Yup, nice write up Steiny, and grats on grabbing 4th despite all the problems.
Like I said before the race, I do love the Beemer, but its atrocious tyre wear, coupled with the fact that my first timed lap in the Porker was quicker than my best in the Beemer, convinced me I wasn't going to use it after all. (Could only manage 25.9 in the BMW; how Geoffers did 21 laps boggles my mind..
)
Also tried the Nissan, not least because I love its shape. Seemed the slowest for me, and I also found the placement of the windscreen wiper extremely annoying, so quickly abandoned it.
Have occationally done well in endurance in the past, so hoped to be competitive. Alas, quickly clear that Geoffers and Caspar were operating on a completely different plane. A little slow off the line and then too much wheelspin, which made it easy for John to do his usual mugging, getting in front. Pressured him as hard as I could, and on L3 he got a vicious kick from his rear at the Degner Curve, sending him into the sand. Thus past, I could chase Cap, whose Nissan appeared a handful. Got past through the S Curves, only for him to pass again down the straight. Next he overshot his brake point at Casino Triangle. I followed him, but got myself extriacated again first, and set off with Cap in hot pursuit. Next lap same place, I repeated his move, and he did mine; quite hilarious really. Unfortunately he spun, which meant the end of our scrap.
From this point the race turned quite lonely. Leaders were long gone and still moving away at 2-3 secs a lap, and gap to Cap continued to grow in chunks, presumably when he spun off. Caught up to the leaders in the pits at the end of L25, but they were leaving just as I arrived. Testing had indicated I would lose more time on the worn tyres, than it would take to replace them, so just did the whole package. Exited the pits, and as fate would have it, just behind my old nemesis John. He flashed me past later that lap, and I assumed he would pit. He didn't though, so thanks John; very gentlemanly of you!
Few laps later, I was suddenly in front of Caspar, after one of his SnGs. Made a mistake and he was past, which was just as well, as he was so much quicker. More lonely laps followed, but in the final stages, the gap to Caspar was suddenly down to 5 secs (from ½ a minute). Had been doing rather sloppy laps, as there was no threat from behind, and seemingly no prospect of advancing, short of a technical problem for the leaders. Tried to tighten up my act, but of course couldn't make any inroads in his lead.
Grats to Geoffers & Caspar, and commiserations to those with problems; especially Bill, who missed the entire race. Strange with Clive's DQ, despite serving the SnG. You did press 'enter' when the pit board showed ? (I don't think you're released if you don't)
Thanks to Tony for the organising of the entire season, and a Happy New Year to all
Cheers,
Erling