F3000 @ Istanbul

Firstly, I want to sincerely apologise to Colin for running into him trying to regain position in turn 8 a ways in. He'd gotten squirrelly coming out of turn one, when Anthony I think tried to overtake, and I was catching through to turn 8 from there. I thought I could stick right on him and then swoop under through the next apices, but, having watched the replay, he changed down a gear, I think losing the backend, and so I ran into him, pushing him off. Sorry, I feel so bad that I didn't just hold back for a better chance.

I had a pretty lousy qualifying, about a second off my best in practice. Had about the best start I've had in GTR Evo yet. Kept my place for at least half a lap, then ran wide in turn 8 losing a couple of positions. I had a good run from there for a few laps, holding Colin in tenth behind me. I could see he kept trying to set up for a move, but I managed to brake late enough or cover the line. I don't think I switched line more than once on any straight, so feel really good about that bit of racing.

But then I spun or totally outbraked myself a couple of times and lost a handful of places. It was looking bad for a while, but I managed to get back to 5th just running consistently. I figured that was going to be the best I'd do, but then with the DNFs up ahead, my consistency and setup (I worked out the fuel I'd need last night - hard luck Pablo, it was horrible to watch from in car, crawling down the pits) netted me a couple more places. For the last half of the race I was just trying to make sure I made no mistakes, though outbraked myself once or twice...

The last four or five laps I was starting to gain on Anthony, and had it down to about 3.5/4 seconds at one point, when he made a mistake early in the lap and I got through, then just trying to keep him behind me for the last couple of laps.

I'm more than happy with 3rd though. After the race I ran last year, I was going to be happy finishing in the same lap as second last place, so a podium is great!

Repost, sorry.

Apologies to Claudiu, we clipped wheels goin into the brake zone down the back straight, I got away with it, Claudiu did'nt, sorry mate. Then did a drive through which was a complete balls up as the game had auto pit on and I ended up in my stall bangin the keyboard in frustration. Got back out 24 secs behind the guy in last place so am very happy with 5th.

It was fun to try the F3000 out again, didn't get any practise in the day's before so I had a setup and just went for it.

I had a really nice battle with Anthony in the opening laps but gradually lost the car when the rear started wheelspinning on corner exit. On lap 9 it was as bad that I went drifting out of the last corner and Nick couldn't avoid me which launched me into the barriers after a soft tap and I lost my nose and left front wheel.

End of a race which could have been pretty good for top 6 or so.

No need to apologize, Slink. I shouldn't taken the wrong line and gotten loose going in turn 8 in the first place, you were so close behind me there was no way you could have reacted in time. Entirely my fault there.

As for the race? Disastrous! So so start, over took a few cars on the opening lap, then my car snapped on me exiting the 1st corner on the 2nd lap battling for P3. After that I completely lost my rhythm and confidence. I was so angry at myself I could never get it going again afterward. Had a nice little battle with Slink and Nick for about a half a lap. Looped it 2 more times and said **** it I quit, I can take a DNF on a non-official. I had more important things to do anyways. Yeah, Sorry for the bitterness.

Congrats to the podium.