rFBMW: OldRing

Absolutely gutted again. Got pole which I was pleased about then just as race was announced got a connection lost so didnt make the start. Glad it doesnt count as a DNF but still, could have made a top 3 with my race setup.

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Not happy with my performance really - I think the picture tells most of the story of my race!

Practice
I had absolutely no idea on how to setup the car, took a few tentative feeler laps (kept spinning at Variante Alta!) and started to tweak the car. I had a safe setup that wasn't too hard on tyres after a while, and one which was well-balanced between speed and grip I feel. It wasn't perfect, as braking into the Old Chicane still wasn't right, and the car was rather understeery through turn 6 and through Fangio bend, which is rather nasty and bumpy. Other than that, a productive practice.

Qualifying
I just couldn't find the groove in Quali compared to practice, and I kept making mistakes on my flying laps, especially the two troublesome chicanes, Old Chicane and Variante Alta. I didn't really get a good run until my last flying lap, where I managed to pull something together for 6th, but I feel I could have gone faster.

Race
Oh dear. The start was okay, I think I only lost one position, and I'm not the world's greatest starter, so I'm happy with that aspect. I was running well in about 4th I think, then a couple of people passed me, which I wasn't too fussed about as I was trying to save the tyres for a push at the end. However, I was close behind McRoberts into Fangio bend when I thought he braked (turns out it was a bit of lag) and I lost control of the car and brushed the wall - no damage but a few places lost - my fault. Rueing my mistake, I pushed on the tyres I had saved, and posted my PB on the next lap round. However, all was lost when I broke a little too late and too hard into the Old Chicane - the back end of the car started to rotate around, I tried to counter it but it was too late, and the car slid into the wall at about 100mph (see picture) which completely destroyed the nose, front and rear wings, and tore off the left-front suspension and wheel. Race over.

It was fun while it lasted though.

Real shame after the work you had put in Zak to miss this one.

Tremendous battles in my race. Apologies to Sam for the tap into T1, I was letting you past on the inside and as I braked and turned got a bit loose and just tapped your rear turning you round, glad to see that did not affect you too much though.

Really enjoyable track I thought and plenty of tooing and froing through the field.

Yeah, needed a good result because im not here for wanneroo or wateva so guess i'll be dropping back a bit now.

Yep Very bad luck Zak I think you would have walked away from me first few laps I could not push at all seemed very differnt to qually, Steve Davis was able to monster me lap after lap and then got past me I got back past him but again Steve made another great move a passed me again I think he maybe wore his tyres a bit more than me as I followed for a couple of laps I could see where he was slower and made a pass down the main stright I had less wing and got past quickly and he gave me plenty of room into the first chicane cheers, from then on I was able to pull a 10th or 2 per lap to leave me with a nice gap I think he also had a moment which helped congrats to all that finished as always great driving from all

Well done Matt 3rd place, and new to these, you had a couple of moments too someone to watch out for I think ;)

Had to give best to somebody off the line for the T1 chicane, then began to settle down into a rhythm, quite alone. Narrowly missed a spun Otto (i think) by centimetres at high speed, then had to dodge through Jay's wreckage. Continued all alone in 6th place to the end; last lap was very slow as I had to save fuel and my car sputtered to halt just after crossing the line!