Who here races in WRL?

[Nickshu]

I have been doing club racing in PCA for 2 years, sprint racing w/ the occasional shorter enduro. I bought a seat (arrive and drive) at Road America for WRL in an E36 BMW in GP1 in May. I have known the guys who run this team (Big Mission Motorsports) for years and they have been "working on me" for a couple years to get me to run with them.

I am excited and nervous. For anyone who has done it are there any tips do you have for me?

[rockfan4]

Are you looking for tips running with WRL, or tips to get around Road America?

I haven't driven with WRL, but I was on a crew about 5 years ago. Coincidentally with a GP1 E36 BMW out of Colorado. Grey Design Build, not sure if they're running still or not.
The car finished 2nd in GP1 and 4th overall in the Saturday race. Sunday we broke a front strut, and the team didn't have a spare so we were done.

Looks like the team you're running with is down a car for a bit, one got wrecked at the last race. Hopefully not the one you're booked for.

I checked the entry list, are there really that many GT4 cars running WRL? If so, I hope you have some big mirrors as they're likely 20 seconds faster per lap at Road America.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by rockfan4

Are you looking for tips running with WRL, or tips to get around Road America?

I haven't driven with WRL, but I was on a crew about 5 years ago. Coincidentally with a GP1 E36 BMW out of Colorado. Grey Design Build, not sure if they're running still or not.
The car finished 2nd in GP1 and 4th overall in the Saturday race. Sunday we broke a front strut, and the team didn't have a spare so we were done.

Looks like the team you're running with is down a car for a bit, one got wrecked at the last race. Hopefully not the one you're booked for.

I checked the entry list, are there really that many GT4 cars running WRL? If so, I hope you have some big mirrors as they're likely 20 seconds faster per lap at Road America.

Thanks. Never heard of Grey Design so probably not.
Yes #336 had big damage at Barber, I still have a seat for RA they have another car they can sub in.

I have raced at Road America before so I know the track.
Agree on big mirrors, fortunately running an SPB in PCA I am used to getting run down by Cup cars and GTD/B cars all day.

I guess looking for any advice on what to bring, this is my first A&D event where I don't have my trailer full of stuff with me. Just a carry on suitcase.

[ZOO]

I generally only do "arrive and drive" for a series that evolved from CHUMP car. Here are my tips -- don't get in the way, but carry your weight. Don't trip on someone else's ego. Don't do anything that takes the car out of commission for the next driver. I'm a pretty good wrench, so I'm happy to jump in on repairs . . . even if it means keeping the pit/paddock organized while someone else does the heavy lifting.

I try to run around 95 percent of the pace of the team owners if they too are driving. Total laps count way more than a single fast lap

[rockfan4]

There's probably nothing I can suggest that the team wouldn't already recommend.
I assume they have a "you need to bring this" list.

3 or 4 drivers in the car? Does the car have a fuel cell? How large? Looks like Saturday is 9 hours and Sunday is 7, so I'd think you would have two stints in the car each day.

Is the driver that isn't either getting in or getting out of the car required to do anything during a pitstop? When we're short, the 3rd driver holds the fire extinguisher.

The weather at Road America in mid-May should be somewhere between 40 and raining and 70 and sunny. Pack appropriately. We had a heavy rain on Saturday in 2018, and WRL had an extended yellow for water running over the track. They eventually red-flagged the race for a while. Can you put a bag in the trailer rather than taking it with you on the plane? If so, a second set of gear could be nice. Do you have a helmet dryer? If I remember correctly, there is power on the pit wall.

Otherwise, what ZOO said applies. Don't try to get 100% out of the car. Talk to the team about curbs ahead of time, and stay on the track in 3 and 8. They usually rut up from people who can't stay on the track, and it just gets worse and worse as the day goes on.

Watch for idiots that pass you coming out of the carousel and then slam on the brakes for the kink.

[Nickshu]

Thanks guys great advice. Rockfan I have most of those questions answered, will ask remaining.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by rockfan4

Watch for idiots

i think this says it all in terms of endurance racing.

[Nickshu]

Following up... Ran the WRL race at RA last weekend. I think the only E36 in the field. Team brought 4 cars. We were the only one that wasn't broken all weekend, it was a rough weekend for the crew. We did DNF on Saturday after 6 hours due to a transmission leak, but were able to run all Sunday w/ a P5 finish out of 16 cars. Being my first WRL race...I was happy to just finish having not wadded up the car for my teammates.
I did 90 minutes on Saturday before the car broke, and drove a double stint on Sunday for 2.5 hours which was a new experience being in the car that long, coming from sprint racing.

I did get bumped in the door in turn 14 by a rather aggressive pass in the midst of traffic in qualifying, but no significant damage. Talked w/ the guy in the paddock and we just both said sorry and that was it. Overall it was fun, but I had a hard time in this particular car b/c the seat did not go far enough forward combined with a lot of brake pedal travel, so deep braking was on my tip toes. Crew tried a bunch of padding but once compressed with the harnesses it only helped a little. The team will have to reconfigure the seat if I run with them again. While it was fun, I am mixed about doing WRL again. In GP1 we were getting run down by GTO cars all weekend (many who parked it in front of me in the next corner). Not wanting to ruin the weekend for my teammates I felt like I was driving my mirrors all weekend. I feel like it would be more fun in a GTO car, which is out of my budget LOL.

[Nickshu]

That's me on the far left w/ the green cap. It was cold.