I raced in EU3 session, it was epic!
this time I raced with a proper computer I just got and no lag unlike last time
Fernando and I were looking forward to race here because we thought Magnar and Tiago (who we consider very dangerous rivals) were going to race in it too, everything was set for an epic Rally...
SS1 - Did a good effort in the night and set the second best time 4.4 seconds behind Fernando's superb time here.
SS2 - I won this one by 1.7 over Magnar and was now leading by .4 of a second.
SS3 - I wanted to extend the lead here but I made a big mistake and did half a spin, tried to recover and spun again, I lost 9.5 to Fernando and went down to 3rd overall.
Service 1 - I was 3rd 2.4 seconds behind Magnar and 9 behind Fernando.
SS4 - Wanted to set a very good time and hopefully take some time back from the guys in front but ended up overdriving and lost other 6.5 to Fernando who seemed to be very comfortable in this stage
. I was now 4th
SS5 - I felt good in this stage and set an OK time, took a second back from Fernando but lost 6 to Tiago in the stage.
SS6 - This time I didn't screw up and just kept safely in 5th gear in the fast sections, Tiago had problems it seems and Fernando got 3 seconds more in front.
SS7 - I like this stage, I remember it from Rally Japan - Hokkaido last year, kept it cool and won it, took 1.5 seconds back.
Service 2 - I was 2nd because of Magnar and Tiago's problems, a big 17 seconds behind Fernando.
SS8 - Fernando's stage, unsurprisingly he set a great time, I did a special strategy and chose wet tires for this loop of stages knowing that they would be useful for the very wet stage, good effort but came 6 seconds behind Fernando
I was a massive 23.4 seconds behind him in the overall standings in 2nd with Magnar very close just 4 seconds behind.
SS9 - My strategy worked perfectly and even though it was extremely wet and very hard to drive, it was a superb time 10 seconds faster than anyone else, slashed the lead to 12.5 seconds.
SS10 - Took 4 seconds back with my wet tires, I started to think that winning the rally was still possible.
SS11 - Won the stage by .5 of a second.
Service 3 - The strategy worked great and now there was only 7.5 seconds separating Fernando and me going into the last 3 stages.
SS12 - I could fit proper tires for this last loop of stages, this was Fernando's ussually great stage so I thought that taking time back from him was crucial here, I did and was now only 3.3 behind him, Magnar won it by 1.5
SS13 - The stage were I took 10 seconds back, won it again and to my big surprise I was now leading by .7 of a second.
SS14 - The last stage, only .7 between us, I kept it clean but didn't slow down, took 7 seconds from him and won the session. By exactly 7.72 seconds wich is almost nothing
compared to the times we differences we ussually see here.
I was soo surprised and happy to have won the session, I had sweat in my eyes
Good luck to the guys who are still left to run and thankyou very much to the organizers.
Well done Manuel, I guess your experience is your little advantage here
, I knew I had to settle down behind you once we hit the final 3 stages
Exactly 1 year this month from simracing - RBR. You were propery, incredibly fast mate, some of your times left me like:
Cheers, see you on the next round!