Select little crowd as Geoffers mentions - and a bit of a culture shock getting back into these after the F3 on Monday!
With almost the entire heavy metal elite present, I didn't have high hopes. Sure enough only 4th on the grid for race 1. Behind me, Fulvio appeared to fall off already on L1 in his tank. Few laps later Dan did so in T1, allowing me past. Couple laps later we encountered Clive recovering in the same place. He got going before I could pass him, but had to make a try into T2. Did get past, but not without contact, so courtesy dictated I let him past again. The tricky bit would be to let Clive past, but avoid having Dan exploiting the situation and nip past too. With a little dexterity, this was accomplished.
Dan in hot pursuit for 1 or 2 laps, but he gradually fell back. Up ahead, Clive's driving seemed a bit ragged, so maybe an opportunity might arise ? Regrettably he got his act together, seemingly giving up on catching the uncatchable Geoffers, and instead concentrating on staying ahead of me, something entirely more managable... 'Controlling the race' in front of me is close to the biggest red cloth you can wave, so did my outmost (to no avail). Got my fastest split at the end of the back straight on worn tyres on L19, so can't say I wasn't trying
In the later laps, Clive did pull out a gap however, when my tyres had had enough.
3rd on grid in race 2, but after a couple of laps (and with a dent or two), Dan got ahead at the hairpin. He soon went off in T1 again, handing me back the position. One lap later, I passed Fulvio's upturned car in the same place
Maybe it wouldn't right itself ? Dan was far behind, as he had waited for Fulvio (although it doesn't seem like they tangled). I noted with some concern that up ahead, Clive had gotten in front. Since I'm in contention with him for championship position, I hoped Geoffers would pull himself together and retake the lead..
Race wore on and I was alone with my thoughts (mainly being "this car needs a radio"), when I suddenly saw a big dust plume at the hairpin. Had Clive at the bottom of it and I went past, having to start pushing again. First the gap was 3.5 secs. Next lap it was 9 secs however, but still plenty of laps for him to catch me. One lap later it was 7.5 secs, so if he kept that up, he would easily catch me. Next lap it was only 0.5 secs better though, and remained there for another lap. Next jumped to 12 secs, then 16 and eventually 26, so obviously he was having trouble.
Grats to Geoffers on the two wins, and Clive & Dan for the podiums