Leaving aside the discussion over pit stop times , my race was tough right to the end.
Real life got in the way of sorting out the pitstop times before Thursday and I was not able to get any practice on the Montlhery circuit before Saturday. I remember a few races many years ago at this track and I knew that the Bomb hole and the chicane on the banking were places where it was easy to lose your car and the race.
I chose the Mk 1 Ford in desperation after a few trials with the 2F, 2D and the Mk4. The Chapps, for me, were pretty equal in pace ( around the 2:36 mark) and although the Mk4 was awesomely quick on the straights, I could not find the right gearing to negotiate the slower corners.
I had a setup for the Mk1 Ford that I had used elsewhere and it felt predictable and reasonably quick ( around 2:40). I suspected that other drivers would be quicker in the muscle cars and I actually totally discounted the Porsche even though it did not require a stop. That shows how much I know!!!
I was VERY surprised to get 3rd on the grid and was even more surprised when I found myself still with Axel and Sergio after 2 laps of racing!! They were fighting over the lead and allowing me to stay in touch. which suited me, as I had a much shorter stop to perform later in the race. Then the two of them tangled at the end of the return straight and I sneaked through into the lead.
I knew that I would struggle to hold off either the 2D or the Mk2 on the straight, but by pushing hard through the twisty bits I could make it harder for them to get past.
Once Sergio got past I decided to get my stop out of the way and swung into the pits. A few cars swept past ( Hristo amongst them..that was the only time I saw his Porker in the whole race!!!) When I rejoined the race I was on my own for a couple of laps until I came off the banking to see axel just leaving the pits. I pushed my Mk 1 through the gap between Axel and the wall as he tried to get up to speed and nailed the gas all the way down the straight, hoping to gain enough ground to still be in front at the bomb hole.
By maxxing out the twisty bits I held off Axel until he suddenly dropped back entering the back straight and I was clear and up to 2nd. Hristo was way out of sight and I thought that I had 2nd place in my pocket. Until....with 2 laps to go I saw Sergio move into 3rd spot and start to close the gap far too quickly for comfort!!
On the long straights Sergio was eating the gap and it did not take long before I could see the 2d in my mirrors!!!
1 lap to go and I only had about 500 mtrs lead as I crossed the S/F line. Exiting the twisty bit after the bomb hole and that was halved!! eek!!!!!
That poor Ford V8 engine was hammered to the red line for the rest of the lap, but still Sergi was closing. I actually thought as I got onto the banking that I might just have done enough to hold 2nd, but Sergio obviously had other ideas!!
Through that last chicane I was slightly careful not to make a dumb mistake and just nailed the gas on the exit, by now I could clearly hear that rumbling 2D. As I pushed towards the finish line there was suddenly a large white 2D in my mirrors!! and closing very fast.
Geeez but Sergio was trying hard.
I breathed a huge sigh as I crossed the line, just 0.1 secs ahead of Sergio's charging 2D. Blimey that was close!!!
