D1 was a blast. Apart from the minor connection problems we had at the beginning everything went well.
I took a slightly tighter line into turn 3 (the fast left), which meant I wasn't as far over to the left as I could have been for turn 4 (the fast right). That meant I hit the apex earlier, compromising my exit for turn 5 over the crest (the fast left). I thought I was at a speed which took into account the draft (dirty air) and the slightly tighter line but oh was I wrong. Ended up going 4 wheels on the grass to the right. Now, if you go 2 wheels here, you're 2 right side tyres are dirty but you still have more than enough grip to brake for the hairpin. 4 tyres however, you're doing 120+ mph after that kerbing, and I had my brakes on as soon as I was on the grass (I think anyway lol). Went right into the sand trap at the hairpin. And damn did it take the mick to get out of. It's up hill, so to turn the car around is nearly impossible. It shaves off any speed you thought you could keep up to get back on to the tarmac as quick as possible. Came out in 8th, behind Tim, in front of Paul.
Tim was probably the hardest car to get past. His 370Z would pull away from my Vette so much, he would even pull a considerable gap through the first tunnel after that tight hairpin. I had the pace on him through that tight section, but the road is so narrow there it was nearly impossible for me to undercut him and get my nose along side, never mind attempt a pass.
Of course I couldn't overtake him on the straights, because he had the slipstream of cicua and outlaw who were trading places much more than me and Tim were.
After a few laps I decided to outbrake Tim into the tight hairpin (turn 6). He saw me coming, and I had my nose along side, went low on the apex, but he closed the door which meant we made a little contact. All this why outlaw and cicua are hovering about.
I then made passes on outlaw, cicua, Biffy (after his off track moment on the exit of turn 6) and then nsf. I was 11 seconds behind Tony and TA at this point. I pitted on lap 10 just in front of nsf who was doing a fine job keeping up with me and applying some pressure I must say. Sterling job today mate.
👍
I come out the pits only to find Paul wanting to get stuck in on the action and Biffy who had undercut me. I was not best pleased.
I got past Paul, and then stuck with Biffy for a lap. I took him the following lap, and then decided the best place to drop him was the place where I made a mistake
So I went in hot at turn 5 right up to the grass, and whilst he didn't go 4 wheels on the grass like me, he went 2 wheels off which hurt his momentum through the hairpin. The gap to TA and Tony was 17 seconds as I came out the pits which I was baffled at. Then I clicked on that TA must have pitted on lap 9. I slowly reeled in Tony for the rest of the race but was still a fair way off of him at the end of the race, and brought the gap down to TA to 11 seconds or something. My tyres were shot but it was a very enjoyable race.
:tup:
How did D2 go?
Also look out for another one of them spot races I will be hosting, set for the 21st April. OP will probs be up on Monday.