Epic race.
I was late getting started practicing on this track, and although I've run races at Zandvoort in the past, I've not run any on this configuration - so it took a good few laps last night to get to know the circuit, and after the official race at Milwaukee I was pretty tired, so didn't make as much progress as I would have liked.
Even this evening, I wasn't happy with the setup of the car, but soldiered on with the Brands race setup that I had been using, and just trying to make the best of a bad situation. Thankfully I thought I'd try my luck in qually with the Brands qually setup - it felt pretty good and although I was nearer the back of the grid than the front, you can't really complain when you set a PB. I didn't manage to get into the 35's, but close enough.
More importantly, Pops wasn't too far in front .... directly infront of me on the grid ... and I was going to get used to the sight of the back of his car!
As the Brands qually setup was feeling good, I changed the tyre pressures slightly and loaded up with fuel - I hadn't run a lap with the setup with race fuel on board, but the setup felt so much better than the others that I was using I figured it was a risk worth taking, I was unlikely to be any slower than I had been with the other setups.
I was happy to keep up with Pops and Shark for the first few laps, and after Pops let Shark by and scarper up the road, I was still within a second. Indeed, we were within a second for the entire race! I had a straight line speed advantage - a couple of tenths on the main straight, and ultimately this got me by Pops when he ran over a bit of kitty litter on the final corner - that slowed him down enough to let me get by into T1. I very nearly handed it straight back running wide at T3, but settled down after that.
There was a great bit of racing when Ade caught us, all of us within a second for a good few laps. A locked brake let Ade by, but it was just a matter of time at that point. Pops was still behind me though - and that was the main thing! From pretty much there to the end of the race I was getting harassed, and having to show Pops a thing or two about defensive driving
I made a good few mistakes, but none big enough to let Pops by.
.... ultimately it could have been either one of us winning the battle, but thankfully I triumphed. Epic race - really enjoyed it.
Shame to see a load of guys drop out early - it sounds like this car/track combo was producing battles from the front of the field to the back.