So race day,
Cold (very), wet (very) Miserable and damp about sums it up I guess. All of us were constantly checking the weather reports the whole day LOL, not sure why we bother as it will be and do what it want's no matter what the normally wrong weather forecast says.
Anyway we were out early for quali and we only have 30 mins so about 10 laps ish. Straightaway we were getting held up with yellows and then a car blew up and dumped oil all over 4 corners to make the track just that bit more challenging! We had a safety car for that and I still had not got a clean lap in and knew we were running out of time. I finally found some clean air and pushed as hard as I dared, crossed the line and my dash flashed at me fastest lap as the flag waved. I was happy with P3 but knew I had more pace in me as I was getting faster my last 3 laps of quali as my tyres warmed (do they even do that in those conditions LOL)
So now we had 6 hours to wait DOHHHHHHHHHH. Race at 4.25. It rained and sleeted on and off and cars crashed in each race of the day, which when you're waiting does not do your nerves any favours I can tell you. So then we get pushed back to 4.45 and I am thinking we will end this in the dark!
Finally the grid. I just thought get away clean, don't tussle and pick them off when you're tyres are warm. That's pretty much what I did and lost a few places at the start that I gradually picked back up. I try to drive like Button, im not a Lewis and not overly aggressive to be honest but this lost me a place to Ashs Clio cup (the yellow one) although eh then spun out later so perhaps my style is better suited to those conditions. Darren and I then had a coming together at Richies (A corner I just could not get right and was taking too slow I felt) I felt I had the corner but Darren being in a LHD did not see me and closed the door, my front wheel just clipped him and I spun. Luckily for me I ended up facing the right way and so did not lose much time.
About this time a car decided to dump oil at Richies, Montreal, Palmer, Agostini, Hamilton, Oggies and Williams. As if it's not bad enough! I have cars spin out right in front of me and you just think im going through that now at the same speed on the same line Ooerrrr!!! All very seat fo the pants stuff I can tell you. My GRIPPER saved me constantly and if you don't have one GET one. My mechanical front end grip is the bollox once you get used to it. I could probably go a bit shorter on my final drive but hey ho.
So Now I have my work cut out as I have even more places to make up and I set about this. All the cars pitted early att he same time and I stayed out. There was carnage in the pits with cars blocked etc and they all ran over time which played into my hands and I pushed on and pitted last (ish)
Now I pushed and pushed and slid and I slided ha ha and then it went dark and I just thought is this ever gonna end and then I just about saw the flag. At that point I thought I was in 5th for some odd reason so when I pulled into the pits and they directed my car I sort of sit there wondering why I am there ROFL
I won and it was emotional
I conquered my wet driving fear and won't feel so nervous next time. My R1Rs were ok although the back was loose even though the suspension was its softest, not sure what eles you could do there? Suspension being such a dark art I have not mastered.
Enjoy the video and Brands in two weeks on the 10th, no doubt wet again!!!!
Mark..
Quali time = 2.41.238
Best race time = 2.38.867
[video=youtube_share;2S624W8L4FU]http://youtu.be/2S624W8L4FU[/video]