That was a weekend full of highs and lows !!
Pete & Bill, thanks for swinging by. It was great to catch up with you both. Sorry i couldn't come for a beer, but we were a bit busy with race tape and fibreglass.......
The "racing" :
Practice & Qualifying:
I tried to be conservative and stay out of trouble. Difficult to get any decent clear laps in with all the safety cars. We had three safety car periods in 20minute qualifying!! But was happy enough with 3rd in class (20th overall)
Race 1: Made a good start and had passed both my class competitors and had a nice inside line for Turn 1.. Next thing i know there's a black prosche travelling at warp speed ON THE GRASS. He slams into the F430 in front of me, and then bounces backward straight into my nose. Resultant damage caused front tyre to smoke very badly. Radio chat was that i would be black flagged, so i came in.. - DNF
Race 2: Having DNF'd, i was near the back of the grid for this one. Didn't matter though, we never really made it past the start line !!!
Video of R2 start:
Race 2 start on Vimeo
Race was red flagged.
Race 3:
Were were under strict instructions not to pass before T3, so as to avoid a start-line incident and to make sure "it looks better on TV" - !!!!!!
I took it very easy and followed Theo Kondouris and Michael Loccissano as they worked through. Again, taking it safely and not wanting to be the one who red flagged the race, i had a really good dice with Loccissano. Passing him and having him pass me back. Eventually i came out in front when the race was stopped (due to yet another huge crash!!) and finished 19th after starting 34th, after just 5 laps.
I did manage to post fastest race lap in Challenge class. Though still a long way from what i feel the car can do. So race 3 was good while it lasted.
I don't think i need to comment on the incidents and starts etc. They speak volumes for themselves..........
I don't think i will be back to GT series. I really did not feel safe out there. I feel a little disappointed that i didn't get to really show what we can do. But i don't think it's worth the risk to prove anything to anyone. I know this little car is a gem. So i'm going to take it elsewhere and drive it .. probably back in the State level series we have run in the past.
Off to Mount Panorama this weekend... can't wait for that..