Race 1 was a hugely entertaining affair. After much deliberation, I had settled for the Opel for both races. Happy with 3rd on the grid and surprisingly got ahead of Ziu at the start. Dan's Nissan shooting past, gaining several places wasn't part of the plan though. Overestimated the grip on cold tyres later on L1, which let Ziu through, and in a flashback to last week, a certain Mr. Evil also slipped past.
Ziu was soon past Dan too, so it was left to Clive & me to chase him. Initially he & Dan eased away, but I seemed to reclaw some territory under braking, and maybe they slowed each other in their battle, so slowly reeled them in again. Then Clive had a moment at T1, doing a half spin. Exploiting it was difficult, as his car was broadside across the path I preferred. Manoeuvred around him and hogged the inside line in the two following lefthanders, keeping the position. What followed was the best part of the race, with Clive all over my rear bumper - I vaguely got the impression he wanted the position back
- the one he himself nicked from me earlier I might add
With the Opel's end-swapping antics, practicing downhill, bumpy late-braking is akin to Russian Roulette, but had to chance it, to keep Clive at bay. Fortunately got away with it. Our mad dicing reeled in Dan again, and then Clive had a moment at the chicane. Thus I could concentrate on harassing Dan. Surprised to find him relatively slow through the string of corners after T1, where I had to back off - too much in the final one, where the rear broke loose and I spun, only to see Clive zip past again. At T1 on the next lap, he went straight off and I thought he missed his brake point, but in replay it looks deliberate - a result of a DQ maybe ?
Reeled in Dan once more late in the race. His driving seemed more erratic, so maybe I could hope for a mistake ? On the final lap I got one, but unfortunately I was the one to make it
In the very same corner where I spun before, I accidentally double downshifted and immediately spun, leaving Dan to sail home safely in 3rd. Grats to him and the rest of the podium.
Race 2 a lot more quiet. 4th on grid with Dan's BMW fueled promotion to pole. Damn near got upstaged again by one of those rocket assisted takeoff Nissans, this time Tony, but managed to hold my position through the first corners. In the confusion, I again got ahead of Ziu. Dan & Geoff made a fast disappearing act up front, while behind, Ziu predictably reeled me in again. Followed me closely for a lap, and when we approached T1, I heard a tyre squeal, saw a flash of green & yellow shooting off to the left, realizing the Opel had mugged him under braking. He retired soon after, the replay showing he got stuck outside the track, unable to free the car - very rotten luck Ziu
With Clive qualifying just behind me, I had expected a new battle with him, but never saw him in the race. Replay shows he spun on L1, which probably explains it. With Ziu gone, the rest of the race was very quiet, apart from a brief glimpse of Geoffers late in the race, apparently recovering from a spin (he does have some human traits - or maybe it's all part of an elaborate ruse, to fool us gullible Earthlings..
) Grats to Dan & Geoffers for 1st & 2nd.