integra

Heat 1

I was nervous because I had never started from the first row. I was at the left side (outside) so also had to pay attention to both the space with MGF at the right side of me and the green flag that would appear at the end of the back straight. I found the green flag out there just after MGF was speeded up. I was later to step on the gas than the others. Ferio passed me at the end of the second corner in the second lap, and also Vitz following Ferio almost did, but then Vitz went out of the course a moment before the straight in the infield, so I managed to keep the third place in the lap. However, in the third lap, MR2 that had overtaken Vitz overtook me just after the hairpin corner, and Vitz also overtook me before going out to the oval course, which made me the fifth place. I could follow Vitz close to him, but could not change the place by the checker flag.

Result
1. Civic Ferio
2. MGF
3. MR2
4. Vitz
5. Lancer Cedia Wagon
6. Civic
7. Levin
8. Demio (49)
9. Demio (58)
10. Golf
11. Integra
12. Demio (59)

Heat 2

I started from the third row of the right line. I was passed by Levin just after starting. It made me the sixth place. When I talked with the driver of Levin after the heat, she said, "I thought I had no choice but to overtake you at the green flag". This Levin belonging to YRS is lent to us for Sprint and Enduro races if we need. I had driven it at the Enduro in August, 2001 , so knew it had higher potential than my car. But anyway, I followed Levin having a hard time to pass MR2, and kept the place until the checker flag.

Result
1. Civic Ferio
2. MGF
3. Vitz
4. MR2
5. Levin
6. Lancer Cedia Wagon
7. Civic
8. Integra
9. Demio (49)
10. Demio (58)
11. Golf
12. Demio (59)

Final Heat

Started from the third row of the left side. I tried to start with the first speed by the advice from the driver of MR2 (AT). Though I found I forgot to shift up when the limiter of the engine revolution worked, it seemed a good idea. Hopefully, it will work better next time. Back to the race, I was keeping following Levin, looking like Heat 2 was still going on. I could sometimes almost catch her at the hairpin corner and somewhere else, but could not go before her. Levin also looked having a hard time to pass MR2 running before her. Looking at the rearview mirror, Integra that had passed Civic in the 11th lap was coming closer to me. At the home straight in the final lap of 12 laps, when Integra tried to pass me, I kept stepping on the gas against him. Then, I noticed that the braking point to the first corner had been already at the back of me. Braking fully with panic, but it was too late, and I went out of the first corner to the safety zone. Though I managed to go back to the course without any troubles, Civic and Demio (49) had passed me while I was out of the course, and I dropped to the ninth place. The other Demio (58) was coming closer to me, but I could get the checker flag with keeping the place. I had not expected that I would have dropped from the second place at the qualifying heat to the ninth place at the final...

Result
1. Civic Ferio
2. MGF
3. Vitz
4. MR2
5. Levin
6. Integra
7. Civic
8. Demio (49)
9. Lancer Cedia Wagon
10. Demio (58)
11. Golf
12. Demio （59）

Afterword

Going out of the course at the final was due to something from my mental problem, instead of my skill. If I had thought that I could overtake again by the checker flag even though overtaken at the first corner, I would not have done such an unreasonable thing. Also, there are many things I have to reflect, such as almost spin on the infield section, and no smooth handling from the last corner to the straight. However, I found out that how much steering could decrease understeer a lot on the hairpin corner in this race. In addition, as it turned out, my best lap time with Levin has been renewed. I can say it was a good race. I will do my best at the next race.