Race report from me.
Qualified P9, but started P7, planned on 3 stops with fuel saving, which worked like a charm. A few mistakes, one off track and very intense last stint battling with
@rcb929. Reached my goal of P5, but had a chance at P4.
The one offtrack was on lap 1, as I forgot to take the slipstream into account coming into 130R and went down to P9. From there I didn't have any real overtakes, as people went for picnics off the tarmac one by one and with different pitstops - and suddenly I was P5 around the middle of the second stint.
From there I thought I only needed to concentrate on fuel usage and pace and bringing home P5 - but on lap 33
@rcb929 came out of the pits just behind me and I realised we were suddenly racing for P4 and that got really intense, as he were within one second from me the whole time, looking to take advantage of the smallest mistake.
Lap 36 he had an opportunity down the main straight as I missed the first apex in the chicane, but I did a defensive move and kept the position. On the lap before the last, I missed the first apex in the chicane again and he could easily snap P4 on the straight on the last lap. The replay showed he was on full gas, while I was fuel saving. So close and great racing.
Some pictures from the race:
Grid on green.. look at that crowd! Must be a record turnup in the history of the IGTC series!
(Anyone else see an odd formation shape here? . Overlapping was also present behind me)
Turn one lap one
Lap one at the hairpin
My team mate
@GTP_Versatile overtaking
@Wardez on the inside, taking back the lead.
@rcb929 just coming out of the pits behind me on lap 33
@rcb929 overtaking me on the last lap turn 1 - well done, and well deserved 👍