24-10-2018, 07:25 AM
I qualified in 5th and got a good start, gaining a place or two off the lights and then carefully negotiated turn one with I think Dan B on my inside. Looking back at the replay it's fantastic to see so many beautiful cars pushing hard at the start without contact. My strategy was not to stop, which I regret in hindsight, but it didn't seem too bad with laptimes in the mid 1:10 range. By lap 12 or so I was in 7th and in front of me cars were in trouble with one stationary sideways and I had to made a quick decision - left or right. I went left but the barrier closed in and my car hit it taking rear suspension damage. This was the Dan B/J-P incident although I didn't realise at the time.
After that the car was a bit of a handful. Thankfully no flatspots but accelerating out of righthanders (of which there are many) made the car very unstable. Eventually I got used to the new handling and settled down when Chris and I began our battle
. I was behind him for a while considering my options for a move when unexpectedly on the straight he disappeared only to reappear in my mirrors leaving me very bewildered. It was not how I wanted to take the position and I don't understand what happened. The racing was great apart from that and I alternated between gaining ground and having to defend. At one point I got a terrible exit on the last turn and was sure Chris would overtake before turn one so I stayed left but he didn't. Guess your front left tyre must have been really bad.
Kept it steady for the rest of the race gaining a few positions from people pitting and losing a position to Bryan who I had no defense to. Near the end, Dan B emerged unexpectedly behind me and I couldn't work out whether we were racing for position. I didn't see any blue flags nor did I see any change in my position. At least that's how I remember it - maybe need to see the replay again.
Overall this was a fine race. Hard work with some great battles, an incident to spice things up and a high degree of respect between drivers. This series is serious fun
After that the car was a bit of a handful. Thankfully no flatspots but accelerating out of righthanders (of which there are many) made the car very unstable. Eventually I got used to the new handling and settled down when Chris and I began our battle
. I was behind him for a while considering my options for a move when unexpectedly on the straight he disappeared only to reappear in my mirrors leaving me very bewildered. It was not how I wanted to take the position and I don't understand what happened. The racing was great apart from that and I alternated between gaining ground and having to defend. At one point I got a terrible exit on the last turn and was sure Chris would overtake before turn one so I stayed left but he didn't. Guess your front left tyre must have been really bad.Kept it steady for the rest of the race gaining a few positions from people pitting and losing a position to Bryan who I had no defense to. Near the end, Dan B emerged unexpectedly behind me and I couldn't work out whether we were racing for position. I didn't see any blue flags nor did I see any change in my position. At least that's how I remember it - maybe need to see the replay again.
Overall this was a fine race. Hard work with some great battles, an incident to spice things up and a high degree of respect between drivers. This series is serious fun