I managed to get a just few laps practice in over the weekend. I knew the circuit, it is the same as the original GPL track, but these cars are different so I wanted to try them out.
This version of Zandvoort is a conundrum because the only place to pass ( assuming the car in front does not make a mistake) is braking for Tarzan, so straight line speed is important. But,, as the last lap would show
. The sweeping corners around the rest of the track need a car with good handling to maximise lap times.
I had sort of decided that it was either the Aston Martin or the Merc, simply because they had greater top speed over the Healey.
After just a few laps with the Merc and some minor tweaks to the setup it just felt so solid and stable. The Aston was faster but was more of a handful, so the decision was easy...the Merc would have to do.
Quali was done on race fuel until the final rush for pole started and Jose started to post some serious laptimes, along with one or two others. So, knowing that track position is everything around Zandvoort I dumped a load of fuel and went on a Banzai lap. That still did not get me pole!! lol Jose was tantalisingly just ahead, but at least I was on the front row.
I could not believe my luck at the start when the Mercedes just hooked up and Jose's car bogged down. I was into Tarzan in 1st place and had a clear track ahead... I just had to make it count. So I pushed really hard through lap1, very aware of those Aston's behind and their top speed down the straight.
I pulled enough of a gap to survive and tried to concentrate on my braking and my lines to maximise the speed through the back of the circuit. lap 2 and Jose dropped back and I had a comfortable lead to build on. Gradually I stretched out my advantage and at one point I was seeing 5 secs plus advantage, but a couple hesitations as I passed backmarkers reduced that ( no complaints about those backmarkers they moved over as soon as they could safely do so, it was just my bad luck to catch them where I did).
as the fuel load came down I was braking later and later into Tarzan, fully aware that Bill and Coyote were keeping up a relentless pressure just a few seconds behind. Then a momentary lapse of reason and I just pushed the braking a couple of metres too far so that the rear tyre just clipped the sand at Tarzan and despite fighting the slide with all the lock I could apply the tail came around and I was beached on the inside of the bend.
Mr Grewcock and his shadow did not stop to ask if I was OK and swept past. In my hurry to get after them, I might have re joined the circuit a little too briskly in front of Jose, for which I apologise.
For the next few laps red mist overcame effective driving and it was not until I started to concentrate properly that the gap to Coyote's bootlid started to close, but we were now into the last 3 laps!!!
As we entered the last lap I was still 10 mtrs adrift and only some absolute "on the limit" cornering closed those last few metres. I knew that my only chance to gain back a place was the drag race out of the last corner so I put everything I had into nailing that exit onto the finishing straight.
I really did not think I was going to make it as Coyote had his right foot screwed to the floor in that Healey, but slowly the slipstream dragged me closer and as we passed the pits I dived out and put both feet on the accelerator pedal. Slowly, oh so slowly!!, I drew alongside that Healey, with the line rushing towards us.
It was not until I slowed and looked at the positions that I realised I had robbed Coyote of his 2nd place by the smallest of margins.
Grats to Bill who made no mistakes and took full advantage of my lapse. Sorry ( well mild regrets
to Coyote on that finish, and sorry too to Jose for my rejoin at Tarzan.