29-04-2013, 11:36 AM
Great circuit this one, but really hard to find the grip lap after lap.
Qualifying - Got close to my PB and was glad to see the rubber build up was helping greatly. Got 5th on the grid.
Race 1 - Got a sloppy start, revs bogged down a bit and Bryan overtook me at the start. DC got a bit sideways in front of me so I was able to take him on inside at hairpin. On exit, Gorka decided to go take a closer look at the grass so I was in 4th. Concentrated on being mistake free. Jose and DC swapping positions behind me. Passed Bryan after second hairpin after he outbraked himself. In 3rd now. Started to lap people around the 7 lap point and pitted. Came out just ahead of Jose who had pitted 1 lap before. Saw him and DC swapping positions again behind me and had an easy drive home for 3rd.
Race 2 - Another bad start and was in 4th with Jose and Gorka behind me. Took a couple of laps to get up to speed then started to pull away from them and pitted on lap 6 I think. DJC in the pitbox in front honking away jovially. Emerged just behind Gorka (assumed he jumped me at the ptistops) Bryan and DC. In 6th I think. Need to practice my pitstops! Next few laps, just a couple of seconds seperated DC, Bryan, Gorka and me in that order. 3rd to 6th. It was a great sight for me in 6th, the four of us so close and evenly paced near the end of the race. Bryan got a bit ragged and Gorka attacked down the straight but there was contact in the braking zone and they both went off. I sailed straight past and safely brought it home in 4th.
Race 3 - Clean start but exit of 1st hairpin, J Rodriguez took out Giorgio on the exit. I drove round them but Gorka hit me from behind sending me spinninig onto the grass. I knew I had my work cut out now to score any meaningful points. The next few laps saw me and Gorka catching and overtaking 6 or 7 people, Gorka was pulling away from me by a few seconds. Pitted on lap 6 or 7, with DJC again in the pitbox in front of me with a cheery hoot or two. Emerged in 8th I think, gained another place before race end and finished in a disappointing 7th.
edit - actually, last race, Gorka hit Neela not me due to the Rodriguez / Giorgio incident, and I got caught up in that. The replay confused me!
Qualifying - Got close to my PB and was glad to see the rubber build up was helping greatly. Got 5th on the grid.
Race 1 - Got a sloppy start, revs bogged down a bit and Bryan overtook me at the start. DC got a bit sideways in front of me so I was able to take him on inside at hairpin. On exit, Gorka decided to go take a closer look at the grass so I was in 4th. Concentrated on being mistake free. Jose and DC swapping positions behind me. Passed Bryan after second hairpin after he outbraked himself. In 3rd now. Started to lap people around the 7 lap point and pitted. Came out just ahead of Jose who had pitted 1 lap before. Saw him and DC swapping positions again behind me and had an easy drive home for 3rd.
Race 2 - Another bad start and was in 4th with Jose and Gorka behind me. Took a couple of laps to get up to speed then started to pull away from them and pitted on lap 6 I think. DJC in the pitbox in front honking away jovially. Emerged just behind Gorka (assumed he jumped me at the ptistops) Bryan and DC. In 6th I think. Need to practice my pitstops! Next few laps, just a couple of seconds seperated DC, Bryan, Gorka and me in that order. 3rd to 6th. It was a great sight for me in 6th, the four of us so close and evenly paced near the end of the race. Bryan got a bit ragged and Gorka attacked down the straight but there was contact in the braking zone and they both went off. I sailed straight past and safely brought it home in 4th.
Race 3 - Clean start but exit of 1st hairpin, J Rodriguez took out Giorgio on the exit. I drove round them but Gorka hit me from behind sending me spinninig onto the grass. I knew I had my work cut out now to score any meaningful points. The next few laps saw me and Gorka catching and overtaking 6 or 7 people, Gorka was pulling away from me by a few seconds. Pitted on lap 6 or 7, with DJC again in the pitbox in front of me with a cheery hoot or two. Emerged in 8th I think, gained another place before race end and finished in a disappointing 7th.
edit - actually, last race, Gorka hit Neela not me due to the Rodriguez / Giorgio incident, and I got caught up in that. The replay confused me!