Thank you all for a great race.
Home GP well.
Last week finished last and was lapped 2 or three times. I just could not get it set up correctly and my driving was poor to say the least.
This week my fortunes have changed (maybe short lived but hey I don't care today
)
Practice went well, and I made a bit of a spring and recoil change. The car felt good and then I think I played with the Toe in and went negative on the back which nailed it. The car did what I wanted too. A Big thanks to Dennis for help over the last few months.
Qualifying well all my practice I was running with Race fuel which made me feel a bit happy looking at the other lap times around me. - 1st mistake I went to say good morning to my wife, and then got back to the computer with 7 mins left
. I got 2 good laps in, and for around 30 secs I was P1. Don't celebrate too early as I ended up in P4 which was mid pack and I was happy as Larry.
I was aim on pitting on Lap 18 so I hopefully would have some front tires for the end of the race.
Race Time. Start went well with P2 jumping the start which cased a drive through. The first corner I think it was Nelson and myself had a bit of a tussle and swapped a little bit of paint into corner 2. Then I was off, and for the fist time in my history racing I was able to keep up with the leaders.
I was just catching up with Arny when his internet I assume dropped out, and so There I was in second.
One of my biggest issues has been consistency and driving an 80 min race is not easy. The leader pitted and I was now 1st place. Dennis made a nice comment asking if I was enjoying it. Yer I was but don't get cocky things can turn around in 1/2 a wheel turn so, back to concentrating. Coming up to 18 laps and my pit stop I was getting a bit ragged and concentration was not the best
but with my eyes back open
into the pits I went for some new front tires and 14 ltrs of fuel. Thanks to Dennis's Pit stop guide I had a good stop and the engine started again, and out I went.
The last 12 mins came and my front tires started to go off. I could see that Nelson could smell my tires and the gap started getting smaller. Pushing trying to do qualifying laps I kept my times within .5 sec, with the occasional 1.5 sec (brain and ability issue). My heart rate increased to the point I could feel it pumping, and down to the last lap Nelson was nearly touching my bumper. Into the last lap (thank fully) and I could see Nelson trying to find a way past. Great Driving Nelson at no time did I think you would take us both out, I tried to make my car as big as possible (within the rules of course) I was a bit worried regarding my experience as I have never had to defend like this. normally I am letting People past
Well we crossed the line with me still in 2nd but only by .800's of a second. what a finish to a great race. I just hope I don't get DQ like Daniel Ricciardo
Thank you all very much, and I hope that more people join in for Mini Friday fun next week. Looks like a fun track.
Take care
Dave
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