Once again I didn't have the talent to get it done on my first attempt...
Slot 1: Once again I was paired up with
@Spider-Racer, and once again I didn't see him once since he was at the front and I was floundering around at the back like a moron
. This time my stupidity started in qualifying when I picked up a penalty in "The Toe" on my first hot lap. This was literally just before the penalty zone, so I then had to wait until my 2nd flying lap to serve it, completely ruining any chance I had of even avoiding starting dead last. Fortunately I had
@Geauxgreddy for company at the very back of the grid just ahead of me in the other Corvette (can't remember the last time I wasn't the only Corvette in one of these races).
Despite knowing I had the pace to be well inside the Top 10, I couldn't even get out of last place for the first few laps. Overtaking difficulties were the name of the game the whole race, just waiting for those in front to trip over each other. I also got run into in The Toe and picked up rear wing damage, which didn't seem to hurt my performance as I was easily able to catch back up to the cars I was battling with after recovering. Me and Greddy were stuck in a 4-car battle for not-last for the entire race, and I finally caught up to him at the head of our train on the final lap, battling for either P9 or P10, but he's frustratingly good at defending
, so despite getting up the inside after the Bus Stop, I couldn't make anything happen. That allowed another car to get between us, then headed into The Toe I went on the defense from the Mazda that rear-ended me in the same spot earlier, and I understeered and accidentally pushed him off track, so I slowed down to wait and that ended any chance I had at an interesting (though still horrible) finish and I decided to quit from P12 of 13 rather than bothering with finishing with such a terrible result.
Slot 2: I managed to not be an idiot in qualifying this time and grabbed P7 on the grid, right in front of a very fast friend in an AMG. On Lap 2 he unfortunately got wiped out at the exit of T1, so I had a few laps of breathing room. On Lap 4 I caught up to a Ferrari in the esses and he signaled me to pass, so I went up to P6 at the Bus Stop and opened up a small gap and tried to save my tires since I clearly wasn't gaining on anyone ahead. Another AMG eventually got by the Ferrari as well and started to reel me back in, not helped by me picking up a track limits penalty at T1. Fortunately for me he also had a penalty he had to serve from the previous lap, but unfortunately a GT-R managed to jump both of us, pulling off an outside pass on me at The Heel. The GT-R then lost it on the outside curb at T1 the following lap, handing P6 back to me. At the same time, the AMG picked up a track limits penalty at T1, but I couldn't take advantage because I nearly spun myself out at the slow left-hander after The Toe. Still, I had enough of a gap that I didn't have to defend for at least a couple more laps. Then on Lap 12 we BOTH picked up a track limits penalty at T1, and we stayed status quo after serving our penalties. On Lap 13 he finally got by when I bounced a bit too hard over the final curb in the Bus Stop and couldn't get to the inside of the loop in time to defend, but he then got loose under braking for The Toe and I retook the position. By now it was clear I was on worse tires, and our battling brought another GT-R into the mix, so the final 2 laps I was defending for my life and backing the corners up to get as straight of an exit as possible to take advantage of the Corvette's naturally better acceleration. Ultimately I was able to barely hold on to P6 for 250 points. It was a decent result, but I felt my Rose Bowl livery deserved better; unfortunately neither the car nor me were capable of anything better... That's also probably me done for the season until Nation's, since I'm horrible at Bathurst and doubt I'm much better at DTG.
Anyway enjoy some pictures from Slot 2:
Passing the Ferrari for P6 on Lap 4 (see if you can spot the AMG that would be all over my bumper later...)
Side-by-side up the esses after the AMG got a better exit out of T1 (by exceeding track limits and picking up a penalty) before the Corvette's power advantage took over and I pulled in front again.
Losing the spot in the Outer Loop on Lap 13:
Gaining it right back at The Toe:
Through the Bus Stop on Lap 14:
6th, 7th, and 8th at the finish.
One more just because I like this shot
:
I'll be right back!
