16-01-2017, 11:47 PM
Good day for me and my team!
In Q, i managed to get up to 3rd (third!! THIRD!!), and was pretty pleased with myself considering that I did not train too much during the week.
Filled up with confidence, I promptly botched the start and had to let Ramon through. Not too bad, but still. In the first few laps, there was already someone getting lapped (probably some pitstop repair job on the first lap), and wasnt too keen of letting people through. I damaged the tires a little bit while nearly spinning in T1, trying to avoid him. That cost me the connection to the front runners and Jerry slipped through as well. I was trying to close the gap, but suddenly Jerrry just disappeared like he was switched off. Computer problems, I heard.
So I kept trying to be consistent on my laps, rattling through the race with my flat spotted tires. After an eternity, it was time for the pit stop and with fresh rubber, it was smooth sailing again. When the dust settled after everyone pitted, I found myself behind Dan, but I saw that with iron discipline I could close the gap and eventually overtake him. And so I did, outbraking him at the chicane and passing on the outside. Dan helpfully played along to get me the excited cheers of the audience.
But when we ran up to another backmarker who chose to take a detour through the grass on full power, threatening to cross my line when finally re-entering the track, I cowardly got off the throttle in a defensive avoidance maneuvre. Dan kept his foot planted and re-took MY place on hangar straight. So I had to set up another pass, again on the entrance of the chicane, this time on the inside it worked beautifully again. After that, Dan fell away slowly and I pedalled on to the end, with 20 secs in front and 5 secs behind me, eventually finishing 4th. FOURTH!! Team result: 3rd and 4th, I am very pleased.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to take part in the next race, because I will spend a week in Denver, probably the least motorsport place in the US.
In Q, i managed to get up to 3rd (third!! THIRD!!), and was pretty pleased with myself considering that I did not train too much during the week.
Filled up with confidence, I promptly botched the start and had to let Ramon through. Not too bad, but still. In the first few laps, there was already someone getting lapped (probably some pitstop repair job on the first lap), and wasnt too keen of letting people through. I damaged the tires a little bit while nearly spinning in T1, trying to avoid him. That cost me the connection to the front runners and Jerry slipped through as well. I was trying to close the gap, but suddenly Jerrry just disappeared like he was switched off. Computer problems, I heard.
So I kept trying to be consistent on my laps, rattling through the race with my flat spotted tires. After an eternity, it was time for the pit stop and with fresh rubber, it was smooth sailing again. When the dust settled after everyone pitted, I found myself behind Dan, but I saw that with iron discipline I could close the gap and eventually overtake him. And so I did, outbraking him at the chicane and passing on the outside. Dan helpfully played along to get me the excited cheers of the audience.
But when we ran up to another backmarker who chose to take a detour through the grass on full power, threatening to cross my line when finally re-entering the track, I cowardly got off the throttle in a defensive avoidance maneuvre. Dan kept his foot planted and re-took MY place on hangar straight. So I had to set up another pass, again on the entrance of the chicane, this time on the inside it worked beautifully again. After that, Dan fell away slowly and I pedalled on to the end, with 20 secs in front and 5 secs behind me, eventually finishing 4th. FOURTH!! Team result: 3rd and 4th, I am very pleased.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to take part in the next race, because I will spend a week in Denver, probably the least motorsport place in the US.