That race was really difficult, close, and fun! Qually wasn't too bad but wasn't surprised to see Busi jump in front once he stuck his qually setup on. I was surprised to have second by a relatively large margin, the Viper is tough round this place. I just this second noticed that Busi set an identical pole time to my last remaining Lambo record, 1:33.150. Very pleased with that, as it's 2 years old!
First couple of laps were great, really close until the fun at the hairpin. I saw Jose coming in hot so stayed out wide and Busi got unlucky on the exit. Jon was going nicely in the new for him Saleen until a mistake at the hairpin (Goldtops car was in an interesting spot). Great comeback though, I had decided on meds all round even though my rears were easily hitting 110 constantly and had considered hards, but decided against it.
Later in the stint it became really hard to handle out of the slow corners and I think I had the slowest spin I've ever had, at 2400 in the replay. Really clumsy...I tried to not move at all when I stopped to make it easier for Busi to avoid me, it's always tough avoiding a spinning car because you don't know where it's going.
The stop went OK and exiting the pits was fairly close, although I'm really surprised that I could then close back up; I thought that was it when I came out behind.
It's odd being in the Viper against a Lambo. It's brilliant just pulling out and passing on the straights, but I felt so slow on braking and round corners. I've seen it from both perspectives now, in seasons 4-6 I was in the Lambo and found it hard to overtake because you can't stay close down the straights to take advantage of the great braking, yet you get soo frustrated as soon as you get to a corner and you know you can go much faster than the bloke in front of you. The Lambo is quick over a lap, but quick in all the wrong places during a race for position. You feel like you were going like the wind in that car every lap, but the straightline speed is so bad that the laptimes feel better than they often are. It's still the most charismatic car though, and one of my favourite (in green Simon!)
The last stint I was convinced that I was being messed with. I thought "He's doing a Rossi", just waiting and seeing where he can go past in the last 10 minutes, but the only time we swapped, I got straight past again on the straight. The way those 2 cars generate laptime is so different. I almost felt bad through the stadium section as Busi was constantly moving around trying not to brake all the time to avoid running into me.
Race ended a little early (48 laps not 50), but congrats all. I'm not a huge fan of this technical track, but it does usually give good racing
And...hurrah for Picnic's ADSL
Not sure how I won that, but I'm not complaining! Thanks for the race all