Full event report – From the heart – Team Manager / Dad
Drifting can be a cruel sport sometimes and the trip to Riga for the FIA International Drifting Cup was to test the team to the limit.
For the first time in Lwi Edwards racing history, he failed to qualify for the main event and it was all down to a very small electrical connection, the smallest of problems that created the biggest of problems!
The BMW E36 had been upgraded and checked over throughout the year by Allitalia Wrexham ready for this event, new uprated 1000hp+ driveshafts fitted, new high flow Dart cylinder heads and supercharger mods produced 200 extra hp to tackle the Bikernieki Circuit in Riga. Now pushing 920hp, we were confident that Lwi would be competitive.
However, there will always be something small that can throw a spanner in the works, and drifting at a Pro level has very little practice or free time to iron out problems, it is full speed ahead from the start, and seat time at this demanding circuit is the most crucial part of the event.
Arrival at Bikernieki circuit after a 2-day drive across 4 countries and 2 time zones was uneventful, the car unloaded and the Team set up in the paddock using the Haltech Gazebo supplied to us for the event.
Scrutineering was without any drama; the old E36 may not be the most modern of cars at the event, but we always make sure it complies with the FIA Rules and regulations. Fuel and tyres were delivered directly to the circuit and at this event we had made a decision to run the Extreme Tyres, as used in DMEC and very grippy, but never tested by Lwi.. Something that would create a problem later on.
The format of the event was over 3 days: the 1st day was initial practice, usually about 4 to 6 runs due to the full field of 45 drivers and the crucial time to gain experience of the circuit; the 2nd day was short practice and qualifying, and the final day was for the top 32 drivers to battle it out.
Lwi’s first run was just to get familiar with the circuit he had not driven on, and this is arguably the most challenging circuit in the world for Drifters, the car preformed ok with no real issues.
The second practice run, the car started losing power at critical places on the track, Lwi had to clutch kick a lot to try and stay in drift, which caused the auxiliary drive belt to shear.. the first set back, but this was easily a quickly repaired by the team
After this, it went downhill fast, instead on 900hp in mid drift, power would drop off making Lwi look like a real amateur, the team tried a lot of things in the heat of the moment to overcome this but we didnt get to the bottom of the issue until late into the night after practice had finished… it was traced to a very small connection to the charge cooler pump, this cools the intake temperature which can rocket up with the Magnuson Supercharger on full boost, it looked like it had some slight corrosion, possibly after being transported through some wet weather on the trip across due to being mounted low at the front .. either way, a quick wiggle of the connection diagnosed the problem.
So day 2 was a tall order, Lwi had around 2 practice runs in a car that now had 900hp, on tyres he had never used, at a circuit he had never driven on, plus we had altered the geometry and diff ratio at the rear due to problems the previous day, plus… the exhaust manifold had decided to start to crack… He managed to get one good run and our focus then was to just qualify, then regroup for the main day.
Qualifying runs
Lwis’s first run was pretty clean and safe enough to build on; he made sure he hit all the clips, and it was all looking pretty good until he got to the wall run section. He underestimated the grip due to a lack of experience with changes of tarmac at the circuit and being unfamiliar with the Extreme tyres, and he tapped the wall enough to straighten the car for a second. This is deemed a Zero.
Back in the pits and with the help of a Dacia hire car, the E36 was pulled back into shape, checked over and ready for run number 2.
Run 2 had a mistake on a shallow entry into the first clip, then the car was filled with tyre smoke after the damage from the wall towards the end of the run. With a low score, it was deemed that, along with another 12 drivers, we would not make it into the main event Top 32.
As a Team, we were mortified not to qualify, the first time ever in history! As a driver, Lwi took it very well, but deep down we all know that it really hurts. We are not the ones to make up excuses, it was simply not to be our time to shine.
Thats drifting, it can happen to the best drivers in the world, but it doesnt make it any easier to swallow.
Always take positives from the experience
Lwi and the Team were proud to represent Team UK for the second time at an international event. Lwi got to drive an iconic drift circuit, proved his driving ability against the odds and we made some new friends in the drift world.
Has it knocked us all back? You bet, financially, mentally, and personally.
Was it worth it.. Every penny!
But with our loyal partners behind us and family and friends’ support, we will be back stronger.
Lwi’s time to shine again will come….. watch this space