As expected, this one made it possible to do both strategies and both seemed to work about equally well. I knew from the beginning I was going to make 2 stops, because my estimate said it was faster by a fraction, and although traffic was probably going to slow me down, I didn't really like the prospect of babying the Clio around the track for laps and laps.
Started out in 4th and managed to hold position at the start. For the first 3 laps I managed to hold Wes's tail (mainly because he didn't get past Pekka/MadMax right away). Pekka then ran wide after the esses, and Wes and I slipped past. He pretty much instantly vanished up front immediately then. Mohit edged closer all the time and when I ran a little wide at one point, he took my spot. After that he was just a couple of tenths faster each lap. I settled into my rhythm when I suddenly realised that I was running 2nd. Twissy had gotten disconnected, and Wes had apparently made an early stop.
I pitted after lap 13, fell back to P8, and tried to put in some fast laps to make up the time for the extra stop, because Mohit had apparently decided on a 1-stopper. Around lap 20 all of the ones on that strategy pitted, and as was to be expected, that put me ahead of Mohit, but quite unexpected, also in the lead, although I knew it probably was temporary. I was ahead by about 8 seconds at that point, which meant I was about 5 behind Mohit on strategy. He caught up with me little by little since he was on new tires now, and in his wake he brought Wes with him. I don't know why Wes was behind at that point, but maybe he got caught by traffic. On the last lap of my second stint (lap 27), they finally both overtook me, Wes sticking to Mohit's back on older tires, and I dropped back to P7 after the stop. I knew that meant I had to overtake to gain any more positions, but fortunately I had the fresher tires on my side. I was able to take back 3rd position with about 4 laps to go and it was pretty clear I couldn't catch Mohit who was in 2nd by that point, so I took it easy the rest of the way.
Porsche.
