Due to this Bernie flew up my inside forcing me to move left. I stayed in the middle thinking that there must be someone alongside on my right too, I both looked left several times up the run towards CG and checked prib - couldn't see anyone and prib showed the nearest car to the rear at 24yds back so pulled over to give Bernie more room....
Told you before - Pribluda is evil and unreliable!
Race 1 was a very close one, as I was struggling to make the switch to the Lotus driving style in both Qualifying and the initial laps, and just lost it twice in the Lesmos, with the 2nd time leading to a half-spin which allowed Sam and Tim through. The car was understeering somewhat after the impact with the fence, and snap-oversteering under throttle in right-hand corners, so it took me a lap to adapt to that.
Caught up with the two cars in front with 2 laps to go and then made a move on the inside of Sam, following Tim through who was making a pass as well. Sam had a proper slipstream down the s/f straight and as Tim said, we went 3 wide just as we reached the narrowing gap where the oval begins. Sam got so close to my car while I was going next to the grass edge, that it required a complete lack of any steering inputs and any warp whatsoever if we were to avoid contact. Fortunately neither happened and Sam went through into the lead, with me going on the outside of CG and Tim close behind.
I knew my only remaining chance is a good exit from Lesmo 2 so that's what my focus was on, but nearly lost it while following Sam's somewhat unstable car, mirroring his path. Got the slipstream though and had to cross into the grass on the exit of Ascari to avoid lifting up behind his wide Lotus.
Braked a bit too late for Parabolica on the inside, but luckily Sam went a bit wide as well, so there was enough room for both of us. It compromised our exit speed a little as we were both frantic in our effort to put the power down as early as possible, but I just managed to do it a moment or two before Sam, and cross the line in 1st.
The 2nd race was much less eventful and although I had an off into the bushes on the exit of Lesmo 2 in one of the laps, the reminder of the race was OK and the Eagle handled beautifully. I had a couple of moments with backmarkers cruising slow on the ideal line, but had more of enough gap over 2nd place to play it safe.
Thanks to Billy for a great season, I hope the series stay as they are. They're the only series who can help you learn the different cars and test yourself in a no-handicap environment, so it's a very positive thing IMO.