Valkenswaard
Back on Home Soil: Racing Two Cars, One Weekend
Returning to home soil, I took on the unique challenge of racing two cars in one weekend: my trusty LifeLive TN05 EVO and a BMW 318 E30—the latter previously owned by Bart Bel and supported by ADM. The weekend was a whirlwind of highs and lows, with lessons learned and moments of triumph. Here's how it all unfolded.
ADAC XC CUP: LifeLive TN05 EVO
The ADAC XC Cup kicked off with promising results in qualifying.
Qualifying:
I secured P1, but it turned out to be false hope. Jordan Genten, unfortunately, forgot to qualify, meaning his true pace wasn’t reflected yet.
Heat 1:
I had the lead until the joker lap, where Jordan's speed on his joker outlap allowed him to overtake me. Finished P2.
Heat 2:
A similar story unfolded here. Starting from P2, I held my position throughout and brought it home in second place again.
Heat 3:
This time, a mistake in the joker lap cost me, and I ended up in P3.
Final:
I started P3 but had the pace to challenge. On the first lap, I overtook the car in P2 and held the position firmly until the checkered flag. Finished P2!
While I didn’t claim the win, the performance was consistent, and there’s always something to build on.
DRX: BMW 318 E30
Driving the BMW was a whole different beast. It was heavier and slower than most of the competition, but we still managed to put up a fight.
Qualifying:
Qualified P8 out of 12 drivers—not the result we wanted, but with mechanical issues already surfacing, it was still a solid effort.
Heats 1, 2, and 3:
Across all three heats, I managed P7. The car faced constant mechanical problems, but the team worked tirelessly to get it back on track for every session.
Final:
I started P8, at the back of the grid. The first lap was chaotic, with a flip causing a red flag and delaying the race by 20 minutes. This gave us time to fasten my seat and throttle pedal, which had come loose before the start.
However, avoiding the initial crash forced me into the sand, where I likely picked up debris, causing a puncture. Despite requesting a tire switch for the worn rear tires earlier (which wasn’t approved), I pushed on with a puncture.
In the restart, I overtook one car and managed to hold P4 for most of the race—even with the puncture! Ultimately, I had to retire, but a post-race DQ for another driver bumped me to P5, earning me a trophy for my first-ever car race!
Weekend Reflection
LifeLive TN05 EVO:
A consistent weekend with a solid P2 finish in the final. While I couldn’t clinch the top spot, the car felt great, and the results showed that we’re competitive.
BMW 318 E30:
The BMW was a challenge, both mechanically and performance-wise, but I’m proud of what we achieved. Managing P5with a puncture in my first-ever car race was a testament to persistence and adaptability.
Lessons Learned:
Trust your instincts—if I had pushed harder for that tire change, the final might have been a different story.
Even in adversity, there’s always room to shine. Driving with a puncture and still competing was a personal victory.
Looking back, the weekend was a mix of challenges and successes. Racing two very different cars was a fantastic experience, and I’m already looking forward to the next race weekend!
Thanks to everyone who supported me, especially the ADM team, for keeping the BMW running and making this adventure possible.
Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, keep pushing the limits!
- Thijmen Houben
