Ok so here is how the weekend went...
First I have to say, VIR for a person who has never been there is an overwhelming experience!
The straights are faster, the elevation changes are unlike anything I've ever experienced, and the level of talent around me was quite noticeable.
I had a couple of strikes against me as this was my first time at a new track and I was of course in a different car. Oh and let's not forget to add in that aside from the DE I did last fall in my Cayman this was only my 2nd event in ten years!
So to summarize succinctly - I need a LOT more practice.
The last event I ran in the fall was at a track I am very familiar with. But since I was in my Cayman instead of my 996 cabrio I still had some reservations around pushing it. But at least I knew every corner and turn of the track I was at so I could go at a comfortable pace and keep up with traffic. My run group at that event in the fall was "white" which is below the black and red advanced run groups.
For this event at VIR I originally was going to sign up for blue with an instructor but it got filled up (since I registered late) which left me to sign up for the white group. I figured since I had a lot of familiarity running in a 996 then moving to this car would be a natural progression for me but just with higher limits. Well in terms of the car itself I was right, but the track was the big wildcard that I didn't quite expect.
First issue I had was even before I got on to the track. During the driver meeting the lead instructor told us about the passing zones. Ok no biggie I know about those but what I didn't expect is that they change based on what the next corner is going to be. At my home track of CMP we always pass on the right of the slower vehicle. Here at VIR, at least with this region, they change based on the apex of the upcoming turn. So the slower car keeps the line, the faster car passes off-line.
Seems easy in theory, right? Yeah when you know the track and know what corner is upcoming. But since I didn't I was at a huge disadvantage. I mean yes I studied the track, played it in a simulator, watched YouTube videos but that's so different than when you are out there and all is lost at that point.
I did two runs with the white group and in a couple of instances pointed by faster cars coming up behind me in the wrong direction. The cars in this group were FAST and I can tell those around me knew this track like nothing else. I felt I was learning more and more each lap but with vehicles coming up so quickly behind me, I was unable to focus on what I needed to.
This wasn't sitting right with me so after our class I spoke with the lead instructor and asked to be demoted to Blue solo. I would have preferred to have an instructor sit with me but they were short of them but I figured with this group I should have fewer passing me.
I was right and was able to enjoy the next two sessions without as much stress.
Next time I'm on this track I will either ask for an instructor or hire a coach. This track has way too many hidden features that I still need to learn before I can start to build real speed.
In hindsight I should have probably done an event at my home track first to get used to the car and then go to VIR. But I'm glad I got the experience and was able to see what the car can do.
Not going to post video because it'll be awful viewing as I know I really should have had someone with me before taking on this track. I didn't run in the wet because I knew it was a risk I shouldn't be taking. If I was familiar with the track I would have attempted it but no thanks, not yet!
So I won't be taking Patrick Long's job any time soon but hey it's a journey, right?
@David993S - great build on this car! It remained flat through all of the turns and never gave me any issue with understeering or feeling like the back end was going to kick out on me. You were right about the lower tire pressure as once I got to later laps they started feeling a little greasy but once I let out some air we were on point.
I did get a misfire once along with a "low oil pressure warning" coming out of turn 1 and 2 but I don't know if it happened because of an accidental upshift in the middle of a corner or an actual issue. I cleared the codes and went back out for two more sessions without incident so hopefully it was just a glitch but I'll have it checked out again before going out.