2024 WRL: COTA T+8+7 GP2
- Sean Suputra
- Dec 8, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 31, 2024
This is the third year to continue my COTA tradition! It was a hard earned weekend, working races for Mike throughout the year, but I felt prepared for this race and ready to have a working #racecation. Overall, this was one of the most fun weekends I have had in a while, containing most of the elements I love about racing. Something that made it particularly special was the amazing support from my family and friends and the opportunity for me to show them what this is all about. Personally, I had a good and clean driving weekend, starting both days in the wet...crazy but an awesome learning experience.
World Racing League
National Championship - COTA T+8+7
Circuit of the Americas - Austin, TX
December 6-8, 2024
Open Throttle Racing
GP2 Class - Car #168 "Artie"
'03 BMW Spec E46
| Race 1 - Saturday | Race 2 - Sunday |
Class || Overall | 11th || 52nd | 10th || 50th |
Starting Pos. | 16th of 18 | 13th of 18 |
Driver 1: | Sean Suputra | Sean Suputra |
Driver 2: | Tiger | Jeff Toewe |
Driver 3: | Nick | Tiger |
Driver 4: | Jeff Toewe | Sean Suputra |
Driver 5: | -- | Nick |
Driver 6: | -- | Sean Suputra |
TLDR (more below): | No ABS. No MAF. Overall did not have the pace. | Pit early to accommodate driver scheduling. |
Official Results: |
The Build Up
After VIR 24, I was determined to redeem myself from a strategy perspective. This meant preparation for driving and running strategy. I spent a lot of hours trading off between the simulator and the Race Management tool. I eventually found out that I would be driving and doing strategy for their new Spec E46, it's first race with Open Throttle.
Focus:
Did a bunch of laps so I should have more metal capacity to think about more things and in a sustainable manner. I also reached somewhat of a plateau in iRacing with the FR500S, the most similar to whatever I would be driving.
Ramp Up:
Since I know the track well, my ramp up should be better than usual.
Line:
Mainly thinking about gear selections in T3 to T9. I don't think I will use 2nd gear anywhere unless I am in a situation.
Driving Inputs:
Don't get into ABS.
WAIT on Throttle!
Traffic:
Use all that I've learned and look ahead and be patient. Get closer and make my presence known. Be more aggressive and clear with line.
Practice/Qualifying
Spec E46 time.
Spent morning shaking down. Limp mode.
Removed MAF.
ABS started failing.
Ran without ABS and set a 2:44-2:45-ish.
Let the other drivers get some practice.
Race 1 - Saturday 8 hour
Gloria, Simon, Mom, Dad, Gma, Ipo
Wet No ABS
No MAF (no rev matching)
Fast Lap
Closest fast lap to me was over 12.5 sec out.
Average Lap
Per driver, I was almost 14 sec faster on average.
Consistency
I felt really good about traffic management, but there were a few opportunities for improvement. This can probably come down under 2 sec deviation.
Overall
This race felt smooth and in control.
Saturday On-boards from other cars:
Start Highlights
3 Fast Guys & Denny Clip 1 (also catches 62 spin)
Overtake Highlights
Rapscallion Clip 1 (blows T12)
Race 2 - Sunday 7 hour
Gloria, Simon (soup!)
Wet
No ABS
No MAF (no rev matching)
Fast Lap
This time Nick got closer, within 9.5 sec of me.
Average Lap
Almost 12 sec faster than next driver.
Consistency
Did well to get this under 2 sec deviation. Target under 1.5 sec next time.
Overall
Felt confident all weekend.
Sunday On-boards from other cars:
Start Highlights
Overtake Highlights
Driving Analysis
Focus:
Great focus all weekend. The only thing is that I forgot to turn on the Diff Cooler and the GoPro a couple times. Enough to think about improving my process(es).
Ramp Up:
I did not let the pace of traffic around me affect my driving that much. Still can ramp faster on race starts.
Small opportunity to push harder on first corners out of the pits, but overall really nice laps out of the gate all weekend.
Line:
Felt good overall. Had some trouble getting into a rhythm in T15.
Driving Inputs:
Poop on Braking since I couldn't rev-match without the MAF. Even still, did well to modulate braking with torque spikes on down-shifts. Couple times when I did not do it right and locked up, but did not panic.
Throttle input felt great all weekend. It was smooth with reduced oversteer. This was paired with smooth opening of the steering wheel. I was conscious of this all weekend and feel like I executed pretty well.
Traffic:
Couple of race starts. They were fun and a huge improvement from previous attempts. Managing faster traffic was in control with reduced impacts. I can still track out more on corner-exit after letting traffic by underneath. Trust their pace difference on power-out. LESSON: Either they choose when/where to take the gap, or you choose when/where to take the gap.
Tires:
Started with wets both days, and it was a good choice. This was not an obvious decision.
Going to dry stickers on Saturday was a challenge for some due to lack of ABS and rev-matching. Locking up and engine stalling was the result, but felt good to me.
Opportunities
Race Log
Have a full plan for pit stop events, like tire changes.
Race Engineer Google Sheets
Pay close attention to strategy all the way to the end of the race. Use both, computer and paper logs.
Supplemented with Bradley papers
Measure amount of fuel that goes in.
Updates to both logs are performed
Have place to record tire measurements through the day
Race Engineer Google Sheets
Team Walk Thru
Fuel guy is also Fuel Cap guy. Fire Bottle guy is the first/last one over the wall. Drink Bottle is totally worth it. Double check window net. Tire temperature/pressure procedure. Set pressures on spare tires. Check radio cable slack.
Gather and assign seat padding.
Fuel Reading procedure.
Car Prep & Maintenance
Check Splitter Bolts and other random fasteners. Check Tire clearances in all dimensions, especially with different tires. Check Radiator Ducting and on every pit stop.
Consider gearing with Tire diameters.
Always use front AND rear VBOX cams.
Check VIDEO every time car comes in.
Road Trip Tips
Don't book hotels downtown. Check hotel bookings on the day of reservation. Check what the RV booking provides. Don't leave keys in the car...ever (or call Danny).
Bring a black/yellow storage box for nerd table.
Vlogging
Diji backpack clip is pretty nice.
Diji vertical mode to enable mobile content.
Don't point-and-shoot with Diji.
Distance matters a lot with Diji.
Medium stabilization is great with Diji.
