Didn't have much time to practice before the race, so I decided to show up at the qually and see how i managed. If I felt I would be a menace to the other drivers, I would just log off before race start.
The qually didn't go too bad. I felt I could get around the track without crashing into every rail present, so I decided to take part in the race. Also I had qualified fifth, so I thought I might even be able to compete.
Start was okay. I decided to be careful in T1, and positioned myself behind Geoff, who slided into the rail, so I could pass him safely on the inside. Since Mike didn't turn up at the start, I was now third, behind Sam and Bernie. Got a few steady laps, and didn't see much of those behind me, but Sam and Bernie just pulled away, so all I could do was concentrating on myself. Lap 5 meant the end of that, when I spun at the exit of Curva Grande.
Now I got behind Graham Poole. Driving a Cooper, there was no way I could overtake him in his Eagle, but I have a little secret that I haven't told you before, and that is that I'm studying at the Jedi School, and I decided to practice using The Force on him, and made him steer into the brake markers before Ascari, so I could pass him. I guess he's studying at the same school, 'cause obviously he must have used The Force on my engine, which blew on the front straight. Shift-r and a disastrous stop and go followed. I completely missed my pit box, and nearly spun. Really embarrasing.
From now on it was all about reaching the finish line without making a complete fool of myself. I was too far behind the drivers with cars I could compete with speedwise. The closest cars were Eagles, so Although I might be able to catch them in the "twisty" parts of the track (Lesmos), they'd just power away from me on the straights. I did manage to get into James' slipstream onto the front straight on one occasion, though, but didn't have enough power to get past him, only to follow him, and in Curva Grande I lost control under braking, and he got away again. Thanks to him having an excursion onto the gravel in Parabolica I got past him and ended sixth, one lap behind Sam and Bernie. Strange, really, to be just behind those two at the first part of the race, and then end the race one lap behind.
Anyway, grats to Bernie for the championship, and to Sam for the win here on Monza. Well done both of you.