Incredible tough race for several reasons...first the track is tough, without a proper straight to relax a bit. Suffered from FPS drops at certain points, and during a phase in the race it went worse...having it more recently, maybe some background proggy...always try to close not needed programs by task manager tho...
Also recently having problems with my tibial muscles, mostly my left leg. It is because I am sitting too close to the pedals sometimes, and also sometimes the pedal platform gets crossed up a bit having a heavy right foot. Then the brake pedal comes even closer. It's marginal, but always try to have the exact same position...second half of the race was so tough, hardly had any control left braking...it's this feeling when you haven't walked a lot for a period, and then walk a long distance...in the end your tibial muscles will be worn out and you don't have control lifting your foot up anymore...
Anyway, aimed to do 18s in quali, but couldn't get a real good clean lap, sectors said 18.5 tho...I think with more laps here low18 or high 17 should be possible...it's one of those tracks that needs a lot of laps...also my gearings weren't optimal, being stubborn always sacrificing 1st gear for start...have to look into Steve Cloyd's (hotlap) gearings again...as Iestyn had only 2 timed laps, I got Pole with a 19.0.
Start was great ofcourse with my 1st gear, but already made a mistake going wide at La Belvedere hairpin. Iestyn was alongside, but happily for me the next turn goes left, and could keep trackposition. Always using lower tirepressures at most tracks than most, struggling on Lap 1, and Iestyn pushing hard behind me didn't help me hitting my lines and apex'. Was able to stay in front until Lap 3, where I almost lost it under braking (too late) at the back of the circuit. Car pulled to the right, and it might have looked for Iestyn I pulled over, I certainly didn't, but had to concede, didn't want to steer back on the racing line not being sure where he was...
So Iestyn took the lead, but spun braking towards the next tight turn, touching the grass/sand...
Then had about a 6s lead, but Iestyn gradually closed the gap. Tried to push a bit more, but he still gained most laps. When he was about 2-3s behind he suffered from some hardware/software problem...bad luck, I'm sure you would have caught me...
However, suffering from the tibial muscle problem, and the engine running rather hot, also gearings were on the edge, I decided to take it easy and to shortshift.
Basically another lucky win, but it was way tougher than it might have looked on the outside...great job Dean and Axel for podium, and Norm, Clive and David for completing the top 6!
Commiserations to the retirements. Poor Ray, again blowing up on Lap 1...
PS: also miscalculated fuel, took 67 liters, and still had 20+ liters left after the race...however at this track it doesn't make too much of a difference...