Qualifying – 8th
Decided not to bother Qualifying, and then found myself driving out of the pits and onto the track, apparently my fingers had other ideas! My first lap had more mistakes than I can remember, and on my second lap I was 1.1 seconds up on my time in the first sector alone, only to screw it up..
I pitted for some more Primes and messed up again, so stuck some Options on. Went out, and went 1.1 seconds up in S1 again, only to fluff the lap again. Was sure I could have kept that 1.1 seconds over the lap, if not increased it, and that would have put me third! :(
Race – 6th
Got a good start on the Primes and tried to get as far out of the way at turn 1 as I could, as I predicted some sort of collision. Drove around the outside but still got thumped a bit wider by a Sauber who’d gone wide for some reason, then I saw a Caterham well off at the side and thought it was @sirspuddington, only to be disappointed (no offence Harry) to see it was @tayzz94 after such a fantastic Quali :(
Was in about 10th as we got to turn 2, only for like, 4 cars to go wide and promote me to 6th :D, but I then threw everything away after turn 4, where I went too wide and spun into the opposite wall, nearly collecting everyone behind me, but amazingly missing the lot of them! Broke my front wing so decided to pit, and then only do a one stop, using two sets of Options. I was gaining so much time on people (as i figured a lot of people started on Primes) and was passing someone every two or three laps until I was about 5th. I realised to make my strategy work I needed to go to lap 18, but by lap 14 the tyres were already shot. On lap 15 @JamieFranklinF1 caught me and I half-spun at the end of the lap into the wall damaging my front wing. Come Lap 17 I spun at turn 3 into the wall and broke my front wing entirely, so had to pit. I spent ages deciding whether to risk it and go Options, or just play safe and stick with 7th place on the Primes. I decided to go safe and was amazed when I came out and found myself catching @brooksy007 at about 1-2 seconds a lap! I caught him and followed him close for a lap or two, before connecting with the back of his car at turn 4 and spinning off. Totally my own fault however as he was ahead and I carried too much speed around the corner. Caught back up the 6 seconds lost in about 2/3 laps and passed him when he span on the exit of the penultimate corner. Was delighted to be 6th and found I was gaining about a second a lap on @sirspuddington, but he was 13 seconds ahead and I only had 10 laps. I kept up a consistent pace and was contemplating pitting for options as I knew I could be nearly 2 seconds a lap quicker. But 2 laps later @moss-611 lapped me, and once he’d passed I lost concentration and span into a wall, breaking another front wing… (I’m amazed the team had so many!) So I stuck Options on in the pits, came out and had 33 seconds to catch up in 8 laps. I just went for it and closed it to 20 by the end of the race, in the hope he may have a penalty or something, unfortunately not however but I’m still delighted with 6th and 3 points :)
Oh… and fastest lap! :P
