“Mission Impossible” Report – Monza, Italy
Rainer drove this track for the first time in 2008, this time however with the goal to achieve better results. Track knowledge can literally mean seconds off the clock! It was with this motto and the previous race-simulation that Rainer approached the race with both theoretical and mental optimism. He started the first of the two qualification well prepared and in good condition, especially since his sip-and-puff system had been working without any glitches since Spa.
The fact that Rainer was able to drive faster could be seen almost immediately, he entered the overspeed trip unit too early three times in total; which meant that the team mechanics had to adjust the speed transformation of the gears to a longer configuration.
Monza was, as the previous year, summer-like and warm with a temperature of 29°C. The longest full throttle passages and the hardest brake maneuvers challenged many of the cars on the track. The weather conditions caused the motor-oil-temperature to climb to a frightening 150°C and the brake discs to reach an incredible high of over 900°C!
The slick- tires used by Rainer reached their best temperature of approximately 80-90°C after two warm-up laps and began to bite the curves. Rainer was able to fly around the track for three rounds; however smoke suddenly started to pour out of the cockpit in the fourth and last qualification round.
Rainer was forced to break of the round straight away and drove into the box. Despite this problem the team was elated about his super qualifying time, a mere three tenths of a second behind last years champion Heinz Grau.
The team got to work on the car and after a quick check it was clear that smoke was only the result of a slight oil loss. Nothing that couldn’t be easily fixed and Rainer would be able to start the second qualification round with out any reservations. That’s what they thought…
Rainer left the box with the intention of gaining another half a second on the track, however smoke quickly gathered once more and the gears of the sip-and-puff system blocked completely. With a heavy heart Rainer had to carefully drive the round and return to his box once more. The electromagnetic gear-stearing had burnt out and there was no spare part to replace it. With this Rainer’s hopes of a race win in Monza ended before it could even start.
The last opportunity to achieve the goal of his “mission impossible” will take place on the 17th and 18th October in Hockenheim. This race is key to Rainer as he is at a turning point in his career. After five years of development and self financing, Rainer is creating a résumé. Is it technologically possible to compensate the complete handicap of a C/4/5/6 tetraplegia? Can Rainer fulfill his vision to become the first successful wheelchair racing car driver in an international race circuit and with achieve his mission impossible?
We will continue to report!