| |
The NASA March race at VIR started out with a friday test and tune and typical warm and sunny early spring southern weather. Unfortunately, that weather didnt hold as saturday's weather turned unseasonably cold with some dampness lingering in the air. Rain would hold off for the day (blatant foreshadowing), so track conditions were cold and fast. |
 |
In the overcrowded Stinger race group, WWR teamed up and timed their hot laps perfectly to minimize traffic. Alan would qualify in P1, with Evan right behind him in the 2nd row in P3. Yet again there was a large SpecMiata turnout, with 36 cars qualifying, and top built cars aplenty.
For the race, WWR ran with the lead pack of 5 cars with Alan out front until he took the dirt track racing line through oak tree and rejoined in 5th place and still with the lead pack, with Evan just ahead in 3rd. After battling with Nick Leverone and Brian Cates, Team WWR finally hooked up nose to tail and were ready to assault the competition as a team, when Evan put a wheel off at the turn-in to turn 3 and spun off into the dirt, only to rejoin way back in the pack.
Alan fought on to a podium spot in 3rd place.
Sunday was again cold, and this time the rain did not hold off. In qualifying, Evan found out what happens when water and oil mix, as a corvette had oiled down the braking zone to Oak Tree and Evan slid off track and into the wall. Alan went on to post a strong qualifying performance landing him on the front row in P2.
Evan would retire from the weekend due to the damage.
The race was wet and slick, with survival being the name of the game. Alan battled hard with Nick Leverone until Nick went off leaving Alan to finish on track in 2nd place, and with the leader disqualified for passing under yellow, Alan got the win. Congrats to Alan!
Thanks to Chris Snobeck for great photography work. Pictures of the weekend can be viewed here
|
