27-01-2014, 12:57 AM
After a few less successful races, my main objective tonight was to bring the car home in both races without incidents. But at the same time this was one of races that I really wanted to win. I found a really stable setup that felt comfortable and when I did a few 3:20's earlier this week, I thought that I wouldn't be able to go much faster. But with the super fast Lewis Yaussy lapping low 20's I was forced to push the limits further and we were both doing mid 19's...
QUALIFY
A good start for me when I managed to get below 3:20 on my first attempt. Improved it to 3:19.6 towards the end of quali. Although it was 1 tenths slower than my pb in practice session, I was really happy. This is the first time I do not set pb in official quali I think. However, it was good enough for pole but it was very uncertain. Second spot on the grid would have been fine, but pole is better, so I was really pleased with that.
RACE 1
My start was good enough to hold Lewis behind me through Eau Rouge. I have no idea what happened behind but I got the impression that it was a clean start. I had no idea who was behind Lewis but it was obvious that he was the main threat to me. I managed to hold a gap that was big enough for him to not get a tow on me. On the second lap he managed to do that though, and he overtook me on the long straight. I decided to stay behind him, at least for a while. He was really fast and I was forced to give it all to keep up with him. I think it was towards the end of lap 4 when he made a mistake at Blanchimont and went off track into the hill... He took off and I was really scared that he was going to land on my head, but luckily he didn't. I was hoping for a mistake sooner or later because I saw him sliding and going wide into the grass a few times, and it happened. Now I was in first place and when I went for my pitstop next lap, I saw DJ coming into the pit and I assumed he was 2nd. I did not see Marcel or Gorka at all so probably they was out of the race (and that was the case). My second stint was much slower. I was taking no risks, nor did DJ in 2nd. Won the race
RACE 2
10th on the grid for the reversed race, but a few drivers wanted to start from the back and Robert had left, so 6th it was. After Eau Rouge, it was only Cookie, Hectari and DJ in front of me, I think. So 4th place already and I decided to stay cool. I really wanted to finish this race because I've had too many accidents lately. Stayed behind DJ for a while to see what he was up to. On second lap Cookie let us through and on third lap Hectari did the same thing. Maybe a little too kind of you guys (but thanks). I got past DJ the same lap with help from the slipstreaming. I was already happy with 2nd place but I had the chance to close in on him in the championship, and slipstreaming is a quite safe way to overtake... So I decided to try to get away, and I was successful. He obviously didn't wanted to take any risks Pitstop at the end of lap 5 again and everything went fine without troubles... I was trying to drive as safe as possible the final laps and the track really felt deserted because I didn't lap anyone and I didn't see anyone in my mirrors and no one was repairing in the pits. I had the feeling that not many drivers had survived, once again. Finished 1st again
I love this track and it was a pleasure to race with you guys. Two clean races. I had not expected to win both races so I'm really happy. This was one of the classic tracks that I really wanted to win at.
Thanks for hosting!
QUALIFY
A good start for me when I managed to get below 3:20 on my first attempt. Improved it to 3:19.6 towards the end of quali. Although it was 1 tenths slower than my pb in practice session, I was really happy. This is the first time I do not set pb in official quali I think. However, it was good enough for pole but it was very uncertain. Second spot on the grid would have been fine, but pole is better, so I was really pleased with that.
RACE 1
My start was good enough to hold Lewis behind me through Eau Rouge. I have no idea what happened behind but I got the impression that it was a clean start. I had no idea who was behind Lewis but it was obvious that he was the main threat to me. I managed to hold a gap that was big enough for him to not get a tow on me. On the second lap he managed to do that though, and he overtook me on the long straight. I decided to stay behind him, at least for a while. He was really fast and I was forced to give it all to keep up with him. I think it was towards the end of lap 4 when he made a mistake at Blanchimont and went off track into the hill... He took off and I was really scared that he was going to land on my head, but luckily he didn't. I was hoping for a mistake sooner or later because I saw him sliding and going wide into the grass a few times, and it happened. Now I was in first place and when I went for my pitstop next lap, I saw DJ coming into the pit and I assumed he was 2nd. I did not see Marcel or Gorka at all so probably they was out of the race (and that was the case). My second stint was much slower. I was taking no risks, nor did DJ in 2nd. Won the race
RACE 2
10th on the grid for the reversed race, but a few drivers wanted to start from the back and Robert had left, so 6th it was. After Eau Rouge, it was only Cookie, Hectari and DJ in front of me, I think. So 4th place already and I decided to stay cool. I really wanted to finish this race because I've had too many accidents lately. Stayed behind DJ for a while to see what he was up to. On second lap Cookie let us through and on third lap Hectari did the same thing. Maybe a little too kind of you guys (but thanks
). I got past DJ the same lap with help from the slipstreaming. I was already happy with 2nd place but I had the chance to close in on him in the championship, and slipstreaming is a quite safe way to overtake... So I decided to try to get away, and I was successful. He obviously didn't wanted to take any risks Pitstop at the end of lap 5 again and everything went fine without troubles... I was trying to drive as safe as possible the final laps and the track really felt deserted because I didn't lap anyone and I didn't see anyone in my mirrors and no one was repairing in the pits. I had the feeling that not many drivers had survived, once again. Finished 1st again I love this track and it was a pleasure to race with you guys. Two clean races. I had not expected to win both races so I'm really happy. This was one of the classic tracks that I really wanted to win at.
Thanks for hosting!