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2010C1 - Spa
Up to Team: Midpack Racing Drivers' Club
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Allons-y le MRDC ! Or is Spa in the Flemish area ? Anyway, no matter, I don't speak either with any facility so I shall be procuring my chips and mayo by shouting loudly in English, as per usual.
Meanwhile on track, I'm pretty much done with prep. I still prefer the feel of my new setup, although in real pace difference I'm not seeing too much - maybe 0.5s - over the old SOFT setups. The latest, latest version has a slightly firmer rear than the one I last posted and the tyre temp issues seem to simply disappear by putting 1 grade harder tyre on the front.
The 25 rear wing gives a top speed around 302kph at the end of Kemmel (304-5 if you're following someone) which is probably enough. I think the timesheets show that fast lap times are achieved by speed through the long 2nd sector although it's not too late for that change. It also means that you can keep your foot in through Eau Rouge and Radillon and through Blanchimont if your line is good which simplifies those parts. The areas that feel weak to me are the slow turns at La Source and Rivage/Bruxelles. The run down from La Source in particular is the only place I feel the disdvantage of the B gearbox to any significant degree so focussing on a good line through those two slow turns is highly recommended.
For 25 laps, I can just about do that on two stops. I may have to arrange to be lapped strategically so I can pull up one early to make it last but I think 2 is what I'll go for.
Fuel usage will be high, I expect around 75l + formation and margin.
All in all, I'm pretty pleased with the car though. My previous best here I think was about 1:56.8 in the last of the turbo SDLs so with a 1:55.0 and still clear room for improvement just by taking a better line, I'm feeling pretty chipper.
It's this one with the rear springs up to 160
Have you ever noticed how sometimes setups go off over night ?
You end one session on a new fast lap. Put the car to bed. Return next day. It understeers off the track at Pluhon 
I may get a chance for a run out tonight and likley I'll try the rears up one more click.
I think the story of this setup has been gradually reducing understeer, and I think that will continue through the season. I'm trying to avoid the two setups (this and SOFT) converging back into one, so I'd expect evolution of this one to be slightly experimental as we go.
The SOFT set are still there and still solid, so I think I can take this new one along as a challenger as we go.
