F2: Barcelona

Congrats to podium.

Consistent race for me starting from 16th place (was not able to qualify due to family matters). I could not get even close to my 1:21s offline training laptimes because I took it much too easy, but finally got a 6th position when the checkered flag was lowered for me.

Only remarkable thing is my engine decided to take a 14 seconds break in lap 33 when taking La Caixa: no white smoke, no red flames, just engine exhaust and, when I was about to park, it came back to live for my pleasure. Aaaahhh, it's so nice to hear those 19.000 revs going up again...

Cheers.

Had a good start from 5th but Dennis pushed me off track (I think you lost it a bit Dennis and bumped me accidentally) and I lost a lot of places. Fought my way back up to third and pitted on lap 15. For some reason I needed 34 seconds of repairs (I suspect I had pushed the enginer too hard). I rejoined 8th and when someone went off in front of me I watched the too closely and ended up doing the same losing the front wing. Decided to call it quits at that point.

Formation lap was an awful mess. Why cant people stay in their position instead of messing about and creating confusion (that means you Nebojsa).

Congrats to all who took part!!

After a promising Quali and race pace set up I was determined to set about finishing my 1st FIS despite 2 attempts so far!

After an amazing start I then set about pushing hard to get heat into my super hard compound tires and then get to my true race pace. Unfortunatly I pushed far to hard and ended up going backwards into the tires at T1 resulting in broken suspension and no wing. I then set about crawling how to the pits. I got back and the report was bad. 360 seconds of damage!! I then sat their and accidently turned off my ignition in the hope i could start again, and yes it bleeding worked!! I've always heard of people overheating in the pits as they were scared to try it, but yes, i can report you can re-fire the engine!!!

I then set about the come back after being 8 forced 8 laps down! I then repeated Hekki Kovelinen and ended up going backwards at Campsa resulting in no tires left on my car at all!

Darn it!!

I WILL FINISH A RACE IN FIS!!!

See you next time!

Definitly didn't expect to Q 2nd. And the start I really choked. Because of my bad start T Marcinek went around me and pinched John D off the track. I got spanked. By the time we got into T1 I was 8th. After a few laps to get up to temp I put in 20 laps mistake free. After pit, S Wood just blew by me, was way off his pace.
I did have brain fade and braked to late and went off right in front of B Hendrick and I think I may have touched John. Really sorry about that, wasnt intentional. Im happy with 4th, didn't epect anything better than 5th, was hoping for a top ten.
DC

Thank god this one is over!! I was bummed out knowing that Barca was on my Sunday schedule again. I think i found my achilles heel track! 2 races in 7 days, and both were dreadful. I now know it's not the car, nor the setup, maybe not even the track, but me!!! I truly suck at this track and now know it. Might even skip all future races here because i just can't keep it on the track. lol So with all that said Congrats to Steve and the fellow podium finishers. In fact all that finished! This track makes me ill and the fact that you all did so well i applaud ya. Steve well done, hammer!! Glad to see you won it. Dennis again man great work also! And screw the Penguins!!! Saw the end of the game after the race and what i saw it was ugly!

So many mistakes in first lap.

John Dixon had a tough race. At the start Thomas cut in front of him and he wound up in the grass...he managed to keep it steady and re-entered safely in front of me. Then he almost lost it on turn 2.

Then on the entrance to turn 3 Igor decides to side swipe Dan and then run into Anthony and slide sideways into me. I was lucky enough to not be damaged, but it could have been a complete disaster.

On the second lap I watched Dennis try the inside of Barry into Seat. Unfortunately, he tried to take John as well...two spots with 1 maneuver? Didn't happen...he ran into John and flew off track.

That put me behind Barry and on the next corner he forgets to compensate for the loss of downforce on his rear wing and spun. I then found myself with nobody behind me...no worries about losing rear wing, so I focused on the track and catching up to John who pulled a good lead and passed Thomas and Scott Berube.

Scott Novotny decided to mow the grass at the end of lap 9 which put me in 5th. then at the end of lap 12 I pitted...my strategy (which it looks like Igor also had...was a 2 stopper with a low fuel first stint, so I can come out of the pits with some clean racing room. It paid off...I was able to score some mid to high 20's, so even though I was in 7th (with Barry right behind me), I gained some time on the top 4 positions.

At the end of lap 18 Thomas pitted from 2nd place and exited the pits a little bit ahead of me. That's when I first realized that some of the field were 1 stopping and that would give me an advantage with a lighter fuel load. I was able to pull almost even with Thomas on turn 1, then on the next lap I managed to stay on the inside of turn 1. But, then something happened to him in turn 3 and he veered off into the wall.

Then I had my 1st of 2 self-spins, but luckily didn't lose any positions and nobody moved up behind me to take the downforce off my wing, so I put the pedal down and took advantage of the clean air. Then on lap 26-27 the 1 stoppers took a pit. And, I made my 2nd spin and again the luck was with me and I didn't lose any positions...finding myself at that time in 2nd place with no traffic and an undamaged car. I started to get excited and almost every corner I had to remind myself to focus.

Then for some reason my pit indicator came on 3 laps early, but I pitted anyway...added some fuel to make sure I could last the rest of the race, then pulled out in 5th which turned to 4th I suppose someone in a position ahead of me bailed. But, I was astounded that I could see 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places just ahead of me. And, with my lower fuel load I managed to catch up to Vautrelle and passed him into turn 1 with room for me to move back into the racing line. I made sure to take it easy for the next lap to compensate for the low rear downforce.

I caught up to Dennis and on turn 10 (La Caixa) he went wide, but I maintained my line and found myself ahead of him at the exit. But, looking at the replay I should have given him more room...we were lucky there was no damage at least not on my car. Then he lost the rear end around Repsol and was no longer in my rear mirror.

Who do I find in front of me now? Scott Berube! I start to worry that I might run into him again...it has been traditional for us to make contact every race. So, I decide to stay behind him and settle for 2nd rather than try a pass and put us both out since he was in 5th I knew he didn't want me to run into him. That's when I looked and realized that I was in 1st...oh man...I started to worry about my engine cutting out...spinning and letting Dennis take 1st...a whole mess of danger...including Scott who was managing to keep up some good speed.

Ten laps to go and I'm back to reminding myself to focus and avoid any spins. then on turn 7 Scott must have missed his brake point and went wide...he showed a great courtesy and let me pass him...thanks Scott (although I'm sure you just wanted me off your rear). Then for the 1st time in my career at R2P I actually see the "1 lap to go" message that I guess only the 1st place sees because I'd never seen it before.

My 1st win at R2P. I am so glad that R2P is here...it makes winning so much more challenging...and satisfying.

Very nice dissertation Steve, and great Drive
Congrats!!!

Scotty B: GO PENS!!!

Nice job Steve. Now it should be easy to repeat. LOL

Many more to come now! For you've gotten much better i feel!

Thanks for posting the setup too Steve - very nicely balanced.