Well that was a journey that just sucked.
Jumped into SSman's lobby at 7pm and was just absolutely nowhere, 18s when I wasn't stuck in a ditch, losing a lap to SSman in my first 2, just no understanding of what the hell the track wanted.
Long run on the mediums, no real improve, running same pace as Knuckles, swap to the softs no pace there either, started a long run on softs which was interrupted by dinner and something seemed to fall into place on the worn softs.
Jumped in the lobby to get 1 timed lap and 15.9 first lap out on RM which felt pretty good, carried that into qual opening with a 15.983, pretty pleased but felt there was more in it, a few more laps and a couple of tows from Rus as we closed and separated based on how good the laps were, and 15.7 to start 2nd I was feeling pretty pleased, might be able to save this one when I was considering skiving off to go run the Time Trial combo.
Started pretty well, Risky with the challenge into T1 with some nice out-braking action, after a couple of my weird lines tripped him up I probably should have broken free of Risky a couple times but the slipstream and some good runs through the sweepers kept Risky in it before I made a hash of turn 5 and let him through. No worries though, I get the stupid OP slipstream now and it will pull me along instead. Couple laps later Risky ran wide out of the last turn, gave me the run and side by side into turn 1 again, just got a nudge and off into the gravel we go before the inevitable spin and 13 seconds of lost time later I'm back in 10th place with yet another recovery drive on the cards. So I buckled down and set it to maximum attack to try and re-catch Risky for 2nd place. I did not blink for the next 15 minutes.
The Div 3 guys had considered the 2 stop and I'd checked the deltas, it was still early on and I didn't fancy my chances on getting past everyone particularly cleanly on same quality tyres before the inevitable heat death of the universe, so I decided that I may as well have a go on the 2 stop and arrive on everyone with fresher softs and pray that I had the tyre quality to make something happen, so I boxed after lap 11 with a plan of 11/12/13 lap stints, took a small drink as I figured I was working into space so more time at maximum attack no traffic would be worth while.
The guys at the back who saw me pit early were super friendly about it, mostly just letting me by not trying to fight, and by lap 18 I was already on the back of Apex, and after he kindly left me space it was about carving the rest of the field before the stops. I caught Razor and Motors in a battle and lost 2 seconds being stuck behind before smashing through, Bryan pitted super early which worried me as I didn't know if I'd catch him again. More pitstops and I was back up to third, 11.0 behind Risky, still closing at a huge rate.
A lap earlier than I wanted I ran wide out of the last turn and had no choice but to pit in, rejoined in 6th and went about catching the lead group with Bry and TheStig a few seconds up the road. Risky's super late stop meant he joined them, and as they battled I arrived inside 3 laps, setting up shop behind Risky ready to take back the position as soon as there was an opening. Didn't have to wait long as Risky had a huge swapper on out of the last turn and I went the outside again into T1, expecting that this time we'd get through clean having had practice, but nope, another nudge and wide we go again, this time I'd got some brake in there to soften the off and only lost 2 seconds and set off once again, now absolutely livid. Didn't last long as somehow managed to drop the rear wheel out of 4 and had the car spin across the road ploughing the random tyre barrier on the inside of 5, copping lovely engine damage to add some additional salt, and after rejoining 8th, I was passed with no power and fell back to 10th having lost another 15 seconds.
The guys at the gates to Narnia must be sick of me by now as I started the climb again out of the wardrobe and started working forward, clearing apex and Razor, and setting off after motors. Grabbed Bryan while he was off the road. 4 laps to go and its 3.2 up to Motors, but I'm still trying, he seems close to SS so they might start to battle and trip up.
3 to go and its 2.3 seconds.
2 to go and its 1.7 seconds.
Last lap and its 1.0 at the line, but Motors has caught SS.
They fumble each other and by sector 2 I'm right on the back of Motors, SS runs the inside on the way to the final corner and I go the outside so I can get the best exit and a shot at maybe passing one of them. We enter the final turn and Motors props up to get a run on SS, whoever is faster of the two I'm following. I've got no idea where the apex is through the two of them, I make my best guess and start to power on, I get a hint this isn't right and lift for a moment, then get back on the power as I think I see the curb and am on a good line.
It was not the curb. It was not a good line.
Ended up a loooooooooooooong way wide, and despite my best efforts the inexplicable complete and total lack of grip on the dirt sees me smash into the end of the pit wall and come to a dead stop. I grab reverse immediately and am met with lots of engine RPM and wheelspin, but no motion, as the car presses into the wall harder. Eventually reverse engages and it moves off the wall, and I attempt to limp forward but yay more engine damage, no acceleration and 11th place for me.
I briefly considered just sending it through the pits but the way my race had been it'd probably deposit me on the other side telling me I hadn't finished the race yet.
There are 3 objects in the entire layout that are not the outside wall. I hit 2 of them square on, got engine damage both times. Its not every week I go off the road 4 times, its fewer I get pushed there twice in the same week, and fewer that I come to a complete halt more than once.
Kindly Risky has showed me his replay and it clearly shows him leaving space on his end, so I don't even get to be mad at anyone for all the crap that happened.
I took absolutely nothing away from this weekend, no fun on track battle, no race long fight and associated strategy battle, no recovery drive or great story to tell about perseverance and a never give up attitude and what they can achieve. The only thing I took away is an even stronger hatred for this place. Where's
@JonoStan96 got to? Until he reports in to say otherwise, I'd have been better off joining him in 007s torture room.
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