My big congrats to Marko for a dominant(!) victory, and to Helder and Dino for completing the podium!
Qualify (10th):
The timed lap started well until I made a big mistake when missing the apex of the middle sector uphill right hander. I went too wide and left the track there which may have cost me ~ 1 second. That's why I qualifyed 10th with a 1:39:7xx instead of a realisitc 1:38:7xx. I felt dissappointed about that but on the other side I think it was my first big mistake since having Super Pole and it make the decision to go for a 2-stopper much easier.
Race (5th):
Strategy: 14 laps 68 liters / 13 laps 63 liters / 13 laps 63 liters (both stops with tyre change)
I expected most of the drivers on a 1-stop-strategy with a heavier car, so went for a 2-stopper to be able to make some passes and hopefully win a few places by the end of the race. And so it happend.
The start was very clean by everyone around me and I had some nice side by side action with Eliezer through the first turns. Finally I held 10th position. The next couple of laps were very enterteining for me, as I could make some passes due to my lighter car. I don't remember each overtake but I think I had good racing with Anthony, Sean, Tim and others.
Finally I had overtaken David to be in 4th position and was closing up to Dino in 3rd when I made a poor mistake in the last hairpin section. I had a power oversteer and a 360 spin which cost me ~ 7 - 10 seconds. Back in 5th I had to close up on David again and past him again.
Before I was able to catch Dino again, I had to make my first scheduled stop in the end of lap 14. My heart was bleeding when all the drivers I had overtaken before and a few more flew by on the main straight.
Lol, at least now I knew that they all were on a 1-stopper, so I needed to give my best to get as many as possible of them on track again or when they stop.
I think I came back in 13th or so (very uncertain about the exact position) and pushed hard immediately. I had a few overtakes again but also longer periods with no traffic to get the best out of my shorter stint.
When each driver had done their stops, I think I was back in 4th seeing Dino in 3rd coming back from the pits in front of me. Of course Marko, Helder and Dino in front were much heavier on fuel now, so I was able to overtake Dino and soon also Helder without big problems. Marko was very quick even with the heavier car so he gave me a good tow until I closed up on him. I had one or two attempts wich he could block properly
but finally I got him down the back straight.
This made me be the leader for exactly 3 corners
because I had to come in for my second stop.
Again a few drivers past but not that much like in the first stop. I'm not sure in which position I left the pits again but I remember the great scenes with Sean and Tim and me sneaking through somewhere.
Threewide down the main straight was just cool.
Now I was in 5th behind David, Dino, Helder and Marko. There were 7 laps to go and David was 15 seconds away. I knew that was too much to get him but I pushed as hard as possible just in case he got into trouble. Indeed in the end he had to safe fuel but finally he managed to bring it home a few seconds away so I finished 5th.
Except the disappointment about the bad qualifying result it was a very, very entertaining race for me.
Great, close fights without any incidents. More of it please!
And I'm happy to finish 5th from 10th starting position.
Now I need to learn quickly how to get up to speed to be equal to Marko, Dino and Helder. I'm very curious if the track change will have an influence on each drivers strength.
Thanks to Nico, RD and Simbin (not MMG this time)!!!
See you in the UK soon.