More good news, race 3 and 4 from VIR brings another win for the team.
NASA Mid-Atlantic returns to VIR for race 3 and 4. With a wet forecast, Colin is excited to play in the rain. The first day is testing and comp school, again Colin worked with the new up and coming drivers looking to earn a license. He is always honored to work with school head and Chief of Instruction Dan Unkefer, Regional Director Chris Cobetto and champion drivers; Billy Revis, Chip Stabler, Carter Hunt and Allan Haggai. Colin has often stated, "I learn something new with each school I get to work with. This continues to move both my driving and racing forward. Hopefully I too will garner a championship as have my peers."
Rain all day Friday provided a great learning environment for everyone, not just the students. Matt and Victoria were in attendance and spent the day getting ready for the weekend.
Race 3
Saturday morning we got a wet start to the day making for a fun practice session. True to form, Lydic and Jevens were at the top of the timing sheet in the rain. This would repeat in qualifying later. As race time approached, many of the sun worshipers were concerned that the rain wouldn't let up. A last minute combination of a towel on an ice scraper would prove wise for Colin as he had no defroster. Matt struggled to find traction through the standing water as the slicks increased the excitement. One minor mistake in the flat esses and Matt spun off track and lightly brushed the tires. He was glad to get it out of his system and soldiered on.
The race got off to a clean start. Right away visibility proved to be the greatest challenge as we struggled to see through the water mist and fogged glass. Colin's towel tool got a work out on every straight as he stayed as close to James Joyce as visibility would allow. Slower cars would appear through the haze and the trio of Joyce, Jevens and Lydic would make safe passage and see the checkered in that order. This makes 3 out of 3 CMC wins for Renntag Racing. Matt brought it home safely for a 6th in class. Way to go on slick tires !!
Race 4
Sunday was a little colder and with more wind it appeared that the rain was going to get pushed away. Practice/qualifying was dry this time around and Mike Morris stole the pole from Colin by 3 tenths. Both drivers were running near the class lap record. Matt was still working out loss of power issues as his car wasn't up to par. Race time proved to be dry and ideal conditions. Last minute changes of front brakes and new R888 tires proved to not be the best choice as early performance suffered. With a heavy front end push in hogs pen, Colin dropped a wheel over the curbing and decided it best to take it for a an agricultural tour re-entering the track at start finish without incident. Later in the race after full course caution, Colin chose incorrectly when passing a slower FFR on the outside of the kink after start finish, once again taking the grassy line in front of the crowd. He was able to get the car slowed to make T1 but lost a couple positions in the process. We later heard that the crowd reacted to the spectacle with excitement and race control commented that the faster line was actually ON the pavement. The team made note of it. Colin rolled across the finish line in a cluster of 3rd, 4th, and 5th and took 4th. Matt finished close behind for 6th.
Just a month away is race 5 and 6 at Summit Point Raceway. We hope to see you there.
