Honda Challenge at Buttonwillow
The competitors:
1. Special Projects, debuting for the first time after missing the
season opener at California Speedway. They brought two identical looking integra. One is a brand new powered by K20a, and the other is the last year 2nd place finishing car with B20b frankenstein engine producing roughly 245HP at the wheel.. Driver of the K20 powered is Shawn Bota (#65), and the other is Jeff Owen (#66).
2. Varo Akopyan (#57), coming to BW after his dominating wins at
California Speedway. The car producing 226 HP on a dynapack and also powered by K20a.
3. Andy Hope (#1), returning with his last year championship winner car. His old CRX. The RSX that he is driving this year is in International Auto Salon in LA.
4. Ryan Flaherty/Robert Davis team (#28), Driving Michael Galati old Integra type R from World Challenge. The engine is detuned to use all Honda parts to meet Honda Challenge rule.
5. Jonathan Merris (#47), he supposedly ran in Wold Challenge local races. Hasn't shown a consistent run, bun shown he can turn a fast lap by sitting on pole on Saturday last month at California Speedway.
6. Andrie Hartanto (#68), EG6 with pretty much stock engine B18c. 185 HP tot he wheels and driving with pump gas. Drive the car to the track, and hope can drive it home without being stop by a cop.
7. Tom Lepper (#8), front runner in USTCC and about every race he competes in. H22 powered Accord. The accord is ex- European touring car.
8. Derek Stevens, Hondata co-owner. EG6 with also a K20a engine. He is the first guy who shown how capable the k20a engine at California speedway. Claimed the car has 255Hp on a dynapack. This translates about 240 HP at the wheel.
9. The rest of the field.
- Tsuyoshi Higashi, Endless sponsored team, EG6 with ITR engine (B18c).
- Dennis Caco, Tein sponsored team, EK9, with stock ITR engine.
- and a few others that I can't recall right now.
Saturday;
Early practice, I'm trying to get to speed. I haven't been to BW since OTC last year. And that was running in different configuration. Varo quickly shown how fast he can do by turning 2:07s. I was in 2:11s with the rest of front runners falling in between. Andy Hope is having problem with his car and didn't posted any time. Hondata surprised us with their huge wing. If you think Porsche have huge wings, it was nothing compares to this one. It is about 1.5 foot above his roof line, and it is huge. Too bad I didn't get to take the picture, but I might have it in one of my in car camera shot.
Qualifying,
The top 6 are: Jeff Owen took the pole with 2:09. Followed by
Robert Davis, Varo Akopyan, Shawn Bota, Andrie Hartanto with 2:10s, and Dennis Caco. This is what I expected I would stand considering the competition.
Race,
Robert Davis got a jump and lead onto T-1. Dennis Caco got a jump on me, so I dropped down to 6th place. I frustratedly trying to pass him as I watched the whole front runner getting further and further away. I finally got by him at Star Mazda turn and start my hunt toward the front pack. After a couple of laps, the top 5 are, Robert Davis, Varo Akopyan, Jeff Owen, Shawn Bota, and me. A couple more laps, Shawn and Jeff swapped place and I got closer. Jeff than lost it between Riverside and Lost Hills. I moved up to 4th position. The front runners are within looking distance but not close enough that we are not at the same pack. This goes on pretty much towards the whole race. Shawn's car broke last lap after lost hills. I was close enough to capitalize and took third position.
Sunday;
Morning practice,
Ryan Flaherty is driving #28 today. I was just trying to see if there is a place where I can improve. Everything flows better, as I got used to the track. I was driving sloppily yesterday.
Qualifying,
was cut short. I've only gotten 2 laps, and I was not giving all I got, since I was looking for a gap. But they black flagged the entire field, due to some cars broke down in dangerous places. Jonathan Merris surprisingly sits on the pole with 2:07s. Followed by Shawn Bota, Jeff Owen, Ryan Flaherty, Varo Akopyan, and Andy Hope. I sit in 7th, right behind Andy Hope. What a disappointing qualifying for me.
Race,
Merris maintain his position with Bota, Akopyan, and Flaherty. I managed to get by Hope and Owen to tail Flaherty at 5th position going into T-1. I tried to pressured Flaherty in the beginning hoping he will make a mistake. I finally got by him, when I got a run out of the esses. I started to put pressure on Akopyan and finally able to use the traffic to get by to third. I started to build a lead and try to catch the first 2 guys. But a yellow flag went up and this caused me to loose my lead. The hard fought battle ensued for the three of us, Flaherty, Akopyan and me. We swapped position for a few times. At the last corner, I tried to make a pass on Akopyan, but he squeezed me, and Flaherty took advantage passing me on the last corner. I ended in 5th position. Disappointing result, but it was a very fun/exciting race.
pictures can be seen at:
http://www.sromagazine.com/andrie/index.php?path=At the track/BW_HC_040304
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=824592
I'll have the video up and running soon.
Andrie
The competitors:
1. Special Projects, debuting for the first time after missing the
season opener at California Speedway. They brought two identical looking integra. One is a brand new powered by K20a, and the other is the last year 2nd place finishing car with B20b frankenstein engine producing roughly 245HP at the wheel.. Driver of the K20 powered is Shawn Bota (#65), and the other is Jeff Owen (#66).
2. Varo Akopyan (#57), coming to BW after his dominating wins at
California Speedway. The car producing 226 HP on a dynapack and also powered by K20a.
3. Andy Hope (#1), returning with his last year championship winner car. His old CRX. The RSX that he is driving this year is in International Auto Salon in LA.
4. Ryan Flaherty/Robert Davis team (#28), Driving Michael Galati old Integra type R from World Challenge. The engine is detuned to use all Honda parts to meet Honda Challenge rule.
5. Jonathan Merris (#47), he supposedly ran in Wold Challenge local races. Hasn't shown a consistent run, bun shown he can turn a fast lap by sitting on pole on Saturday last month at California Speedway.
6. Andrie Hartanto (#68), EG6 with pretty much stock engine B18c. 185 HP tot he wheels and driving with pump gas. Drive the car to the track, and hope can drive it home without being stop by a cop.
7. Tom Lepper (#8), front runner in USTCC and about every race he competes in. H22 powered Accord. The accord is ex- European touring car.
8. Derek Stevens, Hondata co-owner. EG6 with also a K20a engine. He is the first guy who shown how capable the k20a engine at California speedway. Claimed the car has 255Hp on a dynapack. This translates about 240 HP at the wheel.
9. The rest of the field.
- Tsuyoshi Higashi, Endless sponsored team, EG6 with ITR engine (B18c).
- Dennis Caco, Tein sponsored team, EK9, with stock ITR engine.
- and a few others that I can't recall right now.
Saturday;
Early practice, I'm trying to get to speed. I haven't been to BW since OTC last year. And that was running in different configuration. Varo quickly shown how fast he can do by turning 2:07s. I was in 2:11s with the rest of front runners falling in between. Andy Hope is having problem with his car and didn't posted any time. Hondata surprised us with their huge wing. If you think Porsche have huge wings, it was nothing compares to this one. It is about 1.5 foot above his roof line, and it is huge. Too bad I didn't get to take the picture, but I might have it in one of my in car camera shot.
Qualifying,
The top 6 are: Jeff Owen took the pole with 2:09. Followed by
Robert Davis, Varo Akopyan, Shawn Bota, Andrie Hartanto with 2:10s, and Dennis Caco. This is what I expected I would stand considering the competition.
Race,
Robert Davis got a jump and lead onto T-1. Dennis Caco got a jump on me, so I dropped down to 6th place. I frustratedly trying to pass him as I watched the whole front runner getting further and further away. I finally got by him at Star Mazda turn and start my hunt toward the front pack. After a couple of laps, the top 5 are, Robert Davis, Varo Akopyan, Jeff Owen, Shawn Bota, and me. A couple more laps, Shawn and Jeff swapped place and I got closer. Jeff than lost it between Riverside and Lost Hills. I moved up to 4th position. The front runners are within looking distance but not close enough that we are not at the same pack. This goes on pretty much towards the whole race. Shawn's car broke last lap after lost hills. I was close enough to capitalize and took third position.
Sunday;
Morning practice,
Ryan Flaherty is driving #28 today. I was just trying to see if there is a place where I can improve. Everything flows better, as I got used to the track. I was driving sloppily yesterday.
Qualifying,
was cut short. I've only gotten 2 laps, and I was not giving all I got, since I was looking for a gap. But they black flagged the entire field, due to some cars broke down in dangerous places. Jonathan Merris surprisingly sits on the pole with 2:07s. Followed by Shawn Bota, Jeff Owen, Ryan Flaherty, Varo Akopyan, and Andy Hope. I sit in 7th, right behind Andy Hope. What a disappointing qualifying for me.
Race,
Merris maintain his position with Bota, Akopyan, and Flaherty. I managed to get by Hope and Owen to tail Flaherty at 5th position going into T-1. I tried to pressured Flaherty in the beginning hoping he will make a mistake. I finally got by him, when I got a run out of the esses. I started to put pressure on Akopyan and finally able to use the traffic to get by to third. I started to build a lead and try to catch the first 2 guys. But a yellow flag went up and this caused me to loose my lead. The hard fought battle ensued for the three of us, Flaherty, Akopyan and me. We swapped position for a few times. At the last corner, I tried to make a pass on Akopyan, but he squeezed me, and Flaherty took advantage passing me on the last corner. I ended in 5th position. Disappointing result, but it was a very fun/exciting race.
pictures can be seen at:
http://www.sromagazine.com/andrie/index.php?path=At the track/BW_HC_040304
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=824592
I'll have the video up and running soon.
Andrie
Are all the H1 hybrids running around the 2200lb min weight? I've seen you guys drive in person on the few events I've made it out to, and watching Andrie's vids are always awesome, so I know all of you guys are great drivers. It still baffles me tho how the level of competitiveness is maintained w/ such variance in power and pwr.
Oh well. Hmm...your B18C makes 185whp...I don't know a lot of ITR or GSR B18C's making that much "stock"...and a stock K20A only makes about 170whp...do you mean "mostly stock"?
