Hi guys,
thank you very much for the feedback on my write-ups! I enjoy writing them, and knowing they are appreciated is very motivating
I'll keep composing them, then, with the format depending on my available time.
Here's Monday's onboard as well as the TV replay:
I'll add the summary tomorrow at some point. Watch this space!
EDIT: Here it is!
I qualify in a strong 4th place, a position I didn't expect after the great pace shown by many racers during practice. But I manage to shave off almost a second from my training time, so here we go!
Unlike the Ferrari 512LM, I'm actually not too bad at starting these "grown up" carts
Having managed to defend my position in Monaco and even gain one at Oulton Park, I feel confident about the start. Thinking about my terribly inconsistent race here in Imola with the Ferrari 512LM, I'm dreading the 30min that will follow the start...
My getaway is decent but nothing special. I keep my position, but see the top 3 disappear into the distance on lap1, already, such is their speed. It's only a mistake by
@Don Mejillone through the Aqua Minerali chicane, that let's me slip onto a podium position.
Knowing I can't keep up the leaders, my focus shifts to building a fast and, even more important, reliable pace. Concentration has been my achilles heel during the last couple of seasons, but the Formula Rookie cars are less demanding due to their low speed (unless you drive onto the curbs in Imola, that is
). First
@Don Mejillone, then
@richroo put on the pressure until I crack coming out of the 2nd Rivazza corner on lap 2. A harsh step on the throttle pedal at the wrong time causes the car to oversteer and I lose precious momentum for the main straight. I brake as late as I possibly dare for turn one, but so does
@richroo. There's is slight contact between my front left and his right rear tire, but we both manage to get through the corner (more or less) in one piece. I'm not sure whether I should yield the position after the contact, and decide not to. Watching the TV replay, I might as well should have 💡 But
@richroo doesn't have to wait long, as I get it totally wrong at the Aqua Minerali chicane and he slips past. I'm not terribly sad, though, because the three now leading were unrealistic for me to either catch or keep behind all race, anyway.
Unfortunately, my offroad adventures coupled with the steep incline at the end of the chicane open the door for
@beachboy6658, as well. Now starts the most enjoyable part of my race. I closely follow him for the next couple of laps, even slipping past on lap 5 approaching the Rivazzas, only to lose the position again immediately
I feel that he could be faster, but maybe is driving with his mirrors too much, so I start to slowly close the gap. On lap 7, we approach a struggling
@John Wells right before the Variante Alta. I'm so eager to use this for a sneaky pass, I don't realize
@beachboy6658 choses the same line coming out of the chicane, and give him a little push start for the following straight
I had already decided to copy his pit strategy to stay present in his mirrors and keep the pressure up. However, a combination of a good pit entry and fast stop see me coming out in front by just a few centimeters. Guess who is putting on the pressure now?
I'm partly happy, because I wanted to take that position eventually, anyway, but also anxious about having to defend it now for the latter half of the race. Doubts about my former performances under pressure creep into my mind.
A second pass of
@John Wells at Tosa on lap 9 is trouble free for both of us. What creates trouble, though, is my hyper aggressive line through the second Rivazza corner on the same lap. I don't lose the rear, but still have to go off the track, and
@beachboy6658 says "Thank you very much!" Well, maybe I can reel him in again, and even if not: I'm having a blast and the last 6-7 laps have been invaluable practice for close racing!
Another slide through Aqua Minerali on lap 11 that is a carbon copy of my former one seals my fate. The gap is too big to be closed without
@beachboy6658 making a mistake. But although I lost a position compared to my starting one, I'm happy with my performance and manage to bring the car home without any other (serious
) mistakes. The plethora of time penalties at the end then elevates me back to 4th place
What a great race! What fun! Looking forward to the Nordschleife already, which will probably be crazy
You never said Willi, how did your studies go, did you get the result you wanted?
Thx for asking, Paul
It's still an ongoing process. I didn't manage my self-proclaimed christmas deadline, but that's not too bad. It was pretty ambitious anyway. I'm making good progress and hope to finish my PhD within the next 2 months.