I seem to run well when I can't watch the V8 Supercars and practice instead lol.
Banged around London at about the same pace at the V8s around Barbagello so I guess I put down about 100 laps during that time frame and I felt good with 54.7 but I knew with a perfect lap I might get 54.5... and then when I joined the pre-race practice lobby and saw Beau with a 54.5 for real I figured I was pretty boned lol.
Qualy - 55.0 to start, happy with the banker but Beau straight to a 54.84 and I thought I was toast, but managed get a lower 54.8, and then 54.7 before SS moved to 2nd, and then nailed a new PB of 54.651 for pole, was really happy to have found my rhythm to nail those hot laps time and time again.
Race 1 - Got to turn 1 and realised I didn't actually know where to brake, went a bit deep but SS was also playing it safe and luckily didn't pounce. Soon became apparent that Beau was only just warming up in qualy smashing a 54.7 nearly straight away and my lovely QP rhythm was gone, only stayed out of Beau's reach by not making as many mistakes, until I stuffed a lap and then Beau was just glued in behind me. Credit to Beau to just wait patiently for a mistake or an opening, couple of probes into turn 1, all of it very controlled and very respectful leading to close racing and some side by side on the run up to 2-3. After chasing for about 6 laps and properly pursuing for another 10, with 3 or 4 to go I made a mistake, grabbed the inside wall and pinballed across the road, however we tangled with Beau having nowhere to go and on-track position remained unchanged. Thought he had me as he'd been quicker in that corner all race and was sure to get the inside line into the 2nd last turn, but just got stupid lucky there.
Race 2 - Plan was to just wait for mistakes to take openings and I tried to sit back and let that happen, seemed to work pretty well until the chaos on lap 12, had 4 cars 2-by-2 into the 2nd last corner, and after the Bry slide/spin somehow was 3 wide with Rus and Holden into the last turn there and didn't realise it, having only noticed Rus going for the 0.95 car width space between me and the wall, and making it fit! Tried to give him space once he'd claimed it to discover as we turned in that Holdenman had gone the other side without me noticing. Apologies there guys, if I'd known I was meat in the middle would have bailed out. From there Beau was out of reach, grabbed knuckles after he went wide in 3 and set off after Beau, and as quickly as it came and left, my rhythm came back and we were flying again. 54.8, 54.7, 54.6, 54.6, 54.55 and finally 54.531 on the last lap to close in on Beau but not do enough to return the favour of a thrilling pursuit battle.
Really enjoyed how close the reverse grid race was with all 9 of us running in the 1 train pretty much with an intense battle pack for 1-5, great stuff from everyone to stay on it and stay in the hunt.
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