Quite a tumultuous race yesterday.
With all the confusion in qual and on joining the grid, I was distracted enough to forget putting the car in gear. Thus nothing but fruitless revving happened when I let out the clutch
Dropped several places as people sped past, but reclaimed a couple on L1. Just as I entered the start/finish straight, I was looking behind to see who was chasing me. Thus didn't see Ziu's stationary car at all, and hit it while looking rearward. Got going again, once the world had stopped spinning. Strangely, later the pit selection board only showed body damage, but something was definitely 'off' with the car; not keen on turning right after the shunt.
Didn't really register that I passed a recovering Clive, so to me he showed up behind seemingly out of nowhere. I was annoyingly easy pickings in my crippled car, so he was past effortlessly and next made short work of Dom (with some help from the latter I now learn). I caught up to Dom and thought we were having a good scrap. His corner entry speed (lack of
) caught me out a couple of times, resulting in a bump one time - sorry about that. Had not at all realized you were trying to let me past - also takes the glory off my presumed cheeky move on the inside a couple of laps later
Another time, just flash your lights and I will know your intentions (although you really shouldn't let me past in a race for positions
)
Pit on L20 for fuel only and exited in front of Tony. Hadn't realized I was a lap ahead, so thought he might pass me in his faster car, especially with my tyres, which were way past their sell by date. Didn't happen though, and I next caught and passed a recovering Dan. IFF tags showed him in 5th, and pit board showed me 3rd, with some 20 secs to 4th, so I was apparently a lap ahead of him. With all the earlier confusion, I didn't really trust the info given me, and thus tried to remain ahead. On shredded tyres, it was proving too difficult and he slowly caught up. Decided to take the chance and waved him past. Fortunately the info was correct and I maintained my 3rd place. I'm courteous enough not to mention how he spun off a few laps later
Grats to Geoffers on a win that was not even slightly in question, and to Fulvio for 2nd. Geoff claimed last year that his form curve was rising through a season. If that's true, then the start to this one looks ominous for sure..
Ziu my friend, once again you're overreacting. Is one race gone bad because of technical glitches really reason enough to drop GTL entirely ? I think not, and I don't think you will either, once you've calmed down. You may have removed GTL, but it can be put back on
Fully expect you back next Wednesday - otherwise Geoffers will have his way all too easily..
Clive btw (& Geoffers), your Merc sounds dull
Some of the others sound much more deliciously raw; both steel & alloy versions (although yours may be the fastest...
)