UKGPL Season 37 (2020) 1955 GP - East London - Nov 29

[EvilClive]

Congratulations to Enrique and the podium.

I could see during qualifying that all of the fast drivers were in fast cars and it was clear that they had a speed advantage on the long straight.

When the grid formed up, I found myself sitting in a Maserati amongst a sea of Lancias   I did not enough tokens to spend on any faster car, so I knew that I would have to run at 110% to even keep up. My start was good and I squeezed through into 2nd place and onto Clive Loynes tailpipes, I was hoping to either sneak an early pass, or attach a tow rope and stay with him if I could.

Lap 1 was OK and I was able to stay a few meters behind until we reached the S/F straight. Here I was worried that Clive's extra power would allow him to pull away, or that Enrique or Jonny would be able to pass me.
Here, I was the architect of my own poor result, because I tried to go just a few metres too far into T1, and on cold tyres I simply lost the rear end.

Initially, I thought I could catch the slide, but the car twitched and I took a long detour across the grass. My mistake dropped me from a close second, to 5th, as we approached the hairpin. The car ahead ran a little too deep on the brakes and I saw a gap on the inside to retake 4th place, so I took a tight line and was just about to nail the gas when I got a hit that pushed me off the track again.( If I had not made the mistake at T1, I would not have been in that place to be hit  )
I was quickly able to get back onto the tarmac and start the chase after Jonny, Enrique and Clive. But, at the Esses I discovered that my chances of a podium were gone. The car had been damaged and I now had a Maserati that did not want to turn to the right  .  Turning left was OK, but there are only 2 left turns at East London and 5 to the right.
The effect was that I was losing up to 2secs a lap on the leaders and I had to take right hand corners 1 or 2 gears lower, to force the tail out. Jonny said that he was alone for the whole race, and after Alain dropped back I only saw a couple of tail enders through the whole race...very lonely  .

Grats  again to Enrique on a great drive and for taking his chance for the win. Clive Loynes almost has his sticky hands on the silverware with one race to go, but mathematically, it ain't over until Mabel starts singing Christmas carols  
 

[Clive Loynes]

Congratulations to Enrique on the fine drive.

It was almost worth coming second just to witness Enrique's joy at the win!  Almost.

I need to watch the replay to figure out how Enrique caught me but I have a feeling that it may have been a combination of my having slackened my pace (it's an age thing), together with encountering some back markers.  The combination was enough to let Enrique get a tow and the next thing I knew was that he was all over me.  I ran out of brakes at the last corner and the resultant half-spin let him past.  This was compounded by encountering Tago, my teamie, a lap or so later.  He allowed me to pass as we came past the pits and he then proceeded to clatter into me at the hairpin.  It made me laugh, as I was probably the last person on the track that he wanted to run in to!

See you at the final round.

[bernie]

Made a tardy start from a low grid position , then got held up in the cue for T1 (everyone being xtra careful ?) Just getting into my stride when on Lap 4 I was once more taken out by an overambitious Mercedes driven by Mr Halu ( you did the same thing in qually )  After losing 15 - 20 secs for recovering I noticed the gap to had suddenly decreased , Phil must have had an off or something ? So I pressed on hoping to pressure him into a repeat performance but the harder I tried the bigger the gap increased . Then by Lap 15 ? the Fezzer engine cried "enough of this punishment " (at least that's what I thought it said, I don't read Italian) and went up with a bang leaving shrapnel all over the track , possibly causing Soggie Team Leader Clive to have his moment .
 

[Dulima]

really, i just have to say a few words and the great happiness i feel now.
   Since the mod 55 came out, this has been the best race I have had with those cars, my joy comes across my face since this season in mod 55 has been a disaster for me, but today I achieved what I longed for so much , (to be competitive) and although clive in the first laps got away from me, I could see that he could go faster, in some sectors and that made him reach it.
   But Clive is not a rookie and it would not be easy for me to surpass him, but I exerted strong pressure to try and in the last corner 4 laps before the end of the race, he made the mistake and went a bit long, that gave me the pass and the victory that he had so much desire.
    Clive, excellent race an excellent opponent, believe me that I enjoy this race as if it were the last of my life, I am very happy.
    congratulations also to jonnie for that podium in 3 place.
    today I celebrate with some beers
  P.D 1 - thanks brasilians brothers for praisng me, DU, , and long live GPL <3
  P.D 2  please, some drivers in special one lap less, watch the prebluda, almost I loose the race for one of them.
   so happy   

We are together Kike!

GPL forever!

I imagine your happiness, you had been looking for it for some time!

[tagomago]

... encountering Tago, my teamie, a lap or so later.  He allowed me to pass as we came past the pits and he then proceeded to clatter into me at the hairpin.  It made me laugh, as I was probably the last person on the track that he wanted to run in to!
...

It was a disaster, sorry Clive ... I saw that I was coming too fast to you and no escape from the left, so I tried to cross the car to slow it down as much as possible ... still I hit you ...  The only thing that relieves me is that you could continue ...  my apologies

[Phil Thornton]

.......as we approached the hairpin. The car ahead ran a little too deep on the brakes and I saw a gap on the inside to retake 4th place, so I took a tight line and was just about to nail the gas when I got a hit that pushed me off the track again. (If I had not made the mistake at T1, I would not have been in that place to be hit  )

Sorry Clive that was me.  I saw you joining so I moved over to the right to give you room but it put me a little off line and the extra car to think about meant I missed a gear. Without engine braking these cars won't stop, consequently I overshot my braking point slightly but I still managed to make the corner. I ran a little wide but I was still in the middle of the track, albeit not on my ideal line. Consequently when I started to accelerate the car didn't have the grip I had got used to in practice and it started to oversteer. Once it had let go, there was nothing I could do and the car gently pirouetted to the right and closed off the gap I'd left you. Sorry about the contact but the throttle control at that point was critical and I just over cooked it slightly.

I was involved in a similar incident a few laps later when Bastian out-braked himself and pirouetted under acceleration. This time it was me in the inside. Fortunately I got away with it but sadly Bastian lost a wheel and was out.

After a good qually, when I hardly ever made any mistakes, I found myself missing a lot of gears (down shifting) in the early stages of this race. With such reliance on engine braking, missing down shifts is a disaster and consequently I ran wide on several corners and dropped from 4th at the start of the second lap to nearly last by the end of it. I composed myself and tried to change gear carefully. It paid off and I gradually made my way back through the field but I couldn't quite catch my "regular" sparring partner, Doni. He just had a bit too much in hand. Maybe next time 

[bagrupp]

.......
I was involved in a similar incident a few laps later when Bastian out-braked himself and pirouetted under acceleration. This time it was me in the inside. Fortunately I got away with it but sadly Bastian lost a wheel and was out....

Yes, unlucky but not your fault. My Car began to slide more than in the beginning of the race, it was uncontrolable for me and unpredicatable for you. A shame because of the nice fights.
Earlier i overshot once to the gras not to hit Alain but then hit him on rejoining. Sorry Alain, i waited for your rejoin.