Grats to Sean and Tim for completing the podium and to all finishers.
Qualify (2nd):
I was a bit nervous and therefore had some slight apex misses here and there. In sum an average lap, so I was happy still getting in 2nd position with a 1:35:6xx. Two drivers behind me also made 1:35:6xx.
Grats to Sean for a superb pole doing a 1:35:2xx.
Race (1st): softs 58l / softs 54l / softs 54l
I had a nice start so I could drive a decent line through T1 close behind Sean who started well, too. I chased him close and had good slipstream down the second long straight. Sean drove a defensive inside line and braked a little bit early, so I was able to pass him on the outside before the middle sector chicane combo. Still enjoying myself I touched the grass on the outside only a few corners later and had to go next to the track. So rejoining carefully I was back in P3 behind Sean and David. Behind me Tim went off into the following tight right hander. I think he was a little bit irritated by me but the replay shows that I rejoined the track safe enough far in front of him. I think he lost 2 places, sorry Tim.
The pace on top of the field was very close. I did hard to follow David closely. But later in the stint I came closer until I had a good slip stream along the first straight. David goes defensive and brakes a little bit early, so I was able to make an outside-inside-move through the chicane.
I think my gap to Sean was ~ 4 seconds when the first stop came closer. I decided to go in early in the end of lap 13 to possibly undercut Sean or at least gain something when being on fresh tyres earlier. I left the pit in 8th position close behind Eliezer. I chased him down the first straight and had a good slipstream so I went on the inside to outbrake him. Eliezer braked late too and managed to hold the outside through the left turn, so the right turn was for him. We "tryed" to take the right hander side by side but unfortunately had a tiny little contact (declared race incident) which sent me in a 120° spin, facing the incomming traffic. I let Nico and Bob pass to rejoin safely behind them. So I was back into 10th. I think I lost ~ 5 - 7 seconds there.
One lap later Sean and David had stopped too. To my surprise David in 2nd was again close in front of me. Sean in 1st was ~ 6 seconds ahead. Through the whole second stint I was pushing hard to follow David close but there wasn't any time I had the chance to attack. But this way we came closer to Sean.
For the second stop I decided to come in earlier again to possibly undercut David and maybe Sean this time. When I stopped in the end of lap 26 David was close in front and Sean ~ 4 seconds ahead. The stop went perfect and I was able to leave the pit perfect as well, having no traffic at all. I pushed very hard on the new tyres and drove 2 very good laps, so when Sean and David pitted 2 laps after me I had gained enough on my fresh tyres to pass both of them. Now I was 2st with a 4 seconds gap to Sean and David.
For the first time in the race I could drive by my own. So being in a good rhythm and on fresh tyres now I was able to increase the gap to Sean lap by lap. Remembering the last race in Austria I drove it home fast and concentrated without making mistakes. So I finished in 1st with a 15 seconds gap to Sean and Tim.
I like to thank again Nico very, very much for running this outstanding league and of course RD for this nice place and MMG and Gunthar for this very enjoyable mod!
PS: Reviewing the latest races I'm very happy to be more involved into racing with equally fast guys then I was in the past. That increased the fun very much and I'm looking forward to even more great and close races.
PPS: Lapping is always as safe as possible, so thanks very much to everyone involved!!!