Was feeling pretty good after qualy. Wasn't a perfect lap, but good enough to take GTC first. With Paul and Ruskus behind, both 20kg heavier, I thought I had a good chance of keeping them behind to the pit stops (where they would invebitably blitz past with their top notch pit crews).
Should have known better.
In my efforts to take it easy, and keep safe while tires warmed up, I ran over the inner curibing in T4, and promptly spun around. Was a bad spot to be so I had to move to the inner wall, facing the wrong way, and wait for everyone to pass.
Got back on track, only to go PI Magnum style into the last corner. Or maybe I should say Hammer style, since I'm spinning so much lately.
Well, I just couldn't get mad anymore, I've done this so many times now, so instead I sat in my chair laughing out loud while I was making my way out of the gravel.
Had good fun working my way up the field, many fun battles on the way. Pops fought back hard, but in a duel of straigthline speed vs good cornering (Fezza vs Vertigo), straightline speed will win out most of the time. It's just too easy to pass on the straight, and block in the corner.
Was unable to find my way past Darren for quite a few laps too, pretty defensive driving there. Gave him a punt once, trying to sneak up on the inside exiting the "hairpin" at the end, sorry about that.
I did finally find a spot to make a pass that stuck, and begun the chase on Reign Man. Unfortunately he had just had an off when I cought up, so I could sail by without opposition.
16 minutes to go, 16 seconds to 4th place. Naw, not going to happen, I thought. But it looked (remotely) possible for a while. All the way to 8 minutes the gap kept pace, down to 8 seconds. But form there it just didn't want to budge, not quick enough, at least.
Got within sight of TT towards the end, I think I saw some tire smoke and the gap dropped from 4 to 3 seconds in T1/2, but that was all there was, couldn't come closer.
I chose to use soft fronts, so I would have at least half a stint without the dreadful understeer med/med tires caused. Had some problems toward the end of the stints, sometimes having to pump the gas repeteadly to make the car turn right, but I think it was the right choice nevertheless. Left front just went over 30 at the end of the stints.
Well, had fun once more. This is a great league to race in. Grats to both podiums.