Grats to Ziu and Erling for a very close race. They were almost nose to tail when they roared up behind me and I hope that my little Escort did not slow the battle.
(For future reference Erling, a nice fat, plain brown envelope dropped through the correct mailbox might result in unexpected passing opportunities
)
Maybe I should have gone with something more powerful? But, I was trying to resist my love of the big V8's and not perhaps "waste" a drive on a track where the Group 2 cars might be competitive. A little pre race practice might have alerted me to the difference in pace...............ah! the power of hindsight!
Well, I was wrong!! The Escort was totally outgunned around Snetterton and maybe a wiser man would have changed his car before qualifying started. But I do enjoy a challenge and I decided to stick with the Escort and see what I could wring out of it.
I turned up the revs to max, the first time I have ever tried that option in any car. I quickly calculated that Ziu's pace would maybe lap me, so I reduced the fuel for only 20 laps. What I did not factor in was that higher revs means more fuel used and the last lap was extremely stressful, crossing the line as the last drop was consumed after 19 laps!!
TBH I was surprised that I was the only fool who selected a Group 2 car, even if it did guarantee me a group win. In qualifying I was frustratingly close to some of the slower V8's and for a brief while I had dreams of dicing with them.
I was baulked horrendously off the grid and was denied the chance to challenge the leaders into T1 ( well in my mind it looked that way
. I was able to hang on to Tony's rear bumper for the first few laps but as the field spread out he was able to power away by a few tenths on each lap.
"Don't worry" I told myself "when his tyres go off he will be a sitting duck" and you will pass him easily.
Well his tyres did go off, except that Tony and all the rest did not abuse them sufficiently to give me a chance, the spoilsports!!!. Tony did his best to tease me towards the end of the race with a couple of half spins at the hairpin. I got my nose alongside at one point until his extra power pulled him clear. I think that if he had made just one more spin his position was there to be stolen and I was willing his tyres to melt........but they didn't and I rolled in last in my class, but also first of the foolish twerps who chose the wrong car!!
