Great but ultimately frustrating race for me on this superb track.
Race of two halves, first half of race spent battling H@L and then Busi for 2nd place...which amazingly i managed to win on both occasions
Some splendid drafting action taking place down the mighty mulsanne. Unfortunately i kept picking up such a huge tow from those two that i damaged the engine it would seem for later in race
Even picking up an extra 8mph i couldnt get past either down the main straight so gawd knows how low their wing settings were
I was on 2-5 wing, which helped me greatly in sector 3 but hindered against those two missiles on the straights.
All good until i pitted on lap 10? of 17 for my stop. Pitstop went smoothly but i stupidly forgot to check my tyre wear and realised after i could have just fuelled and saved time...like you others no doubt did
so several cars closed the gap on me.
This meant Legzy followed me out the pits despite me having a 12 sec? lead over him before the stops
we enjoyed a good duel around the lap on cold tyres but i then did a 'Hamilton' and forgot to use my brain, relying on racing adrenalin and promptly outbraked myself at Arnage corner, losing 11 seconds and 2 places
:'(
That was my podium chance blown as no way i would catch them with 6 laps to go unless they fell off. Soon noticed my engine was now nerfed too and could only get upto 188mph down the straight, about 8 less than i was getting early on and so started dropping 2+ secs a lap, but brought it home in a safe 4th place cursing myself for not using more patience on cold tyres earlier.
All great stuff though, felt like an endurance with engine wear, threatening rain clouds and drafting etc
Congrats to podium people,
especially API who has elevated himself into alien status lately