Had hoped experience with all the add-on cars and fiddling with setups, might finally let me tame the Pantera. Not so; still as temperamental as I've always found it. Capri is another popular car; very fast in the right hands, but I've never been able to make it sing. Didn't even try it and soon found myself in my trusty 906.
Untouchable laptimes by Ziu & Geoffers in qual, so 3rd was the best I could achieve. Shrugged of Clive's advances through Eau Rouge and kept 3rd. My luck that he went onto the right shoulder down the straight - otherwise he would surely have outdragged me. On L2, Geoffers & Ziu tangled, and I picked my way through the smoke and splintered tail lights, with Clive in tow. Wondered how long he could hold up Ziu ? Not long at all it turned out !! The Quisling apparently waved him through - no brown envelope this week Mr. Evil !!
Ziu soon had caught up. Dilemma between handing him my position, or holding him up, risking a repeat of last week's race. Problem solved when I unintentionally ran wide at Les Combes, letting him past. Next lap he went off at Blanchimont, handing me back the lead. He got close on the following lap, but not close enough to attempt a pass. After this, he gradually fell behind. Tyres shot already ?
With 4 laps to go, I had a 7-sec lead and was already popping the Champagne. One lap later the pit board gave me a shock !! I had lost 1.5 secs in one lap
Gap now 5.5 secs with 3 laps left. Hadn't seen Geoffers since lap 2/3 and had blissfully forgotten about him. However, he was very much alive and on a mission !! Gap down to 3.7 secs a lap later, and only 2. something when the final lap started. Only just stayed ahead, to finish a mere 0.599 sec ahead. One more lap and I would have been toast
Grats to Geoffers & Ziu for filling the podium !!