My race yesterday can be summed up in one sentence: Those bl..dy disappearing tyre marks!!! I relied heavily on those for brake markers - didn't want to depend on the flimsy distance markers, which could very easily be taken out by wayward cars. Hadn't checked offline if this was 'one of those tracks', so was in big trouble in qual and the race, when they all but disappeared. There was still the start 'blotch', but at the speeds you're approaching in these cars, they're very easy to miss - especially if you have to hit the brakes just before you reach them. Otherwise I quite like the track, with its fast curves.
In qual, I couldn't match my offline pb. Had done a single, sub 1:30 lap, a 1:29.8. Wouldn't have made a difference, as the aliens were much quicker. Knew I could potentially get quicker off the line than Ziu's Chappy, but I was positioned behind him and would have to find a way around. Succeeded in that, but was very surprised to also slip in front of Geoffers going into T1. He had a clean run, so should just have pulled away.
My only concern for the race was that John didn't score more than 4 points more than me, as that would mean losing 2nd spot in the Championship. Thus not very comfortable being in front of the two aliens, as they would surely look for ways past very quickly. 'Fixed' that problem myself late on L1, when I overshot my braking point in the fastest section, approaching the white bungalow. On cold tyres, I couldn't brake the car in time, and was still on the brakes when I had to turn in, resulting in a spin. Several cars went past, including John, before I could rejoin in 7th position.
Chased after the field for a number of laps, until I had a very profitable one, passing first Roger, then Clive at the spot where I spun, and right after a stationary John, having spun off too. A few more laps to catch Bob. No hold up Bob - it's me who apologize for the brief contact. Hesitated until I had made sure I didn't bump you off, and then got going again. After passing Bob, the race turned lonely. Leaders were 15-20 secs ahead and I wasn't closing. Towards the end, I spun off, and then lost more time each lap, as my rear tyre wear made the car increasingly oversteery.
Grats to Ziu for the win and Championship
- and Geoffers for 2nd
Grats to John for 3rd in the Championship, but sorry to hear about your troubles; hope you can get them solved - you will be missed otherwise!
Big thanks to John for his hard work in bringing us this series, and of course to Tony for setting it up.
