15-04-2013, 07:48 AM
Overall the race was less demanding physically than I expected, maybe jogging training this year is helping on that but it felt more comforatable that I thought it could be.
Qualy
-------
Track was well rubbered and it proved, lots of traction coming out of corners.
Did two flying laps, first one a 8:14.1 brought me to a temporary pole position, tried to push harder in the second lap. I then was already a second faster in the second sector but run a little wide at the fast 4th gear curves after the steep downhill and lost all my advantage and couldn't improve my lap.
Race
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Started pretty well and almost attempted to overtake Marcel at turn 1, we both were very carefull there and DjC took advantage of that and overtook me. In that first lap we three were driving very carefully. I decided to leave a 1+ sec gap to DjC to avoid being too close to him. When we approached the end of the lap I started pushing a little harder so I could give it a go in the long straight or in the finish line straight. I catched David's slipstream and reached a top speed of 269km/h but had to ease off as we approached the fast lefthander under the bridge. When we approached the heavy final braking I didn't expect David to brake early and almost run into him, moved to the left to avoid running into him but went through the grass losing control and crashing into the barriers and into David, slightly damaging the car. Sorry there DjC.
[YOUTUBE]moFuqFeCtvg[/YOUTUBE]
We lost some good seconds to Marcel then but at least it was not fully disaster. Lap two was a search on David, having a little battle with the damaged car, gap to him increased to 2+ seconds. We were approaching the end of the lap, the final two righthanders before the long straight, when I suddenly saw David's car crashed. We was in the outside line of the track and I crashed into him. At first I didn't understand how I could not avoid him as he was off the racing line, but when I watched the replay I realised the suspension bars of his car were laying in the middle of the trach. I hit them lifting the front of my car and being thrown straight into David. I stalled my car and heard what I guess it was David Coyne's car approaching, I really feared he hitting us, but somehow he was able to come out of there safely.
[YOUTUBE]hCe0hVfQFyU[/YOUTUBE]
[SIZE=11px]Note: So hard to see what's ahead when fully overcast due to wind deflector[/SIZE]
Car was significantly damaged and I had to come for repair which took around 70secs. I refueled and changed tires so I realised I had to make this set of tires last the remaining 8 laps. I decided to adapt my driving style to go as fast as posible but avoiding any kind of going sideways nor locking tires.
The next laps I got a nice pace in this saving tires driving style, taking some positions on track and others as people pitted. I reached David Coyne at the beginning of lap 7, couldn't find a way into him until he made a mistake and went a little wide in the curve before the second carrusel, I took second position then.
I continued my drive trying to put a little pressure on Marcel who was as far as 43 seconds, but in half a lap the gap had reduced to 39 seconds (hoping he had to drive faster and had more chances of a mistake). In that pushing I went a little wide to the grass and lost a big bunch of seconds, also in my recovery hit the left wall with my front left tire and damaged it.
Next two final laps were a constant battle with the wheel, turned 30ยบ to the left to keep it straight and very unstable and wandering in fast sections and brakings. D Coyne was less than 6 seconds behind and feared he could catch me and take back his second position. Just before the beginning of the final lap he suddenly dropped to 20+ seconds so I felt more relieved and just concentrated on finishing the lap and ending the race in second place.
Qualy
-------
Track was well rubbered and it proved, lots of traction coming out of corners.
Did two flying laps, first one a 8:14.1 brought me to a temporary pole position, tried to push harder in the second lap. I then was already a second faster in the second sector but run a little wide at the fast 4th gear curves after the steep downhill and lost all my advantage and couldn't improve my lap.
Race
------
Started pretty well and almost attempted to overtake Marcel at turn 1, we both were very carefull there and DjC took advantage of that and overtook me. In that first lap we three were driving very carefully. I decided to leave a 1+ sec gap to DjC to avoid being too close to him. When we approached the end of the lap I started pushing a little harder so I could give it a go in the long straight or in the finish line straight. I catched David's slipstream and reached a top speed of 269km/h but had to ease off as we approached the fast lefthander under the bridge. When we approached the heavy final braking I didn't expect David to brake early and almost run into him, moved to the left to avoid running into him but went through the grass losing control and crashing into the barriers and into David, slightly damaging the car. Sorry there DjC.
[YOUTUBE]moFuqFeCtvg[/YOUTUBE]
We lost some good seconds to Marcel then but at least it was not fully disaster. Lap two was a search on David, having a little battle with the damaged car, gap to him increased to 2+ seconds. We were approaching the end of the lap, the final two righthanders before the long straight, when I suddenly saw David's car crashed. We was in the outside line of the track and I crashed into him. At first I didn't understand how I could not avoid him as he was off the racing line, but when I watched the replay I realised the suspension bars of his car were laying in the middle of the trach. I hit them lifting the front of my car and being thrown straight into David. I stalled my car and heard what I guess it was David Coyne's car approaching, I really feared he hitting us, but somehow he was able to come out of there safely.
[YOUTUBE]hCe0hVfQFyU[/YOUTUBE]
[SIZE=11px]Note: So hard to see what's ahead when fully overcast due to wind deflector[/SIZE]
Car was significantly damaged and I had to come for repair which took around 70secs. I refueled and changed tires so I realised I had to make this set of tires last the remaining 8 laps. I decided to adapt my driving style to go as fast as posible but avoiding any kind of going sideways nor locking tires.
The next laps I got a nice pace in this saving tires driving style, taking some positions on track and others as people pitted. I reached David Coyne at the beginning of lap 7, couldn't find a way into him until he made a mistake and went a little wide in the curve before the second carrusel, I took second position then.
I continued my drive trying to put a little pressure on Marcel who was as far as 43 seconds, but in half a lap the gap had reduced to 39 seconds (hoping he had to drive faster and had more chances of a mistake). In that pushing I went a little wide to the grass and lost a big bunch of seconds, also in my recovery hit the left wall with my front left tire and damaged it.
Next two final laps were a constant battle with the wheel, turned 30ยบ to the left to keep it straight and very unstable and wandering in fast sections and brakings. D Coyne was less than 6 seconds behind and feared he could catch me and take back his second position. Just before the beginning of the final lap he suddenly dropped to 20+ seconds so I felt more relieved and just concentrated on finishing the lap and ending the race in second place.
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