What a race! Congrats to the podium, great to see the leaders getting changed up!
I was quietly confident when starting, with everyone talking about how many offs they had during training - and I had a pace that I "knew" I could stay on track.
During practise I saw plenty of times better than the 1:58 i was getting, even though I was making low 57's during the week. My first 3 Q laps had resulted in 9th - and I saw my 4th lap start at 8:20, so I knew the 4th was my last - maybe back of Q pack wasn't such a good idea. So plenty of pressure...and I came away 1:57.5? or so, making me 4th, was stoked to park and bank that time!
I made my way up to second as people fell away in various mistakes - was kicking myself when I pushed too hard around a corner with Incey behind me, went into grass, then went too hard coming back on and spun. In retrospect, I was glad I didn't lose more places, was only dropped back to 7th or so.
I had quite a few mistakes...a handful or so...more than usual, giving me incentive to make a highlight reel, will see what I can do...
I had been planning to pit on lap 10, as I knew from practise I could make fuel and softs last for 14 laps. When I was in second and still making good time on my RM, i put it off, even though last week more RM time seemed to cost me, pitting late and going from 2nd to 7th - though 2nd wasn't race position last race, only due to overtaking pitted drivers . This time I pitted earlier than most on lap12, and went from a real 2nd to 7th. I did gain a few spots again as people pitted, I was hoping
@Antmeg26 wasn't doing a RH strat as he seemed quick! Was glad to see him pit.
I just noticed
@Jcp rushing up behind me, thoughts rush through my head - how is he behind me, i just pitted, how is he braking late, he must be at the end of his tyres - then he overshot the chicane and came out in front of me, even without being reset. He thankfully waited and redressed...I then proceeded to run into the barricade that he smashed onto the track, and I spun, as he took off into the distance.
Saw Angry
@Blake Brindle jumping a little, not nearly as much as last race, maybe he upgraded something? We seem to be a similar pace, we overtook each other a few times, some good racing! I also seem to be simliar to Greg
@Kieran_B33, who I seemed to hang around for a while - who was also lagging a bit. With the jumping left and right I wasn't sure how to overtake cleanly, so I went for the pass on one of my strong corners, leaving over a car width of track space for him...i didn't feel a collision though he drive off track and lost some time - I thought I was OK to not redress as I took corner slower than usual to make lots of room, didn't make contact...what do you think Greg? Was the pass OK?
I was also unsure of an off I helped cause, think it was Angry or Ant behind me, I overshot the first half of the chicane, causing me to go wide into grass on the second half, rather than cutting it. As I came back on to the track, I was passed but then he went off on the left, perhaps trying to avoid me? What do you think
@Blake Brindle ?? Have you had a look at replays of your first chicane?
Plenty of more excitement that I can't remember right now in my morning tea break
but last lap was exciting, starting last lap in 5th, 2.5 seconds behind Angry, thinking only a mistake will save me now...then overtook Angry he almost got me back on last corner...
Stoked to Q & finish 4th, best finish yet!
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