Left early with the guys, we drive there on the road as usual. I've been doing this for 12 years, it keeps you reined in a bit so you stay clear-headed and go home the way you came.
Briefings are less tedious since covid, though I can put myself in the beginners' shoes... it's a bit like being thrown to the wolves with all these maniacs. Back in February it was already tense on track... nobody has driven much for a few months, everyone wants to drive, the weather's good contrary to what Evelyne said on TV, that won't help and we'll need to stay alert, it's going to come flying.
On my 1st trackday with the E92 I took it a bit "elbow out the window", just to make sure there wasn't too much nonsense going on and to find my bearings. This time we'll pick up the pace a bit and see how it copes when you lean on it a little.
So this is only the 2nd trackday with Black Mamba; coming out of the E46 I have to find my bearings... the chassis, the ratios, the geometry, the DKG, the brakes, the PS Cup 2s... basically resetting the counters to zero.
Pressures before heading out, gauge behind the seat, and off we go with Nico as passenger to recce the track and help him get some reference points. When you've never driven the Bugatti it feels XXL, you don't really know where to go, where to position yourself, where to put the car. It'll help him, because I'm not sure he'll be able to head out right behind me at the start. We stop after 2 or 3 laps, set the pressures properly at 2.2 bar max, they'll heat up so I go for the minimum, and head straight back out for a quick 6 to 8 laps.
Damn, these E92s really do go well, no two ways about it, and I feel at home even though it's bulkier than the E46. In the 2nd session I start picking up the pace, and the E46's best time is blown to pieces straight away... and yet I'm still making a mess of it = as usual I struggle at the Museum corner, my trail braking into Chemin aux Boeufs isn't right, the brakes fade in that phase, but it comes out strong, just like at La Chapelle. OK, got it: E92 + Drexler + KW Clubsport = traction.
I jump from one car to another, the Type R and Tristan's Black Hornet... sometimes as passenger, sometimes at the wheel. I think in the morning I did as many km in other people's cars as in my own.
At the end of the morning I head out with Gauthier, who times me at 1.57,5. I hadn't really been watching the timer so I could focus on the feel... not bad, especially with an overtake in the Raccordement. In the end what matters is coming back with a big grin!
But overall, after this morning it's clear there are 2 or 3 things to sort out before I'm fully satisfied:
-the rear end wriggles a bit and doesn't rotate enough, there's weight transfer to the rear. A good geometry setup should improve that; DM knows the beast inside out, he'll be able to translate my impressions into a good geometry.
-the brakes fade on the slightly long trail-braking phases, I've got no margin if I come in a bit too hot. Pagid is good, strong initial bite, but I'm going back to PFC like on my bulletproof ex M3 E46.
-I need to get used to the E92, it's capable of going through the Dunlop a lot better, among other things.
-I'm addicted to short diffs, so I need to fit that 3.62 that's just waiting to go in.
After our lunchtime snacks in the grandstands we head back out to play around with friends a bit and take others for a ride. There's traffic, but it forces you to adapt. I catch myself starting to play with the GT3s where before they just went past, OK, the big GT3 RS ph2s aren't happening any time soon... but if I can already find some playmates among the Porsche crowd, that suits me fine.
In the afternoon, after another fill-up of siphoned fuel, it's already time. I could easily have done another hour of play, but my mates were completely wiped out, so it was a done deal anyway.
So we head home at a gentle "legal" pace because we're a bit worn down, just like our tyres... and on the road we carry on the debrief hands-free (not easy talking to Tristan, who's in his machine with zero sound insulation...).
Thanks to Vivien and Gabriel for the photos
the white one: Nico
the E92 with the GT4 splitter (with holes) = Gauthier
the E92 with the GTS splitter = Mike
photo credit = Vivien LB photographie
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