Honda Indy Toronto With Auto Analyser Racing

October 08, 2009 | Driving Adventures | Andrew Wojteczko | Comments (18)

Touring Car racing is some of the most exciting, most intense door-to-door racing there is. Combining equally prepared cars with large fields and covered wheels makes for exciting passes, close racing, and dramatic crashes.  Welcome to two weeks in the life of a front running Castrol Canadian Touring Car racing team. The CCTCC schedule is action packed and leaves only one weekend between events for maintenance and repairs. Consequently it’s a tight timeline and takes many hours of dedication in the shop to produce results on track.

The Honda Indy Toronto is a huge event and happens only once a year. It is a temporary street circuit and shuts down one of the major downtown roads for the race to happen.  It attracts more spectators and more cars than any other event in the country. 

Auto Analyser Racing is a Canadian based touring car team and competes in the championship with a pair of Lexus IS300’s. The previous round at Circuit ICar in Montreal resulted in two wins and a fast lap award for the #64 car and put Andrew Wojteczko just 5 points off the championship lead in third place overall. The #65 car was retired following an engine failure but would be ready for round 5, the Honda Indy. Here is how our Toronto Indy weekend went down:

2 Weeks To Race Day

• Return from previous round at ICar  and unload the trailer
• Put the #65 car up on hoist and remove engine
• Disassemble engine and inspect failure
• Pick up newly machined crank and block from machine shop and assemble
• Install engine

1 Week To Race Day

• Take #65 to dyno to tune for 2.8l to 3.0l displacement increase

• Return to shop and change all fluids: engine, gearbox, and differential
• Check alignment and corner balance the suspension
• Load #65 into trailer
• Put the #64 car up on the hoist
• Nut and bolt check
• Change fluids: engine, gearbox, and differential
• Check alignment and corner balance the suspension
• Load #64 into trailer

4 Days To Race Day

• Deliver transporter to Direct Energy center on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds
  • i.    Must arrive at 6:00 PM sharp
  • ii.    Not allowed to unload yet

3 Days To Race Day

• Setup paddock
• Pick tires for next days practice session
• Complete trackside checklist for both cars to ensure cars are prepared

 2 Days To Race Day

• First official practice session, both cars ready and on track
• #65 car makes contact with a tire wall and returns on a flatbed
• #65 up on jack stands to assess the damage
• Send crew to pickup replacement fender and mirror
• Begin repair of both left side doors
• Replace broken tie rod and lower balljoint
• Prepare for afternoon qualifying: send #64 car for voluntary pre tech inspection, pass.
• Fresh tires mounted on both cars
• Heavy traffic in qualifying:#64 qualifies4th, #65 qualifies16th (out of 42 cars)
• Final check over the cars and then out for team dinner

1 Day To Race DayPreparation for Race 1 of 2 on Saturday

• Calculate fuel use for 30 minute race and fuel both cars
• Take #64 car for voluntary pre tech, pass
• Check weather forecast: predicting rain will stop and track should go dry
• Cars on stands ready to make tire selection and setup changes if needed
• Staying dry, install dry tires and prepare for Race 1
• Two cars crash in front and spin:#64 gets collected and has front end damage
• Driver radios low volts and water temp warnings
• #64 coasts in to pits
• Accessory belt torn and damage too extensive for pit lane repair, DNF
• #65 moves up and captures 9th place: First top 10 for #65!
• Work begins on #64 car
• Front bumper replaced, radiator pressure checked, accessory belt replaced
• Frame straightened with rope attached to pole and crew running car back
• Front splitter repaired and reattached
• Final check over the cars and out for another team dinner

Feature Race Day - Sunday

• Fluids checked, nut and bolt check, fuel added, and pre tech complete on both cars
• #64 starts in 36th position, #65 starts 9th based on Race 1 results
• #64 makes up substantial ground and reaches 5th place by the chequered flag
• #65 falls back slightly but holds on for 15th place finish
• Team celebrate job well done
• Disassemble paddock
• Pack up cars and head home
• Unload transporter and begin repairs for round 6 in two weeks

October 08, 2009 | Driving Adventures | Andrew Wojteczko | Comments (18)