Pre-Rally: This is going to be a challenge.
. For some reason I've been suffering micro-stuttering, which makes driving very difficult. I haven't really put in much practice, due to the stuttering making things not-so-fun. So I'm just gonna put my head down, bare my teeth, and try to drive as best I can. No DNFs would make me (somewhat) happy.
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SS1-Bit tentative, but OK. I don't think the DS3 suits the fast stages so much, it has a very short gear ratio.
SS2-Actually pretty happy with that one, had a good feeling with the car despite the stutters.
SS3-Started quite well, but I had two moments in the middle sector, one perilously close to the edge, and the other had a wee off. Only lost a few seconds each time though, I think. So not too bad.
SS4-I like the camber on this stage, makes the corners a lot of fun. Had a slight off again, with the blind right turn immediately over the crest, leading to a long downhill section. Got back on the track pretty quick, managed to avoid hitting anything. So I was a wee bit slower on both the reverse stages, but not too bad.
I'm going to opt for wet tyres for the tropical leg, though I suspect most others will aswell, dunno if that will make these first two stages tricky or not, but I sure don't want to drive in the wet stages with inters.
SS5-Actually, there was quite a bit more grip than I thought there would be. I was a bit off the pace though, took things cautiously, especially the downhill sections. Had a moment on the 3rd to last corner, nearly hit a tree.
SS6-Pretty good, a little bit faster than Noiker, but still a bit slow.
SS7-Again, I was quite surprised by the level of grip. Although I did go wide in a few places. In one of the forest sections I went to fast into a corner, so aborted halfway through and went for a gap in the trees.
Lost a wee bit of time there, but no CFH or damage.
SS8-That was wet. Had a lot of fun in the last sector, really got into the rhythm.
Desert leg now. I know from running on Jourdain in the past to listen to the pacenotes. There's a junction somewhere, that if you miss will let you out two minutes from the junction (i.e. backwards). So lots of attention for those two stages.
SS9-Went pretty well, except a goof where I (surprise!) didn't hear a junction call, lost some time turning around.
SS10-Good stage, felt very comfortable. Had a slight moment near the end clipping a bank, managed to save it though.
SS11-Aagh, had a spin right near the end, lost a bit of time there as well.
SS12-Phwwaaaa! That was close. I felt pretty comfortable so was pushing on this stage. Messed up the braking into a junction and was sliding sideways, nothing could I do, and I knew I was headed for a tree. Pwhunk. Tentative throttle... yes, engine still work. Nothing but cosmetic damage luckily, and I carried on my merry way.
Now just the power stage, I really enjoy Gran Canaria, don't know why.
SS13-Made a right mess of that one, no power stage points for me I think. Very scrappy.
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Post-Rally: Well, I finished all stages without DNF or CFH, so I'm happy. A lot of small mistakes creeping in, but only one major mistake.
I definitely need new pedals though, my legs are aching, the current set is too uncomfortable. (or maybe I need a new chair).
Also, I noticed stuttering was worse on stages with lots of objects, and I was getting a lot of pop-in. So I'll try running a defrag, see if that helps.
Thanks to the organizers, good fun.
And thanks to Jonatan for driving with me