The revs under load were impressive in my
"Turtle Beach Ear Force X1s"
31, October 2011 1803 hrs.
Suzuka East at Sunset
I spend the first few seconds of the race looking over the stance of the car and revving the motor. I did not step into the car looking for a good exhaust sound but it was there.
The car was not your typical four stroke 16 valve B16B 1600 c.c. motor. I clearly sensed that the EK9 was hiding some real power that needed to be unleashed at the higher rpm range.
I was happily greeted with the sensation of the limited slip yanking the car forward while holding the edge of traction.
I turned off all assists except for ABS to give a real representation of what you can get out of the car. I always run simulated tyres and fuel and decided to take the car around Suzuka for about 20 laps hoping that one of the wet noodle laps would stick on the wall.
I took liberties in the first lap to warm up the tires and feel the weight shift from corner to corner in order to understand how much roll and throw the body and tail would take.
I could tell from the tune numbers that the car would be apt to settling in corners and was built for smooth weight transitions. I noted there was no snappiness to the steering which surely came from the mild adjustment to the caster and toe.
By turn six it was clear this car rewards a careful endurance style driver. Smooth lines into the corner with strong short braking prior to turning the wheel afforded smooth weight transfer.
I pulled out of turn eight and found the edge of the traction near the entrance to pits and powered flat out of the corner straight to the left rumbles before the main straight.
I clicked positively into the gears up to the high end of fifth and grabbed the outside fog line into turn one. The hatchback snapped out of the trance and I found myself a formidable first full lap by running a 00:59:372.
the high end of fifth and grabbed the outside fog line into turn one. The hatchback snapped out of the trance and I found myself a formidable first full lap by running a 00:59:372.
Testing the lines each lap I could feel that the tyres were reaching that crucial temperature to wear ratio. The car was begging me for the fast lines and I had quickly learned them. I got a good exit into the front straight picking my speed up. The revs under load were impressive in my Turtle Beach Ear Force X1’s.
I blistered the tires braking short with heavy pressure into turn one. I let the weight shift forwards and smoothly turned the nose in with no signs of under steer.