2009 Nippon season review - Civic #37


Kris!

Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2008
Messages
311
So, after a mixed 2008 season in the Nippon Race series, the Performance Autoworks Civic was ready for war and with a few changes taking place over the winter months, it was looking good for both man and machine (man being a fat ginger kid from a mine in the welsh mountains)

Redundancy just before the test day at Silverstone threatened to ruin the season before it started, but the boys at Performance Autoworks vowed to do everything in their power to get the Civic out racing, and that they did. From giving the Civic a home all year and complete car preperation, to full on race day support including taking the car too and from events, they really did pull out all the stops to get me out racing. Without them this year wouldnt of happened!!!!!!!

The aim for this year was to do as well as possible, without spending anymore on the car as my budget for this year was non existant unlike other competitors in our class. To do this we made the car as light as the regs would allow, and focused on reliability rather than outright power which seemed to be the chosen weapon for others, and looking back it seems that our plan was the right one. Apart from a £50 ghetto Aero package that appeared at Cadwell, nothing was added or changed throughout the season yet the little Civic still held its own........a testiment to the time and effort put in by Richy at Performance Autoworks.


So, as most have already seen my regular race reports, heres a summary of our results in the GT250 class for 2009.............


Snetterton (Rounds 1 & 2) - Dry

Qualified - 5th
Race 1 - 3rd overall and 1st in class (Fastest lap in GT250)
Race 2 - 4th overall and 1st in class (Fastest lap in GT250)


Pembrey (Rounds 3,4 & 5) - Wet/Damp

Qualified - 4th
Race 1 - 5th overall and 2nd in class (Fastest lap in GT250)
Race 2 - 5th overall and 2nd in class
Race 3 - 4th overall and 1st in class


Silverstone (Rounds 6 & 7) - Wet

Qualified - 14th
Race 1 - 5th overall and 2nd in class (Fastest lap in GT250)
Race 2 - 6th overall and 2nd in class


Cadwell (Rounds 8 & 9) - Dry

Qualified - 3rd
Race 1 - 4th overall and 1st in class (Fastest lap in GT250)
Race 2 - 3rd overall and 1st in class (Fastest lap in GT250)


Snetterton (Rounds 10 & 11) - Dry

Qualified - 6th
Race 1 - 4th overall and 1st in class (Fastest lap in GT250)
Race 2 - 4th overall and 1st in class (Fastest lap in GT250)


Mallory (Rounds 12 & 13)

Qualified - 4th
Race 1 - 6th overall and 1st in class
Race 2 - 20th overall and 3rd in class (tyre failure)


Brands Hatch (Rounds 14 & 15)

Qualified 7th
Race 1 - DNF (taken out on last lap by another competitor)
Race 2 - Didnt start due to excess damage from race 1


As you can see, apart from some bad luck at the last 2 meets, it was a great season and our aim at being at or near the top of GT250 seems to have been reached.

However, none of this could have happened without the help of my sponsors who have been there through thick and thin and helped make it all possible, so without further a do, a massive thanks to Andy and Alison at www.VtecDirect.com who have been a huge help this year and helped out in a big way on more than one occasion. Julian and the guys at Rare Rims | Rota Wheels UK for supplying the lightweight and very round Rota wheels that have helped me roll over the finish line in top spot. And last but not least, the very patient and understanding guys at Performance Autoworks for being there from the start nearly 3 years ago, and making the Civic what it is today (apart from the recent panel damage that is). Poor old Richy has had to put up with my moaning, lack of feedback, my farting, not to mention spending countless nights led next to me in the Transit of Rock......you Sir are a legend, as not even my Mrs would put up with that crap!!!!!!

So there we have it, I hope you've enjoyed the season as much as I have and thanks to all those that have either followed my exploits through my forum reports, or have come to watch the racing first hand.........it really has been appreciated.


Kris.......... (Civic #37)


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