Well it was a good outing at Phillip Island this time. Great weather for it, midday it got a bit too hot and the tyres went off a bit, but by the next session after it had cooled down enough to continue the good times.
Like the last Winton day, I started things off pretty slow getting used to the car. The stiffer rear swaybar setting felt a bit better this time, but it could still do with being a bit stiffer. Ran the tyres at 30psi front and 28psi rear, these felt pretty good overall. Managed to beat my previous PB by .5sec straight off, and just got a feel for the suspension and tested put some lines during the rest of the day. I have a lot more confidence in this new suspension and predicting how the car will handle, an example of this is the first corner where I used to come in at 140km/h an with the new setup I was going in at 170-180km/h.
By the end of the day I had knocked 2.5aec off my PB and ended up with a 1.55.4 for the day. The exciting part too was if I did the last 3 corners better as I had done on a previous lap there was another .5sec, and the RaceChrono says there is another 1.1sec in there if all my best sectors are combined. So next up is trying to work on some consistency and try to get that 'ideal' lap time closer to my actual lap time.
Things to work on and note was turn in, car felt great mid corner and perfect on the exit, but turn in felt a bit washy...probably my driving is the cause, but a few things I can do to the car to help I think. Cars desperate for new bushings all round, so will get onto that, and I think stepping up to 16" wheels with some 45 series rubber will help out with less tyre sidewall roll, and mid corner stability.
Getting close to the times I was after, at which time I will step the car up with some aero mods all round, then later proceed with a 2ltr engine build.
Best time: 1.55.4
