Wonderful track, but races were quite a mixed bag. Didn't have 2 drives left in any car, so had to change between races. Went for the two Porkers, as they were probably the most similar.
Race 1:Regrettably, during qualifying I couldn't match the new pb I just set in praccy. It would have been quick enough for pole, but instead I was 5th on the grid. Held that pos. for the first few laps, and inherited 4th when Steve ran wide. Had Flash in hot pursuit, and when I made a small mistake, he was past in, well.. a flash..
Few laps later he spun, handing me back 4th. Next passed Maipor at the end of the straight. Held on to 3rd for the rest of the race, although it got a bit too exiting on the last lap, after Flash had caught me again. Only managed to stay ahead by a hair's breadth. Bit surreal also to lap Jose in the 2nd half of the race - guess he must have stopped for coffee somewhere..
Race 2:If race 1 was great, then race 2 was a complete farce. Again couldn't match my pb in qualy, and found myself midfield. Almost avoided the mayhem at T1 on L1, but just as I thought I had cleared the spinning cars, someone knocked me into a spin and down to 10th. Made up a few places through others misfortune, and soon found myself together with Maipor in a sandwich between the screamin' Mazdas of Bob and Jose.
Again passed Maipor at the end of the straight, albeit rather more clumsily this time. Apologies for the rude pass Maipor. I had poked my nose too far up the inside of your car, and was in trouble when you turned in towards the corner. Had to veer right to avoid hitting you, which put me on the grass and sliding past, while glancing your car.
Next made it past Bob and was in 5th. Just as I was enjoying the blissful silence after having escaped the Mazdas, I screwed up at the jump. Lost the rear and spun up the hill. That dropped me back to 9th - and behind the screamers again, 'sigh'. Passed Clive when he spun and later Bob, now 6th.
Chased Jose as hard as I could the next many laps. His car was warping a fair bit, which was worrying when I got real close - not quite sure exactly where it was and afraid of hitting him. Inherited 5th when Matt went wide a T1, and later 4th after De Martini had a moment.
On the final lap, Roger started spinning in front of me. I steered clear of his car and was looking at a very plausible 3rd place, when De Martini slammed into Roger, tossing his car back in front of me, so I couldn't avoid a collision after all. That dropped me back to 5th, when Matt also went past. I could reclaim 4th when he had a moment at the jump, but then I lost the rear myself, squeezing both our cars onto the grass; sorry about that Matt. Tried desperately not to spin, as I was bumping over the grass, but to no avail. Ended up at the edge of the track, facing the wrong way. Got hit by Roger at full tilt. Thus in a few corners, I went from an almost certain podium place, to limping across the line in 6th, with a flat tyre. Won't deny that was disappointing.
Grats to the podiums in both races, and thanks to those I lapped; all were very helpful. Thanks also to Tony for organising.
Cheers,
Erling
