The weather was just right for racing

On 15th September, we left the pits to head for the endurance event. The rain clouds which were covering the sky the day before was now gone, and the weather was just right for racing, with some sunshine once in a while. We were the eleventh team to run, and Michigan, which was the competition favourite, was just before us, preparing for the run. We had some time before we got to run.

In the endurance event, the cars run round the course used for autocross event. The total length of the run is 22km, and each team has two drivers for the event. Teams compete in the total time and the fuel economy. This year, each driver drove 12 laps. In this event, there is an overtaking zone where a faster car can pass the slower car in front of it, which makes it exciting. The running order is decided from the places of the autocross event, which took place the day before, but the top 10 teams switch with the teams which were 11th to 20th, which makes it possible for the top teams to run on a clean surface.

The team members were watching Maeda anxiously

As usual, the first driver was Maeda and the second was Asai. The weather was fine, and the track was dry, and therefore the conditions were good. Maeda was in the cockpit early, developing his concentration. He drove the car to the starting line and waited quietly.

The green flag was waved, and Maeda started the car. After a while, Michigan University started their car, and which was also a good start. In the endurance event, fuel economy will be judged as well as the time. Therefore, all teams, including us, start without warming up the car. For that reason, troubles could occur in the first few laps, and the team members were watching Maeda anxiously.

It is no good if the driver knocks many cones down

Maeda was zipping along the first few laps and so was Michigan. The style of Maeda and the Michigan's first driver was different; Maeda left some safety margins, whereas the Michigan's driver used as much course width as possible.

When Maeda went into his 4th lap, Michigan's driver understeered and knocked a cone down just before the last corner. In this event, some extra time are added to the total time per knocked down cone, as a penalty. Therefore even if the total time itself is good, it is no good if the driver knocks many cones down. The best way to get fast time in this event is to drive safely.

Asai was struggling with understeer

The driver change went smoothly and driver had changed to Asai. The water temperature, which was our biggest concern, was kept at 100-109 degrees Celsius.

Asai understeered on the first corner of his 3rd lap. Thanks to the cowl shape of our car SR-05, the car did not drag the cone in. However, the car had to be stopped to let Michigan's car pass, and there was a loss of about 15 seconds. After the accident, Asai was in good order, but from about his 6th lap, the time wasn't so good anymore. Clearly, Asai was struggling with understeer. The front tire was gripping down due to overheating and rise of the inner pressure. Asai dealt with the problem by oversteering deliberately to protect the front tire.

On Asai's 11th lap, Michigan's car in front of him had spun, and the two cars went face to face. Asai slowed down and went through carefully, watching Michigan's car's moves. Michigan's driver did bootleg turn and started to run, right after Asai. Asai who was suffering from understeer was passed by Michigan, but managed to keep the loss of time small as possible by sticking right before Michigan.

Then came lap 12, which was the final lap. All of the water temperature, oil temperature, oil pressure, and fuel pressure were in normal level. Asai went through his last lap observing the difference between his drive and Michigan's driver's drive, in front of him, and finished the race.

The two drivers did a great job

Driver
Takashi AsaiThe total time in endurance was 4th fastest, and with fuel economy scores added on to the total time, we were 3rd. With the time lost by the accidents in mind, we could have been in higher place, but the two drivers did a great job, driving the car safely to the finish line.

Driver, Takashi Asai

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