INTRO
Here we are back in my native region!
Even if we always say that the difference between Savoie and Haute-Savoie is like couture and haute couture :-), I always come back to the SAMC club with pleasure and the memory of my first years racing. A National round in this club is always a fantastic event.
September and October are shaping up to be quite busy for me in terms of competition with races every weekend. It is therefore with great motivation that I return with my Dream Team for this third round after the summer holidays. It's also my first time out from home after our wedding, and it feels weird to leave my wife and 2 daughters for 2 days, I wasn't used to it anymore!
First of all, I would like to congratulate all the members of the club because the track had already been rebuilt for the Grazy Cup in May and they have done everything again for this round of the Elite French Nationals.
The SAMC Track is flat and oiled, with medium grip.
Unfortunately, we'll see later, despite their best efforts, the only thing you can't control in this kind of competition is the weather.
Indeed, since the start of the week, I had been able to see that rain was forecast for Sunday and that there was a good chance that the race would be done after qualifying ...
In this year 2021, it is true that the qualifications already take a very important part in the final classification with the new bonus points system. The pole setter earns 20 bonus points in the rankings for the Championship.
The victory is worth 400 points and a second place 370 points. A TQ/victory sweep is worth 420 points and a TQ with 2nd place earns 390 points!
Looking at the weather conditions, it was clearly very important to be strong in the five qualifying rounds, always with the 3 best results counting.
SATURDAY
We started the first practice with a basic car setup, close to what I was able to use in the Grazy Cup. It's my starting point everywhere, which suits me particularly and we just worked on the tyre choices.
The track was quite dusty at the start so we opted for the AKA Grid Iron tire in super soft long wear rubber.
Then, the track was getting blue groove with an increasingly cleaner line, we went down in size of pins to give more precision to the car with the Pone.
Finally, the temperature having really increased around noon, we switched to soft long wear rubber, still with the Pone profile.
The first qualifying will go pretty well until the first half and a TQ pace. Unfortunately, I made two mistakes and finished third in this heat.
In the second round, the times are still very tight and I took the TQ only 1/10 ahead of Jérôme Aigoin! Jérôme, who has shown once again that he is in a very good shape and in complete control of his program.
In the third round it is a disappointment. I'm making too many mistakes and clocking the fifth fastest time. The TQ is slipping away from me with the challenges that we know. The timing being quite optimized for a maximum of driving with 5 practice heats and 5 qualifying rounds, it is difficult to take a step back on the evolutions and the directions to be taken.
We decide to settle down and brainstorm the situation with my two mechanics Manu and Gaetan. After some thought, we realize that we lost 6/10 on the fastest lap by going with harder tires.
For the fourth round, the goal is to complete the 11 laps and take pole position.
We went back to super soft long wear Pone that gave me the necessary grip and traction. The car's steering and stability balance was perfect, it's one of the most beautiful and consistent runs of my career.
I realize the TQ with the only 11 laps of the weekend!
Many drivers were around the track at that time and congratulated me. It was an amazing feeling, like I had already won the race! But nothing was obviously done, everything had to be played in the fifth and final qualifying round.
I'm in a fairly comfortable position as Tom Robin and Jérôme Aigoin are running just ahead of me so I have the information on their times and the goal I needed to achieve to be ahead. The goal is to have a clean, flawless run and not take any risks knowing that Jerome made a few mistakes and a 10 laps in 5'06.
Everything is going as planned except ... The great Julien Surget who is getting faster and faster ... And despite his shyness, he displays crazy speed and great consistency. He leads the heat until mid-qualifying with an expected 11 laps. In my head, it is clear that I have to finish in front to achieve pole position and potentially win the race.
I keep the pace and he makes a few mistakes. I finally completed a 10 laps in 5'02 with the relief of having reached my goal.
SUNDAY
A nice evening with my friends and an eye on the weather forecast on Sunday gives us hope for a very positive weekend outcome. It rains most of the night and when we arrived at the track on Sunday morning, the track was dump.
Rain is expected for the whole day and the Drivers' Commission decides to stop the race with the qualifying results.
It's always frustrating not to race the mains, especially when everything is so well balanced and fun to drive. Even more when the mileage of my stock Picco P3TT is over 10 minutes in those conditions!
I really enjoyed myself throughout the day on Saturday.
Looking back, however, I knew from the start of the week that there was a good chance that this would be so and that the classification would be held with the qualifiers ...
We therefore leave with a TQ/WIN and a comfortable lead in the championship.
EDIT: With only N-1 rounds counting from 2021, we are already crowned FRENCH NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!
Even before the last round in October!
No trophy but a reblochon cheese and a bottle of Apremont wine, just to celebrate with a good tartiflette!
A very special mention for Julien Surget who achieved his first podium in the French Elite Championship, bravo!
And that's not all! RSRC achieves the double with Christophe Fournet who will dominate all weekend in the over 40 category, and returns to the head of the Championship tied on points.
Now, let's get ready for sunny Spain and Buggyland starting this Friday!
SETUP
With that, here is my setup used during the last qualifying rounds. I really invite you to test it as it is.
If you're worried about the differentials setup, you can do everything the same, but with 7000-7000-3000 and a 3 degree rear toe-in.
See you soon for new adventures!
The Shark
Reno Savoya