Went better than expected, but the entertainment wasn't much better than Westhill...
Managed to qualify in 4th place, just 2 tenths behind 2nd and 3rd.
On the 2nd lap I tried following Siirto through the last turn and caught the left curb badly, this knocked me up onto 2 wheels into the wall on the exit. The crash took a big chunk out of my bodywork and left my suspension in a bad way. Despite the horrible over steer and shaky steering under braking, it was still drivable if not a little scary, particularly entering T1. From here on out I was lapping slow, very cautiously and avoiding curbs as if I was in an MRT . Great start!
Fortunately this only cost me one position to Barrichello. And his fight with Siirto and Rauti kept them in view, and the big cluster of cars behind jostling for position helped me increase that gap.
On Lap 5 Sirrto ploughed through the barriers at T1, giving me back 4th position. And, eventually on Lap 13 Rauti made a mistake damaging his suspension too, and went on to make it worse as he refused to back off. After several slips off the grey stuff and a few complaints about under steer and his "fkn shite set" I managed to pass him at T2 on lap 23. A couple of laps later he had a big spill at T1 which cleared my mirrors for a wee while.
Barrichello pitted on Lap 37 with an 8 second gap between us. I decided then my pit stop strategy would be the opposite of his, if he was in and out I would play it safe and change tires and repair my mess of a car. But he had a fairly long stop... Race on!
I pitted on Lap 43 (entering extremely cautiously) and pulled out just ahead of Barrichello. For the rest of the race he was in my mirrors. Unfortunately the opportunity for a pass rarely came. His best chance was at T1, which just isn't possible without making contact.
The last few laps were terrifying, I was just waiting for my rear right tire to blow. The temperature had dropped right down, and it was giving off the ominous 'hollow' screech on right turns. If Barrichello had gotten close to passing I was prepared to let him slip pass so I could coast home with all 4 tyres in shape. But neither came and I managed to hold onto 2nd place.
The race was more bearable than Westhill, but only slightly. It's sad to see so many people dropping out yet again.
Managed to qualify in 4th place, just 2 tenths behind 2nd and 3rd.
On the 2nd lap I tried following Siirto through the last turn and caught the left curb badly, this knocked me up onto 2 wheels into the wall on the exit. The crash took a big chunk out of my bodywork and left my suspension in a bad way. Despite the horrible over steer and shaky steering under braking, it was still drivable if not a little scary, particularly entering T1. From here on out I was lapping slow, very cautiously and avoiding curbs as if I was in an MRT . Great start!
Fortunately this only cost me one position to Barrichello. And his fight with Siirto and Rauti kept them in view, and the big cluster of cars behind jostling for position helped me increase that gap.
On Lap 5 Sirrto ploughed through the barriers at T1, giving me back 4th position. And, eventually on Lap 13 Rauti made a mistake damaging his suspension too, and went on to make it worse as he refused to back off. After several slips off the grey stuff and a few complaints about under steer and his "fkn shite set" I managed to pass him at T2 on lap 23. A couple of laps later he had a big spill at T1 which cleared my mirrors for a wee while.
Barrichello pitted on Lap 37 with an 8 second gap between us. I decided then my pit stop strategy would be the opposite of his, if he was in and out I would play it safe and change tires and repair my mess of a car. But he had a fairly long stop... Race on!
I pitted on Lap 43 (entering extremely cautiously) and pulled out just ahead of Barrichello. For the rest of the race he was in my mirrors. Unfortunately the opportunity for a pass rarely came. His best chance was at T1, which just isn't possible without making contact.
The last few laps were terrifying, I was just waiting for my rear right tire to blow. The temperature had dropped right down, and it was giving off the ominous 'hollow' screech on right turns. If Barrichello had gotten close to passing I was prepared to let him slip pass so I could coast home with all 4 tyres in shape. But neither came and I managed to hold onto 2nd place.
The race was more bearable than Westhill, but only slightly. It's sad to see so many people dropping out yet again.
