Grats on a fine win there, Jonny! As well, taking the top step on the podium for our season-long championship. Admirable.
Great jobs by Ricky & Fulvio to land the remaining podium placings. Well done.
Poor Clive robbed of a possible win when the engine went sour on his Merc. Bad luck indeed but at least a fighting P2 in the championship standings.
I had a fine race going with both Bastian & Phil. There was very little in it on performance til Lap13 when Phil touched the grass verge on the exit of T1, slewed sideways and clipped me as I tried to sneak by on the inside. It was quite a whack and I don't mind saying the it scared the B-Jesus out of me! I spun to a halt but was able to continue with minor damage according to GPLRA's Mechanical Report. I got off light compared to Bas. He couldn't avoid T-boning Phil which brought his Maser to an abrupt halt and in trying to spool-up the L-6 to resume had it go BANG in a big way. Exit Bas. Bad luck to be sure.
I had a handful of seconds on Phil with half the race to run and gradually, he closed in to harry my tail. As long as I didn't make a crucial mistake, I felt that I had enough to fend him off. That was all going according to plan...til Lap26. The tiniest of gaffes in the chicane had me slow coming off that complex and that was all Phil needed to make his bid. I couldn't see him in my mirrors so knew it was on. Of course, I could have eased to the right to cover the inside line approach to the hairpin but that's Formula 3 tactics. This is Formula 1.
We rounded that corner side-by-side and gassed it up pit straight. For a moment there, I thought I had recovered the place and started to ease right but a quick stab of my 'Look Right' button on the G25 steering wheel showed Phil right alongside. YIKES! Cancel that move! With my run through the last corner before the S/F line somewhat compromised, Phil took the place on the run down to T1. I pushed him hard into and out of that corner where on setting up for the hairpin, I saw a faint hope up the inside. It soon became apparent that I wasn't going to make it stick and rather than drill PT in the tail decided to swing wide to the left and figuratively fall on my sword. Got back on track some distance behind to finish P5. Another fine chapter in the 'Phil & Doni Show' which has been raging for fully a couple of seasons now across all the mods. Great fun and well done to you, Phil.
I see by the championship standings that I needed that P5 placing to hold P3 in the final tabulations. Lucky to finish only a handful of points ahead of Ricky, Fulvio and the absent Raoni. PHEW!
Thanks to the club for organizing. See you next season!