Donington 2nd July
Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2011 5:59 pm
I'd not driven Donington before (except on the PC) and was looking forward to it. A nice up and down swoopy circuit. Had perfect weather. Sal was my support crew this time. Car needed nothing other than the rear brakes adjusting after Spa.
Tried a little more pressure in the tyres for practice after they looked so chewed up at Spa. Felt a little too much, sliding a bit more than ideal. Also feel as if the engine is going flat at 6500. Although peak power is 6600 it used to pull through to 7000 no problems, but today it almost felt like valve bounce starting at 6500. Otherwise it all ran well enough. Next to last on the grid, with a 1:29, but didn't really get a clear lap. Had the usual MK Indy behind me (150 bhp but just does not go around corners like the Eleven). Dropped the tyre pressures 1 psi for the race.
Got a good start but makes no difference when you have to slow for the traffic jam into the first corner. Managed to hang onto the group in front for a few laps, maybe 150 mt behind them, but couldn't close. the MK got close on the straights but after a few corners he's dropped. Then the brake pedal started to go long again, as it did at Spa. But this was only halfway though a 13 minute race. Had a couple of moments when I missed my braking point due to having to pump the pedal, so eased up for the rest of the race.
Finished with no incidents, and won 1st in class D again. Another trophy! Embarassing. Got into the 1:28's.
Need to check the engine for maybe a broken valve spring. Alternatively could be something to do with the heat so might try a cooler air ducting set up. And going to ditch the so called uprated rear shoes that wear so fast they ruin your braking after 10 minutes. The stock shoes worked fine before, so they go back in. £50 wasted. Might talk to Peter May and see if it's normal - maybe they're faulty..
Good to see Marcus there - think he may have got a few pictures.
Nice circuit - we're back there for the last race of the season so I look forward to that.
Tried a little more pressure in the tyres for practice after they looked so chewed up at Spa. Felt a little too much, sliding a bit more than ideal. Also feel as if the engine is going flat at 6500. Although peak power is 6600 it used to pull through to 7000 no problems, but today it almost felt like valve bounce starting at 6500. Otherwise it all ran well enough. Next to last on the grid, with a 1:29, but didn't really get a clear lap. Had the usual MK Indy behind me (150 bhp but just does not go around corners like the Eleven). Dropped the tyre pressures 1 psi for the race.
Got a good start but makes no difference when you have to slow for the traffic jam into the first corner. Managed to hang onto the group in front for a few laps, maybe 150 mt behind them, but couldn't close. the MK got close on the straights but after a few corners he's dropped. Then the brake pedal started to go long again, as it did at Spa. But this was only halfway though a 13 minute race. Had a couple of moments when I missed my braking point due to having to pump the pedal, so eased up for the rest of the race.
Finished with no incidents, and won 1st in class D again. Another trophy! Embarassing. Got into the 1:28's.
Need to check the engine for maybe a broken valve spring. Alternatively could be something to do with the heat so might try a cooler air ducting set up. And going to ditch the so called uprated rear shoes that wear so fast they ruin your braking after 10 minutes. The stock shoes worked fine before, so they go back in. £50 wasted. Might talk to Peter May and see if it's normal - maybe they're faulty..
Good to see Marcus there - think he may have got a few pictures.
Nice circuit - we're back there for the last race of the season so I look forward to that.