Rockingham, Round 2, 16th ApriL

After test sessions fine tuning the transmission software and adding a new traction control system, both drivers were lapping in the low 1.31secs during qualifying - an indication of the potential race pace. Mark set an impressive 1.28.9 lap time – which placed the MX-5 GT sixth in class for the race. During the actual race, a consistent pace combined with the reliability of the car took it up to third place in class - a podium finish. Considering this was only the second outing with the car, this was a great result.


Britcar Dunlop Production GTN Championship Race Diary

Rockingham Race Circuit
16th April 2011
by Owen Mildenhall

Having designed and built the MX-5 GT in an impressively short time the Jota Sport team had been hard at work since the last race at Silverstone. Power steering was fitted to the car while revised suspension settings, designed to help the balance, had been completed since the first race at Silverstone. A test session at Brands Hatch had proved that we’d made big progress, so everyone was looking forward to getting to Rockingham.

Practice
In the Friday practice session we concentrated on fine-tuning the transmission software to insure smooth seamless up changes via the wheel mounted paddle shift system. Our partners from OBR also set up the cars newly added traction control system, which allows us drivers to adjust the level of intervention via a dash switch.

At the end of the first two sessions both Mark and I were lapping in the low 1.31secs
- an indication of the race pace we might be looking at. Unfortunately, a small problem with the fuel rail caused a petrol leak, which curtailed the last session. But an amazing effort by the team, which saw them head back to base in Frant to fabricate a new rail, made sure the car was ready for qualifying on Saturday morning.

Qualifying
With 45 minutes for qualifying, Mark headed out first to scrub a set of tyres for the race. An early red flag, then gave the team time to put on another new set, with which Mark could set a qualifying lap. With the team helping him find space on the tight Rockingham layout via the radio, Mark set an impressive 1.28.9 laptime – which placed us sixth in class. I jumped in and headed out on the same set of tyres but a fuel pressure warning meant an early stop to check under the bonnet. Fortunately, there was no repeat of our practice day problem, so we headed into the afternoons race feeling confident of a good result.

Race
With the Production cars lining up with the GT contenders for the two and half hour race the Ferrari, Porsche and BMW filled grid looked impressive in front of the huge Rockingham grandstands. Lined up in sixth in Production, the MX-5 GT stood out from the crowd of bigger and more powerful cars - a real giant killer.

Mark started the race and made a superb start passing a far more powerful Production class BMW M3 before settling into a consistent race pace. This was a pattern that continued throughout the race. Mark set our fastest race lap on new tyres at the start of the race but crucially both Mark and I could lap in the 1.31 or 1.32 region comfortably, with only faster traffic passing us or sometimes holding us up in the corners! Losing us time.

After an hour and thirty minutes I got into the car and switched to the new set of tyres we had scrubbed in qualifying. We topped up with fuel at the pitstop but our excellent  consumption is a real asset in a long race, reducing the time we spend filling up.

Straight away I tried to settle into a consistent pace - our main aim with this race was to learn how the balance of the car changes with fuel load and tyre usage. Impressively, the handling remained consistent and even as rear grip went away the MX-5 was very controllable.

With a high speed banked first corner taken in fifth gear and two long left hand corners Rockingham works the right rear tyre very hard and puts heavy demands on the car by loading the suspension for long periods but the MX-5 coped well. Plus, the Mazda’s agility was a real asset in the twisty sections of the infield layout and keeping up with GT3 Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s here certainly raises a smile!

Towards the end of my stint I caught a Lotus Elise and SEAT Leon but with the team advising me that they were a lap down I didn’t take any risks trying to pass them.
By this point a consistent and importantly reliable run had seen us rise up to third place and luck was on our side - as with a lap to go a left rear puncture, meant I had to limp across the line. However, we retained our third place and a podium in only our second outing with the car was a great result.

Especially, as there’s still so much development to come - in fact we’ve only just began to scratch the surface of this cars potential. But collecting some silver ware and standing on the rostrum was a great way to end the Rockingham weekend and a superb way to thank Mazda and Jota for all the hard work bringing this programme together.

Now I can’t wait for the next round at Donington in three weeks time…

Rockingham Race Circuit
16th April 2011
by Mark Ticehurst

General
Following the first race meeting at Silverstone we identified that the suspension geometry was causing a problem which was resulting in the rear dampers being ineffective. The issue was as a result of the additional rear camber being required to run on the control Dunlop slicks. The Jota Sport team did a superb job of identifying and rectifying this problem, together with additional improvements across the car. A test at Brands Hatch immediately showed our improved performance.

The Mazda MX-5 GT race car had only completed approximately four hours of circuit time before Round two at Rockingham, and Jota Sport and Mazda UK were working hard together to start to untap the huge potential in the car.

Qualifying
The general testing the previous day had gone very much to plan until a fuel system fitting failed which resulted in us missing the third session and a dash back to base by Jota Sport Engineer, Lyndsay. We also identified further areas of improvement for the car and these were made on Saturday morning before the qualifying session started.

I did the first stint of qualifying which was also used to bed in a set of new slicks for the race. I was very pleased to significantly improve our lap times over the previous day and on my second qualifying lap I posted a 1min 28.9secs, which resulted in us being sixth in class, 21st overall.

Owen completed the qualifying session and was also posting some competitive lap times. Whilst it would have been nice to have qualified further up the grid it should be noted that the deficit to the fastest car in the class had halved when compared to Silverstone. The Mazda MX-5 GT race car has steadily improved at a remarkable pace and we are all very confident that it will soon be on the front running pace.

Race – 2 ½ hour endurance

I took the start of the race and made steady progress through the field. The Mazda MX-5 GT has superb chassis dynamics and handling that gives the driver great confidence. This is even more noticeable when in traffic and allows us to overtake and defend with confidence and ease.

At the end of the first hour we had climbed an amazing 12 places and were laying fourth in class, ninth overall. I had a fantastic dice with the Lotus Elise and Ginetta G50 for a number of laps and took great pleasure in being able to beat them both and be able to extend our advantage over them.

I pitted at mid race distance and handed over to Owen. Our pit stop was a conservative stop as we have not got the benefit of the other teams experience of their cars so we decided put on new tyres and additional fuel for a safety margin. This is something we will be able to improve on as we get experience of, and understand the Mazda MX-5 GT race car.

Owen did a great job and was third in class, 13th overall at the end of the 2nd hours and then completed the race third in class 13th overall.

This is an absolutely amazing result considering that the Mazda MX-5 GT race car has still only completed less than 10 hours of circuit time. When compared to the vast mileage and experience of our rivals such as the winning BMW M3 E48 and the second placed Lotus Elise S2, it demonstrated the core strengths of the Mazda MX-5 and the huge potential it has as a GT race car.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all at Mazda UK and Jota Sport for the continued hard work, determination and enthusiasm which are already starting to give results in this very competitive national endurance racing championship. I can’t wait for the next round at Donington and with the further improvements, I am confident we will be on the top step of the podium soon.


 


 


Rockingham (International SuperSportscar Circuit)




Turn1 banking: Very fast approach in 5th gear and no lift. However, be careful when running in traffic as easy to run out of room and hit the wall.




Deene Hairpin: Braking just before the 100m board and down to 2nd gear. Nasty dip at apex can unsettle the car.




PifPaf: Very long double apex left hander which is deceptively fast on the exit. Keeps the car loaded up for a significant amount of time.





Tarzan Hairpin: 2nd gear late apex. Be prepared to overtake on the brakes, or be overtaken if you don’t defend.




Final chicane – No room for error as kerbs are massive and going over them would result in race ending damage. Concentrate on a good exit onto the banking.



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