Reik Major
Premium
thx for your congrats guys! My congrats to Tim and Vince for a very solid race to the podium and of course to all finishers! 
I'm happy to see Tim in a good shape from the start of the season.
Here's my report.
Qualy (1st)
Believe me guys, I was afraid of super pole, too! My super pole in the practice race was a disaster (sooooo nervous). But it seems like the break caused by Andy cooled me down a little bit. Still nervous but under control I tryed not to over pace and did an unspectecular 1:42:0xx. I felt sorry for Christian R., who could have given me and Tim a good challenge but made a mistake in qualy. I'm sure we all will make mistakes in the future (me included), so it will become interesting...
Race (1st)
The race slightly seemed like a copy of the practice race. It looks like Spa gives me a good feeling when racing. The tricky sections keep concentration high all time, so it's easier to push all the time.
This was my 2-stops-strategy I wanted to go for:
1st stint: 16 laps - mediums - 80 liters (5 liters more to be able to drive one lap more if needed)
2nd stint: 16 laps - mediums - 75 liters
3rd stint: 11 laps - softs - 55 liters
In the race I had to adjust it a little bit because some situations forced me to do so.
I got a perfect start so I had Eau Rouge for me alone and could open a gap immediately. After some laps I noticed Tim had managed to get in 2nd behind me with a gap of ~8 seconds or so. It seemed he could go a little faster and lowered the gap slightly lap by lap. That put me under pressure and I was afraid he could manage a strategy with 3 stints each on softs. But I didn't dare to change anything and finally the gap frooze at ~ 4 seconds.
Close to the end of the 1st stint I slowly reached Anthony I. and Christian R. to lap them. But they had an intense fight (looked cool guys) and my tires were worn, so I decided not to lap them but to do my 1st pit stop at the end of lap 15. I don't realy remember if Tim pitted the same time with me but after some laps he was behind me in 2nd again with a gap of ~8 seconds. I was afraid that he could have a strategical ace like a 1 stopper or so, so I pushed hard again on my medium tires.
The gap was nearly consistant through the second stint and I liked to stop the second time at the and of lap 32 or 33. But Tim stoped earlier, so I stoped earlier too at the end of lap 30. Else he could have closed the gap to me when I was loosing time on the worn tires. But this way I was able to come back in front after stop number 2.
The last 12 laps on softs felt like qualifying. The car was stable all time and the better grip increased the fun. So I pushed every lap untill I finished the race in front of Tim with an increased gap.
I'm very happy to start the season with a victory and I'm glad that the finishing rate at all was ok (in my eyes). But I felt very sad for Andy and Nico who definitly deserved more. I hope your motivation stays high or raises again!
thx very much to everyone who let me lap very easy. Great awarness and fair play!
thx Nico, RD and MMG!
C U at Monza
I'm happy to see Tim in a good shape from the start of the season.
Here's my report.
Qualy (1st)
Believe me guys, I was afraid of super pole, too! My super pole in the practice race was a disaster (sooooo nervous). But it seems like the break caused by Andy cooled me down a little bit. Still nervous but under control I tryed not to over pace and did an unspectecular 1:42:0xx. I felt sorry for Christian R., who could have given me and Tim a good challenge but made a mistake in qualy. I'm sure we all will make mistakes in the future (me included), so it will become interesting...
Race (1st)
The race slightly seemed like a copy of the practice race. It looks like Spa gives me a good feeling when racing. The tricky sections keep concentration high all time, so it's easier to push all the time.
This was my 2-stops-strategy I wanted to go for:
1st stint: 16 laps - mediums - 80 liters (5 liters more to be able to drive one lap more if needed)
2nd stint: 16 laps - mediums - 75 liters
3rd stint: 11 laps - softs - 55 liters
In the race I had to adjust it a little bit because some situations forced me to do so.
I got a perfect start so I had Eau Rouge for me alone and could open a gap immediately. After some laps I noticed Tim had managed to get in 2nd behind me with a gap of ~8 seconds or so. It seemed he could go a little faster and lowered the gap slightly lap by lap. That put me under pressure and I was afraid he could manage a strategy with 3 stints each on softs. But I didn't dare to change anything and finally the gap frooze at ~ 4 seconds.
Close to the end of the 1st stint I slowly reached Anthony I. and Christian R. to lap them. But they had an intense fight (looked cool guys) and my tires were worn, so I decided not to lap them but to do my 1st pit stop at the end of lap 15. I don't realy remember if Tim pitted the same time with me but after some laps he was behind me in 2nd again with a gap of ~8 seconds. I was afraid that he could have a strategical ace like a 1 stopper or so, so I pushed hard again on my medium tires.
The gap was nearly consistant through the second stint and I liked to stop the second time at the and of lap 32 or 33. But Tim stoped earlier, so I stoped earlier too at the end of lap 30. Else he could have closed the gap to me when I was loosing time on the worn tires. But this way I was able to come back in front after stop number 2.
The last 12 laps on softs felt like qualifying.
The car was stable all time and the better grip increased the fun. So I pushed every lap untill I finished the race in front of Tim with an increased gap.I'm very happy to start the season with a victory and I'm glad that the finishing rate at all was ok (in my eyes). But I felt very sad for Andy and Nico who definitly deserved more. I hope your motivation stays high or raises again!
thx very much to everyone who let me lap very easy. Great awarness and fair play!
thx Nico, RD and MMG!
C U at Monza
