Hans Baumhardt
A story of two halves, the racing described here and some quality time with Mrs HB which is not ;)
Thursday Testing (is apparently for wimps)
My first time at Spa so invested in two 30 min test sessions to learn which way the track goes, establishing that my car can NOT infact take Eau Rouge flat and stay on the tarmac. Engine cut out on Pouhon as the wheel speed sensor failed gave me a massive sideways moment that took time and deodoriser to get over. With no speedo for the rest of the weekend I didn’t know how fast I was in and out of corners and the smart new "Alfonzo" magnetic lap-timer wouldn’t work, so no real idea how I was doing.
Friday Qualify
20min LOT and 25 min Heritage qualifying mostly involved racing James Knight, compromising both our times as a result. We swapped places a lot as James likes to offer up juicy gaps that I cant resist filling so we just kept tripping up over each other. D-OH. Qualified 5th in class at 2:59 with James 4 hundredths faster in LOT and 9th at 3:01 in Heritage, again with James 4 hundredths faster (FFS !).
Saturday 20 min LOT Race 1
This was a lot of fun, still learning where to put the power down and managed 2:57 mostly 4th in class until the last corner of the last lap when #33 Edwards tripped his inertia switch and I took the line 3rd in class (behind 2 "proper" drivers). Yay silverware ! Clicky for some Race 1 video featuring mostly #33 Michael Edwards and #69 Edeson
- Heritage 50 min endurance race
I approached this as more of an event than a race to see what 50 mins and a pit stop is like whilst preserving the car. The rolling start caught me out but then it was all sorts of amusements with Elise, BMW, Caterham and classic stuff, ending with 3 laps behind an Aston DB4 who I passed on the last corner of the last lap (again) :) finishing 21/50, which is cool as I was chilling on 3:00 fastest lap times. Clicky for some Heritage video featuring #9 Roberts, #38 BJ, #13 Bartle, #53 Jamie/Peasey, a Mustang and the DB4
Sunday 20 min LOT Race 2
Had an appalling start so lost loads in to the first corner but then the fun of working my way back up the field to 3rd in class behind Martin Donnelly and Edison on my 2:57 pace. Fended off #15 Paul Quinn and #27 Breaker until my ECU lost the ECT signal and dropped the limiter by 1K RPM which had me confused for a while until I looked at the RPM-o-meter and figured out the problem, then some messing about in the corners to work out the best gears. With only a couple of laps to go I saw #95 Kirby a way back sliding about on knackered tyres but gaining fast on my limited state, so it was a comical scramble to the end, finishing 4th in class with Kirby 3 tenths behind - he would have 'ad me given one more corner. Sorry, no video as my battery had packed in.
Spa was a major commitment, but well worth it as the best circuit I have driven to date. The organisation by Paul and the team was fabulous as usual, supported by great community spirit in the paddock. Thanks everyone
