30-09-2013, 06:57 PM
Qualify went as expected for me, high 16 was the max I could do. Gorka's speed was a bit less expected, a proper lesson in sandbagging there 
The hour before qualify, I once more practiced 25ltr fuel runs and felt quite confident I could run 17 low early in the race, maybe the odd 16 if I was really in the zone..
I was hoping for DjC to pass Gorka at the start, so I could build up a gap. And so it happened, I think I got to about 4 or 5 secs lead in a couple of laps. For some reason I wasn't able to run the laptimes I was aiming for, something was off, still can't put my finger on it..
G passed Dj and closed in on me, a couple of laps later he passed me on s/f using my draft and I knew at that moment all I could do was hang on and try to pass him if there was an opportunity. But hangin on was all I could do. Then I saw traffic coming up, 1+1=2 so I quickly decided to pit, about 4 or 5 laps earlier than planned. Gorka stayed out so I thought I must have gained some time there, not knowing he had crashed. So I got out of pit, refreshed and ready for another go at low 17's but again it just didn't work out. I was in the lead but Dj was not far off, he even closed in a little but fortunately I managed to bring the car home P1.
Second race I took it a little too easy maybe at the first few meters. Turn 1 and 2 seemed no problem although some cars went off. Turn 3 I had to evade the result of a crash. I took the short route, across the sand on the inside, I clipped a stationary car a little with my right rear wheel and had to brake hard and countersteer to keep the car pointed. No damage but I lost a lot of time and positions to the guys in front. So the overtaking game began. I didn't have mucht trouble till I got up to Mel and Rick. I was able to pass Mel no problem but Rick gave me more trouble. I thought I had him at one point but I wasn't sure so I yielded to be safe. In the process I had to let Mel go as well... So I decide to pit. Came out and after some laps I was in 3rd behind Bart. I closed in on him and with about 10 laps to go, he got on the grass on the right after turn 3. I could see him trying to regain control but suddenly he veered of to the left, crossing the track right in front of me and going off track again. Must have been divine intervention
2nd place, 15 secs behind Gorka, I closed in a little, traffic threw me back again so I would never been able to fully close that gap.
I am happy with the results, considering the struggles.
The hour before qualify, I once more practiced 25ltr fuel runs and felt quite confident I could run 17 low early in the race, maybe the odd 16 if I was really in the zone..
I was hoping for DjC to pass Gorka at the start, so I could build up a gap. And so it happened, I think I got to about 4 or 5 secs lead in a couple of laps. For some reason I wasn't able to run the laptimes I was aiming for, something was off, still can't put my finger on it..
G passed Dj and closed in on me, a couple of laps later he passed me on s/f using my draft and I knew at that moment all I could do was hang on and try to pass him if there was an opportunity. But hangin on was all I could do. Then I saw traffic coming up, 1+1=2 so I quickly decided to pit, about 4 or 5 laps earlier than planned. Gorka stayed out so I thought I must have gained some time there, not knowing he had crashed. So I got out of pit, refreshed and ready for another go at low 17's but again it just didn't work out. I was in the lead but Dj was not far off, he even closed in a little but fortunately I managed to bring the car home P1.
Second race I took it a little too easy maybe at the first few meters. Turn 1 and 2 seemed no problem although some cars went off. Turn 3 I had to evade the result of a crash. I took the short route, across the sand on the inside, I clipped a stationary car a little with my right rear wheel and had to brake hard and countersteer to keep the car pointed. No damage but I lost a lot of time and positions to the guys in front. So the overtaking game began. I didn't have mucht trouble till I got up to Mel and Rick. I was able to pass Mel no problem but Rick gave me more trouble. I thought I had him at one point but I wasn't sure so I yielded to be safe. In the process I had to let Mel go as well... So I decide to pit. Came out and after some laps I was in 3rd behind Bart. I closed in on him and with about 10 laps to go, he got on the grass on the right after turn 3. I could see him trying to regain control but suddenly he veered of to the left, crossing the track right in front of me and going off track again. Must have been divine intervention
2nd place, 15 secs behind Gorka, I closed in a little, traffic threw me back again so I would never been able to fully close that gap.
I am happy with the results, considering the struggles.
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