Suzuka is not one of my favorite tracks, but I always seem to have fun racing here. Its mix of technical esses, fast straights and corners like Spoon and 130R, promised exciting moments for all 3 classes.
With only 3 finishes from 5 starts this season, and only 2 top-tens out of those 3, survival mode is the only mindset that is acceptable at this point.
I qualified 4th in class, which is a bit better than usual, and my race pace was really close to my qualifying times. I was confident I'd be able to stay in the top 5 … barring any problems … Perhaps not in contention for the win but I knew a podium was achievable if the frontrunners ran into any problems.
After a good clean start, there was a spin in the hairpin right behind me which really separated the top 4 from the rest of the Ford GT field. I then had a Red Bull GT to chase for P3. After a good few laps, traffic ended up splitting us a bit, which left me all alone in 4th. I don't think I had enough to get by him in the right places, but we were for sure making good time in those first 10 laps or so. I kept my head down, planning on a stop late in the race. 4.1 gallons of fuel was the plan. New tires would be decided on the fly.
Everything was going well until lap 19. I was still running in 4th and I had just let an Acura LMP pass, after the Degner curve under the bridge. While exiting the hairpin ... BAM! No warning, no yellow, nothing ... Another Ford GT had a slow spin in the hairpin and collected John's LMP as well. I nailed them both and bent the car up proper. Still being drivable, I wrestled the car back to the pits for the crew to repair. I got into the pits with minimal problems and opted for new tires, since I would be there for 2+ minutes of repairs anyway. Crew did an excellent job getting the W.A.R. Ford GT back on track in minimal time!
The car felt OK, but it didn't like the fast rights at all. The Degners were really scary for the remaining laps. Focusing on finishing the race, I wasn't close enough to anyone to race for position for a long time. But finally I caught another GT late in the race and got by for position at the end of the esses. I swung out wide and made the pass, in the process blocking two C6Rs who were fighting for position … however, so were we, they had to wait. Shortly after I went wide in the hairpin to let them both thru ... and I spun! Doh!!
Once again I put my head down and caught back up to the same GT again on the last lap. Seeing an opportunity to get by him at the same place, I tried to set up my exit speed even earlier. But instead, I misjudged his mid corner speed and turned him around. I let him back by but he waved me pastagain, stating that I “was faster anyway“, it was OK with him.
I went on to finish 8th in class, with so little fuel that I ran out on the cool-down lap at 130R and coasted to the pits. After bending up the car, the last thing I wanted to do was make the mechanics come out and retrieve the car as well. I might have found something nasty in my seat come next round.
I ended up with a top 10 finish and considering the time spent in the pits, will take it. Should've been in the top 5, but Suzuka has a way of getting you one way or another.
Next round we should have both cars up and running again. Testing has already commenced at the Florida track and our iSpeed data is showing us some positive numbers so far.
So, its on to Sebring!
Brent makes up one of two Whoopass-Racing drivers who compete in the ISRA Grand Touring Championship. Acheving our best championship finish last season grabbing a podium, 3rd placed driver in season four. After many seasons of race series with Brent we count ourselves very lucky to benefit from his dedication to the team and invaluble assistance with setups during race preperation.
