Congrats Andreas, Tristan! Nice job keeping your cool with Iestyn often close behind you, Andreas.
That was an ugly start for me. Tristan blew me away off the start line. That wasn't a big deal though. I prefered to be behind him early in the race, since I've never driven the BT11 BRM before. Tristan got a little sideways in Sudkehre. I had to brake to avoid contact. That put me in a vulnerable position going down the backstraight. To hold off Axel, I tried to brake a little late. Bad decision! I'm glad I was able to think fast enough to go right before I hit Tristan at Nordkehre. I was also glad I didn't appear to cause any one else to wreck.
After that first incident, I was lucky to gain so many positions by the time I reached Flugplatz. In an unfamiliar car, it was rather tense late in lap 1 following the 4 cars in front of me. Just after I started thinking, "this rather strange to have 5 cars nose to tail after the first lap at Nurburgring", I missed my braking point for the Schikane. I hit the rail on the right.
Iestyn screwed up too. Fortunately, I was able to stop my car before I hit Iestyn.
Early in lap 2, the troubles continued. Coming out of Sudkehre, my engine exploded. That gave a position back to Iestyn. I continued struggling and spun at Kloatertal (sp?). Martin lacked patience and tried to take the position from me. I didn't work out well for either of us, especially Martin.
I didn't cheat during this race? With Axel and Martin not too far behind me, I waited an extra lap to do my stop and go. I thought/hope that was allowed by the rules. I didn't want to let Axel, Martin, or both of them ahead of me again.
Lap 3 went well. I gained some on Andreas and Iestyn and set my fast lap. I kept the throttle down until I passed the line, then I swooped into the pits for my stop and go.
Lap 4 would have been a nice one, had it not started in the pits. Lap 5 and 6 were setting up to be good laps but I spun once in lap 5 and caught the leaders on lap 6.
It would have been nice if I could have set up a double slipstream move on the long straight. I hoped tucking in behind Iestyn would push both of us passed Andreas. Iestyn and I took an inside line into Antoniousbuche. Iestyn ran wide on exit and clipped the shrubs. Once that happened Iestyn's car started flashing/warping. I couldn't tell where to go. Unfortunately I nailed Iestyn. My apologies Iestyn. I thought I had stolen a win when my car was able to continue, but Andreas made it through the melee.
Tristan looked good. I thought he would win easily. I was surprised when he went off track on the last lap and I was able to pass him, especially since I had early troubles.
Thanks guys. It was fun.