and if you do see them, you have to [???????]
But the radiator isn't a mechanical part, I can see that from the front too.
That doesn't matter.
When you are standing there, you're just thinking
dude, just put the damn sticker on the window and let us drive.
It's a point in time that really annoys you.
You know exactly what was going on, what they are looking for
and you are watching exactly what they are doing.
But if the guy had a bad night's sleep, or had a bad day with his wife
you're out of luck.
Then Holger has to go to report.
If the team has lot's of changes to work on
the planned rollout during the first training is out of the question.
Team leader Holger Spelsberg has to go to the technical examiners' office.
After a few minutes Holger comes back to the team with good news.
The change requests are minimal.
Everything else is clean and satisfactory.
The air outlets - put gatings in.
And tomorrow morning we should show up at 8AM.
I'd like for us to do that, because those folks will like that
and if they are in a good mood it will be more fun with them.
It's cool when you spend a few months building a car
and I looked at the rule books a couple of times
and... there are always some obscurities that remain.
And it's nice that you get told that most of what you did is correct.
I can finally sleep relaxedly tonight.
The first hurdle seems to be overcome,
but can the team solve the actual problems?
It's time for another night shift
and the rollout will take place during the first training.
During the training - worst possible situation
couldn't go any worse.
Anybody who has done car racing for more than one month will tell you
"don't do a rollout during offical training. It looks stupid."
We know this, but we have no other choice.
After the mechanics worked for a whole night
the Aston passed the second inspection with no problems.
Today there are 2 training runs.
One at 13:30, and the other at 19:30.
A further one tomorrow at 14:00.
Tim's vision is back on course.
Confidence returns thanks to the many fans.
Smudo of "Fantastischen Vier", who is also racing on the Nordschleife
showed them lots of respect.
What those guys are doing, working like crazy
and then being surprised by small events,
then having to work even more.
Or having to drive 200km for some tiny part
because they weren't expecting that to also be able to break...
I really pity them.
I'm sorry, but that's part of how it is.
Only if the road there is bitter, the success can be sweet.
After the acceptance, the mechanics can finally take care of the important parts.
We're going to switch the underbody, because we still have the one from the test car.
Other than that the car is almost ready.
The water pump needs to be exchanged, someone needs to take care of that.
It's not entirely easy, because we have to take a lot out to get to it.
13:30 - The first free training finally starts.
It only lasts 90 minutes.
If the Aston misses this window, there will only be 2 more opportunities before the race starts.
But it is looking good.
Together the mechanics are trying to solve the cooling system problem.
Time is passing - Holger, Tim and Jan are discussing the next steps.
Tim wants to start, even if time is quite tight.
You want to roll out?
During this training... I'd say it will be quite hard.
It depends on how much we need to take out.
We put the pump in a position where we thought it would be easy enough to switch.
How could it will turn out to be will be revealed now.
Finally, a small wonder - the mechanics manage to replace the water pump.
It seems the penny has finally dropped.
I'm a bit scared that something else might still be going wrong
but on the other hand I'm happy that it's finally starting.
We will see.
9 Months after purchasing the stock Aston, and 2 days before the race
it finally drives under its own power.
I put in the reverse gear, and I couldn't get it back out.
I tried to go through the gears, and then I couldn't change back.
Now it is clear, the first training finishes without Tim and the Aston.
There are times where you think, what is going on here?
Nothing is working, and everything is going wrong.
The few glimpses of light in between keep you going.
If it weren't for them, I'm sure half of our team would have just dropped.
Nobody wanted to, but you can reach a point where it just doesn't seem to go on.
We came here because we wanted to drive the 24 hour race.
We are here, and we're going to drive here.
After the engine and the water pump, now the sequential gearbox has failed.
Once again the mechanics need to get to work.
It's now 16:00, the next opportunity to test the car is at 19:30.
Tim won't give up. He has driven the 24 hours of the NŸrburgring four times so far.
Each time as a driver in a different team.
This year he wants to make his biggest dream come true and start in his own car.
In the second practice, Tim and his Aston finally make it to the track.
The team is euphoric.
Let's see if he manages a lap.
The moment of truth isn't quite over, we still need to hope he comes back.
At least he's out, which is more than we managed last time.
Time to cross our fingers that luck doesn't leave us.
Then comes the shock.
The Aston comes to a standstill again.
Just a moment ago, euphoria - now a mood fit for a cemetery.
Tim manages to make it back to the pit lane.
He only managed to drive one lap of the Grand Prix course.
We heard the announcers say "Tim Schrick... DMAX", we just thought they were saying
that we finally made it out, and then we heard
"clouds of smoke"... my heart sank into my boots.
Just as we were on top, we dropped back down again.
It soon becomes clear what was at fault for the failure.
Once again the English custom gearbox is causing trouble.
The mechanics get back to work.
They need to hurry, the training only lasts until 23:00.
Of course when the gearbox arrives this late, and you can't rollout because of the water pump
and when the rollout takes place on the race track
that's something that you just don't do.
You can't calmly test out a car while on the race track.
Everything you do is public, but we had no other chance.
That's why we are in the situation we are now
and it costs nerves because the situation is so stressed here.
A rollout on the race track is just a no-go.
Shortly before the end of the training, Team Schrick gives it one last try.
The whole team is tired, and after several nights of no sleep
everyone just wants to get to bed.
It would be best for everyone if at least this day would end well.
But after one lap it's over again.
The only positive side? At least the Aston made it back to pit lane of its own power.
Once again the race gearbox is revolting.