I am inclined to agree with you Matt, these cars are a real challenge for me.
Unlike other cars ( and perhaps my driving style
), I find that I have to brake much earlier, although maybe not too heavily, and get the car setup and turned in to the apex. Then smoothly getting on the power EARLY seems to shave lumps off of my lap times even though it feels slower.
Race 1 was embarrassing and disappointing after I tapped Geoffer's rear end in the Esses, just enough to send him off to the right. I waited, and waited and waited as Geoff recovered and I was beginning to wonder if he had quit??? Eventually he appeared in the mirror and swept past to leave me in the dust.
Any thoughts of getting involved in the real action were a distant hope, even on the grid, but after giving away 30+ seconds on lap 1 it was a no-hoper.
I did catch a struggling Matt late in the race but trying to find a clean pass was very difficult. Until on the penultimate (?) lap Matt got it a bit wrong at the Esses and I was able to slip past. Hard luck Matt
.
Race 2 started with a little farce when I qualified on pole because Matt had gone home and Geoff did not really bother when he was capable of 1:09's.
So OK I thought I have a clear track and a small advantage off the grid so I wonder how long I can stay in the lead? Maybe 2-3 laps was my best estimate, given the pace of the resident aliens.
I think Geoff did a stirling job keeping the hounds at bay for a few laps, but my slender 1 sec lead vanished each time I made a small error....there were a lot of small errors!!
Pushing as hard as I dared I was finding tenths here and there, but still could not get into the 1:09's. I felt that when I got to half distance still leading that was as good as a win!! but I pushed on as Daz slipped past Geoff and closed all too rapidly to threaten the pass.
I held him off for a lap or two and even did the old switcheroo into T1 when he made his first pass
I enjoyed that!. but it was only delaying the inevitable and soon Daz was past.
Geoffers was next and he too went past when I made ( another ) error. The only satisfying thing was that I was keeping them in sight and with a few laps to go I might just sneak a podium......until Geoff took a sudden interest in the local fauna and dived off into the boondocks at T2!!!!!
After that I was gifted a second place and still had Daz in sight, although I strongly suspect that he was cruising and simply managing the gap.
