D1NZ Final Round: Day 2
We were allowed 1 practice session In the morning so Lee and myself got cracking and checked over the car, New YOKOHAMA S drives on the rear and made sure my ADVAN Neova AD-08’s were at my dry weather air temp. Straight into the practice session and the power steering belt comes off on the first corner. I really needed a drama free day just for once, so back in the pits and another belt put on. I decided to just take it real easy in the qualifying session just to make sure I got to the top 16.
Qualifying
The car was still running sweet but it was just the power steering belt causing me issues. My first run was up and I decided to take it very conservatively and the belt stayed on, I came back into the pits to get lee to check on the belt quickly before my next run.
I went all out on this run and sure enough my temp gauge jumped at the end of my run to 95 degrees. I knew something wasn’t right as my car doesn’t get over 85 degrees. My water pump belt had been chewed to bits. I quickly shut the car down and pulled over to the side so I could be towed back into the pits. While we got to work fixing the problem before the top 16 Rounds started, which meant missing out on the last qualifying run. My fingers were crossed and I was hoping I had made the top 16.
Before I knew it I was asked to line up for top 16. After all the dramas with the car I had Qualified 3rd. I’d like to thank everyone who helped me get the car back together.
Top 16
Bruce Tannock was my first battle, the first run I was leading and had no idea where Bruce was but was sure he was close. When I followed Bruce, I realised he was slow and wide coming over the hill so I drifted past for the win.
I was now in the top 8 and over the moon. Although I was even happier that my power steering belt wasn't coming off.
Top 8
To be up against Fanga Dan Woolhouse was a dream come true! I have been watching the like of Gaz, Mike and Fanga since I was too young to drive. I was so excited I think its half the reason I wasn’t on song. I ran wide on my lead lap and then with the lack of grip I just couldn’t keep up with fanga in the chase run. I was now out of contention for the comp. I finished D1NZ Round 6 in 7th place.
Thanks to everyone who supported me through out the season.
After D1NZ's final round, Jake’s sights are set on World Time Attack. Confident his run of bad luck is truly behind him, he’s ready to take on the best on his home soil. ‘Everything that can break has now broken and replaced with something stronger and we aim to be very competitive at Eastern Creek’ writes Jake.