After all the problems from the test drive on Friday were supposedly resolved, Erika was ready to drive again for the TimeAttack run.
Saturday
The first and second training sessions were scheduled for Saturday. Unfortunately, we didn't get a single lap in the first practice session. After the triple left-hand bend, the accelerator pedal suddenly stopped working, the engine wouldn't take any more throttle and then simply stopped after the next right-hand bend. Fortunately, I was able to roll off the track just into a pocket so as not to come to a halt directly on the track. Fortunately, the fault was easy to rectify afterwards. The wheel had come loose from the electric motor of the throttle valve. Fortunately, the grub screw was still there, so we were able to reattach the wheel and also glue it in place.
In the afternoon, during the second training session, it was already quite warm. Unfortunately, Erika broke down in the exit after 20 meters because the engine simply stopped. Fortunately, I was able to restart the car. However, after three laps the problem from Friday reappeared: the pressure point of the clutch started to wander. So when I wanted to drive into the pit lane, the engine stopped again right in the entrance and I couldn't start it again. So I had to be pushed out by hand. However, we couldn't find a clear explanation for the behavior.
Sunday
The next day we continued with the warm-up. Everything worked well so far, as there were no technical problems. However, I spun and slid through the gravel onto the grass. Unfortunately, Erika didn't start again despite several attempts, so I couldn't get off the track under my own power and had to be towed away. So we spent the break until qualifying clearing Erika of all the stones.
Unfortunately, qualifying itself ended after one timed lap. After the start/finish, the clutch pedal slipped again and I couldn't change gear at all. My idea was to do the lap at idle speed until the pit lane. However, I already had engine damage at that point. As a result, there was a lot of smoke in the interior even before I entered the pits, so I ended up driving into a pocket, especially as the engine actually stopped.
Conclusion
I was actually super happy to finally be able to complete my first laps with Erika this weekend. It was clear from the outset that problems and faults would occur, but it was still quite frustrating to have driven so little in the end. Taking the car home with engine damage is also not a good feeling. Unfortunately, health problems also contributed to the fact that my energy was only partially available this weekend.
I hope that we will be able to rectify some of the problems that occurred on Erika in the follow-up. Let's see what happens with the engine.
In any case, many thanks to everyone who helped on site, whether in word or deed, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to continue after Friday. See you at the Lausitzring in August!
