If the new pedals improve your pace just like Phil's has lately Bill, we will be seeing you in the PRO ranks soon!!!
I was late arriving on the server as I found that I no longer had Tripoli loaded on my PC. Quickly I d/loaded via the Track Database, but 4 times I installed and 4 times the track refused to load??!!! Eventually, I deleted all reference to Mellaha that I could find and tried yet again. If it did not work on that last attempt I was going to watch TV!
Fortunately things clicked into place and I arrived in the pits with about 20mins of qually left.
Experience has taught me that Mehalla is all about slipstream and surviving incidents on the first lap. The Protos would have been the obvious choice for this track, but with so little time and no setup I went for the Lola BMW that I used at Goodwood, simply cranked up the gear ratios.
First lap of qually I clocked a rather slow 3:11, but then I got lucky as Axel swept past in his Protos and I attached my tow rope
Thanks Axel, you dragged me to a 3:09 and 3rd on the grid. That placed me right behind Uli and Axel in the leading Protos and in the perfect place for a tow.
Lap 1 was a little scary as Allessandro, Axel and Uli diced for position ahead and Alain threatened from behind in his Lola. The high speeds on this circuit inevitably cause spectacular accidents, so I wanted to leave some space and yet leave room to avoid any wreckage. There was no chance of escaping into the lead and pulling away in the slightly underpowered Lola BMW and I think Alain realised that too as he sat behind me waiting...
Then Allessandro and Axel touched on the fast right hander and I was doubly lucky. I just managed to avoid the two spinning cars and run across the sand at high speed without losing control, plus I emerged still within range of Uli's slipstream...... and Alain followed me through
This left Uli, myself and Alain clear of the chasing pack. Both Alain and myself could happily follow Uli's tow truck in the draft, but although it was possible to pass Uli, there was no way that the Lola's could escape from the Protos. So, this race would be decided in the final 100mtrs, if I could time my attack from the slipstream. Then Alain vanished from my mirrors out in desert section, I hope that it was nothing that I did Alain?
2 cars left to run the last 10 laps and I had to wait until the end of the final lap before the race would begin lol!
As things turned out, I dropped back just 10 mtrs too far before I launched my attack and crossed the line 0.07secs behind Uli.
Grats to Uli on holding a steady lead and making no mistakes for the whole race, plus of course all finishers.