12-11-2013, 03:55 AM
Qualify- I didn't beat my best time that I did in practice on Friday or Saturday, which was right at 1:41:000! So my plan in qualify was obviously to beat that, but I did a 1:41:100 instead and started in 4th. The qualify ended up as I expected, I knew that I had a chance to start in top 5 and I did it.
Race 1, I was able to make a OK start because of the dirty side of the track, so I almost lost one position when Gorka made a better start than me. But because I kept at inside to the first corner, I could take it pretty easy and keep my position in 4th. Now my decision was to catch Cruickshank in 3rd, but I noticed it was pretty hard due to his speed as he driving as fast as I did or maybe a little faster. So I stayed behind but in lap 3 I took over 3rd place when he braked too late in last sector and went out on the grass. ;D
I knew Rikard and Marcel were in front of me now and they were probably having a sweaty fight, but I found it comfortable to not stress too much and make pretty "stable" laptimes everything between low 1:41's and low-mid 1:42's. I kept going, felt like I was alone on the track at times because of the gap to front and behind. 8) My pitstop at lap 9 was ok, 50 seconds. And in the end of the race I just noticed Cruickshank a few seconds behind and had eventually catched me up a bit, but I finished in 3rd and was happy by that.
Race 2, turned out to be more eventful, though the mess at first corner I could stay away from those who crashed and take over alot of positions. After turn 2 on the straight, there were probably 5 cars pretty close to each other in front of me, and a big smoke cloud appeared to the right of the track and maybe 2 seconds later, all of a sudden a flying car above the smoke. Two cars have crashed and I prepared to avoid them by taking it easier. I didn't realize how close Bart's car was to hit me as it came down from the air again, until I watched the replay. Also, there I could see Bart's car was a horror view for alot of other drivers behind me. :o
I think I continued in 7th or 6th position and I could catch some slower drivers on lap 2 and 3, so I went up to 3rd. On lap 4, Mel Fisk had a gap down to me which I catched up totally but unfortunately in the last esses, I was too close behind him to realize that he actually slowed down (to let me pass I don't know?) ??? but then I touched his left rear tire and he spun. I would say that was a misunderstanding, and of course I didn't mean to do that. After, all I could do was continue the race. At this point, Hector Thompson in 1st place had a comfortable gap of maybe 5-10 seconds. But it surprised me after my pitstop, that his name disappeared and Galaga was in the lead instead, having a way bigger gap as I was 20-30 seconds behind still in 2nd. I thought he would go in pits soon so I could start to smell my first victory, but he stayed on the track the whole race it seemed! I guess that means he got DQ and I won instead! ;D
My 2 races at Essington was great and I had alot of fun since I found a good setup for me, which turned out to be a little little oversteer but I handled it well. Just because of that I knew I had to keep focus and watch after my tires more often than I normally do. I have to say that 3rd and 1st for me was more than I expected. And congrats to my brother who finished in 2nd both races! Thanks for nice racing all!
Race 1, I was able to make a OK start because of the dirty side of the track, so I almost lost one position when Gorka made a better start than me. But because I kept at inside to the first corner, I could take it pretty easy and keep my position in 4th. Now my decision was to catch Cruickshank in 3rd, but I noticed it was pretty hard due to his speed as he driving as fast as I did or maybe a little faster. So I stayed behind but in lap 3 I took over 3rd place when he braked too late in last sector and went out on the grass. ;D
I knew Rikard and Marcel were in front of me now and they were probably having a sweaty fight, but I found it comfortable to not stress too much and make pretty "stable" laptimes everything between low 1:41's and low-mid 1:42's. I kept going, felt like I was alone on the track at times because of the gap to front and behind. 8) My pitstop at lap 9 was ok, 50 seconds. And in the end of the race I just noticed Cruickshank a few seconds behind and had eventually catched me up a bit, but I finished in 3rd and was happy by that.
Race 2, turned out to be more eventful, though the mess at first corner I could stay away from those who crashed and take over alot of positions. After turn 2 on the straight, there were probably 5 cars pretty close to each other in front of me, and a big smoke cloud appeared to the right of the track and maybe 2 seconds later, all of a sudden a flying car above the smoke. Two cars have crashed and I prepared to avoid them by taking it easier. I didn't realize how close Bart's car was to hit me as it came down from the air again, until I watched the replay. Also, there I could see Bart's car was a horror view for alot of other drivers behind me. :o
I think I continued in 7th or 6th position and I could catch some slower drivers on lap 2 and 3, so I went up to 3rd. On lap 4, Mel Fisk had a gap down to me which I catched up totally but unfortunately in the last esses, I was too close behind him to realize that he actually slowed down (to let me pass I don't know?) ??? but then I touched his left rear tire and he spun. I would say that was a misunderstanding, and of course I didn't mean to do that. After, all I could do was continue the race. At this point, Hector Thompson in 1st place had a comfortable gap of maybe 5-10 seconds. But it surprised me after my pitstop, that his name disappeared and Galaga was in the lead instead, having a way bigger gap as I was 20-30 seconds behind still in 2nd. I thought he would go in pits soon so I could start to smell my first victory, but he stayed on the track the whole race it seemed! I guess that means he got DQ and I won instead! ;D
My 2 races at Essington was great and I had alot of fun since I found a good setup for me, which turned out to be a little little oversteer but I handled it well. Just because of that I knew I had to keep focus and watch after my tires more often than I normally do. I have to say that 3rd and 1st for me was more than I expected. And congrats to my brother who finished in 2nd both races! Thanks for nice racing all!