Daz9
Full Member
Posts: 427
Inexorable pest
|
 |
« Reply #18 on: November 21, 2023, 09:16:36 PM +0000 » |
|
As Erling said really, nice and close in quali, and even though I was on race fuel when I set my lap I couldn't see this being anything other than a proper battle to the flag, which it was but not in a door to door way.
That was proved early on, as whilst in the tow there was no chance for to shake Erling off, and only the errors he referred to made the gap grow. And, for me, at least on the setup I was running, I couldn't quite keep the car where I wanted it to be, it was always threatening to be too playful and lose drive, keeping Erling very much in the mirrors.
Saw that I was catching Tony, and decided to pit on the spot to avoid the traffic for a little longer, tactical genius at work I thought, particularly when I exited a couple of seconds in front of Clive and with clear track to run in. But, the gap stayed pretty constant in this part of the race, pushing was causing me grief with the car, so consistency was what I was trying for, and mostly getting, but I was not closing in at all. I was however pulling clear of Clive, and homing in on a couple of backmarkers, Tony and Kurt in what looked like a good old scrap.
The issue with a fast flowing track like this is it is often hard to make up time if the guy you are chasing is in rhythm, which Erling obviously was, and very easy to lose a second or two from only one corner of being held up when lapping. Tony and Kurt did nothing wrong at all, but whilst I was able to get past Tony on the start/finish straight(ish) I was not going to be able to catch Kurt. As I tried to adjust the line on the brakes to ensure a good exit, the car just let go a fraction too much at the rear on the way into Quarry, and round she went, losing 10 seconds at least. I still think Tony was behind me waving his right hand slowly and chanting 'this is not the corner you are looking for' in a Obi Wan Kenobi voice....
Kind of knew the game would be up with that, but as always was game to carry on. Had Clive and Fulvio to make my way past, banging doors terribly with Clive when my car understeered for Great Britain (really sorry about that one Clive!) in the quick right hand 4th gear corner halfway around the lap or so. Let him go back in front, managed to make my way past properly a lap or so later, then was catching the Kurt/Tony battle that was still raging away. However, this time they conspired to almost take each other out at the final turn, Kurt having a good wobble with Tony waiting for the inevitable to happen, and the gap in the middle appeared like the Red Sea parting and I was through it before Tony could perform any more perfidious wizardy....
I did make some ground up late in the race, but Erling was comfortable to not have to push by that point. I was on the limit just clawing back a couple of tenths here or there before that, so taking back the whole 10 seconds or so was never going to happen.
Great race Erling, super consistent, well deserved win.
As said before logging off, I did feel the tyres went off far more here than at other tracks, higher track grip maybe? Last couple of laps were essentially a drift car.....
|
