Race 2: GT1 Mugello Post Race Reports

What a great nights racing. I only had two practices for this but it was time well spent. Great car to drive, very challenging but oh so rewarding when you got it right.

Quali. Had two attempts and was pretty happy to secure 5th on the grid with my fastest time of any previous session.

Race. Got off to an ok start but into turn 1 the back end just had no grip and I started to lose it before a little bump sent me into the gravel and I rejoined at the back but with other people experiencing the same as me further round that first sector I soon made up several places and was up in 6th place before we were through the first lap. Sean's little mistake then saw me up into 5th and in a close battle with Oxy, Nate and Gearhead just ahead. Got along ngside Nate through turn 1 and we had a bit of contact into turn 2 with the lack of visibility not helping and I had a part spin and slight suspension damage as a result but was soon back in touch with them and managed to get past Nate and then Oxy a couple of laps later. Had a really nice battle wth Gearhead for several laps and after doing all the hard work, setting up a pass and taking the position then proceeded to throw it away when the backend wouldn't stick coming around turn 2/3 so he was back in front. Staued close for the next few laps but then ran wide out of turn 3 and tried to keep my foot in but got turned inside and into the wall causing me aero and suspension damage. The car was awkward to handle from them on but it was too early to pit and still only do one stop so I opted to remain out until the window opened. I had several moments, especially into the tight right hander at the end of the fast sweepers and lost a fair bit of time but as soon as my pit window opened I was in for fuel and repairs. I opted to keep the old tyres as they were still less than 50% worn and we were well past the halfway point. As I later discovered the pit strategy calculates how much fuel you need to put in from an empty tank and didn't take into account what you still have left so I could in fact have pitted much earlier saving myself a fair bit of time.

Anyway, I was back in undamaged condition and immediately started setting fast lap times and getting more and more confident wth the car. Once others pitted I was right up into 3rd place with Gearhead in second place but I was closing on him and when he pitted I went through and had a very handy gap to him and with Visceral only 20 seconds ahead but with a 50 second penalty the unbelievable prospect of a victory was on the horizon. Of course the super quick Sean was on my rear radar at 20 seconds behind so I knew any victory would need to be earned. My lap times were consistent but I had the threat of engine damage to contend with and with the concern that it might be an issue I started to ease off. The gap to Visceral was dropping even so and then suddenly he must have had an off and he was only 5 seconds ahead. I got past along the start/finish straight and then he had to pit and I was left up front with a 15 second gap to the charging Sean. I was holding that gap initially and then managing it so there was no more than a few tenths per lap difference but my tyres were starting to go off and with about 9 minutes remaining I had a part spin through turn 1 that cost me over 4 seconds and the gap was down to about 9!! The closing minutes were a bit nervy but I managed to hold it together and then the pressure eased when Sean had an off on the penultimate lap (or was it the last lap?) and I was able to cruise home and take what was a really rewarding victory. The car, track and strength of the field making it all the more enjoyable. Any one of us could have won that one.

Thanks for the racing guys.. this little series is so enjoyable and it's a shame it will only be a short one. I am really enjoying the challenge of driving new cars that I otherwise would not be trying.

Here's my quali and race from my cockpit.

Hi guys.

Q3
R DNF

That was again a great evening racing with the group, really enjoyed it until I lost connection...

Qualy:
I was hapoy with my lap time, I think I could have gone faster, but I got disconnected from the lobby with few minutes to go and time to reconnect I did not have time to have a other go.
Thanks a lot for letting me take my position back on the grid.

Race:
After a good start, I secured P3 after the first corner, and decided to follow leading cars for few laps in order to set my race pace.
After few laps, I saw Sean loosing it on exit of T5 and heating the barriere... I ended up P2.
I started to push harder and quickly was on rear bumper of P1. He defended it well for few laps and I did not want to take any risk at all.
I passed him in the main straight as he had a bad exit of last corner and then started to built a gap.

My car felt very good, I think I had a good strategy on the tyres (hard front and soft rear), I reached half race with 1m20 gap to P2 and my tyres were barely used and could have gone to the end on that set. But I was about to stick to my plan and change tyres during pit as the gap was comfortable.

Unfortunately, I did not have opportunity to fo so as on exit of T1, I passed a car stopped on the track... then an other one at T2... everybody went silent... and then I understand that I just have lost my connection and was out of the race...

It seems that something is stopping me to win a race with the group... between set up problem, pit limiter and disconnection I always struggle....
Let's hope this will stop and that I will be able to achieve better results....

Well done Peter on the win !!!!
Thanks a lot Sean for organizing all this !!!!

Can't wait for the next one !!!!
Cheers
Christophe