Although I can see Hristo's point and found myself delayed by a second or so on a couple of occasions, we do have the problem of insufficient numbers to run 2 grids ( plus the donations issue).
My problems for this race were all self inflicted on Lap 1, when I put a wheel on the dusty bit at the hairpin after gaining a position off the grid and moving up to 3rd.
The spin/slide left me across the exit line from the hairpin and blocking Ronnie's Fezza ( sry Ronnie
), but his solid smack on my nose sent me back onto the grass where I had to wait for the whole field to pass before rejoining in last place. Fortunately the whale seemed undamaged.
The rest of the race was a chase back up through the field and it seems I had similar probs to Hristo, keeping the rear tyres cool was the biggest problem. I slowly made my way up to about 8th and then had a long gap up to Phil and Rick. The gap was closing slowly and if things continued I could foresee an exciting last few laps
rick appeared to have a small off and suddenly he was within reach and I began to hunt him down. Backmarkers caused the gap to close and widen at times, but no complaints about guys yielding as soon as they could. The two of us were slowly closing the gap to Phil as well
But Phil decided that we needed more excitement before the end of the race and took a detour that put all 3 of us within a second or so. I was onto Phil's tailpipes but the acceleration of that Lotus out of the hairpin gave him enough breathing space to stay ahead. I could close up on the last few turns onto the S/F straight and look for an opening but it took a couple of laps before Phil cracked an drifted wide at T1 ? ( it was getting a bit hectic at that point!! lol). Rick had eased away and now i had to chase after him.
The gap dropped suddenly and I could see Rick negotiating a backmarker, I pushed hard to exploit the situation , but as I approached the car to be lapped at the end of the straight it began warping VERY badly.
So badly in fact, that when I thought that it had pulled to the left to allow me through it suddenly bounced back within millimeters of my nose. I jumped on the brakes dropped a gear and swung the waza sideways to avoid contact. I avoided a rear end but at the cost of a spin..I knew that Phil in his pesky Lotus would be along within a second or so and I was sideways on the track!! So I floored the gas and left some nice black marks on the road..but that totally screwed my tyre temps and just as I got going Phil loomed in my mirrors!!
The last 3 or 4 laps were a nightmare, with the pressure from Phil and his Lotus and tyres that needed some breathing space to cool down ( which they were not going to get!!
). It was a desperate drive to the finish until Phil went off at T2 on the last lap. Have not seen replay so I hope it was nothing I did Phil?.
Grats to all the guys up front and Hristo, SHE will be glad you are back.