PURE had a chat with Round 1 Winner GTP_Aderrrm. He's racing for team ARTA along with Neomone (Imari).
Hi Adam.
Gratz to your superb preformance in PURE JGTS first round!
The race started off pretty much as we all thought.
"The Big 3" took off instantly.
PURE JGTS will interview 1 driver each week, and this week we start off with you, who had such a strong weekend.
Let's start with heat 1.
You managed to pass tony1311 already in T1. What happened there?
I was keeping it real tight on the formation lap, in line with Tony's back end and was hoping I could have him down to Turn 1. Because of the torque of the NSX and the benefit of GTP_timeattack's slipstream I was able to do so pretty easily. Mind you I gave it right back through Dunlop.
In the end of lap 1, tony1311 had a spin in 130R. And since he's a strong contender for the championship, what was your thought when that happened? Or did you even notice?
Well it's a fast corner as you know. One moment he was there, the next he wasn't. I was really shocked that he made a mistake and it kind of kept me determined to stay on the back of GTP_timeattack's slipstream. In hindsight, I shouldn't have been that shocked, since everyone seemed to make at least one mistake throughout the race.
You and GTP_timeattack got a small gap down to GTP_CSL during the first couple of laps. But in the end of lap 5, disaster strikes. It looks like GTP_timeattack catch a huge slide, and you got nowhere to go. Keeping in mind what happened to tony1311, and obviously that GTP_timeattack also had to pay an unscheduled pitstop, what went on in your head at the time? By looking at the replay, your car does not seem to be that badly damaged, what made you to visit the pits instantly?
He took a lot of speed through that corner and I was only just going to make it through without touching the astroturf. Initially I thought this was a good thing, but I had nowhere to go even by braking. My car was only damaged lightly, but because my damage was on both sides, the car wasn't cornering properly and I had huge vibrations through the steering wheel as if the front end was constantly bottoming out. Fortunately, I knew that if you have any damage in more than place it's best off pitting, rather than trying to keep at it like GTP_timeattack did. You're bound to make a mistake at some point and you'll end up pitting a lap or 2 later anyway.
So after your 1st pit, you're running in 10th.
Passing GV27, BiffyClyro93 and WeeFreak pretty smooth, and it looks like you're about to recover pretty instantly. But out of nowhere, you have a spin comming out of Spoon, with damage as outcome. In to the pits again by lap 10. What were your thoughts in this part of the race?
I was just catching up to GTP_Welsh-Bain, and I guess I pushed it too hard on the exit of Spoon. It was actually the corner I was struggling with most through practice so I should have taken it easier. I went beyond the kerb with 2 wheels on the grass. The NSX seems to stop you from turning back on to the tarmac more than any other GT500 car, which meant I ended up crashing into the wall. I thought any chance of a win was lost, seeing as I had only pitted on lap 5. This pit stop meant I was going to do a 3 stop which I thought would get me a podium at best.
When coming out of the pits for the 2nd time, you're now running in 9th. Once again you're recovering pretty smooth, and the traffic falls nicely in to place for you. Not in need for any major batteling which helps you to keep your pace up.
You're passing BiffyClyro93 on a straight, tony1311 is in the pits, GTP_Welsh_Bain have a spin. Wardez, who's been ahead of you for a couple of laps also benefits in the same way as you. Eventually, you caught up to GV27, who was on a 1-stop strategy. His pace was pretty low at the time since he was in the end of his first stint, and you who had the pace up with fresh rubber cought him comming in to Danger 1. There's a small incident between you 2. What happened?
His car was lagging pretty badly, shifting forwards and backwards. I tried to put my car in a position which was as close to him as possible ready for an overtake, but to the side of him so that I wouldn't get caught out by the lag. GV tried to let me by through Degner 1, but I didn't know that at the time which is why I tucked back in behind him to go into the corner. He braked earlier to let me by, and I hit him into the gravel. After the first part of Degner I'd only just figured he was trying to let me by, which is why I didn't wait up for him. We're both cool about the situation now though.
You're now running in 5th, behind GTP_CSL, GTP_timeattack, chorda and Wardez.
And all of a sudden, you're in 2nd. GTP_timeattack and chorda collided in 130R forcing both cars in to the pits by the end of lap 15, and GTP_CSL commits an unforced error running in 1st in the beginning of lap 16. What did you think in this moment? You must've felt that your chance at the win drastically improved during these mid race moments?
Absolutely. I didn't know chorda and GTP_timeattack had collided at the time, so I just assumed they were doing scheduled pit stops. GTP_CSL had a spin, but I still had to catch up to Wardez who was now in 1st, and try pull away from tony1311 who was gaining on me.
You visit the pits for the 3rd and last time by lap 19-20. And it looks like your back on schedule as far as pit strategy goes, cause I assume you went for a 2-stopper initially with stops at around 9-11 and 19-21?
Yeah my initial plan was to 2 stop, on lap 10 and 20 or 21. But with the light damage from the moment with GV27, I had to pit in a lap or 2 earlier than I wanted to. It wasn't that bad in the end, because I undercut Wardez and with a slow last lap of the stint from him, I had gained around 5 seconds through the pit stops in total.
When exiting the pits, you're now running in 7th. And once again, you have an amazing flow when overtaking. By lap 21, you're overtaking Remy_K while he's in the pits, Wardez put up a small fight, and eventualy, you pass WiiFreak while he's in the pits. You're covering ground to GTP_timeattack and chorda who are running in 2nd and 1st respectively at the time. And while doing so, you go wide in T1, and tony1311 is closing in from behind. Did that bother you, or did you only focus on catching GTP_timeattack and chorda by the time?
My tyres were a few laps fresher than chorda's and GTP_timeattack's which is why I was gaining on them so easily. I'll blame my Dad walking in the room for my mistake at turn 1! But yeah tony1311 was still on my tail which added to the pressure of catching up to the leading 2 swiftly.
After a few more laps, you're closing in on GTP_timeattack. And while racing behind him in 130R on lap 25, it looks like you're almost losing your car, but recovers. What went on in your head by the time that happend?
I was preparing to take 130r with the dirty air from the slipstream and I even take it at 140 mph or so. I must have missed the apex because I ended up running wide, nearly losing the car and giving GTP_timeattack a slight tap with the help of the dirt on my tyres. I was lucky to recover the car because I was on that horrible grass and astroturf seperating the tarmac and run-off area. Thankfully there was not much harm done.
Eventually, ny lap 27-28, you and GTP_timeattack caught up to chorda who had a hard time keeping up the pace. What went on in your head by that time? Obviously, racing in a 3 car group, when tires are worn and drivers are tyred, how did you plan your approach? I guess you knew that you had fresher tires than the other 2?
Yeah as soon as I was in GTP_timeattack's slipstream, I was short shifting through some corners, letting the slipstream do the work, to save as much grip as I could for when I eventually overtake and try to pull away from them both. What I didn't want was for my tyres to be at the same stage as GTP_timeattack's or chorda's, because I knew that either of them would be able to stay in my slipstream. I tried to keep a cool head, and it looked like it paid off when both of them nearly run wide through 130r. It definitely helped me overtake chorda down the home straight, preparing me to overtake GTP_timeattack some where on the next lap.
While battleing chorda and GTP_timettack, Wardez and tony1311 are closing in fast. You just managed to get pass chorda and GTP_timeattack before the CALSONIC duo caught up. Was this a factor for your win?
If they were any closer than they were, they might have caught up to me whilst I was trying to overtake and pull away from GTP_timettack and chorda. They would both have had much better chances of winning if they were closer, which meant I had to get my head down and pull a good lead from GTP_timettack who was in 2nd.
The last couple of laps, you ran by your self, but not without pressure from tony1311 who ran about 5 seconds behind you. What did you think of that?
I was actually pushing to make a larger gap, because I didn't know how good his tyres were, especially since the GT-R is easier on it's tyres. Of course I was trying not to make any mistakes either, and I extended the gap from 4 to 5 seconds. I'm not sure how easy tony1311 got past GTP_timettack but it could have definitely been a closer finish than it was. It just shows how a few seconds gained in earlier stints can benefit you later on it the race.
And finally, what are your thoughts abot Spa on Dec 4th? You'll have to quali and race with 60 kg ballast. Is this something that will/can have an impact on the result, or can we expect to see you as dominant as in the Suzuka race?
I was thrilled with my win with the NSX at the first race of the season at Suzuka, so I'm hoping I can put in another good performance at Spa where hopefully the NSX will be better suited to the track. The ballast will slow me down and worsen my tyre wear, but it should make the car more stable. Tyre management will be the most important thing for me at Spa, so here's hoping I can still stick with the leaders at the time throughout the race.
Thank you for your time Adam! And good luck for the remaining of the season in PURE JGTS!
/ PURE
The ballast could potentially have an interesting affect on the season...but I won't go into it much further than that though.
I wrote it down but lost the piece of paper, honest! 
