We started with our Elise in the production class. The opponents were mainly from the UK but also 1 guy from belgium. So overall 9 participants in the class. I did a good qualifying lap and reached 2nd in class. But: 3 seconds slower than the fastest car in class: awesome. Craig Denman. He´s also driving Elise Trophy in the UK and is the favourite on that race weekend in spa in Lotus Cup Europe.
Race 1, dry track, unusual hot temperature for the belgian track:
Grid position:2, Finished: 2nd in Class.
Race 2, again dry track, unusual hot temperature for the belgian track:
Grid position:2, Finished: 2nd in Class. Sounds boring, but it was really heavy work…
3rd: Alain Corbiau (ES Motorsport), 1st: Craig Denman (denmanandsonsltd.com), 2nd: Markus Nikowitsch (JP RACING). Photo copyright Lotus Cup Europe.com
Always nice to see that the british collegues from Lotus Cup Europe know how to present the series. Thats really a nice service. I like that! Here´s a video race report including interviews with some of the drivers from (Lotus Cup Europe).
The results (5th/6th May 2012) of this 2 races of the 2nd round of Lotus Cup Europe 2012 can be found here.
Free Practice:
In the first free practice stint we used our slick tires just to find out, how our car (#776) feels like with this tires. The best laptime was a 2:05 after 15 minutes of free practice. Not bad for some first laps with slicks and me as a driver with only few expericences with slick tires. And: I´m definitely not the “Hausmeister” on Pannoniaring! That special attribute would better fit to Peter Entenfellner who drove the lap of his life in his babyblue Honda Exige – with a 2:07 time – on Toyo888! I didn´t expect that he could go the pace (and I think he didn´t either).
In the second free practice stint, we used Toyo 888 tires which we have to drive in the Lotus Cup Eastern Europe Series. Laptime dropped to 2:09. Entenfellner now was quicker about half a second. Hmmm.. Did I mention that it´s really really extremely hot today?
Let´s speak about the good news: The JP/SADEV sequential gearbox we now use in our #776 really is a dream! The flatshift is awesome, you just go on full throttle and bang, bang, bang, there go the gears…! Thats amazing and good for me.. because some say I´m a gearkiller or as Daniel Kobliczek somewhen in 2008 said “Was der Nikowitsch nicht kaputt bekommt, das hält!”. So, the gearbox is still working.
What really could be a problem on that weekend are the very high temperatures at around 30-35 degrees. So that´s not good for the engine (and for the drivers).
Qualifying 1
We did a good 2:09 laptime. That meant: pole position for the JP-Exige #776. Nothing more to say, than: Hurray!
Race 1
Short onboard video sequence where you can see the gearbox usage. Honestly: that was really worth all the hard effort we put in the development of the car, the technical failures we had and all the bad days just arriving on a testday racetracks and leaving after some laps because of issues with the car – this is history. NOW THE CAR WORKS – AND HELL THIS IS FUN TO DRIVE!!!! Fullstop! Period!
Podium Race 1
I did a very bad start..hmm.. My fault. But in the end, the 2nd position if fine for me. I could hold the first position for around half of the race, stressed the tires a tiny little little bit to much I guess… That meant at the end: I´ve got to drive like a rallye driver because of less grip, so the czech driver slipped trough. So next time: save the tires!
Qualifying 2:
Again did a good qualifying lap good for pole. No need to drive one more meter in that hot circumstances.
Race 2
Standing Start Onboard #776. Starting from Pole Position. Good start from me, but even better was the start from Moritz (my teammate, #731). He overtook Benedek Major (GFS Racing) before reaching the first corner! Here´s a mixed view from the front and rear cams, onboard the JP Exige (#776):
Conclusion
That was a brilliant nice weekend at the Pannoniaring, which I´ve to say I really like a lot now. Why? Good Espresso from Mario and good food, nice girls everywhere (especially the sweet Dora), challenging and safe racetrack and no FIA-over-Regulations-shit around.
And not to forget the relaxing time in the wellness area. That´s a raceweekend I´d prefer! So to sum up: easy going (but most of the time no comprende… Hungarian language ist really strange…).
Thank you Hungary, thanks Dora for translating and organizing. Sometimes we´re really a bunch of lazy guys I know! Thank you Martin for building that car! Thanks Manni for support and thanks Moritz for being in the team. Thanks to GFS Racing! That´s always a lot of fun with you on track!
Not the best weekend for JP RACING on Slovakiaring … that racetrack is great, but everytime we went there with our JP EXIGE, we had various problems.. argnn shit ey.. .. Congratulations to Egon and Tamaz from GFS Racing Team for taking the wins in Races 1 and 2. Next try next weekend: Pannoniaring, Hungary (3rd round Lotus Cup Eastern Europe).
Here are the last two laps of the first race. I defended the 1st position until the very final lap. It was a damn wet track and I never had such extreme circumstances, that really was a fight with the car trying to find grip on the surface.
Accidentally I did let Matt Bartett (#13, black Exige) pass when braking to late and staying too much on the left side. .. didn´t want to risk touching his car in that situation.
Due to the fact that we have to deal with some more technical issues with our JP Exige, we decided to start again with the bulletproof “T-Car”: our white Lotus Elise S1 #76 in Magny Cours, France. I have to say that Magny Cours is definitly THE race track I like most with its long bends and clean curbs. The class the car is running in is the Production class (5 entrants in that class), that means: some modifications allowed.
Saturday afternoon, Qualifying:
We archieved a really good result on saturday in qualifying with reaching pole position in class with 2.5 seconds ahead of the 2nd car in class (Nigel Ayres, also Lotus Elise S1). Weather was good with a dry track. So our goal for the 2 races on sunday was now to finish both races on position 1. Weather forecast looked good so far.
Sunday, Race 1, 9:00 a.m.
Starting race 1 (rolling start, 30 Min lenght) on sunday meant running the cars on an insane wet track. That was really a ride on the bullet everybody had to struggle with. I had a good start and kept the lead for around 28 minutes in front of the black Exige S2 of Matt Bartlett, who had a really big advantage for that race called ABS. In wet it´s really THE feature you should have. .. and I of course had no ABS in my S1. 2 laps before the end of the race he finally overtook me by braking later (Onboard Video Sequence here) hmm, so, that meant for me: 2nd place in class, but anyway: it again was a tough fight for over 30 minutes, against the car, against the track and against Matt
Sunday, Race 2, 2:00 p.m.
Race 2 was a standing start, Video View from #76, 20 Min race length. This time I had a fight with Nigel Ayres (Onboard Video view), who tried to follow me for the whole race. He was later on the brakes in most of the corners, but I could hold him back until the chequered flag. Again: hard work to do and some more important race experience. So that was 1st position and a class win in Race 2.
Here´s the official race report of this race weekend. Well done, Mr .Nikowitsch!
Race Season started for us in Germany, Nürburgring this weekend (April 6th to 8th, 2012). On that weekend the first 2 races of the UK organized Lotus Cup Europe Series took part. Weather? Well, for skiing probably ok.. for motorsport it was a nightmare on friday and saturday morning with snow and wet track. Sunday´s race then was dry.
Here´s the onboard video of the second race (full race. that was a very entertaining race):
The result after the 2x 30min Races is: 2x 3rd places reached in Production Class (Driver: Markus Nikowitsch).
The Car:
We´re looking forward to the Raceweekend in Hungary, Budapest (Lotus Cup Eastern Europe) at the end of April. There we will start with the Jubu Exige. … so hopefully weather is better in Budapest.
To close this season we thought about testing the car using slick tires instead of Toyo 888 or Yokohama A048 which we usually had to use in Lotus Cup Europe or Eastern Europe. My only experience with slick tires were from the times I had a LMP-Prototype (Norma M20). So I was very exited about that test day. The track which we used for this testsession was the Slovakiaring, so a track which we know very well. The best laptime driven with Yokohama A048 tires last year (similar power and sequential gearbox) was a 2:24.6 laptime.
Result for this day: running on Toyo R888 we generated a best laptime of 2.21.6 (so 3 seconds faster than compared to the last years run on A048). Running on Yokohama A005 slicks best laptime was a 2.16.086. That was quite a good results if you consider the low temperatures on track and therefore low griplevel.
The only negative thing I can say about the race track: the muppet who designed this racetrack should be shot. The jumphill on the track is absolutly dangerous and I now can imagine the feeling the driver had in this situation. (watch the last few seconds). Anyway, now we´re planing in which series we will run the car next year.
Of course we will show up in several Lotus Cup Europe and Eastern Europe rounds, but the plan is also to drive in series which allows slick/fully wets.
The slovakian Saleen S7R from race 1 didn´t want to start in this race, the Alfa 156 crashed in race 1, so grid again is decimated. Only the strong (and hell this car was loud) BMW M3 and the Porsche Cup 997 are standing in front of me. Temperatures now were quite good with around 10 degrees, so grip was much better than in the morning race. My start was again good and again could overtake the BMW on the straight line. What is the guy doing?? By the way, they all run on slicks, we use Toyo Sport Tires. Also does Tomas Kusy, which started behind me (the Lotus Honda powered Exige).
We tried to finish this race like race 1 but I did a big mistake in lap 8 when I tried to overtake 2 cars with 228km/h before the chicane. I came with both left wheels on the grass, hit the brakes, but still on the grass, reduced speed to around 200km/h and then got sideways. WTF…. Luckily there was no contact with the red Clio (#514), driven by a young girl, but race was over for her, too because missed brakepoint completly.
No contact with the stack of tires, but hit the backside of the curbs very hard, still going sideways with around 100 km/h.
Sideways up in the air.
And finally touched ground with all wheels again and went straight into the gravel.
Shame on me, I should have let both cars finish their overtaking action and then overlap both safely after (!) passing the chicane. At that time, I already was several seconds in front of Tomas Kusy, so no need to push that hard, I´d won this race anyway…. Now, again there will be some repairs for the guys from Jubu Performance. And for this time, I can´t call it “technical failure” it´s just my own stupidity.
Nevertheless: It was a difficuly race season for all of us. We did major steps at the end of the season, so hope we can proceed at that point next year.
Here´s a short onboard video of the standing start of race 1 (Rearview and the Frontview). Lotus Cup Eastern Europe is driving this race with the drivers from the FIA Zone SLO TW/HU. So in front of me on grid: Saleen S7R (1:25.8), Porsche Cup 997 (1:27.4), BMW M3 (1:29.3), Alfa Romeo 156 (1:31.3). Due to the fact that some drivers smashed their cars in qualification (or in the warmup lap!) there were some places not occupied (Porsche Cup 997 hit the wall, SEAT Leon burnt down ….). Behind me on starting grid: Tomas Kusy (Czech Republic, 1:34.2) in his strong Honda powered Exige.
Goal was: good start and then just try to escape as fast as possible to hold this 1st position. This race started on Oct 15th, 2011 on around 8:30 in the morning. So it was freezing cold. Despite this tricky weather conditions we could run 1:34 minutes laptimes. The driver of the red Alfa 156 (did a 1:31 in qualifying) tried to keep up with me, but couldn´t. Then after 3 laps he was gone (tried to overtake a slower car he went on the grass with all 4 wheels. That was no good idea…).
After the 25 minutes race, we had more than 1 minute advance on the position 2 driver (T.Kusy) and could finish again on first position. So well done so far. Lets have a Wiener Schnitzel for lunch and repeat this victory in race 2.
Klaus and me are driving on Salzburgring/Austria in Lotus Cup Eastern Europe this weekend (Oct 14th/Oct 15th 2011). Qualification went really good for us. For Exige #723 (M.Nikowitsch) it´s pole again in Lotus Cup Eastern Europe Series (#723, the red/white exige 1.33.858),and luckily 1 positon in front of Thomas Kusy (Honda Exige 1.34.258). Klaus Requat also did a good qualifying with 1:37.089. We´re running with the FIA Zone SLO/HU Touring Car Championship. That means in front of us are cars like Saleen, Porsche 997 Cup, Alfa, BMW M3, Seat Leon. And: They´re all running on slicks, we have to use Toyo 888 street legal tires.
6th and final round of the Lotus Cup Europe 2011 Season took place in Belgium on the famous Spa Francorchamps racetrack.
Photo Courtesy of Yvo Tuk, (c) elise-shop.com 2011
Everybody who is interested in driving a Lotus Elise, Exige, 2-Eleven or whatever on track will be there on that weekend, that was for sure. So for us as Team JP Racing, it was a good chance to find out, if we can compete against the top teams from UK, Belgium and France in the Exige Class with the red/white JP Exige. So here´s my race report (sorry, german only).
Freitag,trocken (wie die restlichen Tage auch), fast schon sommerliche Temperaturen.
Offizielle ist nur ein 20 Minuten Free Practice Stint angesetzt. Nicht besonders viel um das Auto auf die Strecke abzustimmen und wieder etwas Fahrpraxis für mich zu sammeln. Deshalb haben wir mittags einen 1,5h Collective Practice Slot mitgenutzt. Gesagt – getan. Rein ins Auto, rauf auf die Strecke. Erste Runde warmrollen, nächste Runde bisschen mehr Speed gehen und die Runde drauf gleichmal eine 2:47.99 ins den Asphalt gebrannt. Oha, da geht ja was heute … Auto liegt gut, das Feedback ist phänomenal, Leistung auch alles prima. Nur das Getriebe macht mir wieder Kummer. Gang Nr.2 geht nur unter Kraftaufwand rein. Die Synchronringe bleiben wohl meine schärfsten Materialgegner – das lern ich nicht mehr damit sorgsam umzugehen. Deshalb: erstmal die langsamen Passagen vor Bus Stop und La Source im 3. Gang rumschleichen. Sollte auch im Rennen funktionieren, Dampf hat das Auto ja ausreichend. Nach 7 Runden war dann allerdings wieder Schluss da eine Öllleitung leckte und somit die ganze Karre versaut hat. Putzen nud trockenlegen war jetzt angesagt.
Um 15.45 gabs dann das offizielle Free-Practice mit ca. 60 Autos auf der Strecke. Grossartige Zeiten fahren wird hier sicherlich nicht funktionieren, trotzdem konnte ich noch eine 2:50er Zeit fahren (Siehe Screenshot).
Free Practice Results
Erstaunlicherweisse waren die beiden Topfahrer der Exige-Klasse (der Belgier John Rasse und der Franzose Jean-Baptiste Meussnier) auf 2:48er Zeitniveau. Hmmm…Bluff? Das wird interessant im Qualifying, die Zeiten purzeln hier sicherlich noch drastisch.
Samstag
Qualifying steht an. Bereits 60 Min vor Pitlane open stehen die ersten Autos am Gate – wir leider nicht – die Aktion hab ich etwas verpennt. Somit stehen nun ca. 25 Autos vor mir am Tor. In 20 Minuten, die allen zur Verfügung steht eine richtig schnelle Runde fahren wird somit echt noch schwieriger. Meine Rundenzeiten inkl. Verkehr: 2.50.., und dann ne 2:47.2. Hmm.. Und dann waren die 20 Minuten auch schon wieder rum ums Eck. Bei 7km Rennstrecke ist das gleich verpufft. Also hoffen das die Konkurrenz nicht exorbitant schneller war.
JP RACING hatte übrigens, neben der rot/weissen JP-Exige an diesem Wochenende wieder Race Support für Ralf O. (2-Eleven). Ralf war schon am Nürburgring mit dabei und legte hier in Spa im Qualifying mit seiner von JP RACING servisierten 2-Eleven gleichmal mit einer Positionierung auf Gesamtplatz 8 (2:47.190) im Grid eine super Vorstellung hin. Mit seinem 2-Eleven war er ausserdem wohl der einzige “Arrive&Drive”-Fahrer dieser Saison. Dafür sollts eigentlich ebenfalls einen Pokal geben. Diese Sorte Fahrertypus ist ja – zumindest am EU-Festland – nahezu ausgestorben.
Qualifying Results
Leider fehlten uns dann doch ganze 2 Sekunden auf die beiden Top-Exigen. Beide sind niedrige 2:45er Zeiten gefahren. Trotzdem stehe ich auf Gesamt 9. Startplatz. Vor mir Gavin Kirby (2 Eleven) hinter mir Steve Williams (2 Eleven). Hier vorn ist die Luft echt dünn, das wird spannend beim Start. Für gute stehende Starts bin ich ja nicht wirklich bekannt… Ralf O. und sein 2-Eleven
Rennen1: Rolling Start.
Eingermassen gut reagiert, .. 2.Gang,. 3.Gang, zieht irgendwie nicht richtig, .. sollte sich aber im 3.Gang bis zur Kehre augehen … tuts aber nicht, bin schon im Begrenzen. Shit ey, voll verschätzt, sowas dämliches. Egal draufbleiben. Rechts schiebt sich eine Lotus Europe durch (#74 Campbell CASSIDY – CHERRING) dahinter bereits die #92, Christophe Lisandre im 2-Eleven, links drückt Steve Williams im 2-Eleven. Ich bremse an der Kehre und bekomm von hinten einen kleinen Schubser und anschliessend einen ziemlich heftigeren von hinten links von Simon Deacon, #39. Damn it, schon alles vorbei? hmm.. das klang echt schlimm.. Auto fährt noch, alles ok und Fetzen hängen auch (noch) keine Weg, zumindest seh ich in den Spiegel nichts dergleichen. Also: erstmal runter nach Eau Rouge. Williams hat mich mittlerweile überholt und ist nun vor mir. Beschleunigt aber nicht so wie geplant, links kein Platz, ich muss auch erstmal hinter Williams abwarten. Links geht eine weitere 2-Eleven vorbei. Shit ey. Dann in der Senke Eua Rouge, Berg hoch, die weisse 2-Eleven zieht irgendwie nicht noch, ich muss wieder abbremsen und nach links ausweichen. Echt scheisse sowas, rechts schiebt sich eine Exige MK1 (#19 Xavier GEORGES) aus der Open Class vor und dann seh ich auch schon einen weiteren 2-Eleven (#77 Philippe LOUP) rechts. Hochschalten bis Kemel, anbremsen bei 224. Uff, wenigstens den Angriff des 2-Eleven rechts erstmal abgewehrt. Dann erstmal ein bissschen mitschwimmen im Pulk und nicht so viel riskieren… Geht auch ganz gut. In Bus Stop nutze ich weiterhin den 3.Gang – der 2.Gang ist echt schon fast hinüber… ebenfalls in La Source nutze ich den 3.Gang statt dem 2.. Was wiederrum insgesamt 4 weitere Autos das leichte Ãœberholen ermöglichte. Was wir 2 Wochen später rausfanden: Die Gangübersetzung im 3.Gang war leider nicht optimal (hört man auch im Video wie die Drehzahl im 3.Gang einbricht). Anway.
3.Platz, Exige Class: Markus Nikowitsch (JP RACING, rechts)
Platz 3 in der Exige-Class im Rennen 1 wurds dann doch noch. Minimalziel erreicht und erstmal wieder ein positives Lebenszeichen von JP RACING im Lotus Cup Europe.
Rennen 1 Results
Zu reparieren gabs dann dank #39, Simon Deacon auch wieder was: Diffusor ramponiert, Clam links angekokelt, Rad/Reifen hinüber, Radhaus futsch, etc. etc… Ne Entschuldigung gabs hier leider auch nicht vom Verursacher.
Auffahrschaden Rennen 1
Sonntag Rennen 2: stehender Start
Das Rennen ist für 40 Minuten angesetzt. Somit ist die Devise: Durchkommen. Gleichmal heftig Wheelspin beim losfahren. Diesmal lass ich dem Europa rechts keine Lücke und ordne mich gleichmal rechts ein. Dann erneut Schubserei in La Source, komme aber diesmal besser durch. Muss zwar wieder ein paar Schnellere durchlassen, allerdings kann ich mich dann auf Exige-Class Position 3 ganz gut halten, bis “Christine” (so der interne Name der JP-Exige) anfängt lauter als sonst zu brüllen. Hmm… Auspuff leck? Das Getöse wird mit jeder Runde lauter und auf der langen 6.Gang-Bergaufpassage fast unerträglich. Beim Durchfahren der Start/Ziellinie werf ich nun jedesmal einen genauen Blick auf die Tafeln. Offensichtlich stört hier weder die Lautstärke, noch liegt von aussen sichtbar ein Defekt vor. Ok, das steh ich jetzt noch durch, sag ich zu mir: Eine Runde oder umgerechnet 7km sinds noch. Wieder durch Bus Stop, und dann seh ich schon links hektisch Marshalls mit dem Feuerlöscher winken.
Ok, shit, es brennt Рich sehs nun auch im Aussenspiegel, fahre links publikumswirksam direkt nach Start/Ziel in die Wiese und stell den Wagen ab. Bis der erste Marshall mit einem Feuerl̦scher herrannte kam mir in dieser Situation wie eine halbe Ewigkeit vor. Das anschliessende Bild war schon recht heftig.
The bitch is burning…
Fazit: Unser Auto ist in der Liga der Top 10 Autos im Lotus Cup Europe konkurrenzfähig. Und wir sind somit – abgesehen von dem zu reparierenden Auto – bestens gerüstet für die letzten 2 Rennen im Eastern Cup in Salzburg. 2 Wochen müssen einfach ausreichen um die Exige wieder zusammenzuflicken. JP Racing machts möglich. That´s for sure.
Onboard Lotus Exige #76. Starting from Position 9 and finished 11th overall. That´s 3rd in Exige Class. Because of problems with 2nd gear, I´d to drive in 3rd gear through Bus Stop and La Source. That had costed several positions. I´d also have to let pass 2 cars in the final lap at La Source… More Informations: www.jp-racing.at
Race 1, Overall Ranking from left to right: Markus Nikowitsch (JP RACING, Austria), Tomas Kusy (Czech Republic), Klaus Requat (JP RACING, Austria)
Race 1, Exige Class Ranking from left to right: Klaus Requat (JP RACING, Austria), Markus Nikowitsch (JP RACING, Austria), Egon Burkus (GFS RACING, Hungary)
Race 2, Overall Ranking from left to right: Tomas Kusy (Czech Republic), Markus Nikowitsch (JP RACING, Austria), Tamás Vizin (GFS RACING, Hungary)
Race 2, Exige Class Ranking from left to right: Tamás Vizin (GFS RACING, Hungary), Markus Nikowitsch (JP RACING, Austria), Egon Burkus (GFS RACING, Hungary)
Sunday, 18th September. Hungaroring, Budapest. Car #23 (Lotus Exige).
Driver: Markus Nikowitsch. Result: 1st.
After finishing 2nd in Race 1 the day before, this time the 4 first positions had to start in reverse grid. That means for me: no pole but 4th place. Anyway, great overtaking action in first lap and again 30minutes plus 1 lap of racing. This time we used a new set of tires and also weather is around 23 degrees. Good for S/C.
Kept 4th position on start and then overtook Klaus Requat (white exige) and holding back Kusy. Now Vizin (Hungarian driver, GFS Racing) in front of me. His car is kind of “track dancing”… After finishing lap1 I took more speed through corner 14 and so could overtake him on the beginning of the start/finish straight. So after that I drove some 2:05-something laps to max distance to him and then did a save-run over the rest of the race… Around 8 minutes before the race was over, I could see Kusy again in the rear mirror, so he really tried to catch me… argnn… again some more 2:06-something laps and then the race was over. Driver happy, team happy. That was a big step forward for all of us.
Saturday, 17th September. Hungaroring, Budapest. Car #23 (Lotus Exige). Driver: Markus Nikowitsch. Result: 2nd.
Did a great qualifying with 2:05.087, although using the old free practice tires (“De san ja schon viereckig”) . So pole position in race 1 and over 1 seconds faster than car on position 2. Grrrreat!
Weather conditions around 31 Degrees, not perfect for supercharged cars. Start wasn´t that bad, but I had to let pass Thomas Kusy in his not sc´d Honda Exige (Full carbon body, 290HP, sequential shifter, great aerodynamics). Too late on the brakes, so had to go the wider line in the first corner.
So the fight had begun and it lasted until the final lap. I figured out that he´s driving a very wide line the way up the quick left bend. So there I could try to overtake him. So I did after several laps making pressure.
After 30 minutes I thought: good, race over. Then I realized the “1 more lap” sign. So again, trying to stay in front of Kusy. Tires nearly gone, but also on Kusy´s car. He also seams to drive on absolutely limit. Made a little mistake on braking, and then had to let pass Kusy in the final lap. No chances to overtake again, also he didn´t made mistakes in the final round. So, 2nd place and a very exiting race for me, that was hard work and we are really satisfied with this result! See the results on the official website of Lotus Cup Eastern Europe.
We visited the brilliant F1 race track in the heart on France (or let´s say: french middle of nowhere) with car#75 (Moritz) and car#76 (Markus). That was the 2nd round of the Lotus Cup Europe Series this year. 3rd round will be on Nürburgring, Germany on 1st of July.
