NASA GTS - Autobahn wrapup

[cstreit]

Thank you to the many GTS drivers who attended Round 2 of the Autobahn Country Club event. Despite a shakey start with the weather, the conditions were perfect for our string of continued action and lap records.

Saturday started out wet with the entire field getting some mileage on the rain tires. It appeared that conditions were drying in time for qualifying as the GTS competitors largely started changing to dry's as word swept through the paddock. This turns out to be a significant game-changer as a light drizzle started backup up minutes before the qualifying session and slippery conditions created a very challenging environment for those competitors on dry's.


Photo by Shon Lo

The GTS2 BMW of Cates had a damaging off during this session that cost him some bodywork but he was back racing on Sunday. The track had tried but was quite green for the race. Because of the wet/dry decisions during qualifying the starting grid was quite mixed with the GTS2 BMW of Tom Tiede on the pole followed by the GTS3 Audi of Matt Markowicz and the GTS2 Porsche of Enzo Campagnolo rounding out the top 3.

The award for best first laps go to the GTS3 BMW of Vince Ko who passed 6 cars on lap one and Roy Lipner who passed 8 cars on the first lap! Despite the green track two new lap records were set on Saturday's race:

New Track Record (1:35.987) for GTS3 by Roy Lipner.
New Track Record (1:38.562) for GTS2 by Enzo Campagnolo

On Sunday the sun was out and the day started with big possibilities. With warm track temperatures and cool dense air the drivers knew that more records were likely today.


Photo by Shon Lo

On the poles by lap times were:
GTS4 Porsche - Chris Streit qualifying with a 1:32.522
GTS3 BMW - Korey Deason 1:34.967 (better than existing record)
GTS2 Porsche - Enzo Campagnolo with a 1:36.934 (better than existing record)
GTS1 - Paul Milligan qualifying with a 1:41.345 (better than existing record)


In GTS4, Streit gained a large margin on the field and attained the track record that had stood since 2006 set by the previous GTS Director, Chris Orr. The Porsche of Ralf Lindackers finished 2nd followed by a tremendous dice between the Porsche (and rookie) Dave Connally, the Team Catatonic Racing BMW, and Nic Georgieff (Porsche). The Audi of Mark Siggelkow continues to improve with only minor issues preventing a finish today.


Photo by Shon Lo

On the start Lipner attempted to slot behind the GTS4 car of Streit. Deason, who had qualified with the fastest time of the weekend, shut the door on Lipner. A few laps in, Lipner makes a late braking pass into Turn 8 and hold the GTS3 lead untill the end with a scant 3 second margin. Battling for 3rd and 4th, The BMW of Vince Ko and the Audi of Matt Markowicz maintained close proximity for the first 20 minutes of the race but as Ko worked traffic he built a sizable lead througout the second half of the race.

In GTS2 the visiting Great Lakes Porsche 944 driver Enzo Campagnolo finished with a 50 second lead over the Audi of Matt Markowicz with Cates and Tiede close behind. Kamino retired in Lap 4.

Visting Great Lakes driver John Graber (Porsche 944) took the GTS1 win with a 5 second lead over Paul Milligan.

When the dust settled, all represented classes obtained a new track record. Congratulations to:

New Track Record (1:31.238) for GTS4 by Chris Streit.
New Track Record (1:34.808) for GTS3 by Roy Lipner.
New Track Record (1:37.656) for GTS2 by Enzo Campagnolo
New Track Record (1:40.559) for GTS1 by John Graber

[cgarr]

Well heck, thats great! So does the rain the day before do anything for the track the next day or is it all pretty much cool air and hot track?

[cstreit]

Craig,

Well it makes the track slower untill some rubber gets laid down, but also cleans off some of the oil so I think the NEXT day is the fast day (as the times proved)

Got the Dow730 BTW, THANKS!

[333pg333]

Well done Chris!! ...but I'm a little confused. I always thought the US classes went down to a lower number the faster you got, so GTS1 would be the fastest followed by GTS2 and so on. Seems the opposite judging by the times??

So is the combined North and South tracks? I've actually driven the South track with a days tuition in a E39 rented at the track. Nice little layout but a long way from home.

[cstreit]

Patrick,

It is the opposite in NASA. Not sure why they chose to do it differently...

The class breakdown is rather simple for GTS:

DOT race tires / Non-DoT race tires (slicks):
GTSU = 5.99 and lower / GTSU = 6.49 and lower
GTS5 = 6.0 - 8.49 / GTS5 = 6.5 - 8.99
GTS4 = 8.5 - 10.99 / GTS4 = 9.0 - 11.99
GTS3 = 11.0 - 14.49 / GTS3 = 12.0 - 15.99
GTS2 = 14.50 - 18.5 / GTS2 = 16.0 - 19.99


I love the full course, but it's not available on weekends so I've only run it once. Really interesting layout then. North is a little short for my taste, South is decent, combined? Awesome!
GTS1 = 18.50 and higher GTS1 = 20.0 and higher

[333pg333]

So Chris, are these figures power to weight? So divide the weight of the car by crank hp?
We use kilowatts at the engine so come up with different figures, but similar concept. However it doesn't cover off tech advancements like ABS or not, wider track or not, double A Arm full coils or not...let alone traction or PASM etc...

[cstreit]

Patrick,

That's the beauty of GTS. It's very simple.

Take the weight of the vehicle (can be checked at ANY time) with driver. Divide by the dyno-verified RWHP (also can be checked at any time) and come up with the number. The formula only changes if a) you are running slicks, or b) you have a tube-frame.

Mods are allowed unless otherwise stated.

[KTL]

You'll notice my car pictured in the first picture but no mention of achievement........ I proudly avoided last in class by catching & passing an E46 M3 on the last lap to salvage 4/5 in class. Woo hoo.

However I got to start near the front because I stayed conservative and qualified on the intermediates. So that was fun to see the hotshoes do their thing and mix it up at the start. Fun stuff for sure. Looking forward to Putnam!

[333pg333]

Looks and sounds great fun. Jealous.

btw what is the Black car in the rhs of the top photo?

[KTL]

Black car is a ST1 class turbo'ed and flared/widebody Miata.

[333pg333]

Right, wow. I'd never have guessed. Forced induction?