Yesterday's race was a tough one for me. Can't complain about the end result, but it was not the way I wanted it to happen.
In offline praccy, a fast lap for me was a low 1:50. Only once did I dip into the 1:49s, so pleased with a new pb in qual. As John says, he got quicker off the block than me, but I did seem to have good traction, once I got going. That and the fact that 2nd on the grid actually had the better line into the chicane, helped me snatch the lead
Held it for a few laps, until Ziu muscled through at the double lefthander. Brief contact slowed me and Geoffers got real close. He shadowed me for little over a lap, before he suddenly vanished at the chicane. I expected the 'Kerbs from Hell' had ambushed him. Thus I could concentrate on chasing Ziu. Couldn't tell if we were racing for real, of if he was just playing with me, controlling the gap at will. At times it seemed like he could just speed up and increase the gap, but then, would he let me get as close as I did several times ?
This went on for many laps, until lap 17 I think, when Ziu's driving became more erratic. Puzzled me to see him on the brink of losing control down the start/finish straight. He then overshot at the chicane, which allowed me to slip into the lead again. Held it for a few laps, until Ziu retook it with a successful move at the end of the back straight. Chased him again for several more laps and with a bit of slipstreaming I got ahead before the chicane. I bounced over the kerbs, lost momentum and was hit by Ziu, sending me up against the armco. In most gentlemanly fashion he waited and let me past - truly more than called for, as it was partially my own fault we touched. Again held the lead for a couple of laps, until Ziu made it past in the same place as before.
As the final lap started, we were side by side down the straight and having a brake duel before the chicane. Ziu won - or lost depending on view, as he overshot into the gravel. He got off light though, emerging ahead of me, but then he slowed and next disappeared, leaving the victory to me. Want to win of course, but not in that way. Would much rather have finished 2nd and seen Ziu make the finish
If he had just made a mistake, I would happily profit from it, as it's all part of the game, but kicking an injured man just seems wrong. Ziu, hope your arm can get sufficiently better for you to race with us as before.
Grats to John & Clive for the other podiums, and commiserations to Ziu of course, and to those that became kerb victims.
Apologies to Bill for not flashing a 'thank you' when he let me past; it took all my concentration to brake and enter the corner, so wouldn't risk fumbling for the light button.
Cheers,
Erling