Thanks to Tim for the tow in quali, which squeezed me up to 3rd on the grid. This season I have been unable to pick up a tow in quali at most tracks, but here it worked well. The Cooper always feels like it is undergeared to me...revving its bits off and going nowhere!!!!
The start was good and I hooked up to the back of Goran's BT11 as he chased Al's BRM up front. I was happy to sit there for a few laps and see how things developed. The crucial thing for me was to stay in the "Tow Zone" as we got on to the back straight, so I kept it as neat as I could from the hairpin up through the twisty bits and got pulled up the hill.
I think Nicky was in 4th, but he dropped back a bit after 2 laps and I had a nice clear gap behind me, so that I could concentrate on tailing the 2 cars in front.
It was clear that I was quicker through the fast bends but suffering on sheer grunt out of the slow corners, but that was OK because the 3 of us were drawing away from the cars behind and I was content to sit back and go along for the ride.
Then Goran got a bit wild out of T1, which I was taking flat in 6th gear..eyes shut...no lift....hold on tight. He slowed and I thought for a moment we were going to have a problem but his car took him onto the grass and he disappeared into the valley.
I was now in 2nd spot but Al was just too far in front for my comfort and to be sure of the tow, so a bit of demon braking into Nouveau Monde and full commitment up the hill got me on to his gearbox before the straight
Still pulling away from the chasing cars , so I let Al take the strain, sorry Al but I'm old and I need all the rest I can get
. Still a long way to go so no rush to pass him, but he was being very quick and consistant in that BRM and with his extra grunt on the straight I was having to work on the bends and braking to keep him honest.
With about 10 laps to go Al ran wide at T3 and I squeezed through, although it was earlier than I had planned to attempt to take the lead I had to go for it.
The next few laps i tried to shake Al off my tail but that damned BRM was just sooo quick on the straight that he pulled back all my gains every time
I know how frustrated Hristo gets ad i'm blowed if I know how he manages to actually pull away sometimes??!!
Eventually Al got alongside and re-took the lead with 5 laps to go and I tucked in behind waiting for a chance to pounce.
I knew I was quicker through T1 and down to Nouveau Monde and that was where i was going to sweep into a glorious lead on the final lap...............except for one small detail
I clipped the kerb on the inside of T1 ( for the first time in the whole race!!!) and that was the beginning of the end as I bounced across the track, mounted the wall of death, slewed back across and onto the grass, went hurtling off down the valley and wiped 2 wheels off on a French tree!!!
Grats to Al for a great and fair race , really enjoyed that dice
Bigger grats for his first Am's win, very well deserved from where I was watching
. Grats to Tim for a good recovery and Steve for the last lap sneak on to the podium.