Here's a writeup of the race, from my perspective.
When the track was reset for qualifying, some of us were being affected by the "tire sound glitch". The tires were not making their normal squealing sound, and that's something we use that feedback to keep the car in check (even if we don't realize it).
Lucas and I attempted to leave the room and come back in to see if that would fix it, but then the room froze up.
So then everyone had to exit the room and come back in. I mention all that to say thanks to everyone for your patience during that exercise. It's one of those things that doesn't sound that bad, but once you experience it, you realize it's a problem, especially over 35 laps of racing.
On to quali. I encountered traffic on lap 4, just as my tires started to come up to temperature. I already had a lap 3 time in the bank of 1:23.3xx, but knew I could get into the 22's, from the practice earlier. I pulled off in the runoff at track left just before the last right hander in T1. I was just watching the map to get into the large gap I could see at the back of the pack. The last car I was waiting for slowed, and it was Pekka, who had already set a 1:22.6, and I think was parking until he saw what everyone else came up with (leaning something from the F1 boys
).
Once I got going again, I set the best time I had since coming back to this combo, and was just 0.5 off my WRS hotlap of 1:21.9. I'd managed a 1:22.487, I believe, and was quite happy with the lap, and parked the car after 1 or 2 futile attempts to get in range of it. Someone asked who had the top time just as the countdown timer to start the race was winding, and I looked up to see that Pekka had managed a 1:22.390.
Still, I was quite happy with my time, and would be starting second on the grid for the race.
In race, I got a good start, but Pekka took the lead into the first corner from pole. I managed to stay in his draft for 3 or 4 laps, about 1.5 off his bumped. Then he started to pull a gap, 0.5-1.0 per lap. By lap 12, my tires were starting to be a factor, and my laps dropped out of the 23's into the 24's. I could see Jake looming on the track map, and I made a couple of mistakes that cost me a second or so each. By lap 16, I knew my tires were done for, but I stayed out for one more lap to make sure I didn't have to run a 19 lap stint. I came in on lap 17, with Jake right on my tail.
When I exited the pits, Speedy was right in front of my (within 2 seconds or so), and I was a little worried that I would have to battle with him a bit to get by, while wanting to do all I could to preserve my tires. Fortunately, he pitted at the end of that lap, leaving me back in clean air in 3rd position.
Jake and Pekka looked like they were going for no stoppers, I think it was lap 20 before Pekka finally made a mistake that brought my gap to him down significantly, and he came in that lap. When he came out of the pits, I was right on his back bumper, and again managed to stay in his draft for 6 laps or so, running consistent 23's. Jake looked like he was trying to also stay out for a no stopper, but we were chewing up his lead, down to 20 seconds with 12 laps to go, and picking up more than a second a lap already, so he came in, I believe on lap 23.
Pekka started to pull the gap again, with his faster pace and fresher tires. From there, it was just a matter of doing all I could to hold the gap over Jake.
I have to mention that during all this battling, we passed several cars, some of them 2 or 3 times. At times, I gave some heads up over the mic, but overall, everyone was very courteous, allowing us through without affecting the front running battle. Much appreciated. 👍
I didn't make any big mistakes as the race was winding down, but over the final 5 laps, Jake's tires were much fresher and he was gaining on me considerably. He finally caught me at the end of lap 34, and he made the pass going into the right after T1 on lap 35. Great drive to recover from the worn tires in the first stint, and take advantage of the tire difference late in the race. Plus, I know Jake had pace in reserve at this track.
I was quite happy to come home on the last step of the podium, just 0.8 off of Jake, with him about 10 seconds behind Pekka.
Great racing guys, looking forward to next week already. 👍
Kevin