The race was held at our newest track in West Java region (in the mountain area) on January 27. The weather in Indonesia at this time of the year is still very wet, usually clear in the morning and raining in the late afternoon. So, as expected the main final race was going to be wet.
Early in the morning the track was still damp and the surface was still loamy. The traction was fair. In the first qualifying round, I could almost make 12 laps with only 0.070sec short of the finish line. After the first round the sun started to shine and the track became a bit loose so most of the drivers were losing time. At the final qualifying round, I had some problems with my engine but they were resolved immediately after that. Fortunately for me there were no other drivers able to beat my time so I took the TQ spot and secured 3 points that would be added to my points standing.
My mechanic (Andree F. Sanny) & me (click to enlarge)
The final started with a sudden drop in temperature and at that time my engine was a bit rich so then I asked my mechanic to close the top a bit in the first fuel stop. After that everything was OK and I was able to get a huge lead over the 2nd position car⦠almost 2 laps. At around the 25min mark, it started to rain and I was having difficulty because my glasses were all wet and I could not see clearly! I decided to drive slowly and avoid any puddles of water to keep my engine safe. Not long after that, I felt something was wrong with my car because I could not go as fast anymore. Mr. Wempy was catching me very quickly and at the 40min mark he was able to pass me. I was trying very hard to keep up with him but something was just not right; later on I noticed that my rear suspension was jammed. We kept swapping leads until the very last part in the final lap where I made up a little distance. But that was not the end. Since my car was having a suspension problem, the rear end was very slippery in the wet. I made one last mistake in the last turn before the finish line, and Mr. Wempy was catching up behind. At that moment my car was rolling over and still in the air while passing the finish line! Luckily I was still in the lead and Wempy was only 0.424sec behind me in 2nd place.
It was a dramatic ending and all the spectators were cheering like crazy toward the end of the final race. For me, it was one of the closest race endings Iâ™ve ever had. So, overall Iâ™m happy with the result and also glad that there were six XRAYs in the final.
Final results: 1. Stanley Wangsanegara XRAY
2. Wempy Budiman
3. Wiyono
4. Koni
5. Ivan A. 6. Gatot Fayetomo XRAY
7. Sadikin Kurniawan XRAY
8. Albert Wirianata XRAY
9. Arianto Sutrisno XRAY
10. Arief XRAY
Mr. Richard & Mechanic, Mr. Otong (click to enlarge)
There is also another good result with Mr. Richard winning the Truggy Exhibition Class and getting 3rd place in the B-Main Buggy Class.
