On the endurance race, as in a kaleidoscope, the picture changes all the time, appears completely new, but always so fascinating! Look at this kaleidoscope with us. What will you see? What will you remember? What will you smile at?
24.
The idea came during a flight. That is not surprising: a very significant part of Irina Kolomeytseva's life takes place in an airplane. At an altitude of 10,000 kilometers the idea was born; by the time of landing it had already formed specific details, and then all the elements of the puzzle were formed: four fast drivers, a new car, cooperation with the factory team Manthey-Racing... And dozens of people who helped charity fund "Sail of Hope" to save children who are fighting cancer.
Race For Life. This is a very sincere idea. And very motivating.
23.
Oleksandr Gaidai: "There is no sense of fear on this track: the Dubai circuit is very simple in terms of security. This is neither Imola nor Spa, where it is very dangerous, and a mistake can lead to a serious accident. In Dubai, you can make a mistake, go out of the track, then get back: there are neither gravel catchers nor close walls. You have to be a great talent to find a fence there. Although there were such drivers too".
22.
Dynamic Balance of Performance is a very entertaining thing. Such a system was invented in order to equalize the chances of the crews on different cars in the same class.
In short: there is some average lap time set for your class. If you drive faster, the stewards will increase the weight of your car or reduce the allowable amount of fuel in the tank (less fuel - more pit stops)!
Now the next difficulty level. The route is divided into three sectors, and if you, say, passed the first sector very quickly, and on the second and third just crawled admiring the landscape, you still get a warning: "Guys, you are faster than we expected!". Three warnings - a decrease in the amount of fuel.
We started the race with 110 liters allowed in the tank. At the end of the race we were allowed to fill only 85 liters. We drove very fast!
21.
Oleksandr Gaidai: "Porsche 911 GT3 Cup MR aerodynamics is close to the GT3 car. I would say that it is similar in control to the Porsche Cup, but it's faster in corners, so it's more interesting to drive such a car. I had to look for the best time - I really liked it".
20.
Irina Kolomeytseva: "Before the race I felt confident about what and how we are doing. We were impeccably prepared and cooperated with the factory team. That is, I had no doubt about the technical component, I was completely confident in each of our drivers, I had the highest expectations for the result. Plus, everyone was very motivated - we supported our RACEFOR.LIFE action, and it made the guys do even more than they could.
It is clear that the 24-hour race dependsn on luck very much. But the whole emotional mood of the team and the desire to win - they brought us this good luck".
19.
Côme Ledogar: "It is very important to make a perfect start, because there is a high risk of a contact that can destroy all the next 24 hours. I started well, but I have experience, I can do such things".
18.
Oleksandr Gaidai: "When you drive at your maximum, you often make mistakes. And when you go with a margin from the second place, then you just do not need to take stupid risks. Such risky situations have happened to other crews: for three times it can be all right, and the fourth will throw you 15-20 positions back. Therefore, you must leave behind the rivals in your class as soon as possible in order not to be nervous and not to take risks".
17.
Alessio Rovera: "This is my first experience in endurance races. Do you know what was the most unusual thing? Sharing the car with three other drivers on the same settings. But we are a good team, I quickly got used to it".
16.
Irina Kolomeytseva: "In endurance racing, emotional stress is the same as in sprints, but it lasts for 24 hours. It is clear that fatigue is taking its toll. Then you can even move away from the monitor, for example, to drink coffee. Or even go to the toilet! But the tension remains. It's just that at some point you stop noticing it, just because you are very tired. For 24 hours you pass through all Carrera Cup season. This is a very powerful experience!"
15.
Côme Ledogar: "It is very important to use every spare minute for rest, preferably for sleep. It is clear that it is very difficult to disconnect: your car continues to drive on the track, and you wish to follow it, to keep abreast of the matter. But it is necessary to force yourself to move away from the monitors, take a snack, take a shower and go to bed".
14.
Oleksandr Gaidai: "For the drivers' rest we had a hotel on the track with windows to the last turn. The first impression was that we were sleeping with open windows, so noisy it was there. The glasses were shaking, the cars were loud... I twice checked if the window was closed tightly. But you get tired during the session so that the dream does come. For the first time in my six 24-hour races I was able to fall asleep for an hour and a half".
13.
Alessio Rovera: "At night it was easy to make a mistake, because there were not enough lights on the track. And around there were 91 cars. So it was impossible to go aggressively, it was important to concentrate as much as possible and avoid contacts, so we were very busy to feel tired".
12.
Côme Ledogar: "It is also very important not to allow dehydration. It leads to very fast fatigue, so it is necessary to drink plenty of water. But not the energy drinks - they will give you energy for an hour, and you need to hold out for 24 hours".
11.
Oleksandr Gaidai: "It was not very easy to drive during my third session, because a sandstorm came. At the end of the straight line everything was like in a yellow fog and it was very slippery. I did not even understand from the first lap what was wrong: a car on new wheels usually behaves in another way. Then I got used to it".
10.
Alessio Rovera: "And for me the most difficult thing was in the morning, when the heat was already starting, and it was very slippery. And the rest of the time everything was okay. Well, maybe in the beginning it was still difficult to drivefor two whole hours, but I learned very quickly".
9.
Oleksandr Gaidai: "In general, it was not very easy, but saying that was unbelievably hard, would also be untrue. It is important that this car has a sequential gearbox with a choice on the steering wheel. This greatly simplified the situation. It is a serious energy saving factor".
8.
Irina Kolomeytseva: "40 minutes before the finish, I realized that we already have won: even if we stop right now, then, with our 20-lap gap from the second place, the rivals will not even reach us. But I really wished to see the car at the finish. I'm into sports myself, so I know that this is one of the most awesome and beautiful moments: when you cross the finish line, and your team hangs in the pit wall and waves, and then meets you in the parc ferme".
7.
Five minutes till the finish. Andrii Kruglyk is driving. An Audi, with which we are fighting for 6th place overall, is experiencing technical problems and decides to go to the pit lane. But the driver for some reason performs this maneuver from the left side of the track and aims straight to our car! Then it becomes clear what a strong concentration our driver has, even after the whole race: Kruglyk avoids the crash! And finishes!
6.
Irina Kolomeytseva: "It's an amazing feeling when you're so tired that you do not have the strength even for a smile. So these external manifestations of emotions, which you see on sprint races, usually do not happen in endurance. You are the happiest person on earth, but you are too tired to show it".
5.
Race time: 24 hours 02 minutes 07,526 seconds.
Laps passed: 593.
Average speed: 132,98 km/h.
Total: 3196,27 km passed.
4.
Tsunami RT finishes 1st in the SPX class and 6th overall of the 80 rivals who reached the finish line.
We were 21 laps ahead of the second place in our class.
3.
Irina Kolomeytseva: "As a head of the team, I can say that I was really impressed by Alessio Rovera. He is the only one to start in endurance for the first time in his life. It was clear that Côme was going to be very fast. And Alex and Andrii have experience in endurance, I was sure that they would perform well. Alessio was the only newcomer. And I realized that I was right to bet on him. He proved that he could be both fast and reliable in endurance and not making mistakes".
Alessio Rovera: "We had Côme, a very experienced driver, who generously shared his knowledge with me and with the other drivers. I am very grateful to him for his invaluable advice. To have Ledogar in the team is a very big advantage!"
Côme Ledogar: "I am very glad that I managed to get such experience with Tsunami RT. Irina has done a great job, she was on her feet for all 24 hours, I am very grateful to her".
2.
Côme Ledogar: "The whole team worked very well, as a single organism. We felt each other, did a common job, and everyone was a great professional".
Irina Kolomeytseva: "I'm very glad that I have such cool guys in my team. And I'm very grateful to Manthey-Racing. I have much to learn from the factory team, and I'm glad that this experience happened to me. To be a part of the factory team is an invaluable experience of management".
1.
Irina Kolomeytseva: "That team spirit that is born in the team in endurance racing, can not be compared to anything. Here you understand very clearly that one of your mistakes will be a mistake of the whole team. This, you know, is such a world with very strong emotions. I love it. I really like the idea of endurance races. I think that we will come there once for a full season".
P.S. During the preparation of this article, we didn't manage to catch Andrii Kruglyk. Our drivers are too fast, you know!
PP.S. Alessio Rovera: "It was a great experience! No. I'm not tired and I don't want to sleep. From now I won't sleep in the nights any more!"