Well that went better than I had anticipated. I always feel that Charade is one of those Marmite tracks for me. but it changes with each race. I have run Charade multiple times in GPL and with mixed results, so I guess that it is me, not the track???
As for car choice, I have used a Merc and an Aston thus far, so it was either a Fezza or the Healey...and to be scientific F comes before H in the alphabet so.........
It took a few changes to the diff and the ride height before the car felt comfortable and I was quite pleased with my pace. So when Geoffers and Ziu turned the wick up and started posting absolutely stoopid lap times, I was dumbfounded.
I did not hook up the perfect lap in qually and was relieved to be as high as 4th for the start on a track where passing is difficult. The start was OK except for Dan and his super launch control !!!
So back to 5th with Fulvio all over my tail pipes.
Dan was quick but I felt that he was running very near the limit? so waited for a big enough error that I could capitalise on and he duly obliged by running wide.
Passing Dan gave me protection from Fulvio and his quick Healey, so I pressed on and built a gap> Then Matt had a moment in his Merc and I was up to 3rd!!! My brain was aching with the concentration lol, but Geoffers is right about getting the lines and exits right to maximise lap times.
I had actually worked out beforehand that I could do 10+ laps on a tankful, so I would only need to take on 6 laps worth to finish the race...... cool plan
So at the end of lap 10 I trundled into the pits with a 8 sec lead over Fulvio and was guzzling fuel when he rolled in for his stop. It did shock me when he left the pits whilst I was still drinking my tea
, but once I got rolling I realised very quickly that he was slower.....he had not changed tyres
It took a couple of laps to reel him in but he yielded the place without any fight.
Once I was a few seconds ahead and safe in 3rd I eased off for a cruise to the finish as there was zero chance of catching the two cars ahead...they had been a distant memory since lap 1!!!
I still do not see where the extra 4 secs are hiding, but Geoffers and Ziu were in a different league, well done guys awesome pace!!!