That's what I saw too Axel, quite a few other people said they saw the same thing.
That's why I said I thought it might be someone running 36FPS, I vaguely remember it doing something weird like this.
My race was awesome although exhausting - I'd been up since 03:45 that morning as I was at Bedford Autodrome for a trackday (2 and a half hours from home).
Given it was the first in over 2 years in the Nissan and I've played extensively with it, I was effectively having to re-learn to drive. Not helped by a combination of rain and the trail of oil someone left the entire way around the track!
I managed to get home and fed by 8 so jumped on the PC for some last minute practice in the SL.
This left me questioning the choice a bit as it was pretty poor through the sweeping corners, but the top end was so good I felt confident that as long as there weren't too many SL's I could probably steal a podium spot with ease
At the start I was amazed by Tristian's qualifying time - I've no idea who he drafted but he got dragged round pretty fast
I couldn't find enough of a tow to compete with that, I was showing an indicated 2:21.0 but would always catch people at the wrong point to achieve it.
The start saw me heavily swamped and nearly ended in the cornfield when Bastian, for some reason, chose to make a dive into Courbe Annie Bousquet (T2) while I was trying navigate my truck through it on a normal line. Keeping myself on the black stuff cost another place or 2.
Why he did it I have no idea, it's far more sensible to stay behind an SL there so you can get close and draft them down the next straight - and get a free pass on all the other 'normal' cars in the process. We'd have been an easy 3rd and 4th by the end of the lap that way.
My biggest challenge at the start was getting past Sam and Bastian in their red machinery, as they did a good job of blocking the road while the 2 Mercs up ahead started to eek out a gap. With their mid corner speed I didn't want to risk loosing sight of them.
Once up with them it was easy to keep in touch - I'd loose ground in the corners and braking zones (The SL has pretty poor brakes!
) but monster back up behind/infront on the 2 straights.
Towards the end of practice I had started experimenting to see where the latest I could brake, experience failure, and still slow enough for the final turn was.
I then purposely didn't use that braking point until I was in the lead and the other 2 Mercs were harrying my for position on the straight.
Axel took himself off before I could use it on him but it seemed to work a treat on Tristan when I finally did it, as he ended up using the escape road matching me which left me almost free of the remaining duo.
I actually thought I'd gained enough of a lead to pull away from Sam after Bastians poor exit, but sadly the Lancia was able to dance through the sweeping turns so fast he managed to just hang onto my draft enough to catch back up again under braking for the final turn (i was now using the latest possible point as a matter of course - I had no advantage in hiding it while trying to escape the pack!), I was having to brake at 350 meters, I seem to remember the Gordini could stop if you lift at 300 and brake around 250/200. So it's no surprise the D50 could make time there.
Sam then latched on and didn't challenge me for several laps - I'm fairly certain this was to aid us in pulling clear of the 3rd place car and and assorted others to at least guarantee a 2nd if he couldn't beat me to the line. There's no question he could have passed me in several spots, but of course it would be pointless against an SL here when on your own!
Around the 3 to go point Sam finally started trying hard to pass me and figure out where he had a chance, luckily (for me) this was in the first sector only. Although as mentioned I did make a small mistake that allowed him through for a mile or 2.
But I still had the ace in my sleeve - I'd noticed we were very slowly catching Greg's' SL and reckoned we'd be close enough for me to draft it by the last lap. Greg was my get out of jail free card - as if I left the final corner within 200 yards of Gregs car Sam would be unable to draft past me under acceleration. And Greg was indeed at the right distance on the last lap
So, thank you Greg for the win!
Well done to Sam on a well fought and clean 2nd, and Tris on climbing back up to 3rd.
Also to everyone else who managed to keep out of the corn field.
Roll on the Nurburgring