Congratulations to Team SAYAmy for a successful Podium Finish in Round 3 of the Malaysian Super Series and Round 1 of Lotus Supercup Asia. Here’s their Thank you letter:

It is with great pleasure for me to inform you that our Lotus Racing Team has completed a successful campaign in Round 1 of the Lotus Supercup Asia and Round 3 of the Malaysian Super Series - Sports Production Class which was held at Sepang F1 Circuit on the 27th of May 2012. Unlike the previous Lotus Race Series which was a short 10 Lap sprint format, this time we ran a 1 hour endurance race.

This round we decided to run our latest race car which was the Lotus Exige S1 with 170hp. As the Lotus had very limited power output potential we decided to focus on weight savings instead of exerting the engine. As most of the competition had double the power, our best chance was to run a light car which meant better fuel consumption, yet competitive lap times throughout the race.

In qualifying, we managed to secure 4th fastest in class. The more powerful cars pushed forward as expected and claimed the first 3 positions. It will be a long race, so we continued to focus preparation on tire wear and setup.

On Race day, we reduced our fuel load again. Knowing that the competition installed bigger fuel tanks to last the entire race, we decided to lower our weight by carrying less fuel. It was a very risky move as we were not allowed to refuel during the entire race. If we ran out of fuel, it was the end for us. The engineers did their calculations and more fuel was removed. Instead of 40 Liters, we ran a low 29 liters.

Green lights came on and the race was underway. The more powerful cars zoomed past and we were left to our own strategy. Many laps passed and the light Lotus was clocking faster times than qualifying; catching up with 2nd position. Half way into the race the car came in for the compulsory 5 minutes stop. The engineers checked the fuel level and discovered the consumption was higher than expected so the driver was told to watch the fuel gauge for the rest of the race.

With 10 minutes remaining we secured 2nd position. The long race was taking a toll on the more powerful cars as their lap times were climbing. But we were not in the clear as our fuel level was dangerously low at 8 liters. The decision was made to push and defend 2nd position, with the crew watching tensely from the pit wall hoping that the car would pass by, lap after lap.

In the end, Lotus number 91 crossed the finish line 2nd in the Lotus Supercup Asia and 3rd in Sports Production Class. With only 3 liters of fuel remaining in the tank, the car would have stalled track side if needed to complete 2 more laps. It was a close call but in motor racing, it was worth it.

On behalf of the team, I would like to take this opportunity to Thank You for your generous support and hope for your continued partnership in our future campaigns. Without your support, we clearly will not be able to achieve this result. Thank You & Congratulations!

With Best Regards,

Eugene Lee
Race Coordinator
Team SAYAmy

*For those interested in our LSA Arrive & Drive program or Sponsorship opportunities, please feel free to contact us! Part of the proceeds will directly benefit various welfare and orphanage homes.

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