Hill Climb - Sfanta Ana

After a successful first race at Sugas Bai, a new challenge presents itself: The hill climb at Sfanta Ana Lake.

The race is set on the road to the lake, a winding piece of tarmac with a gentle gradient, very twisty and technical, all in all a road that denies the power advantage, perfect for my relatively under powered (in relation to weight) BMW.



Even though it was at the height of summer, I was worried about rain and more important about the fact that I didn't have any rain tires. As race day was approaching the forecast showed rain, so I began to search for rain tires and eventually found a used set in good condition for about 400 euros, the price was steep but I had to had them. They were perfect because the rain would be falling on race day.

Even with the rain a group of friends decided that an outing shouldn't be spoiled by the rain...

In the morning the course was almost dry.

But that didn't last long and by race time it was raining cats and dogs.

So I put on the rain tires and the car was under steering, badly. In an effort to tame the car I adjusted the stiffness of the front dampers and the tire pressures. That kind of did the trick, the car was still under steering but it was controllable.

 By the time of the timed training runs I had the car pretty much dialed in, although I was over steering quite a bit, but still it was fun. The times came in and I had a 10 second margin on my competitor, a WRX STI.

So when the race runs came I didn't need to push. Unknown to me a competitor blew his steering rack pouring ATF all over the course and I being the fastest was the last one to start, I only noticed the oil at the end of the course but I did not let off as it wasn't that slippery...

That run netted me with a 7 second lead and because of the oil on the course, the race marshals canceled the second run of the day. So for the first time ever I was overall the fastest!

Nothing would have been possible without my friend Artan Sergiu and his engine that powers my car.