15-04-2013, 11:15 AM
Phew, what a race.
Qualified in 5th and lined up behind Marcel, Gorka and the two Davids.
Got a decent start and settled in trying to give Mr Coyne something to think about. Was staying with him quite well, and opening a gap to Bryan behind me.
Driving solidly, 2 laps went by in the blink of an eye. On lap 3 had a massive scare! Was half way round the sweeping right hander that leads into the long straight only to find DJC limping along on the inside of the bend. I was just about to open it up into 4th gear as the exit appeared. He was keeping well over but the surprise and the lack of road at the speed I was going caused some spirited improvisation on my part! Drifted round him and just clipped the hedge as the road straightened.
Breathed a huge sigh of relief and caned it down the straight at 160mph passing Gorka who I assumed had picked up damage in the same incident as DJC.
In 3rd place now, about 6 seconds behind Mr Coyne in 2nd and very relaxed. Too relaxed as it turned out! I lost control of the weight transfer going through the second set of S's (a favourite section of mine, ironically) and went straight on over the big curb, and into the barrier at speed. Bad damage. Couldn't even drive in a straight line. Thankfully, I only had a few more turns til the long straight but it was looking grim. Bryan passed me as I limped along the straight. I was weaving slightly and going pretty slow, it was tricky to keep over as he passed.
So, pitstop a lap early, damage repaired and emerged in 6th. Spent the next few laps passing backmarkers, praying we were both on the same wavelength when it came to choosing passing places. Big credit here to these slower guys, impeccable driving, use of mirrors and car placement.
With 3 laps left I was in 4th, due to other people pitting and, of course, the odd incident. The gap between me and Mr Coyne in 3rd was about the same time as I lost while limping along the last sector and having repairs after my dumb incident on lap 4. No chance of closing that gap, and I was a long way ahead of 5th so I went into cruise control and made sure of the points.
Great race, great experience and a satisfactory result.
Qualified in 5th and lined up behind Marcel, Gorka and the two Davids.
Got a decent start and settled in trying to give Mr Coyne something to think about. Was staying with him quite well, and opening a gap to Bryan behind me.
Driving solidly, 2 laps went by in the blink of an eye. On lap 3 had a massive scare! Was half way round the sweeping right hander that leads into the long straight only to find DJC limping along on the inside of the bend. I was just about to open it up into 4th gear as the exit appeared. He was keeping well over but the surprise and the lack of road at the speed I was going caused some spirited improvisation on my part! Drifted round him and just clipped the hedge as the road straightened.
Breathed a huge sigh of relief and caned it down the straight at 160mph passing Gorka who I assumed had picked up damage in the same incident as DJC.
In 3rd place now, about 6 seconds behind Mr Coyne in 2nd and very relaxed. Too relaxed as it turned out! I lost control of the weight transfer going through the second set of S's (a favourite section of mine, ironically) and went straight on over the big curb, and into the barrier at speed. Bad damage. Couldn't even drive in a straight line. Thankfully, I only had a few more turns til the long straight but it was looking grim. Bryan passed me as I limped along the straight. I was weaving slightly and going pretty slow, it was tricky to keep over as he passed.
So, pitstop a lap early, damage repaired and emerged in 6th. Spent the next few laps passing backmarkers, praying we were both on the same wavelength when it came to choosing passing places. Big credit here to these slower guys, impeccable driving, use of mirrors and car placement.
With 3 laps left I was in 4th, due to other people pitting and, of course, the odd incident. The gap between me and Mr Coyne in 3rd was about the same time as I lost while limping along the last sector and having repairs after my dumb incident on lap 4. No chance of closing that gap, and I was a long way ahead of 5th so I went into cruise control and made sure of the points.
Great race, great experience and a satisfactory result.