10-11-2013, 11:55 PM
After a very busy week I had very little practice time, and the little I had I just couldn't make a setup that was fast and driveable, really struggling for grip at slow corners.
Qualifying
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Managed to get a 1.41,5 which was the best I had achieved in this track. Getting any faster was imposible so I set my objetive for the race "just bring it home safe" as the faster guys were way faster to be battled.
Race 1
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First laps were a hell, first Robert and then DjC were throwing lots of smoke at brakings and that made for sudden drops in frames which put me in serious trouble to get to drive the car.
Driving some smoke-safe seconds behind the main group I saw Hector at mirrors going wide at turn 4 so Bart took his position and quickly approached me and passed me. I had no chance to defend as the car was starting to become understeery at slower corners.
Pitstop arrived, which took 49 seconds. After It I was some seconds behind DjC. A lap later I saw Bart coming from his pitstop just behind me, he quickly passed me again. I just didn't want put much fight on it, just wanted to finish the race as safe as posible.
David Coyne was several seconds behind so I could drive comfortable laps without taking many risks to finish in sixth place.
Two laps to the end at turn 1 I saw Bart coming from the gravel. I passed him there but he quickly rejoined right after me. I tried to hold him through the last lap but almost lost it at turn 4 and he passed me there again.
Finally finished sixth, really unhappy as I felt too far from what I should be performing.
Race 2
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If race 1 brought me the saddest feelings race 2 really put a big simle on my face.
I started with lots of care and I was able to avoid all crashes that took place at first lap. I was behind Marcel after turn 1 and that was the best place to be if I wanted to be close to the top of the race. Some laps went by, really interesting, overtaking people.
Being behind Marcel's tail without having to deal with smoky brakings was great.
We approached galaga, the new driver of the day who forgot to take his pitstop during the race. Robert and Marcel were able to overtake him through the traffic. I had to struggle for a lap and half but finally passed him. That put me away from Marcel's tail.
Pitstop time came. Had a quick 47s pitstop and that helped me overtaking Robert at the pit lane.
If the first half of the race had been really fun now came the best part. We all aproached DjC and for the next 8 laps there were constant battles.
DjC was struggling. Marcel couldn't find a way pass him, I stood there trying to get a bite if something happened and Robert was just behind me wating for the same.
3-4 laps later, at the downhill hairpin Marcel and DjC touched and both spun. I just couldn't avoid them as I was too close and got some colateral damage being thrown to the grass and hitting the wall that brought the car some damage (wheel slight veered to the left). Robert took his chance there and passed we three. The remaining 4 laps was a classic SR4L battle, DjC in third place, me in fourth and Marcel in fifth. It was as tense as fun. The three struggling with damaged cars and with grip looking for a way pass the one in front. And finally we three ended at that very position.
P.S.: This second race has brought me back the passion I was feeling that was going away since Montecarlo.
Silverstone is next, I hope I get a better pace than in this track.
Qualifying
--------------
Managed to get a 1.41,5 which was the best I had achieved in this track. Getting any faster was imposible so I set my objetive for the race "just bring it home safe" as the faster guys were way faster to be battled.
Race 1
---------
First laps were a hell, first Robert and then DjC were throwing lots of smoke at brakings and that made for sudden drops in frames which put me in serious trouble to get to drive the car.
Driving some smoke-safe seconds behind the main group I saw Hector at mirrors going wide at turn 4 so Bart took his position and quickly approached me and passed me. I had no chance to defend as the car was starting to become understeery at slower corners.
Pitstop arrived, which took 49 seconds. After It I was some seconds behind DjC. A lap later I saw Bart coming from his pitstop just behind me, he quickly passed me again. I just didn't want put much fight on it, just wanted to finish the race as safe as posible.
David Coyne was several seconds behind so I could drive comfortable laps without taking many risks to finish in sixth place.
Two laps to the end at turn 1 I saw Bart coming from the gravel. I passed him there but he quickly rejoined right after me. I tried to hold him through the last lap but almost lost it at turn 4 and he passed me there again.
Finally finished sixth, really unhappy as I felt too far from what I should be performing.
Race 2
---------
If race 1 brought me the saddest feelings race 2 really put a big simle on my face.
I started with lots of care and I was able to avoid all crashes that took place at first lap. I was behind Marcel after turn 1 and that was the best place to be if I wanted to be close to the top of the race. Some laps went by, really interesting, overtaking people.
Being behind Marcel's tail without having to deal with smoky brakings was great.
We approached galaga, the new driver of the day who forgot to take his pitstop during the race. Robert and Marcel were able to overtake him through the traffic. I had to struggle for a lap and half but finally passed him. That put me away from Marcel's tail.
Pitstop time came. Had a quick 47s pitstop and that helped me overtaking Robert at the pit lane.
If the first half of the race had been really fun now came the best part. We all aproached DjC and for the next 8 laps there were constant battles.
DjC was struggling. Marcel couldn't find a way pass him, I stood there trying to get a bite if something happened and Robert was just behind me wating for the same.
3-4 laps later, at the downhill hairpin Marcel and DjC touched and both spun. I just couldn't avoid them as I was too close and got some colateral damage being thrown to the grass and hitting the wall that brought the car some damage (wheel slight veered to the left). Robert took his chance there and passed we three. The remaining 4 laps was a classic SR4L battle, DjC in third place, me in fourth and Marcel in fifth. It was as tense as fun. The three struggling with damaged cars and with grip looking for a way pass the one in front. And finally we three ended at that very position.
P.S.: This second race has brought me back the passion I was feeling that was going away since Montecarlo.
Silverstone is next, I hope I get a better pace than in this track.
SR4L discord channel: https://discord.gg/h5RZTcEcbA