Only yours to lose now Legz...no pressure
Andy will have to fly the Porsche flag against your Fezza
That was true before last night race (when I had a nine point lead) but sadly that boat has sadly now sailed I fear (down to just a two point lead). But if Martin (well done on your finish BTW) & myself can get one more decent result between us, we should lift the GT2 team trophy
Got on the server an hour before the race & somehow managed to knock more then 1 sec off my PB. "Nice" I thought
& that was putting me comfortably (about 3 tenths
) ahead of Purdie's lap times.
Qually I set a decent time, but half a sec down on what I'd done just ten mins earlier, but very happy that I'd have my nose in-front of MJ on the grid, even if normality had returned & yet again I was as expected back behind Purdie. We GT2's were also graced today by the presence of Minton & SBG, so a podium finish was most certainly not on the cards.
Started well, kept Purdie honest as SBG & Minton disappeared amongst the GT1 back markers. I'd even say I was comfortable for the 1st three laps, as MJ warmed up. But then we had about 15 laps where he wouldn't leave me alone. Anyone would think he was trying to get past
. Seriously, the biggest bap between MJ & me for 15 laps was 0.8 secs, but the norm was much closer. There were a couple of bits where I could eek out the gap, then the rest of the track was MJ's. Once he was putting on the pressure, Purdie pulled away & I remember announcing on TS that I'd gone to full defence
MJ, I might regret typing this... but it's always a pleasure to have you following me. I realise that could sound like I'm taking the salmon, but what I mean is... I have 100% confidence that you'll be assertive but both fair & patient, but most importantly you're not going to hoof me off by accident. So a massive thanks for the fight, it really was great stuff & when you got past, you immediately started to make a gap & I couldn't stick with you. I was gutted to hear on TS from my team mate that he'd just had a collision with you. Though not as disappointed as him (or yourself I'm sure) as he removed himself from the race immediately. I don't know if it will be any consolation, if I point out 'I was still going to beat you tonight anyway'
.
The race went on, Minton had dropped out, SBG was miles up the track & Purdie was just in front after a couple of mistakes on his part. It's now lap 24, I start the back straight, I press my pit request button, my pit crew tells me over the radio "pit in at the end of this lap", I complete the lap & pit... only to find my mechanics working on Ginsters car!
(how does that happen
) I tuck my self in behind him as best I can, hoping he's not got long to go, it took ages (the lapchart shows, his was one of the slowest pit stops by anyone
), while I wait, Gazza clobbers be from behind which means I now have damage to repair on my car too
. Finally I get out the pits to find I've got to serve a stop/go for pit lane speeding.
I came out the pits for the 2nd time, 31 secs behind Dave with 16 laps to go. With 5 laps to go I had that gap down to 2.5 secs. Then a 'gaggle' of GT1 lappers caught me, they all got past fine except for the last one, I tried to get out the way, ran wide onto the grass & he followed me, hitting my rear end & sending me into a spin. I always think it's nice when people wait
. The gap to Dave was back to 12 secs & despite doing my best, I had no chance. Finished 2.5 secs behind in what was a good chase.
I'm bitterly disappointed for two reasons about that race:
1) I robbed myself by not practising where the pit entry line was.
2) Without that & having to wait for SBG in my garage (for 51 secs), I'd have picked up another podium & some good points for my tally .
I guess it just wasn't meant to be last night.
I look forward to the race in a fortnight, I look forward to a race like this.... but with some lady luck on my side
