Qualifying:
After the restart, I was quite pleased to see that the conditions were much the same…until I got out on track, and realised it was damp. This actually excited me a lot, and I was really pleased to get something like a second faster than everyone straight off the bat.
As you all know, the track became dryer as the session went on, and the last person out on track was definitely going to have the best chance at going for pole. I went out for two more laps with 5 minutes remaining as I started my first lap, which I was able to take provisional pole with, until it was beaten, and then on my second lap, I stole it once again. Everyone seemed done after that, with my closest rival down in 8th or 9th, only second from last. Little did I know that @Olliekart was in fact the last on track, and took pole by half a second. I definitely think I could have improved again, but I was pleased with second considering that with the race being effectively cancelled this week, I had not done any practice for 2 weeks on this track.
Race:
I was hoping that my low downforce setup would suit the race a bit more…not sure if it was the case, but it was good enough to keep me consistent, which turned out to be the main thing.
I got another good start, accelerating passed Oli, before moving over to take the inside line, so as to defend my lead. I have no idea what happened after that, I looked back to see a Ferrari out of control, and then a Caterham slide across me a few feet away into turn 1, which was a little odd.
@Moss-611 followed me out of turn 2, with @Formula-1 behind him. I knew I had a race on my hands, because Moussa is never an easy competitor.
I think I made a mistake at the end of the first lap, coming out of the last corner, but luckily Moss did the same thing on that lap, just before he end of sector 2.
A couple of laps later, Moss passed me with the help of DRS. I didn’t put up too much of a fight. Oli was already down the field, and there was no point risking a podium finish with a silly incident. I believe the next lap, I got DRS, which surprised me, and although I was quite far away I was able to close up considerably, and out of turn 2, it looked like Moss lost traction, so I was able to re-pass him for the lead and just stay consistent from then onwards.
There was a bit of back and forth pace from both myself and Moss, closing and pulling away in different sectors on different laps.
I pitted on lap 12 for primes. I didn’t want to stay out on the options any longer than I had to, and maintained the gap to Moss, until he pitted on lap (14?). At this point, I was thinking that he could have been on primes at the start, and was starting to worry, until I pulled away a little, and again maintained the gap.
It wasn’t until the last 5-6 laps that Moss was really catching me, which was worrying, but every now and then I would up the revs and pull a couple of tenths where I could, trying not to destroy the rears in the process.
All in all, a good race. Quali was fun, as were the battles with Moss at the start. Looking forward to seeing how everyone else’s race panned out. Thanks to @Sato-113 for standing in for @Bradley13 and apologies for @RagingInferno for somehow missing your invite at the beginning.
Happy birthday to @Olliekart – Sorry the race didn’t go as you had expected, I’m sure the three of us battling for the lead would have been great fun.
Can’t remember the results in its entirety, but I’m sure someone here has captured them ^_^
