Sunday, Zhuhai International Circuit.

 

It is basically a sunny day today, but when we talk about Zhuhai, it can rain while having a shinning sun in the sky. The track condition is beautiful. It looks a little damp but actually you can say it is dry surface.

 

We planed to do at least 3 sessions today. But plans can never catch up changes.

 

I started with the 11:30am session today, mainly to test the new braking pads. Alan said there are two sets of brake pads, one is German, the other is British. The test we did was a blind test. Alan put on one of the sets, and I drive 5 laps on the track. Then come back to change to the other set and I drive for another 5 laps. And then tell Alan which set I prefer to use.

I felt the first set is the German one. Because Alan told me that the German set need more braking skill. The pads stop the car more efficiently, but the wheels will lock up at the end of the braking. The driver should do something to avoid wheel lock up. I could feel the wheels locked up at the end of braking. I tried to loose the brake a bit but it did not work well. I tried to adjust the brake bias, it did work a bit, but the wheels still lock up. I do not have enough laps to try everything I want to try then I had to go back to the pit.

I think I like the British brake pads better, although Alan told me they do not stop the car as well as the German ones. But I personally feel the British ones brake better. The wheels still lock up a bit, but not as bad as when using the German ones. However, I do not feel the brake is too much better than the day when I was driving on wet. About 30 meters shorter at the end of the main straight.

I wonder if I should test more to find out exactly which set I like, but it looks we are already behind the time and there is not much chance to test.

After the second 5 laps, actually it was 4 laps, I drove back to the pit, because I smell a strange smell and saw some light smoke came from the back (engine) when I turned into T1. Alan had a quick look and then we decide to stop for a while.

We finally decided to try one more session, the 3:30pm session, which is the last session for touring cars. Alan drove for 2 laps first to see if everything goes ok. I feel shame being a driver not able to know everything about the car and had to have Alan to test it for me. Later on I got in the car and tried. I only drove for 3 laps the rain comes again.

 

Well, my best timing today is 1'57. Three seconds slower than the fastest lap time in last October.

Altogether 12 laps today. Easy job for me.