YRS Sprint Race Round 3

"Course 1000" in Tsukuba Circuit (Ibaraki Pre.), May 10, 2003

Weather：Fair

Condition：Dry

Lap Time

Entry (Class A)：

No. Machine
13 Integra Type R
14 Golf
15 MGF
16 Civic
17 Lancer Cedia Wagon
18 Integra iS
19 Vitz
20 Integra Type R
21 180SX
22 S14 Silvia Q's
23 Impreza Wagon (Turbo)
24 Celica
36 101 Levin

- REPORT -

Practice & Qualifying Heat

As well as Round 1 , I went into the track as the head of the entries. Once I began driving on it, I found that I did not remember how to run! The checker flag showed the finish of the qualifying heat while I was trying to remember. It made me uneasy.

Result
1 Celica（46"250）
2 Impreza（46”525）
3 Levin（46”718）
4 MGF（46”928）
5 180SX（47”150）
6 Silvia（47”473）
7 Integra R #13（47”502）
8 Integra S（47”604）
9 Vitz（48”235）
10 Golf（48”314）
11 Integra R #20（48”403）
12 Lancer Cedia Wagon（49”093）
13 Civic（49”313）

Heat 1

The starting system has been changed since this round. Though the green flag was shown at the end of the back straight in Round 1 and 2 , the green signal put on the bank down the home straight shows a start of each heat. I could see it better than the green flag from my starting grid that is the outside of the sixth row, but somebody inside said that he could not see it so well. Actually, I could pass Integra R beside me on starting of this heat and got one better position. I had to desperately stand the pressure from two HONDAs with VTEC for a few laps, but finally, was passed by Integra R at the hairpin corner. Civic had followed me until the finish, and I got 12th place at this heat.

Movie: Start-Lap 1 （4.74 MB）　 Lap 6 （4.23 MB）

Heat 2

I started from the same position as Heat 1. Just after starting, Golf in front of me went out of the course by the gravel at the outside edge of the track when he tried to pass the other car followed by him. He came back soon. Cedia Wagon was going to the hairpin corner as 12th, followed by Golf at 13th. We had been battling for a few laps as we were, but finally, Golf passed me at the infield section. When I was disappointed I would be at the last place, Integra S was out of the course at the last corner. I got 12th place at this heat.

Final Heat

The rolling speed was as fast as the engine revolution of Cedia Wagon got to 7000 rpm with 1st speed. Once I shifted up to 2nd speed, the signal turned to green. Then I could get 11th position, followed by Golf. After a few laps with the pressure from Integra S and Golf, Integra overtook me at the hairpin corner, and battles between Cedia Wagon and Golf began again. He, however, probably could not stand following my speed and then came on strong passing me out of the inside at the left turn in the infield. Though I managed to avoid hitting, I was so upset. He went away from me lap by lap after passing me, and finally, I got the checker flag at 11th lap that was one lap fewer than the others. Of course, at the last place.

Result
1. Celica
2. Impreza
3. Levin
4. Silvia
5. Integra R （13）
6. 180SX
7. Integra R （20）
8. MGF
9. Civic
10. Vitz
11. Integra S
12. Golf
13. Lancer Cedia Wagon

Movie: Start-Lap 1 （4.39 MB）　 Lap 8 （5.23 MB）

After the race

Rear right	Front right

Review

Look at the right pictures. The front tire that lost the edge to the letters of "ADVAN" is telling that it had been overworking during the race. As a matter of fact, before this race, I had sent the movies of Round 2 taken inside Cedia Wagon to Tom Yoshida who is a senior instructor of YRS and had got his detailed advice via email and also by talking with him. He told me,
"Don't be so quickly for everything you do to your car that does not tend to turn easily."
However, all I did during racing was opposite things. Braking too quickly and stepping on the gas too early and too much caused slower on the 1st-2nd corner, and understeering on the hairpin and last corner. It occurred a few times that sudden recovery of the grip at the exit of the last corner took the car to the right due to steering right very much. Also everything except the rearview mirror and something just in front of me was out of my eyeshot because I cared too much about the followers.
I came up with such my mishandlings from the laps after the race (\2,000/20 minutes!). As I thought just about Tom's advice, the laps without any battles told me what I should have done. I hope I can keep this feelings in my mind until the next round!!

Addition

It was just Tom's 50th and plus birthday. Tom was delighted to be given presents from the participants as the right photo. Congratulations! And thank you for Bakazaru-san's planning the birthday gifts.