Result:
3rd, 112 laps, 3h 01mins 25,589sec.
Best lap:
1:23,938 |
| The third
race of the SLC Endurance 3h Cup, 2005
kwas run at Mantorp Park. Propably one of the closest races of the GT-class
in a very long time and it was rewarding to get a podium finish after a
very tough race. |
| First half
of the friday practice we used for mainly driver coaching. After lunch
I tested two different types of tyres. The car felt too soft with brand
new tyres, but when a bit worn the car felt good. The chassis balance was
very similar with both types of tyres although little different feeling
at slip threshold. |
 |
| Qualifying
3rd. Foto via www.slc.se |
| We made a
big adjustment before the qualifying, to test what would happen. The car
was good to drive on the single fast lap we did and put us on third. We
backed a little on the extreme adjustment to ensure good tyres throughout
the race. |
| We started
the race by letting Löhr/Morin and BRS run away a little. BK-Pac also
set a very high starting pace so Mårten was watching the race from
fourth. |
| By the first
safety car situation we were unlucky to get the safety car on the "wrong
side", therefore losing a lap to the leading trio. Very very bad for us! |
| I ran hard
and kept our fourth. Håkan did a good sting as well and then Mårten
sat in the car from lap 77 chasing hard. This continued until lap 93 when
we did the last pit stop and I took fourth from BRS and then BK-Pac who
hadn´t setup their car right, their rear tyres wore out so they had
to do one extra pit stop. |
 |
| Consistent
pace through the whole race. Photo M. Glantz |
| By the end
I had a hard fight chasing Löhr/Morin Racing, taking our fastest lap
in lap 99 and also fighting BRS the last ten laps for third. What a race! |
| BRS attacked
when my tyres overheated after a long period of serious pushing, in the
tight left hander before the paddocks straight, but he overshot due to
late braking and I took the psition back. By the next attempt I hadn´t
more to take from the tyres and BRS made the pass. Then a safety car situation
came to rescue as I now could cool the tyres down. |
| At the restart
I managed to get the inside of corner one, just barely squeezing the car
between BRS and the kerbs and I held on and got first into the next right
hander. |
 |
| The race
ending was tough, but the rear tyres held on better than last time at Mantorp,
which saved third place. Photo Magnus Glantz |
| The last laps
my mirrors were now full of the BRS BMW but I hung on and took the checered
flag as third, only six seconds behind Löhr/Morin Racing. |
| We are happy
with getting the setup better and better. We are lacking some 3 tenths
of a seconds per lap against our main competitors but this and a bit more
we should be able to get out of the car as we get to know it better and
better. A big thank you to the team for good efforts! |
| Now, enjoy
te summer fans and race friends and we´ll meet again at Ring Knutstorp
in August! |
| /Carl |
