1999 BMW E36 M3 with S54 (328 whp SAE5) at 2520 lbs with fuel and driver. 245/40/17 Hoosier A7 (2nd event). Well, not quite the weekend I had in mind but so much fun getting to run my car for the first time at Willow Springs with aero and S54. This is the fastest lap of the Friday test day before Bimmer Challenge on Saturday. Unfortunately, I separated my splitter going in to T1 after completing this lap, ending my weekend prematurely. A result of allowing too much compliance with under-sprung dampers and smashing fragile composites in to the ground/kerbs frequently. Don’t really care about breaking the splitter, just sour I had to sit this event out… Have been looking forward to it since missing this round last year as well.
Despite crying in my room while watching Race Hero on Saturday morning, I am stoked with the results from my test day and feel like we made some great progress with the stiffer Eibach springs. The increase in platform made the loss in mechanical grip seem insignificant. Car has serious pace and I know there is a 1:19 in it. This practice lap had plenty of errors so with a few more laps and a fresh set of tires, I know we will get there. Let’s keep digging.