Mark Gormley continued his pressure and I needed to pass the slower guys in front of me fast. But as I reached Lucas Degen, fighting for fifth position I lost some time, because Lucas defended very well. It took some time do pass him and he sadly had a spin afterwards, loosing his still very good position.
Between Mark and me it was really on now and an intensive fight about the overall 4th in the championship startet to happen! After eleven exciting races it's come to this - it could hardly get any closer.
We had some thrilling laps, fighting each other with a lot of respect and courage. There was a long way to go and I expected that we will take this fight to the finishing line. But sadly this shouldn't happen and everything went bad. After Mark passed me I was following very closely, waiting for the next chance. He lost some momentum in the first corner and I instantly went to the inside for an attack. Mark did everything he can, forcing me way off the line. But it was too late and I had the inside line for the next fast corner. In this moment we lost our fortune, when we entered the corner side by side. We had a small cometogether in which both cars get caught up very unluckily and Mark went off the track.
This is really the last thing you want to happen in such a fight. I feel sorry for you Mark and I hope you see this like me, as a unlucky race-accident. Too bad that we couldn't continue fighting to the end.
There was still the half race to go and the top-drivers now closed up. Dan Allinson was the first, that appeared in my mirrors. I decided to take no risk and let him through. I really had enough critical situations. Somehow it doesn't work to wave Dan through. At first he made an mistake and felt back. As he closed up the next time he went off the track again! Now Michael Bräutigam was behind me and I again just let him through, so that I don't loose time while due to fighting and in the hope that I can use his slipstream to reach Javier Bernedo in front of us.It worked really well and soon Javier and me were fighting for position. We had some laps full of fun, when Jordi joined us first and passed us later. But I rejoiced to soon. I made an mistake in the only right-corner, when i braked on the inside line and went too wide. Javier was forced to brake very much and he even come on the grass, resulting in a big drift. I'm really sorry to you Javier.
I thank the destiny that this now finally was the last critical situation in this mad race! I took the MINI called Heidi over the finishing-line with no more trouble. She really had suffered in this event and will need this break before the next season to recover.
So, here we go with last words again:
It was an epic season. I had so much fun racing with all of you. I nearly had the same fun again watching the great broadcasts after the race and in reading your race-reports. Thanks for everyone who was involved. Hope to see you in the next season.
Cheers to the MINI Challenge Champion Jimi Hughes. You really deserved that, but I think next season it will be even harder for you, after this impressive perfomances from Jordi Casademunt and Michael Bräutigam in the last races.