Another curate's egg of a race.
I couldn't really get as quick as I should have in qually but got a 1:20.9 in on the last lap with fuel. The chequered flag lap would have been quicker had I not run out of fuel coming out of Surtees.
At the start I got the drop on Samu and used him as a shield for the first couple of laps before he got by at Graham Hill. I'm focussing on the Radical title this season so wasn't too concerned about the DPs.
That put Darren behind me. I found that if I got a decent run out of Surtees I could pull out a gap all the way round Hawthorn and up the hill. Darren would catch me roound Westfield and Sheene but I'd have the gap to really pull away out of Stirlings and I was starting to pull out a little gap. A couple of DPs spinning up ahead and small mistakes lost me time though so Darren would get tight back on my tail.
On lap 12 Darren just nudged me out of Druids. I span half round so got away again quickly but had lost two places by then. It quickly became clear than the car was damaged. It was straight but the rear end was all over the place in the quick corners and I was nearly a second down on the pace I'd been routinely doing in practice.
Coning up to the stops Oily was all over me but I was just about keeping him behind. Then Brendan came out in front of me. Full of fuel I was right on his tail and figured he was holding me up slightly so decided to come in a few laps early. To my surprise Oily followed me but I hit my marks and stayed in front.
Then I made the pit exit mistake for which I am truly sorry. That left me behind Oily but he quickly pulled off with obvious damage.
I knew Ken was up ahead but couldn't see how far. I figured the delay from the accident would give him the edge after his stop but I pushed as hard as I could anyway. To my surprise I came round ontot he pit straight to see him in the pits and got past.
After that he was about 5-6 seconds behind me. I found that if I really concentrated hard I could edge out a little extra but the car was difficult with the fuel back on and I was tiring so I'd make mistakes that dropped me back again. With a few to go I made a mistake and went wide at Sheene. I held it together but it brought Ken to within a few seconds.
Then I spotted Simon getting closer up ahead. I was pulling over a second a lap on him so he was obviously struggling with a problem. That gave me something positive to focus on and I started catching him more quickly. At the line I was right up behind him but he held it together. Another lap and it would have been interesting.
Overall that was a great race. Very intense, very hard work.
Congratulations to Gary on a superb win. I knew he was quick but didn't think he'd beat the DPs who were quicker than they were on paper.
I am trying to pick tracks that even out the cars a bit where possible but it's not easy. This one worked well though I think.
I'll be posting the remainder of the tracks in the next couple of days now the official schedule's out. The only real decision to make is whether to run Road America in the last race or do Spa again. Anyone got any preference?
Paul