I can't say I'm 100% enthusiastic about writing this race report, as poor execution spoiled what could have been... leaving me short of the podium in both races. The good thing for me, at least the way I look at it, was that nobody took it away from me, I just gave it all away. This is bitterly painful but also usually, not so difficult to rectify.
Qualifying: I have been utilizing the same strategy since joining the Race Department, not over driving the car during Super Pole. To be honest I wasn't surprised when I saw the time of 38.1, but I was quite surprised not to see somebody laid down a 37, fortunately for me this left me with my first pole position.
Race one: Grid: 1st Finish: 4th
Not surprisingly I got a good launch from pole and on lap six I was still in the lead as I saw Barrick draft up the inside of Taulborg into turn one, to take over second. Things were looking good, as I had pulled us out to a about 3 seconds clear of Vaughan in P4. I have been watching Barrick make his way through the field and was wondering if I should change my pit strategy and stay on track a few laps longer, as it seemed he may have the outrite race pace. While processing I missed my brake marker for the fast downhill right-hander after turn three. I was actually surprised to find my car not damaged halfway around the next lap. Still cursing myself and knowing what a wry smile Jesper and Barrick must've had in their helmets as they watched the "rookie" make an unforced error and run off into the weeds. Now in P4 I still felt I had a chance at the podium especially after seeing Jesper making a beautiful recovery from a spin as I headed down the final turn and dived for the pit lane. We entered the pits together with Jesper exited ahead of me by about 1.5 seconds. A quick glance showed P10 on lap eight and then P4 on lap nine. For five laps I ripped my tires apart trying to close on the leading group, days of thunder style, and just like in the movie...my way wasn't that fast. I saw a battle was going to ensue between Vaughn and Jesper that might help me close, but the last few laps saw me decide to stop pushing and take another "Nicky Hayden style near podium" Not all that bad, but after starting P1... not exactly what the team was looking for.
Race two: Grid: 5th Finish: 7th(sort of)
A good standing start saw me slide into P4 at the top of the hill and was still there on lap three as Swiderski made a small mistake running wide, seeing Gardiner take his turn at the lead with Ahmed, Me, Taulborg, Vaughn, Werner and Barrick in a freight train back to 8th place. The next lap Vaughn drafts up the inside of me into turn one to take over P4 from me, but a nice move around the outside of Ahmed in T3 sees me slot back into fourth behind Vaughn. The next lap saw me on the back side of Swiderski and Vaughn who were tussling ahead of me. Feeling I had more pace, I pit at the end of lap five. I blew my pit stall by 2 feet having to reverse and lose 1.5 seconds. I have a sneaky suspicion this might come back to haunt me in my quest for the podium as I head out of the pits. Trying to shake off negative thoughts I settle into the task at hand putting in the last six laps like a rabid dog hunting for a sniff at podium glory. Lap seven says P9...but I can identify Jesper, Swiderski, and Gardiner, who exited the pits just ahead of me a lap previous just ahead. The next lap sees Barrick exit the pits and slot in to the battle forming just ahead of me. There is going to be great battle for the podium I sense, and I really want in! The stripe at lap nine sees me 2 seconds down on Barrick, with Ahmed exiting the pits. I chuckle to myself barreling up the hill heading into turn one, it's going to be very very close, and missing my pit box is coming back to haunt me just one lap later. I decided to try a risky maneuver on an unchartered line around the outside into turn one. I didn't want to risk being held up for not even a lap and risk missing out on the podium battle... I figured I had nobody's race to blow but mine trying to blast around the outside so I pushed it in there, and ran wide onto the grass kissing the barrier. Then in mild shock almost take Yuri with me with an unsafe track entry. Sorry Yuri! I did not realize someone was behind... nice driving not to take us both out! Now P8 behind Yuri, the last few laps saw good pace from us both, reeling Ahmed back in who was holding down P5. On the last lap, I was sure in Yuri was going to have a go by following him in the previous laps. I was actually hoping he might open the door for me but as we rounded turn three down the twisty back straight on the last lap my first Internet connection failure, on the last lap ruined another solid attempt at glory. My screen still showed P7 and I finished the last lap with a 1:40.5 hoping cars would reappear, and staring blankly at the result sheet as I crossed the finish line, still being shown in P7. What a heartbreaker...
Nonetheless, I saw some top notch driving from the cat bird seat, and stellar racecraft all around! (Myself excluded..lol) Seriously though, precise pit stops, fast but patient driving, some sweet overtaking, and hammer down to the last lap, this is shaping up for the makings of an awesome championship!
Congrats to the podium finishers! Hope everyone had as much fun as I did tonight... see you at the track!
![Luca [OT]](https://overtake-data.community.forum/avatars/s/3235/3235113.jpg?1697196734){kind=avatar}
