Very early in the morning the bus came to pick us up right at the hotel entrance. It took us to the race track located indoors of the commercial centre about 40mins away.

Just as in our childhood days when we used to go on field trips...you can just picture us...., Cristian Tabush y Jacob, Alan Mok, Patrick and their fellow country men, etc., all like little children clowning around in the bus. Not me of course; I was behaved quite modestly. 

The expectations of seeing the facilities and the track where at a maximum.

When we arrived, the commercial centre still hadn´t opened its doors to the public. Everything was in place right down to the finest detail. Each pilot knew what table was his and, bit by bit, the boxes began to be filled.

Soldering table available to all, spare parts office ( where we could replace  worn or damaged parts for new ones), Control Center, where cars were approved before and after each leg, and stored the transmitters, etc.

Everything done to perfection.

Evidently, the training sessions took place under supervision. In a brief presentation, Kim and Menson of ATM explained to us in English and Chinese, respectively, how the training sessions were to be carried out: 5 min turns, open category. When you to do a test run you go to the end of line and then begin.

As you can see in the photos, a fair carpet track was used;Its grip got better and better throuhout the weekend.

The track design had very straight sections, something that we are quite accustomed to here, and also very spacious zones ( although at times  this width also formed part of the track beyond its demarcations...)

At these training sessions, we used, together with the AWDs, the MR02s both in stock as well as modified format.

Just so that you can get a general idea, we began the training sessions setting up in MR02, 10º rear Groove tires and 40º or 30º Groove front tires. As I mentioned previously, the grip of the track improved with each leg so we ended up mounting 20º groove tires. 

Both the members of the French team as well as the Americans, in addition to myself, opted for the MR02. As the local drivers began to arrive -those who we met at the MMs track of Hong Kong, we began to realise that our choice for the modified category wan´t the correct one.

90% of the drivers of HK used AWD chasses with SAS Pro Kit suspension and the 2005 or 2007 Nissan 350Z car body to race in modified categories (open motor, open fets and open chassis). All the same, all clones. All the same driving style.

The truth is that the HK drivers are very fast, they never use the brake (their cars come ready prepared to be driven in this manner) they are quite aggressive and share out when its time for sharing, but one thing for sure is that they never complain. They pushed their driving to the limit lap after lap, and tended to hug the borders of the track; it wasn´t all about hanging around the center of the lane.

As far as I was concerned, I tuned up the MR02 for the stock category, with a Stock R, with fets and a 98mm chassis and Mclaren Chassis. I had quite a few problems with the Mr02 of the modified category for I set up an NSX 2007, the same set up as the MR02 stock but with many grip problems.

If I had to put a title to what I witnessed on Friday, it would have to be "THE ATTACK OF THE CLONES".

As you could see in the preceding photos, the box line-up what spectacular. Many decorated car bodies, cases and boxes all over and lots of comradery and expectation for having a good time.

The tidiness and immaculate appearance of the boxes of the French tea. Use can see Patrick´s box, with his two perfectly aligned Mclaren cars... This control of space contrasted enormously with the splurge of media and chaos, controlled, of course, by the other work areas.

At the end of the day, both the Americans as well as the European were well aware that it would be very difficult to face up to the HK drivers. Their AWD setup was clearly superior to our MR02 one. Our adaptation to the track design was rapid, but not as much when it came to the track surface. They HK drivers  on the other hand, know this fair carpet very well, as its the same as the MMs and their car set ups were perfect right from the very start.
 
The training sessions drew to a close, we caught the bus and then , off to the hotel. After a quick shower and a heavy supper based on ....Chinese food!!! to MMS to get even more hooked as if we weren´t hooked enough already.

This new visit to the MMS track was more productive. Working on our tune ups, sharing with them advice and piloting styles, exchange of cars, laughs and MiniZ until the wee hours of the morning.

They were amazed by our driving style of the MR02, as we were much faster than them on the curves, using the brake. I would like to remind you that the MM has an incredible grip. I had to use 10º Groove front tires and use much softer springs on the front track so that the Mclaren could enter. Motor T2 and I fell short. 


On the other hand we were amazed by the fine although aggressive driving skills and excellent set ups of AWD.

One thing to note: At first, when we heard their machines pass in front of us, just by the noise we could tell that they were either AWD or MR02 cars. You can just imagine the smooth running and the performance of the transmissions that they were executing.

If I had the opportunity to try out 6 or 7 of their cars, all with the same car body and set up, I have to tell you that all had the same response, exactly the same. If they fish tailed, they did it in exactly the same manner and with the same curve. It wasn´t too difficult for me to adapt to their driving style. Perhaps I would have liked to have been able to enter the curves more quickly and to tap on the brake a little. I feel that the best car would have had to have been a mixture of styles. Neither as aggressive as ours nor as smooth as thiers...

In MMS, Jacob, te Reflex Racing Pilot, was able to set up an AWD, following the advice of Menson, in order to face the group of qualifying rounds the next day.