After the promising last two races of the 2006 season, Luca joined MC Motors to race in the Asia Supercar Challenge.
Despite the efforts put by Luca by training all winter and being in perfect conditions for the Race, the team did not maintain his promises and did not do the Engine upgrade and did not change the gear ratios, therefore Luca was to start the season with almost 100Hrp less than the strongest competitor and almost 80 less than his teammate.
This did not discourage Luca from doing his best in first free practice where he could not do better than 4th time at 1 sec from pole, Luca accused immedialty that the car had something not working properly.
As expected in free practice 2 the car started to have some electrical problems that made Luca worry about the car conditions but the team said that the car was all right.
As Luca went trough qualifying session that was held in wet tires and with rain tires he immediately positioned him in temporary pole position, lapping in the first laps 2-3 seconds faster than his opposition. Luca accused some electrical problems when the track was getting faster and could not improve his time and ended the session on 4th place only 2 tents of second place. After the qualifying session he informed the team about his problems on the car, but they did not notice anything ‘strange´.
Luca was to start on 4th position in race one, the race was about to be held on slicks and dry track, but already during the formation lap, he had the car battery going on and off cutting the power off the engine and the electrics to the dashboard during the lap Luca performed two complete resets, but the problem was not solved.
Once in grid before the Race Luca told his mechanic that he had the alarm on and that the car would not go steadily but time was to short and nothing could be done at that time, therefore the cars went for the rolling lap, during which the car still had the electrical problems, by the time that cars where on grid with red lights, Luca went to accelerate but the car engine due to a Battery disconnection went off, leaving Luca with a steady car with no engine on at the green flag… most cars passed by while Luca was looking at his rear mirror hoping not to be hit but unfortunately a Porsche was not that fast to avoid him and there was a collision that broke Luca´s rear right tire and for him the race was over before even crossing the start line!
Thanks to this unfortunate first race that was won by a great Luis Monzon that was able to keep behind a brand new 430 Ferrari of Hong Kong Formula driver Lee, the team finally decided to take some concrete actions to check and improve Lucas car, so they change a few electrical cables and the alternator.
Sunday morning in Race 2, due to not having took the start in race 1 Luca had to start the race from the back of the grid, but already during the formation lap he noticed that his car had for the
first time in the week end had been repaired, and despite still having the power gap with the direct competitors he had a reliable and well running car.
He was to a good start where he passed 4 cars by the end of Lap 1, by lap 2 he had already passed 9 cars and was almost in sight of the first group, in lap 3 he did the race best lap in his class and was only 1 tent off the best lap of the better performing Ferrari 430, at the end of Lap 4 he was already in the leading group and while attempting to pass the 5th, he had contact and he blew his front left tire forcing him to the pits for the tire change and for a restart 1 lap behind the group.
Luca still managed to finish the race and despite his front left wheel was bent he was still lapping at the pace of the winner. But after two non scoring points race this is not much of a consolation.
Round 1 and 2 of the 2007 Asia Supercar Challenge
lunedě 26 marzo 2007 · Others