Really like these cars and the track too.
Prepared extensively, but some of it was making setups for a couple of cars, which will be useful in the upcoming races too. After tweaking the setup, the Aston was by far the fastest for me. Didn't try the Maserati with a full fuel load, and with partial load, even in 5th down the straight, the rear would try to break loose, so it just seemed too suicidal for an endurance race
Had hoped to be competitive in the race, but Clive's posted 2:13 time made it clear I wasn't! Best offline time was a pedestrian 2:17.3, and even though I knocked 1.5 secs off that in qualify, I was nowhere near Clive's pace.
As I entered the grid, I realised immediately that I had made a blunder
It wasn't a 14:00 hours sky I was looking at, but rather something like early evening. After the discussions about night races in last season, I didn't expect any more and so had completely forgotten to check the race start time! Fortunately, it didn't get much darker, so no problem after all.
Was jumped by Matt at the start. No worries I thought - I'll just pass him down the straight. Not so! The brutish Aston didn't have anything over the dainty looking Ferrari in a straight line. Thus an unexpected hard fight ensued over the first 3rd of the race. Ferrari had better acceleration out of corners too, but I could outbrake it. Had a few attempts where we entered a corner side by side, but Matt got the better of me at the exits. Finally succeeded at the end of the long straight. Believe Matt had a few minor offs, which helped me build a gap.
Shortly before my pitstop, things went belly-up however. Accidentally drove up upon the rocky sides of the 'canyon'. Just as I though I'd gotten away with it, the car stood on its nose, and left me hanging almost vertically on the cliffs. Prodigious amounts of throttle and no smaller amount of expletives finally pried loose the car. Had lost 20 secs by then, but at least retained 2nd. Passed Clive in the pits and briefly led the race, until I pitted a lap later and he came roaring past. Changed tyres, as testing had shown I would probably loose at least as much time on worn tyres, as it would take to change them - with all the added risks of truly screwing up.
As I was tip toeing down the pit lane, Matt & Kurt came flying past. Kurt pitted after 1 lap, and so the chase after Matt was on again. Would it be as hard as the first time, and would I have enough laps to get past ? Fortunately it wasn't, and I passed him under braking same place as before.
Grats to Clive on a gamble that played out, and to Kurt on 3rd place - our team's in the lead at least
Cheers,
Erling