- 05/01/2017
- 2 Min Read
- By: Anthony Magagnoli
Driver's Log - Anthony Magagnoli - 2017 PWC Season Rounds 1 + 2 - VIR
Reflecting back on my first pro race weekend, I'm feeling very blessed for having such incredible support from my team, fiancee, family, and friends. This has been truly a life goal of mine that was only made possible by aligning years of work and dedication with an incredible opportunity provided by the Brown family and Rooster Hall Racing. Thank you to everyone who has helped me make steps forward and those who sent well wishes through this past weekend. I'm going to take this opportunity as far as I can!
I did a lot of reminiscing leading up to my first race on Saturday. It was about this time in 2007 that I ran my first BMWCCA Club Race in my E30. I learned a lot from the mistakes that I made in those first couple years!
Now, in regards to this weekend, I can't recall ever having felt such nerves as I did leading up to those first sessions and races. We got off to a good start, finding ourselves as the fastest car in the first practice session. Not a bad way to start off our first pro race weekend! When qualifying came, we only got one clean lap, so I couldn't be upset with starting in 5th out of 30 cars, considering that!
The first race was going ok. I was feeling out my competitors, gaining and dropping a couple spots along the way, not being too aggressive yet in this new venue. The car didn't have the balance that I was looking for, as we'd had to make some last minute setup changes before the race, but I was pushing along. There was a red flag due to an incredible crash that brought the field together. After the restart, I'd lost a position to another M235iR in traffic, but then got a run on that car up the esses when he was slowed by another car on the way in. I got 90% beside him leading up to South Bend, but he didn't see me to his inside and turned in. Boom... first contact in pro racing. This sent him off the outside of this fast turn and just slowed me a bit. Headed down the hill in 5th place, I had another M235iR closing on me, but still a ways back. I defended by staying mid-track to discourage a dive-bomb. I turned in with him behind me, but he left his braking way too late and ran into my RF corner on his way off the track, taking me with him. I got back on track, but my steering wheel was off about 30 degrees, as I had badly bent RF suspension. I limped through the last couple laps, trying to respond to the erratic handling, losing spot after spot. I went off in the last corner, but came back on and put my foot to the floor, crossing the finish line 3-wide, just edging out 2 others to finish in 12th place.
Eric and Marshall were able to get the car put back together that evening with new parts and Gary prescribed a new setup that would help the balance of the car. I'd be starting in 9th place for the second race, which would begin with a standing start. I had practiced a start once the previous day and had a good rpm to launch at. It worked well and I immediately jumped a couple positions on the start, and another one or two in the first couple laps. This race was going better, as the car was now better balanced. I was chasing a 370Z with an M235iR behind me. As we were lapping slower-class traffic, headed into Turn 1, the car behind me was 0.5 seconds back. As I entered the turn, I suddenly realized this guy was coming in hot, as he hit my RF corner and sent me off the track with him. The EXACT SAME THING that took me out the previous day. I couldn't believe it. I got back on track with my steering wheel turned 30 degrees to the right and limped my way through the remaining laps, dropping positions until I finished 12th place - again - under full course yellow for an accident.
I was a little disenchanted with some of the poor judgement that was displayed over the weekend, but now know a little better what to expect from some in the field. I hope that people are getting the desperation out of their systems and will settle down by the next event. Gladly, there are also a handful of very skilled drivers that will help to push me and the team to improve and push toward the podium! Oh, and the TV commentators need to learn how to pronounce my name!
