This was my debut for Team XRAY this season and it was also the debut for the new T2 007 car. I chose to race 2 classes 19 turn with LiPo and modified with IB4200â™s. The BIWS is the first series in the UK to allow LiPo technology to be used in 19 turn and modified but leaving the beginners class 27 turn untouched.
With racing 2 classes with one car it was always going to be a struggle and when I was in race 9 with 19 and race 13 with mod it left me with 15 minutes between the two classes. I did though get more track time and chance to work with the car.
Practise went very well as the car was so stable with ample steering. I was running the fastest laps and felt comfortable with my new chassis. I started with the setup from my T2 car which I had been testing on carpet. The BIWS track is a rubber floor so it is more like a low traction asphalt circuit than carpet so spools were used instead of 1-ways.
I had some terrible luck and mistakes in qualifying which I can only put down to having to work flat out to be ready for both classes every round. I constantly worked on setup trying many different ideas and theories to try to maximise the platform. Although I had some very good corner speed I seemed to lack the ultimate grip as no additives are allowed at the BIWS. After some tuning on the warmers I was back up to speed.
I ended up second in the 19 turn line-up due to some costly errors both driving and others which counted my second round time when most others maximised the much higher traction on the track at the end of qualifying. Modified went ok apart from a costly mistake at 4 mins 30 which cost me at least the front row of the grid, I had to settle for fifth place.
The 19 turn A final was an easy win especially after the pole man crashed with a back marker a couple of minutes in after a really good battle. Modified went ok as I had to come through from 5th to 2nd only to see my personal transponder not count the last lap and coupled with a slight error it left me in 3rd.
(click to enlarge)
I was very happy with the overall performance of the car on its debut. The balance was great and I had so much traction and stability on the medium low grip surface. I am looking forward to the next round in November.
Final Results:
19 turn 1. Ben Cosgrove â“ XRAY T2'007
2. Jonathon Dronfield 3. Dominic Carter â“ XRAY T2
Modified
1. Andy Moore
2. Jonathon Bowden 3. Ben Cosgrove â“ XRAY T2'007
