Took the beautiful FDR Peugeot 407 for a test run this morning at Watkins. What a fantastic car! I have only tried six or seven of the cars in the ATCC mod and they each have advantages and disadvantages in separate departments. Dariusz Swiderski has been pushing for me to go rear wheel drive (BMW diesel) and although it has an impressive top speed and very good mid-corner exit grunt (read: very hard to pass) it is not going to have very high mid-corner speed, not easy to qualify at some tracks, and let's not forget how easy it is to throw your race away with one small mistake.
This championship is going to be about consistency and I'm not convinced with Laguna Seca, Bathurst, and the interesting but looming "whether mod" that will play its hand! The BMW will do well at Sebring, Road America, and possibly Rattlesnake point although I haven't turned a lap yet there. This Peugeot was the epitome of consistency ripping off lap after lap without a thought of flying off the track!
Nonetheless I did not get the best out of the package again. It has been frustrating and exciting since joining Race Department. I have been consistently nailing my Super Pole laps by being tidy and have qualified no lower than the second row so far. I modified the gear a bit and low fuel for qualifying. She felt good, qualified P2, I believe a 1:53.2. Got a good start off the line, fell in line behind Jesper and settled in. He pulled a bit of a gap on the opening lap that I was able to reel back in on the first flyer. I was there or thereabouts within a second until lap 10 I made a small mistake and opened up a gap. Taking P2 about 2 seconds behind Jesper should've had some gratification especially since I almost pitted for tires on lap seven, until I realized this was a club event not a ATCC championship event. Bottom line though, another race craft mistake. I missed the managed my tires driving way too hard in the beginning thinking we were going to pit and didn't have enough at the end to mount a challenge on Jesper.
The Peugeot 407 throws down a sledgehammer complicating matters more by being a serious contender for the championship on its first ride! Seven of the first nine laps were ran in the 53 second bracket and the only two 54' S were laps I made small mistakes. This for sure is not the only good front wheel drive car but it is one of the winners! I can't wait for the mod to be finalized so we can make a final car choice! If the BMW diesel falls prey to any detuning it will make it easy to leave my rearwheel drive fantasy behind! To be truthful I really wanted to give the Mercedes a go but tire wear, especially the rear tire wear, will not allow it to be a competitive car presently over race distance. The diesel is better but keeping pace and on the pavement, in the last laps may prove challenging as well.
In race two I was hoping to see if I can keep in the 53 until the end by being kinder to the tires in the beginning while maintaining a high pace. I was not able to avoid Wood after he ran off the track and reentered immediately on the opening lap, and then was tapped in the rear quarter by another driver and couldn't avoid spinning as we snaked through the esses leading onto the back straight to begin lap 2.
This was the first time I had been spun out on Race Department, and I'm sure that will happen again, but frustration levels were off the chart. Today was practice on maintaining my composure after unfortunate racing circumstances. I did not pass my test, but as with all aspects of my racing here on Race Department, I look forward to improving!
Thanks again to Race Department for the best online racing! Thanks Eric for setting up the races and congrats on your win. I like your car! It is now on the top of my list (as long as it doesn't suffer detuning! LOL)!
