Not sure wether to be pleased or disappointed with Aintree. I wasn't quick here at all thru practice, struggling to complete 3 laps on the trot. Qually was the same deal and very frustrating. I think I managed to better my practice times in Qually....still only good for 10th place on the grid. Extraordinary speed from the Evil one, whom ALWAYS complains about having to drive the "green cars"
Got off the line smartly at the start, just in time to arrive at Dave Rainier and Blito's collision in front of the pits. Got going again after skittling half the pit crews standing in their boxes, in 8th place. 10th to 8th in the space of 1 accident??...Highly irregular. Caught and passed Johnny O midway thru lap 3 and set off in pursuit of teamie KingHiro and Juha as they traded blows a few seconds up the road. Over the next couple of laps found myself reeling them in and to my surprise, by the end of lap 7 I was right on Juha's hammer. Obviously their jousting held them up considerably and allowed me to creep up behind.T2, lap 8 and Juha finally makes a run up the inside of Tom. Tom see's him coming and sportingly hangs out wide to allow Juha thru. With eyes out on stalks
I couldn't believe my luck as my arrival at Turn 2 allowed me to follow Juha thru the doorway left open by Tom. I should have known it was too good to be true. Juha spun off to the right as he drove off the corner, bounced back trackside off the furniture and spun me as well.
This let Tom off the hook and he proceeded to run away and hide.
Chasing Tom was fine til he got far enough ahead, then the concentration wandered and a couple of silly spins.....with one reset and s n g followed.
Set a Pb of 1:49.87 trying to chase Tom down and keep ahead of a charging Jonny O. But this was the only highpoint of the second half of the race
Straggled home in 6th...when 4th should have been my lot. Very well done to the podium, especially Clive for his Vettel-like display. Take that bloody KERS off him!!
Very surprised that I was competitive after the rather ordinary displays in Practice and Qually. Special mentions to Jonny O and Blito for sticking to their guns and reaping reward after inauspicious beginnings. Thanks to Bernie for being the gentleman he is, as I lapped him on lap 15.
I think my lap 13 spin was less due to poor concentration, rather the shock of seeing Raoni, parked up, and in the phone box answering the phone!!