Pretty pleased with my performance today. Qualified 8th with a personal best time, couldn't ask for much more in that session.
I was behind Tom on the grid, when the race started, the lights shut off and Tom didn't move, somehow these 50 year old reflexes managed to miss him, one spot picked up. I was hanging pretty well with the pack and somehow slipped up to sixth, tucked behind Internet_User. I carried a little more speed into turn 8 than he did, but was nowhere near an overtake position, I thought I was clear, but did just nudge (not tap Tom) his right rear and spun him. Sorry Internet_User, my bad. I slowed and he made it past me in turn 9, race back on. Pipeslice slipped through the mess I made, back down to seventh. I followed Internet_User down to turn 17 with Mike hot on my heels, wow being in a race is so much fun
The next lap Mike dropped back and I just tried to keep pace with Internet_User, into turn 17 he made a mistake and I jumped up to sixth. Then the biggest mistake I made, late brake into turn 2, damaged the wing, here we go again. I really didn't want to pit on lap 3, thought I'd check the handling out first before deciding on stopping or not. Next thing I know I'm on top of Ardius and someone else going in to turn 17, this can't be, me catching people, my guess is they had a little incident
The handling felt ok, not a drastic loss of downforce so I stayed out and manage to stay relatively in touch with them. But by now, Internet_User was back. Made a poor attempt at turn 17, more than one really as the race footage will show. Internet_User was getting ready to overtake, very soon. I put a few good corners together and managed to stay in front for a lap or two.
On lap six Internet_User spun me in turn 5 and I made a mess out of trying to get pointed in the right direction. Internet_User waited for me, thank you sir! But now I'd held him up even more, sorry. I knew he had more pace than me, but I was still on the lead lap and fighting for position, I really appreciated you doing that! I caught him in turn 8, race back on! My second mistake in turn 17 and he finally got by me, much to his relief I'm sure
Now I notice Ali on the mini map and I say to myself, next battle here we come! Unfortunately it never materialized
Was looking forward to it. I drive the next couple of laps pretty sloppily, especially turns 12 and 17, Internet_User pitted on lap 9, I'd set to pit on 10, so I picked up one spot, for the time being. Pit stop came and the boys blew away Schumi's pit stop, swapped the tires and nose in 6.3 seconds, 1.7 seconds faster thean the Mercedes team
Back to 7th.
The rest of the race was fairly uneventful, I started to put some decent laps together and managed to stay on the lead lap until the 26th.
Started 8th, finished 6th!
Slowly getting comfortable and by listening to you and racing your ghosts, I'm gaining 'some' pace! Truly enjoyed the day, cheers!
The lap 1 video is uploaded, I'll have the other videos up later.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlhnmj7k2hw