Nations - Mini Madness @ Miyabi
I went into the race having clocked a 56.7 in Time Trial, feeling optimistic about my pace. I spent qualifying bump-drafting my compatriot, putting us 2nd and 3rd on the grid respectively.
The launch off the line went well, as I kept 2nd throughout the first lap. Then a very scrappy driver
lucked out big time and got a lag-related turbo boost down the home straight, taking the lead and effectively securing Fastest Lap.
Of course, his lead was short-lived, as the other frontrunners including myself quickly reeled him in with slipstream, bump drafting and the help of another lag boost provided by me to a black and white rival to help close the gap to Mr. Scrappy. By this point, we had already broken away from the pack, working together to stay ahead.
At least, most of us were. Mr. Scrappy apparently did not get the memo about this being a slipstream race, constantly insisting on making moves into the braking zone, banging doors and slowing us down. We ended up forcing him down to 4th by the chicane on lap 7, where he briefly lifted off as I went 2-wide into the chicane with him. That lift-off proved to be a mistake for him, as we were able to pull away at full speed and leave him to be devoured by the pack.
The Japan-Singapore Economic Partnership Agreement in action
As Mr. Scrappy was left to fight amongst the midfield, the three of us spent the rest of the race working together. The black and white Mini and I nearly lost the leading yellow Mini after a messy tangle out of the second hairpin, forcing us to play catch up. We were able to rejoin the yellow Mini on lap 18, just as the real battle was about to begin.
Just as we caught the yellow Mini, I ended up getting shuffled down to 3rd and spent most of the final laps there while the black and white Mini took the lead on lap 19 with a dive up the inside at the braking zone. On the final lap, realising that the yellow Mini was neither attacking nor defending into the braking zone, I made my own move.
To be honest, I am not sure what to say about this incident. On the one hand, leaving the door wide open into the final passing zone on the final lap with a car right behind you and not expecting some sort of attack is... optimistic, to put it mildly. On the other hand, I was not alongside the yellow Mini and I did make the move from quite far back.
Nevertheless, the move put me back up to 2nd at the line for 213 points, breaking my career best again. I apologised to the yellow Mini for the scruffy pass, which he accepted.
As for Mr. Scrappy, he spent the rest of the race bashing doors with the midfield and slowing everyone around him down. That was bad enough, but what sealed the deal on my opinion of him was him outright shoving someone into the pit wall right at the line and sending his victim down from 10th to 16th. Understandably, the other driver was less than thrilled with his move and said as much in the post-race chat.
One and done for me. I am
NOT going to have a good time at the upcoming Yaris race, considering my inflated DR from the Green Hell plus this race and the fact that I suck at driving the Yaris (going by my mediocre result at the previous incarnation of that race).