Never liked Donington, ahvent expected anything.
I think i started in 12th out of 18th drivers, which was ok for me.
Was really careful at the start, could pass
@Herbie in corner 2. In the same lap i pressured
@George Daras, wanted to gain positions at the start cause i thought that i could not drive as fast as my opponents. We were side by side on the long straight, but to avoid a collision i let him in front through the chicane. He braked too late, though, which meant we were side by side at the exit of the chicane again. Out of nowhere
@petsku67 appeared with much more speed and somehow managed to find a gap bewteen me and George, three cars-wide.
In the hairpin
@tazza1986 tried to follow Petteri, but misjudged it and ended up behind us. Petteri was in front, me in 11th, George in 12th with Gabriele in the back.
After that, the race was quite lonely and i drove consistent laps. There was quite a gap to the front and to the back.
Due to mistakes from other drivers i gained a few positions, but these were gaining on me again.
@Mark Gormley was much faster than me, i tried to hold my position with some hard defending. Meanwhile
@Olivier Boissel joined Mark in the back. Few laps later,
@Geof also joined the group. All followers were faster than me, so i had a hard time and a tough challenge, which was fun. After a driving error Mark could pass me and drive away. Some laps later after some nice fighting with Olivier i did another small mistake and Olivier was through, but he made a mistake in the chicane in the same lap. Geoffrey was close enough to me anyway, so he overtook us both in the hairpin, while i was side by side with Olivier, but loosing time on him at the exit. Then i quickly decided to make a confident move in the second hairpin, which went perfectly well. While Geoffrey drove away quickly i had some more laps of great fighting with Olivier. He finally passed me in a similar confident and brilliant way as i did to him before: Not fully side by side, still going for the inside in the first corner and finishing it perfectly with just enough room for me - Brilliant one with just a few centimeters space.
I could pressured him a bit the next lap and tried to dive into the first hairpin which might have gone well (re-watched the replay) - In that situation i thought it was too close, it could have gone horribly wrong so i decided to steer to the right and spin to not hit his side.
At the end of the race i came closer again to him, but it were about 4 seconds too much. Just a few carlenghts behind was Petteri again, dont know how he came behind me again.
The medium tyres were surprisingly good. My fuel was more than enough, sadly. Should have taken less. Laptimes were faster at the end of the race cause i learned the track a bit more.
I still dont like the track... That hairpins.... :/
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Great event as usual! I always think i am way too slow but one has always someone with the exact same pace, creating brilliant and clean fights!
Despite laps of fighting there wasnt a single collision or touch between anyone I've met throughout the race. That's how it goes, love it!
Also congratulations to the aliens in front o.O