GTx Zhuhai

Almost forgot about being signed up for this race (strike 1). Joined practice with about 20 minutes left (strike 2). Chose the Saleen, haven't driven it before (strike 3). Your out. I gave it a try anyway. Got off to a little rougher start than usual, rear-ended a guy or two because they braked way earlier than I did, and one guy was putting along and I tried to get around, almost did, but not quite, just barely bumped him a bit and he went off. Sorry. Lap 5 (I think) my computer started some weird fps slow-down, went all the way down to 0, 1, 5, etc fps for about 10 seconds. Then it did it again, and again, 4 times in a row. I just sat at the side of the track watching cars race by. Finally, my fps got back to normal, so I just drove to the pit and parked it. New computer will be up and running this weekend :).

That was one of the best races I've had in awhile. That is until I disco'd on lap 38. Bummer.

Good Race, congrats Sam K and Ken W.

Good race, slowly fellback from top2 for the first 5 laps then went off and lost 3rd. Mike Chriss had the pace to get 3rd, but he left, disoed or crashed out before the pit stop. I had fun driving in first for a few laps before my pit. Then cruised to a podium, very pleased! Thanks to lap traffic for being courteous, sometimes too nice but no problem.I think I secured 3rd in series too.

Great season guys, alot of fun racing the fast cars!!
See you for the fun runs and sometime next season!!

Awful race. Quali in 6th was ok. But then Noel Hernadez decided to win the race in T1. Coming from 11th full speed on the inside and ramming me out. Another problem with the wheel perhaps Noel? Not happy at all with that move of yours. Then, halfway lap 1, some cars spun and I had nowhere to go than full into Kevin Inkman. Splitter gone and a flat tire. Had to limp back to the pits for a long repair. Came out of the pits in an akward position. Sorry to Kent for the problems that I gave you in T1. After that it was trying to make the best of it. In the end that was 10th. But in fact my race was over after half a lap.

I don't like this track much- flat straights punctuated by short sharp turns aren't all that interesting, and make it very difficult to pass. The heavy braking at the end of every straight often means that the only time you're close to the guy in front of you is when you're full on the brakes and in the least control. Which leads me to...

I owe 2 apologies tonight- first I got into the back of Frank. I was a little faster at the time and having a heckuva time finding a way by. Finally I rear-ended him, waited up, and we got under way again, sorry Frank. Then a couple of corners later I checked up and went slightly off, without hitting him this time, but I guess he thought he had something to do with sending me off because he waited for me- thanks for the gesture, Frank, it wasn't your fault though. I felt bad taking off at the time, but the pack was coming behind us and there was no time to waste.

I went on to have a tremendous battle with Tommy Gunn, who was doing a great job keeping that Vette in the mix- we went back and forth several times. I'd pick him off at the end of the straight, then a few corners later he'd make a *determined* charge late into a corner and make it stick every time. It was a lot of fun- but I owe him my 2nd apology, I sent him around near the end of the 1st half. I waited up, but in the frenzy I failed to pay attention to where I was: I waited for him right in the apex of a left-hander. Sorry to the guys behind us, Gregg and maybe Dennis I think, I made them check up because of where I stopped.

Stayed out for 4th before pitting, and gambled that I could make my tires last. My pitstop was so quick I was surprised when they told me to turn the ignition on. Came back out in 6th, and and was surprised to regain 4th a couple of laps later, which is where I stayed the whole 2nd stint.

I spent a lot of time lapping with George Pol and Charles Hodges, both a lap down- thanks to both of them for being wary of me as I worked to preserve my tires and maintain the gap to 5th. Every once in a while I'd get a glimpse of red in the mirror, and I figured it had to be Dennis My Nemesis :) Fortunately every time he looked to be a real threat he'd have a slip-up, or I'd nail a particularly good exit and regain a little buffer. I watched that gap for a solid 1/2 hr hoping I could hold on to it, because Dennis kept chipping away at it.

It's been a fun season, thanks all for some good races. Wish I hadn't missed as many as I did. I'm thrilled to come away with 5th, and to see NASRL in 4th. Thanks R2P!

Boy do I feel like an idiot!

Had a nice qual lap in the 575 setting a new track record and taking pole.

Had a horrible start, stalling it, watching my mirrors to see what the guy behind me is going to do (big mistake) look up and I am past my brake point. Figuring Krueger had to have had a better start I get on the brakes hard and end up sliding through the corner :( Lucky for me and Krueger no contact thanks to some heads up driving on Kruegers part. Krueger got by me while I recovered. We spent hte next 30 laps nose to tail. I think I was a bit faster but no way to get by without taking risks that Iwasn't ready to take.

Krueger pitted a few laps earlier than I was planned to and my tires were still feeling great and very little wear so I proceded to lay down some of my best laps before pitting. I entered pit lane a bit fast and just caught the left side grass and around she went, along for the ride lol, 3 spins before coming to a rest. Well I figure I just lost the race there. Pulled into my stall and told the crew to filler up and check the air cause I don't want new tires.

Rejoined in 3rd with 14 seconds behind but I can see that Krueger is not in front of me. Soon the guys ahead make there stops and suddenly I have 25 seconds behind? Finally I realised Krueger took tires. I expected him to double stint since he has done that before for the win.

So after a exciting first stint the rest of the race was pretty boring.

No problem George, of course I would feel a whole lot different if I would have spunout, but I remember thinking wtf was that guy doing. :)

Congrats to Krueger on the championship for this series!

A good race for me.

Yes Michael, i was thinking that i missed my breaking point. That's the reason i waited for you.

@Noel:Read the italic text in article 25.4.2 in regulation.
Just see the 5-6 first laps of the race when i was racing with Michael. i think that's we should do in r2p.

Congrats to the podium and the champion Samuel.

Hey Michael, no appology necessary! That was the best race I have had to date at R2P and I thank you for it......Congrats to Kent and Sam and to Ryan you guys ran a great race. Just when I think I am going to get a break and relax I have someone on my tail pushing hard. Namely Michael Kolar who finally got by then took off. Thanks to Greg too who pushed me for 10 laps.. Again I had a great Friday night, thanks....

Grts Kent , was a fun race untill the pitstops :).

I knew i kind of held up Kent , but since we pulled off from the other cars i thought that lets race and have some fun. Couple of close calls but both survived , then i made a bad choice... pitted early and left Kent to do his best laps of the race , same time i took alot of fuel and new tires.

Never even thought about going 90 mins on a same set of tires with Saleen...heheh nice strategy Kent ;). Had some problems in lapping situations and spinned once while making emergency braking in T1 , stalled the engine on top of that and suddenly Kent had a 27 seconds lead , after that there wasn't much to be done. Tried to keep the pace up incase Kent run into some troubles , but gap was staying about same.

I wasn't on a same wavelength :D this time with the cars i was trying to lap and run into some close calls , but we get through somewhat in one piece anyway :).

2nd was the best i could do today , Kent was way too fast and after he got away , there was no way to catch him :).

Very nice result from Dennis , 2nd overall with steady consistent results through the season , well done .

Grts to Ryan too for the 3rd place in race and in final standings.

Thx all for the season , been fun racing with you . Ofcourse big thanks to R2P for the organisation and the good management 8).

-----
Samuel

First off, Congrats to series champion Samuel, great job. Also congrats to Ryan for a well deserved 3rd in the points.

Now to this race. I'm starting to wonder why I run qualifying laps, I've gotten so good at screwing up my first laps and fighting back from last place that I could save others some trouble by just starting from the back to begin with. With that said, this time out I Qualified 5th and survived the trouble through turn one with some careful driving, but going into T3 on the inside I missed my braking point and went through the turn and into the grass and sand. After letting the field go by I got into my usual rythym of playing catch up. It didn't take long to gain positions as two turns later someones car was flying at least 60 feet in the air and a few guys didn't make it through. I eventually found myself in the top 10 and after pitstops had some good back and forth battles with Tommy Gunn, eventually he had to pit leaving me with 5th and I set my sights on Mr. Kolar. Unfortunatly each time I closed that gap some I would find some way or other to mess up and give back some time and Michael was driving really good so in the end I just couldn't catch him and settled for 5th. Good job Michael.
This was a great series, the competition was always tough and driving these cars each week was always fun. Can't wait for S5.