First of all, what an exhilarating track - once you find out what lurks behind all those blind crests..
Been a long time since I had to use "oh sh.." so many times, while learning a new track
Usually have a hot cuppa after a race, but after this, I needed something cold..
Knocked almost 1.5 secs off my previous best in qualy, but that was still only good enough for 4th on the grid.
1st lap pushing and showing, and a whack-induced spin dropped me to 7th. Cracked on and was chasing Evert, when he spun in front of me at T1. Nowhere to go except into the side of his car. Sorry mate, couldn't avoid it.
Had Tony hot on my heels, when I caught up to Roger. Try as I might, I couldn't intimidate him enough to make a mistake - at least not a Pontiac sized one, so remained behind for several laps. Tony on the other hand, in most suave fashion dispatched both of us - on the same lap no less.. Still blinking my eyes over that..
Finally got past Roger at the fast chicane. Not sure he didn't let me past, as I otherwise don't think I would have made it. Then spent over half the race chasing down Tony. Some laps the gap grew, when I was trying too hard. Noticed at one point that he had caught up to Clive. "Great, hopefully that battle will slow him down a little", but I soon went "Bugger all, he got past
". Thus up to me to mount an attack on Clive, but before I could do so, he was kind enough to spin at T1, and I thus sailed into 5th.
At long last got up close and personal with Tony, but as our speeds were so evenly matched, there was no way past unless he made a mistake. Quite an epic race ensued, and only on the penultimate lap did Tony finally crack, going a bit wide and onto the grass, at that crazy, flying downhill tight righthander. That allowed me to slip past, and Tony had lost enough momentum for me to have 4th in the bag, as long as I could keep from falling off, while not driving like a complete granny..
Grats to the podium; most impressive speed guys.
Cheers,
Erling