I had a brilliant race, until a few laps to go when I made an absolute pig's ear of the Bosch Kurve, hit the wall and found myself facing backwards. An innocent Clive not far behind had no where to go and the resulting collision ended his race
. Deeply sorry about that Clive, was really enjoying that battle with you all race long.
Somehow I still had four wheels attached and landed right side up but my car was very much down on power. That made me a sitting duck to Carlos, who look 3rd spot from me with a lap to go.
Many congrats to Iestyn, Rob and Carlos for rounding the podium
.
I actually found 30 minutes to practice for this race, something I rarely find time to do lately! Usually I use the qualifying session to get myself sorted.
The result was a Honda that could be driven on the limit and what was more important was that it was predictable. Could not quite match my best offline time in qually, but 4th on the grid was OK.
Iestyn was a bit sluggish off the line in his Coooper and my original plan to tailgate him through T1 and stay safe had to be rapidly modified. The Honda got itself moving nicely and I was almost forced to move alongside Iestyn and into dangerous territory for T1. I think ( hope) that my momentum carried me clear of Iestyn and allowed me to take the inside line into T1 and follow Robert and Cookie down to T2.
I was content to sit back a little from the battle for top spot and watch, rather than get involved too early in the race. A good plan I thought, but it soon became apparent that Axel and Robert were not hanging around and they were setting a cracking pace. Any thoughts of cruising along in 3rd spot were quickly dismissed and I found that I had to push hard just to keep the gap sensible!!
Sam had got himself into 4th and was also close enough to take advantage of any mistake that I might make....so the race was well and truly ON!!
Then Iestyn got his act together and wound up the rubber band on his Cooper. He was soon on my tail and making things very uncomfortable for me...the swine! I had just about decided to let him pass and let him tow me up to the pair ahead and he passed me anyway, only to run wide a lap later and let me back through. The speed of his recovery was a shock and he was back on my tail inside half a lap, and I had been pushing hard!!
I eased just a little to let him pass and followed as he wrestled the Cooper through the corners.
By now Sam was within 100mtrs and looking a threat. the rest of the race was spent trying to force the pace as much as was safe to close on the leading trio whilst not making any mistakes that would give Sam the opening he wanted.
Then Axel blew up and Iestyn and Robert started a titanic battle ahead, but I could not quite find the pace to join in....but I was trying!!! Then I missed a braking point and ran wide. Sam was through along with Greg and Carlos....rats!!!
The red mist descended and I set about recovering some places in the last 10 laps. Greg over stretched his Honda and Carlos made a small mistake and I nipped through. Sam was ahead and in sight with about 6 laps to go, and I was closing on him.
Everything was at 100% for the last laps in an attempt to get to Sam, then entering the Bosch Curve there was a Honda parked facing me right at my wide apex point!!
I was so committed to my pace and line that there was no way to stop my car and no chance of getting it to turn any tighter.. everything was "on the limit of adhesion". Sorry Sam but there was nothing that I could do and I simply ran straight into your stranded car. Looks like I got flipped onto my head but you were able to limp home, no worries on my part.
It could have been a 3rd place behind our resident uber aliens, but instead it was a DNF. What it was, was a cracking race and a fitting tribute to Joe, he would have enjoyed that one!!!
