Got home really late, and pretty tired after a long day, but couldn't resist the opportunity to have some serious racing fun
(the fun thing to do) over getting a good long nights' sleep
(the smart thing to do, probably)
Chose my favourite Alfa for R1, not knowing what I would get in to, but knowing the track from playing STCC sure helped, and I could do pretty good laptimes in P1, and qualified almost at the front, be it over a second (!) slower than Rupe in his mighty Mini.
A pretty good start and Rupe's not-so-good start got me into the lead, while behind me there was a three car battle for P2 going on, allowing me to get a several-seconds lead. About half way through tho, Rupe had delt with the people around him, and came closing in at me ridiculously quick.
With at least 8 laps still to go I knew I wasn't gonna hold that lead, but making my Alfa as wide as possible while trying to keep it all clean got me quite far, as Rupe didn't find a big enough gap until near the end, when indeed he almost immediately made a small mistake, then overtook me once more, and having established a small gap already had a bigger off in the final lap. That allowed me to get ahead once again and win Race 1, but it felt a bit like a stolen victory
, as he was SO much faster..
In P2 I quickly found the Jag to be just too heavy, and opted for the Mini then. Took me a while to get adjusted to FWD, but after an OK Q2 and pretty good R2 start I climed up to 3rd, chasing Knut in that HUGE Falcon driving sideways all the way, so no chance in hell I was gonna find a way past, even when his tyres started to go (of maybe he just preferred the more flamboyant driving style over a quicker one
) That was a hilarious chase that over lasted half a race, I think i slightly touched the Falcon a few times but me driving a Mini I don't think he'd notice at all
.
Once I finally found a way past, I was downright scared for the long straight, got away the first time round but the second time on the straight I saw that Falcon closing in and filling up my little mirror so quickly
I didn't pay attention to my own brake mark, overshoot the corner and ended in the sand trap
.
Lost 15 sec. getting out, and set off to chase Jack, who then had a really strange looking lockup-spin. So I was back in 5th chasing Arnaldo, I came pretty close near the end but not close enough to try a pass. So 5th it was. And a shitload of fun too...
Grats to Stuart and Jack for some VERY impressive laptimes in the Alfa, Thanks Knut for showing us your farm, and Thanks all for some excellent fun again. I'd pick this over sleeping any day.
