The good, the bad and the ugly!!
Good - Qaulifying: Found a good set up and despite my normal issues with superpole (alwyas go faster on 2nd hot lap) I managed to get enough heat into the tyres and put it in 2nd...or at least I thought I had until the Alien Arno came out and did a stupid time!!!! 3rd place for me 2nd F1 race isn't so bad though.
Bad - Race 1: Got a great start and challenged Arno for lead in 1st, 2nd and 3rd corners. But then I just couldn't find any grip. I had started the race on teh soft tyres. Having nevver raced on these before, I had no idea how much grip they would give. turns out, not alot for my setup and I was locking up and understeering all over the palce. Caution prevailed and I let Arno have his pace...not that I could have caught him, though!. I settled in for a good 1st stint, having a few moments until the tyres bedded in. I pitted late on lap 13 after meeting traffic. Pit stop took ages, and I emerged in 4th place. Got past 3th very quickly and then made 2nd when guy in front pitted, next lap. I then ran an easy few laps until lap 15, when i stumbled across a very slow back marker who braked on the racing line to let me past....I had no where to go and just managed to miss him, but slammed across a kerb and that was just enough to twist the suspension. I could still drive but at the right after the fast chicane, it caught me out and I spun into the wall taking off my front wing. Damage limitation then. Let Arno through to mean I had one lap less. And I finished 2nd. Not so bad I suppose.
Ugly - Race 2: Started 7th and again got a flyer. Eased into the braking and watched as over eager people hit each other all over the palce -take it easy guys, it is a long race. Emerged from the carnage in 4th palce and set about getting the pace up again. But yet again my choice of tyres hindered me. I chose soft again, but just couldn't find the heat and grip in them. So I had a lazy spin (sorry Arno) at the right after the fast chicane - must be my nemisis that corner. I managed to get it back and was now in 7th. Got going up to 5th again with a few clean overtakes, but again, back markers.....slow moving and just not moving out of the way at sensible places. Like braking early into corner and then darting off line on the exit with no acceleration...Lost buckets of time, and tried to push too hard on still not up to temp tyres. Alas, it was inevitable and I lost the rear end, slamming heavily into the wall. Totally wreaked my suspension and couldn't even make it back to the pits. I spun out big time at the fast chicane, this time for good after my suspension broke meaning I couldn't turn left. BAMMMM!!!
Race over...good bye!!
Was a fun evening to be honest, I had some pace and just need to work on my selt up. I am not in Arno's class, but could see myself racing tier 2 if I get the setup sorted to manage the tyre temps early on in the stint.
Thanks all and see you on another session soon.
