First of all big congrats to Dino for his 1st PrestoGP win and also big respect for Guus finishing 2nd in his first event.
Qualy (1st)
Due to the rainy practice session there was no late preparation for the dry qualy conditions. So I thought I better accept the disadvantage of little more fuel but to get more confidence and a second chance by doing 2 timed laps in a row. So I entered the track having maybe 10 cars in front and a few behind of me. "Cruising" up Kemel straight and through Les Combes the feeling grew that there would never be a clear track in any of my attempts, so I aborted, reduced fuel and started a super pole lap. I pushed hard during the outlap to refresh the feeling quickly and tryed to be smooth and not to overdrive it in the timed lap. It surprisingly resulted in a 2:02:2xx, only 0,2 away from my PB, so I was happy with it.
Race (3rd)
Strategy: 10 laps 65 liters / 10 laps 65 liters / 9 laps 55 liters
My start was very well so I was able to take T1 on my own unfortunately I didn't take it perfectly so David was able to catch me on the Kemel straight, because of a lower wing setup. I tryed hard to defend, when we drove side by side through the first two corners of Les Combes but through the 3rd one I cliped the inside curb which nearly made me spin. I catched it but lost P1 one to david and had Dino close to my tail now.
Lap 2, same place, I was still in a bad mood about my lap 1 mistake and now Dino slip streamed me up the hill after Eau Rouge. Again I tryed to keep it side by side through Les Combes but over braked the first right hander. So I pushed Dino off the track.
I let him pass then and Peter had passed both of us. So it was on Dino (3rd) to chase Peter (2nd).
Peter defended hard and Dino couldn't get through and after 2 laps or so I took advantage of their battle and passed Dino through Les Combes. I bet Dino wasn't unhappy to watch how Peter became a hard nut to crack for me.
I had one of the greatest and closest fights ever for a few laps but wasn't able to get passed Peter. He was on lower wings and my higher down force was only good enough to compensate the dirty air through the curvy middle sector. So I could only push hard and hope for a mistake.
After a few laps then Peter had a not so good exit out of the left hander before Pouhon (quick left hander) so I managed to squeeze me through in P2 at Pouhon. (Did we touch there Peter?) Braking for the following right-left chicane Peter behind me over shot it a little and pushed me off the track. I didn't receive damage but lost a few positions (not sure how many). Peter waited for me to pass him and apologized later, so all good for me - can happen in the heat
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The first stop came closer and I was close to get Tim and a group in front of him, so I decided to pit one lap earlier not to lose time in big battles. I think a little later Tim and a few others pitted too and I could gain a few positions, also in one or two overtakes here and there but I don't remember well.
When the 2nd stop was to come closer I was slightly closing up on David. (Don't remember about Guus' position at this time) The rain slightly started and conditions became more tricky over time. In the second last lap before I had to pit it it rained so much I decided to pit and take wets. David was right in front of me and did the same. Stop was ok but somehow David had gained 7 seconds and Guus appeared between us. So the new order after the last stop was Dino (1st), David (2nd), Guus (3rd), I (4th) and following drivers.
Guus and I clsoed the gap to David and Guus made pressure on him. After a few laps David made a mistake and we both slipped through. My gap to Guus varied from 1 - 5 seconds or so and I wasn't realy having a chance to attack. Through the last two laps I pushed like hell to get close to Guus and force him into a mistake. Indeed I closed the gap but Guus did well to bring his P2 home and I finished in P3.
Finally I was somehow disappointed about P3 but on the other hand it was a very interesting race with a tough qualy, great battles, rainy conditions and many emotions, so what else could I ask for?
In sum it was a nice season opener after all the trouble we had before. Big thx to Nico, RD and all the gentle racers here.
C U in the far east of the world...