Jordan Pellegrino’s Ultra4 Nationals Race Report

Jordan Pellegrino and Team GenRight at the Ultra4 Nationals

Friday:

Had a drivers meeting early Friday morning then straight off to practice where we were getting a feel for the track trying different lines, tire pressures, feeling out all the corners etc. We only had a 30-minute practice to get everything sorted out and we used every minute we had. After practice, we were back to the pits to inspect the car and make some shock changes that would allow me to drive the car harder and faster during the following races. Around 3:00pm we went out to qualify, not quite the run I was hoping for but landed myself in 3rd place out of 13 cars.

Saturday:

We had another drivers meeting at 7am then straight into the car for the prelim race at 8am. The prelim consisted of everyone who was able to qualify the day before racing 6 laps that would determine starting position for the main. Right off the start, we were caught in the rocks but we made it out only losing a couple positions. Unfortunately, the rocks going up the mountain were super jagged and sharp and while trying to make passes and regain positions we damaged a tire and were forced to pit the next lap around. Tthe pit crew was quick and had us out in about a minute but since the feild of cars was still tight this meant we were pulling back on the track in dead last and would have to push even harder. In less than 5 laps we went from dead last all the way back to 5th place with no further issues. Not the finish I was hoping for but could have been much worse so we kept pushing. The car went back to the pit for repairs & changes. 

The main event came around at 1:30, we had a great start to the race leaping through the rocks from the third row all the way to the second car into turn 1. The race was going great and we were in first place by lap 2 then bad luck struck and in the same place we got a flat during the prelim we took out another tire in the main. We knew we had to push to the pits and lose as little time as possible. While in the pits changing the tire the idle malfunctioned and was stuck at 3500rpm, then on top of that leaving the pits, a rock had damaged a rear brake line and caused the car to pump all of the fluid out and have completely no brakes the rest of the race. I, as the driver, made the choice to not stop for a second time in the pits to have them try to fix the growing issues because if I wanted a chance at a podium finish there was no time to stop again. A dangerous choice with the high idle, no brakes, and trying to make up spots. We ended up pushing all the way to the finish and jumping across the finish line rock pile to make the pass for 2nd place, landing ourselves in second place by less than half a second. We were pushing the car to the limits the entire race and it paid off. 2nd place this weekend was a great finish for Team GenRight and can’t wait to prep for the next race.

Future races: 

King of the Hammers 2016 – February 2016 

X