Did the 9am race this morning, GT2. Door 9. Was really excited for this one. I enjoyed my practice here, the (Vantage V8) feels as good as it looks on this track. One of the few tracks I enjoy doing full manual gears, even using a controller.
Qualifying I was pole after the first run, but ended up P4. Slightly off my best, but I was happy enough. One driver was MILES ahead. I was surprised to see a couple of drivers well down the order as I know they're good, Senna being one of them (think they were q15?).
First few laps were good, Poet was in his own race in front, but 2, 3 and 4 (me) were all neck and neck, and pulling out a gap to 5th.
After a few laps, French driver went very wide at Degner 1, and allowed Coops and I through, he then dropped off a bit / coops and I picked up more pace in cleaner air.
Stayed like that until the rain fell. End of Lap 10, Poet, Coops, and Senna (now upto 4th, guys a magician I swear) all pitted. Weird, I thought. I was in the lead by 10 seconds when Poet emerged.
Lap 11, despite slightly increasing rain, I increased the lead to about 11.6s as the drys were defo better than inters over the lap. Lap 12 was a binfest - despite the radar showing nothing of note, the rain was heavy. I binned it onto the run off (thank you FIA for removing any gravel) at spoon when 13s ahead, and by the time I'd finished licking my wounds and made it back to the pits, I was only 3s ahead and went for inters. Even that was a bad decision, as when I came out I realised I probably should have skipped inters and gone onto full wets.
Managed to keep the car alive, extended the gap to 5th quite easily but was nowhere near getting close to 3rd.
Might be one lap out with lap numbers, but I know pitting a lap after everyone else would have been better as I did extend the lead on that one lap.
TL;DR - started 4th, finished 4th. 147 points, great result for me. I think I can have some real fun at Daytona on Weds in the V12 with high speed BOP! Another great circuit for me personally with manual gears a definite. Given the points I have in the bank now, I might give it everything to get a big score there - I'm usually one and done with races to play it safe, but now I can take risks (not driving like an idiot, I mean multiple races) with 4 rounds of really good (for me) points on the board. 130, 153, 127, 147.
BTW - is it best 3 scores or best 4 scores that count at the end?