British World Touring Car Championship 2013 - 37-39 Saitama

Like snow bunnies they bounded through the white caps of the frost covered tundra, digging deep for grip that mostly wasn't there.  Yes, we (mostly) survived an exciting run through Saitama, the Japanese road course with only left hand turns.  And what a run it was.  Scot, Darrel and I had a fairly good night on the whole but it was not without extreme danger.

Race 1: Darrel started at the front while Scot and I ran at the back.  Through the opening, the competition got a great start on Darrel and he was otherwise bumped and squeezed by the time the first lap was through.  Scot and I managed to keep things cool and work our way through the pack.  Until we got to first and second where we would stay pretty much the whole race.  But things weren't set in stone.  As the race wore on, 13 laps consumed fuel excessively.  Darrel managed to struggle through the field on heavy used tires but made it to 3rd where he'd finish.  Scot and I both had to pit for fuel by the end.  He almost managed to keep from going down a lap...almost.  A 1-2-3 for the humans.

Race 2: After some consulting, we decided to shorten the race (no pits) and boost the AI to 85%.  We all began in the back of the field.  I started on the outside which allowed me to get a great, yet exhilarating, run through the pack.  Scot and Darrel picked the AI apart as they worked through traffic.  Darrel kept his cool after some run-ins and pulled another 3rd complete with synchronized spinning and flip care of his teammate, me..  Scot pretty much did the same thing and took home 2nd.  I rounded out 1st for another human podium lockout.

Race 3: Damage on FULL.  The start was much more chaotic.  By about mid course, there was a large incident in the middle of the track that nearly slammed me head on and tagged Darrel pretty good.  We all kept going...for a bit.  Scot was the first to face the wreckers after some unfortunate cornering with AIs.  Darrel kept up a good run until the last couple laps and got T-bones after a spin.  He was smoking and spewing fluids like a frightened octopus but held on for an inspiring finish.  I'll note that Scot was technically not retired as he was still being towed.  Therefore a point is legally awarded.

And we move to the final race on the Eastern continents at Surfer's Paradise.  This is the bone shaped track from the Australian cost.  A lot of long fast and chicane riddled straightaways followed by incredibly tight turns on this permanent street circuit.  We'll try this track in two weeks from now and Sandy should be back in action with plenty of practice to get back up to speed.  Hopefully we can also add a few more racers to the mix and really get things going again.

Race 1

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	1:08.354
2	061	D Hamilton	1:10.783
3	45	F Biela	1:13.767
4	8	C Turkington	1:14.252
5	17	J George	1:14.726
6	12	R Huff	1:14.970
7	22	C B. Henderson	1:15.071
8	99	T Harvey	1:15.180
9	26	S Hodgetts	1:15.224
10	20	S Watson-smith	1:15.268
11	3	M Neal	1:15.323
12	23	C Breeze	1:15.400
13	98	J Cleland	1:15.406
14	35	D Leslie	1:15.465
15	31	A Menu	1:15.648
16	29	K Burt	1:15.677
17	77	J Hughes	1:15.988
18	10	R Collard	1:16.062
19	46	J Bintcliffe	1:16.144
20	1	J Thompson	1:16.193
21	27	R Rydell	1:16.325
22	30	N Mansell	1:16.326
23	2	Y Muller	1:16.364
24	15	F Hairuman	1:16.536
25	40	R Marsh	1:16.687
26	48	G Simoni	1:16.834
27	38	W Hoy	1:17.038
28	11	J Plato	1:17.052
29	32	P Radisch	1:17.484
30	36	L Aiello	1:17.488
31	28	V R Macker	1:17.714
32	9	T Chilton	1:17.724
33	57	L Hines	1:17.978
34	34	J Winkelhock	1:18.085
35	37	J Boullion	1:18.808
36	14	M Bentwood	1:19.004
37	70	J Wheals	1:19.090
38	6	A Reid	1:19.397
39	33	J Cecotto	1:19.559
40	44	A Slight	1:19.903
41	4	D Eaves	1:19.923
42	47	D Warwick	1:20.585
43	029	M Max	1:32.771

Weather: Cloudy, 38 °F, West 5 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	061	D Hamilton	1:09.924
2	1	J Thompson	1:09.965
3	3	M Neal	1:10.086
4	35	D Leslie	1:10.142
5	30	N Mansell	1:10.182
6	31	A Menu	1:10.262
7	11	J Plato	1:10.386
8	10	R Collard	1:10.599
9	2	Y Muller	1:10.629
10	27	R Rydell	1:10.723
11	12	R Huff	1:10.726
12	9	T Chilton	1:10.921
13	6	A Reid	1:10.927
14	45	F Biela	1:11.067
15	36	L Aiello	1:11.141
16	8	C Turkington	1:11.190
17	46	J Bintcliffe	1:11.530
18	99	T Harvey	1:11.547
19	32	P Radisch	1:11.566
20	77	J Hughes	1:11.606
21	47	D Warwick	1:11.807
22	17	J George	1:11.943
23	20	S Watson-smith	1:12.094
24	57	L Hines	1:12.105
25	15	F Hairuman	1:12.108
26	23	C Breeze	1:12.287
27	48	G Simoni	1:12.468
28	37	J Boullion	1:12.701
29	40	R Marsh	1:12.737
30	28	V R Macker	1:12.846
31	33	J Cecotto	1:13.182
32	38	W Hoy	1:13.290
33	4	D Eaves	1:13.344
34	14	M Bentwood	1:13.404
35	34	J Winkelhock	1:13.867
36	98	J Cleland	1:14.084
37	26	S Hodgetts	1:14.129
38	22	C B. Henderson	1:14.284
39	44	A Slight	1:16.691
40	70	J Wheals	1:17.905
41	29	K Burt	1:18.216
42	029	M Max	1:29.843
43	013	T Nadz	--

Weather: Cloudy, 38 °F, Northeast 1 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	1:07.639
2	061	D Hamilton	1:09.140
3	029	M Max	1:12.728
4	29	K Burt	1:13.733
5	98	J Cleland	1:13.893
6	14	M Bentwood	1:14.597
7	1	J Thompson	1:14.951
8	30	N Mansell	1:15.135
9	31	A Menu	1:15.194
10	34	J Winkelhock	1:15.227
11	2	Y Muller	1:15.288
12	8	C Turkington	1:15.325
13	11	J Plato	1:15.332
14	77	J Hughes	1:15.383
15	27	R Rydell	1:15.442
16	3	M Neal	1:15.502
17	4	D Eaves	1:15.797
18	45	F Biela	1:15.891
19	35	D Leslie	1:16.047
20	48	G Simoni	1:16.239
21	26	S Hodgetts	1:16.312
22	32	P Radisch	1:16.427
23	28	V R Macker	1:16.492
24	33	J Cecotto	1:16.498
25	44	A Slight	1:16.571
26	57	L Hines	1:16.786
27	23	C Breeze	1:16.851
28	15	F Hairuman	1:17.025
29	40	R Marsh	1:17.069
30	47	D Warwick	1:17.450
31	12	R Huff	1:17.503
32	38	W Hoy	1:17.717
33	10	R Collard	1:18.766
34	22	C B. Henderson	1:18.788
35	9	T Chilton	1:18.795
36	70	J Wheals	1:18.943
37	46	J Bintcliffe	1:18.967
38	20	S Watson-smith	1:19.505
39	37	J Boullion	1:19.587
40	17	J George	1:19.852
41	6	A Reid	1:20.400
42	36	L Aiello	1:20.979
43	99	T Harvey	1:23.025

Weather: Cloudy, 39 °F, Southeast 4 mph

Session: Race

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	43	013	T Nadz	170.097	13	10*	185	Running
2	42	029	M Max	-1L	12	0	170	Running
3	1	061	D Hamilton	-2L	11	0	165	Running
4	41	29	K Burt	-2L	11	0	160	Running
5	30	28	V R Macker	-2L	11	0	155	Running
6	39	44	A Slight	-2L	11	0	150	Running
7	12	9	T Chilton	-2L	11	0	146	Running
8	27	48	G Simoni	-2L	11	0	142	Running
9	40	70	J Wheals	-2L	11	0	138	Running
10	31	33	J Cecotto	-2L	11	0	134	Running
11	34	14	M Bentwood	-2L	11	0	130	Running
12	25	15	F Hairuman	-2L	11	0	127	Running
13	9	2	Y Muller	-3L	10	0	124	Running
14	19	32	P Radisch	-3L	10	0	121	Running
15	10	27	R Rydell	-3L	10	0	118	Running
16	6	31	A Menu	-4L	9	0	115	Running
17	7	11	J Plato	-4L	9	0	112	Running
18	18	99	T Harvey	-4L	9	0	109	Running
19	2	1	J Thompson	-4L	9	1	111	Running
20	8	10	R Collard	-4L	9	0	103	Running
21	3	3	M Neal	-4L	9	2	105	Running
22	20	77	J Hughes	-4L	9	0	97	Running
23	21	47	D Warwick	-4L	9	0	94	Running
24	11	12	R Huff	-4L	9	0	91	Running
25	32	38	W Hoy	-4L	9	0	88	Running
26	29	40	R Marsh	-4L	9	0	85	Running
27	5	30	N Mansell	-4L	9	0	82	Running
28	14	45	F Biela	-4L	9	0	79	Running
29	4	35	D Leslie	-4L	9	0	76	Running
30	13	6	A Reid	-4L	9	0	73	Running
31	38	22	C B. Henderson	-4L	9	0	70	Running
32	26	23	C Breeze	-4L	9	0	67	Running
33	16	8	C Turkington	-5L	8	0	64	Running
34	15	36	L Aiello	-5L	8	0	61	Running
35	17	46	J Bintcliffe	-5L	8	0	58	Running
36	35	34	J Winkelhock	-5L	8	0	55	Running
37	28	37	J Boullion	-5L	8	0	52	Running
38	36	98	J Cleland	-5L	8	0	49	Running
39	22	17	J George	-5L	8	0	46	Running
40	33	4	D Eaves	-5L	8	0	43	Running
41	37	26	S Hodgetts	-6L	7	0	40	Running
42	24	57	L Hines	-6L	7	0	37	Running
43	23	20	S Watson-smith	-6L	7	0	34	Running

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (3 drivers)

Weather: Cloudy, 39 °F, Southeast 2 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 80%

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	31	A Menu	--
2	35	D Leslie	--
3	3	M Neal	--
4	10	R Collard	--
5	12	R Huff	--
6	11	J Plato	--
7	9	T Chilton	--
8	2	Y Muller	--
9	30	N Mansell	--
10	1	J Thompson	--
11	98	J Cleland	--
12	47	D Warwick	--
13	8	C Turkington	--
14	6	A Reid	--
15	15	F Hairuman	--
16	29	K Burt	--
17	36	L Aiello	--
18	77	J Hughes	--
19	33	J Cecotto	--
20	23	C Breeze	--
21	32	P Radisch	--
22	37	J Boullion	--
23	44	A Slight	--
24	57	L Hines	--
25	38	W Hoy	--
26	48	G Simoni	--
27	14	M Bentwood	--
28	27	R Rydell	--
29	28	V R Macker	--
30	55	S Soper	--
31	40	R Marsh	--
32	26	S Hodgetts	--
33	45	F Biela	--
34	4	D Eaves	--
35	70	J Wheals	--
36	34	J Winkelhock	--
37	46	J Bintcliffe	--
38	99	T Harvey	--
39	16	J Kaye	--
40	20	S Watson-smith	--
41	061	D Hamilton	--
42	013	T Nadz	--
43	029	M Max	--

Weather: Clear, 38 °F, North 3 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	42	013	T Nadz	189.589	7	5*	185	Running
2	43	029	M Max	-40.45	7	0	170	Running
3	41	061	D Hamilton	-1:09.40	7	0	165	Running
4	10	1	J Thompson	-1L	6	0	160	Running
5	4	10	R Collard	-1L	6	0	155	Running
6	3	3	M Neal	-1L	6	1	155	Running
7	1	31	A Menu	-1L	6	1	151	Running
8	2	35	D Leslie	-1L	6	0	142	Running
9	8	2	Y Muller	-1L	6	0	138	Running
10	6	11	J Plato	-1L	6	0	134	Running
11	5	12	R Huff	-1L	6	0	130	Running
12	12	47	D Warwick	-1L	6	0	127	Running
13	28	27	R Rydell	-1L	6	0	124	Running
14	17	36	L Aiello	-1L	6	0	121	Running
15	20	23	C Breeze	-1L	6	0	118	Running
16	38	99	T Harvey	-1L	6	0	115	Running
17	11	98	J Cleland	-1L	6	0	112	Running
18	37	46	J Bintcliffe	-1L	6	0	109	Running
19	7	9	T Chilton	-1L	6	0	106	Running
20	21	32	P Radisch	-1L	6	0	103	Running
21	13	8	C Turkington	-1L	6	0	100	Running
22	9	30	N Mansell	-1L	6	0	97	Running
23	14	6	A Reid	-1L	6	0	94	Running
24	26	48	G Simoni	-1L	6	0	91	Running
25	33	45	F Biela	-1L	6	0	88	Running
26	25	38	W Hoy	-1L	6	0	85	Running
27	27	14	M Bentwood	-1L	6	0	82	Running
28	19	33	J Cecotto	-1L	6	0	79	Running
29	30	55	S Soper	-1L	6	0	76	Running
30	35	70	J Wheals	-1L	6	0	73	Running
31	39	16	J Kaye	-1L	6	0	70	Running
32	23	44	A Slight	-1L	6	0	67	Running
33	34	4	D Eaves	-1L	6	0	64	Running
34	18	77	J Hughes	-1L	6	0	61	Running
35	15	15	F Hairuman	-1L	6	0	58	Running
36	32	26	S Hodgetts	-1L	6	0	55	Running
37	16	29	K Burt	-1L	6	0	52	Running
38	24	57	L Hines	-1L	6	0	49	Running
39	40	20	S Watson-smith	-1L	6	0	46	Running
40	22	37	J Boullion	-1L	6	0	43	Running
41	31	40	R Marsh	-1L	6	0	40	Running
42	36	34	J Winkelhock	-1L	6	0	37	Running
43	29	28	V R Macker	-1L	6	0	34	Running

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (3 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 38 °F, North 4 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 85%

PENALTIES

LAP

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INFRACTION

PENALTY

Race 3

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	30	N Mansell	--
2	31	A Menu	--
3	11	J Plato	--
4	35	D Leslie	--
5	12	R Huff	--
6	2	Y Muller	--
7	10	R Collard	--
8	6	A Reid	--
9	3	M Neal	--
10	1	J Thompson	--
11	9	T Chilton	--
12	36	L Aiello	--
13	27	R Rydell	--
14	77	J Hughes	--
15	20	S Watson-smith	--
16	29	K Burt	--
17	46	J Bintcliffe	--
18	45	F Biela	--
19	33	J Cecotto	--
20	44	A Slight	--
21	47	D Warwick	--
22	32	P Radisch	--
23	4	D Eaves	--
24	17	J George	--
25	57	L Hines	--
26	22	C B. Henderson	--
27	37	J Boullion	--
28	40	R Marsh	--
29	28	V R Macker	--
30	23	C Breeze	--
31	99	T Harvey	--
32	98	J Cleland	--
33	15	F Hairuman	--
34	26	S Hodgetts	--
35	34	J Winkelhock	--
36	8	C Turkington	--
37	48	G Simoni	--
38	55	S Soper	--
39	14	M Bentwood	--
40	38	W Hoy	--
41	013	T Nadz	--
42	061	D Hamilton	--
43	029	M Max	--

Weather: Cloudy, 38 °F, East 0 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	41	013	T Nadz	178.159	7	3	180	Running
2	5	12	R Huff	-1:12.23	7	0	170	Running
3	1	30	N Mansell	-1:15.95	7	4*	175	Running
4	2	31	A Menu	-1:16.11	7	0	160	Running
5	11	9	T Chilton	-1:17.67	7	0	155	Running
6	3	11	J Plato	-1:18.41	7	0	150	Running
7	6	2	Y Muller	-1:22.33	7	0	146	Running
8	10	1	J Thompson	-1:23.63	7	0	142	Running
9	17	46	J Bintcliffe	-1:25.35	7	0	138	Running
10	7	10	R Collard	-1:25.41	7	0	134	Running
11	14	77	J Hughes	-1:25.76	7	0	130	Running
12	19	33	J Cecotto	-1:26.03	7	0	127	Running
13	4	35	D Leslie	-1:26.48	7	0	124	Running
14	16	29	K Burt	-1:26.75	7	0	121	Running
15	23	4	D Eaves	-1:28.56	7	0	118	Running
16	8	6	A Reid	-1:28.66	7	0	115	Running
17	32	98	J Cleland	-1:30.02	7	0	112	Running
18	31	99	T Harvey	-1:31.48	7	0	109	Running
19	38	55	S Soper	-1:33.00	7	0	106	Running
20	22	32	P Radisch	-1:34.08	7	0	103	Running
21	18	45	F Biela	-1:36.25	7	0	100	Running
22	12	36	L Aiello	-1L	6	0	97	Running
23	25	57	L Hines	-1L	6	0	94	Running
24	28	40	R Marsh	-1L	6	0	91	Running
25	27	37	J Boullion	-1L	6	0	88	Running
26	24	17	J George	-1L	6	0	85	Running
27	35	34	J Winkelhock	-1L	6	0	82	Running
28	13	27	R Rydell	-1L	6	0	79	Running
29	30	23	C Breeze	-1L	6	0	76	Running
30	21	47	D Warwick	-1L	6	0	73	Running
31	15	20	S Watson-smith	-1L	6	0	70	Running
32	37	48	G Simoni	-1L	6	0	67	Running
33	26	22	C B. Henderson	-1L	6	0	64	Running
34	9	3	M Neal	-1L	6	0	61	Running
35	39	14	M Bentwood	-1L	6	0	58	Running
36	20	44	A Slight	-1L	6	0	55	Running
37	40	38	W Hoy	-1L	6	0	52	Running
38	36	8	C Turkington	-1L	6	0	49	Running
39	33	15	F Hairuman	-1L	6	0	46	Running
40	42	061	D Hamilton	-2L	5	0	43	Running
41	34	26	S Hodgetts	-3L	4	0	40	Accident
42	43	029	M Max	-4L	3	0	37	Running
43	29	28	V R Macker	-7L	0	0	34	Accident

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 1 (2 drivers)

Weather: Cloudy, 38 °F, Southwest 0 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 85%

PENALTIES

LAP

#

INFRACTION

PENALTY