The bittersweet world of motorsport

While things are finally looking up for the Nissan PlayStation team as sunrise approaches, their colleagues have been dealt a major blow. The other Nissan 350Z GT4, with which they share a pit garage, careered into a wall and has suffered major damage, meaning it can take no further part in the TOYO Tires 24h of Dubai. Most importantly, the driver has been checked by medical professionals and is unharmed, but the team is obviously devastated.

Conversely, Lucas Ordóñez enjoyed a superb session of driving, helping his team climb to 51st position overall at the time of writing. He began his 90 minute session averaging approximately 2:14 minutes per lap and grew in confidence with each corner, even managing to post a lap time of 2:12 minutes.

“It’s difficult at night,” he said. “It’s getting fierce out there as the air gets colder and drivers are able to push their cars harder, but I tried to stay calm and am very happy with my times.”

Darren Cox, Interactive Marketing Manager of Nissan Europe was equally delighted with Lucas’s drive. “He was fast, consistent and professional – everything we need,” he said. Such is the team’s trust in the GT Academy winner at this stage, he is currently preparing himself for yet another session after sitting out for the two hours required by the race rules.

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Fast laps and further frustrations

As night falls and the track is illuminated by speeding headlights, the Nissan PlayStation 350Z GT4 continues to suffer niggling setbacks. Johnny Herbert was forced into the pit-lane by a problem with the sensor that transmits lap times to the race computer and an issue with the headlights.

When Alex Buncombe got behind the wheel it seemed that the team’s fortunes had turned. He posted a succession of 2:11 minute laps, which were comfortably among the top ten in the field. To add further woe, he was involved in a collision with a Renault Clio, breaking the rear suspension and costing the team five laps.

As the temperature dropped, so did lap times. As Darren Cox, Interactive Marketing Manager of Nissan Europe and Tim Beven, project co-ordinator for the Nissan PlayStation team explained, cool air is denser. This allows the engine to burn more fuel and generate more power. Mild conditions also exert less strain on the car and are more comfortable for the driver.

At the time of writing the Nissan PlayStation team are in 62nd position overall, but there are still many hours to go and with the race strategy now being to push the car to its limits through the early hours of a humid Saturday morning, anything can happen. Read more

Mixed fortunes

A combination of solid driving and ill luck has left the Nissan PlayStation racing team with it all to do at the TOYO Tires 24h of Dubai endurance race. Rob Barff got off to a solid start, driving consistently to achieve lap times of around 2:12 minutes. Unfortunately, he was blighted by a freak incident early into his session and was forced to pull into the pit-lane with smoke billowing from his car.

“A piece of debris on the track popped up and damaged the power steering system,” explained Darren Cox, Interactive Marketing Manager of Nissan Europe. “It ruptured a joint and caused power steering fluid to pour onto the track; it also landed on the hot exhaust which explains all the smoke. We’ve repaired it but it has cost us ten laps, which is a blow as Rob was going so well out there.”

Once the fault had been repaired, Lucas got off to a flying start, completing one of his first laps in 2:14 minutes before settling into an impressive run of 2:15 minute postings. However, on lap 36 a puncture forced the Nissan 350Z GT4 into the pit-lane once again, although professional driving from Lucas and a tremendous effort from the pit team meant that the team lost less than a minute.

At time of writing, the Nissan PlayStation team is in 62nd place overall and 15th in their class, with Johnny Herbert currently behind the wheel. Before beginning his session, he said that a comeback was needed, but with Lucas driving so well and, hopefully, the misfortunes behind them, he is optimistic of finishing the race in a respectable position. Read more