GT1 Slot 1 2pm
I've been watching a few early streams, it's not uncommon for very few drivers to complete a lap in the GT1 dry/wet sessions. Which is what I've got, rain is on the way, looks certain to hit the flying lap. I'm out on Inters, taking it easy, but the wear is growing fast, I take it easier & easier. I get to start the flying lap and it's still dry, so even though the clock is ticking I still have to take it easy as I'm down to 10% tyre left. Finally the rain arrives, the tyres are shot I still feel the need to keep it easy to nurse them to the flag. It works, I complete a clean lap, two others complete good fast laps on Inters, one other crawls in at the last minute, on a lap I presume was on slicks. No one else completes a lap, so 3rd it is.
The race wasn't soo good, I didn't have great pace in the dry, slipped back a fair few places before the end of the lap. With rain fast approaching the majority switched to Inters. It was still dry for a while, so back to old granny mode to keep Inters in shape as I expect to need to make them last the remaining 4 laps. Once the rain hits I've still not got great competive pace, with hindsight I was just being too cautious, I did bring it home safely, but only in 10th place. Good thing really, I've got all afternoon free and would have been disapointed to only run once on this legendary circuit.
GT1 Slot 2 4pm
No taking it easy this time, I'm going to drive like a Hellion, Hell Bent For Leather, I don't care if I bin it, I can still have One More Shot at Glory in the 6pm race.
Qualifying again the rain is moving in, don't want my Inters Burnin' Up before the flying lap, so old granny lap it is. Except this time the rain is moving slowly, too slowly, and too light. Damn it, a little wet at the end of the lap, but my Nostradamus skills deserted me, everyone else got it right running on slicks, leaving me 14th on the grid.
I was paying for the poor qualifying on the first lap, in 15th held up at the back of a pack fighting for 9th. Bit by bit I moved up the field, finished the lap 10th, rains coming, but slowly. So we all stick it out for another lap on slicks, the rain arrives during the lap, but it's light. I can see the incoming rain is going to stay light, so I stick it out for another lap on slicks. Some choose to pit, moving me upto 4th. This could be good if the strategy call was right.
A podium could be on, so time to go in All Guns Blazing, a challenging lap on slicks on a damp track. I pass one spinner, plus one overtake I'm up to 2nd. The rain bar is reaching 1/3rd by the end of lap 3. I need to put for fuel now anyway, so switch to Inters. I'm Heading Out To the Highway on fresh tyres in 4th place, the strategy worked to move me up, but not enough to beat all the Lap 3 pitters.
The track drying effect seems to be coming into play, the top 4 are all closing together, first and second are in my sights. Down Döttinger the slipstream effect cuts in as well, the top four are all closing closing. Approaching the kink we're in for some Heavy Duty action. A bit of bumping through the kink I'm nudged out wide, 3rd on the run down to the right hander 4th tries to push his nose up the inside as I'm moving across the racing line to the left. I spin around at high speed, briefly fearing I'm go to need to Call For The Priest. The other cars bouncing off the barrier with a 3s penalty and damage. I end up facing the right way, quickly back up to speed and still in 4th.
The final lap is relatively drama free, I'm not able to close the gap to the top 3, so 4th at the flag and a nice haul of points. I think the FIA need to take action against these dangerous crew members hanging on to the outside of the fence.
