Clive's 400 BHP Super GT RX-8 Race Car

[clive]

Shame you can't because you would like tomorrow as there will be lots to see, plus Philip and Andrew are coming along.

Parked next to the huge Sky Sports media centre as the GT WORLD CHALLENGE EUROPE cars are there this week.
As I left all the FI style transporters were waiting to get in, including works Mercedes and Ferrari transporters. 

(must find time for a wander around the main pits to be nosey)

As you will see on the time table, they have fully recognised the RX-8 as not just some slow little Mazda as they have done at times previously. 

[clive]

Very very mixed day today!
Good points.
Met and spent time with  Pierre Dieudonné, the 1981 24 Hours of Spa winner who asked me to bring the car to the Audi garages in the pit lane so he could have a look at the RX-8 . He was there as Team Manager for the works Audi's for the weekend.

Next the car was brilliant and all the changes worked, ran 69 faultless laps.

Did the first session on the hard compound Goodyears then changed to the BTCC softs and found a huge 2.2 seconds, got down to a 52.2 with sector times showing I was just one tenth away from my ultimate lap on the day. Meaning I consistently got just about everything out of the car I could. 


Bad points.
Came across a Porsche at the end of Cooper straight that was much slower than me with a novice X fitted, blue lights were flashing, but even up around clearways he was still wallying  around not staying on line.

Coming onto the straight off the bend he ran the car wide, but looked in my mirror and saw a britcar Cupra that was forcing his way up the inside. I was faced with moving over a little or maybe getting spun into the barrier! Unfortunately by moving so we could get three cars off the bend I moved across slightly and slapped the Porsche side on. Fortunately he continued after a trip through the gravel with just a small dent in his sill !! My car did not fair so well but at last we all went home with cars. Had I not moved into the  Porsche potentially at least two of us could have been in the barriers.   

For those who don't know who Pierre Dieudonné is, see below.

https://www.insidemazda.co.uk/2018/06/12/the-race-that-changed-my-life-pierre-dieudonne-the-1981-24-hours-of-spa/

[boosted]

Christened 1 of the new doors! but more good than bad. Welldone.

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[Casey]

Awesome bonus to meet Pierre at Brands   

Great to hear the car went well - 52.2 sec lap is brilliant!

Shame about the little bump incident, else it sounds like it could have been a perfect day.

[re japi]

Good job sir.

I really do hope that I could get there soon to see you race

Lähetetty minun G8141 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[re japi]

Wow, you met a legend and he asked to show your car. That a big complement

Lähetetty minun G8141 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[Eccentric shaft]

Rendezvous avec Monsieur Dieudonne? Starstruck just from reading the post!   
On the other hand "rendezvous" with Porsche not ideal, but sounds like that incident is more than outweighed by the Good News!
Well done!   

[clive]

Rendezvous avec Monsieur Dieudonne? Starstruck just from reading the post!   
On the other hand "rendezvous" with Porsche not ideal, but sounds like that incident is more than outweighed by the Good News!
Well done!   

Yes your correct   Sad that I hit the Porsche, but had I not moved I could have ended up in the barrier with no car to bring home !     

[Mr Spiller]

Very very mixed day today!
Good points.
Met and spent time with  Pierre Dieudonné, the 1981 24 Hours of Spa winner who asked me to bring the car to the Audi garages in the pit lane so he could have a look at the RX-8 . He was there as Team Manager for the works Audi's for the weekend.

Next the car was brilliant and all the changes worked, ran 69 faultless laps.

Did the first session on the hard compound Goodyears then changed to the BTCC softs and found a huge 2.2 seconds, got down to a 52.2 with sector times showing I was just one tenth away from my ultimate lap on the day. Meaning I consistently got just about everything out of the car I could. 


Bad points.
Came across a Porsche at the end of Cooper straight that was much slower than me with a novice X fitted, blue lights were flashing, but even up around clearways he was still wallying  around not staying on line.

Coming onto the straight off the bend he ran the car wide, but looked in my mirror and saw a britcar Cupra that was forcing his way up the inside. I was faced with moving over a little or maybe getting spun into the barrier! Unfortunately by moving so we could get three cars off the bend I moved across slightly and slapped the Porsche side on. Fortunately he continued after a trip through the gravel with just a small dent in his sill !! My car did not fair so well but at last we all went home with cars. Had I not moved into the  Porsche potentially at least two of us could have been in the barriers.   

For those who don't know who Pierre Dieudonné is, see below.

https://www.insidemazda.co.uk/2018/06/12/the-race-that-changed-my-life-pierre-dieudonne-the-1981-24-hours-of-spa/

You certainly were Glad the cars ok and you got some better pace from the soft tyres
How many Laps did you get out of them and how did they feel
Or was it staggered 20 min sessions you ran ?


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[clive]

 Ran Goodyear non BTCC Tyres in the first 1/2 hour session then the softs in the next two.
I could feel the difference just on the first out lap! plus just as Tony Gilham said they didn't go off, so they will be great in the 15 minute sessions I have in Thunder Saloons. Now I have some grip I definitely need more power for next season.

[Mr Spiller]

Ran Goodyear non BTCC Tyres in the first 1/2 hour session then the softs in the next two.
I could feel the difference just on the first out lap! plus just as Tony Gilham said they didn't go off, so they will be great in the 15 minute sessions I have in Thunder Saloons. Now I have some grip I definitely need more power for next season.

That's brilliant
Which ones did you run for first half hour stint
I normally stick with Hard's as track days are totally different    to the racing you do
Oh yeah
And I'm about 300 Hp less 


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[clive]

Ran (Hard) Goodyear non BTCC Tyres in the first 1/2 hour session then the softs in the next two.

[clive]

Just looked back through my race data and found the fastest lap was 7 tenths quicker than my fastest ever on slicks, which is a lump of time around Brands

Looks like the changes are finally taking effect and we are starting to go in the right direction.   

[Mr Spiller]

Just looked back through my race data and found the fastest lap was 7 tenths quicker than my fastest ever on slicks, which is a lump of time around Brands

Looks like the changes are finally taking effect and we are starting to go in the right direction.   

That's a lot of progress Clive
Looks like it's all coming together nicely
Impressed between the gap of soft to hard compound
Especially the softs holding up to full  race lengths .
Go get em


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[jinx]

To be clear:
In my absence (due unbelievably to pressure of work) you:
1. Went faster
2. Survived an incident
3. Made friends with a hero

OK, I'll stay away in future.

Glad it came home in one piece if not quite the same shape. Break out the Valspar!