Lost connection...

QUALIFYING:
Not the best one. Just couldn't get a clean lap when my tyres were optimal so I was almost half a second off my best times in testing session.

RACE:
Had a great start and was able to move to the inside for the first corner not allowing attack from behind. The rest was just pushing as hard as I could to set up the track record I missed in qualifying. It was quite a challenge with a heavy car and medium fronts but I did it in my 11th lap. I'm in the BMW for the next race. Hope I can make it and help out my team in the fight for the team championship.

Confrats George and Kim for the podium and my team mates Dennis, Frank and Garret for good results.

I usually have no free time during weekends but today was an exception so I decided to do my favourite endurance racing. No time to practice so all I did was test fuel consumption and took my Dubai setup. It was good enough for 4th place in qualifying but then came the rain and I did 0 laps in the rain for a loooong time. Luckily my experience told me to pick the hard wets and my car was actually very good in wet conditions. Tyres temperature was spot on, brakes and engine as well so it was me and bad FPS's that was the main reason for not being able to follow Kent. It took me about 10 laps to feel comfortable with the wet conditions and Boyd was following me very closely until he dropped back and I was left on my own in 3rd place. Didn't have a clue about a pit strategy so I just took tyres and about 20 litres of fuel... a bit to much but no big deal. Kent was to far ahead and I just had to bring it home without mistakes to secure 3rd, I did that and that's about it. Quite boring race but still a nice change to race in the wet.

Congrats to all the survivors!

All sorts of technical problems for me, but still a very enjoyable race.

QUAL:
Picked up wrong tyres (softs) and they were gone after 2 laps. I had some traffic for the first 2 laps when they were optimal and I just couldn't get the speed I wanted to and when there was a clear space ahead, my tyres were already to hot. Still a second place behind Barry... I was happy.

RACE:
Start behind Barry was OK and I was a bit quicker on cold tyres but no serious chance to pass. Then a small mistake from Barry and I was able to get alongside of him exiting that silly chicane. Took a lead and decided to push and build some gap when I realized my average fuel consumption went to 1.85 liters per lap (!!!). Couldn't believe my eyes since I was using 1.58 - 1.65 liters of fuel per lap, yet the average consumption figure was just ridiculously high. That took a bit of concentration from me and I started to drop revs a bit to get this strangely high average fuel consumption number down to 1.65 since that was my goal to be able to make it without stopping for fuel.

One distraction cleared and it was time for another one. When I was about to make a pit stop I asked the crew if I can come in... and there was no response at all. I realized I switched off my radio during the qualifying to not get distracted by that "low fuel warning" voice and forgot to turn it back on for the race so I couldn't communicate with my team. I went in and sure they were not prepared. Lost about 6 seconds waiting for them and it was enough for me to lose my lead.

I had my team mates Garret and Barry ahead of me and Barry seemed to be struggling a bit with his balance, eventually giving a spot to Garret and soon after that to me as well. Pressured Garret for a while and he decided to blip his lights and let me through. I had about 10 laps to my pit stop and with my radio dead I knew I have to make more that 6 seconds on Garret to be able to regain my lead after the pit stop. Garret went in about 3 laps before me and when I came in the same story as with my 1st pit stop. Guys had no clue I was coming in and they were unprepared again. Rejoined behind Garret and he was about 5 second ahead with 10 laps to go. Pushed like crazy, setting a few best lap times and I was able to close on him and with about 5 laps till the end I had a good exit out of the last turn and off I went into his slipstream and back into the lead.

It all looked very nice with only 2 laps to go but then another problem for me... 1 FPS bug. I couldn't see where I was going but somehow managed to slow down and turn right off the racing line and on to the grass. Just when I was about to press ESC it suddenly came back and I was able to continue... losing my lead of course.

Good job Garret... you deserved it, despite my problems.

I couldn't attend the first race so I was able to pick up the big guns for this one and Viper it was. A nice change not to drive Porsche yet again. I was expecting a tough battle with Ryan von Steinen but he didn't show up.

Qualifying went great until my game crashed and I had to make a quick come back restarting it and doing only one fast lap. Still enough for taking a pole.

Start was average but Viper did the job and I was comfortably leading into the first corner. The rest was just keeping it smooth and hoping my game won't crash again.

Great job Garret for the second place!

That was a very interesting race with a nice field of quality drivers. It felt really nice to be able to race with some of my old friends after a very long time.

My qualifying run was not as good as I have wished. High track temperature was giving us a lot of grip but I just couldn't get a clean lap. There were a few cars smoking as well so third was a good result for me regarding the circumstances.

Start was OK with Claus on my right side diving in to take 3rd in T1. Then drama with Pablo's car flying and I somehow managed to avoid it getting back my 3rd place just behind Claus. After 2 laps Kent flashed lights for Claus to take over his spot and there we were again... me and Kent fighting for a second place. Claus was slowly pulling away from us, but we stayed together until they both pitted, giving me the lead.

I tried to be consistent and not overdriving it since I was on a "fuel only" strategy. My pit stop was short, only taking fuel and to my surprise I was able to hold my lead with Claus about 4 seconds behind and Kent almost 15 seconds behind. Then came the traffic and I lost a bit of time there so Claus was right on my tail very quickly. I had a bad exit out of the last turn behind a car I was about to lap so Claus managed to have a good drive on both of us diving into my slipstream just as I was preparing to overtake the guy ahead of me. Than came the very fun moment when I overtook the lapped car and Claus overtook us both at the same time braking for the T1. We banged doors a bit since there was no room for 3 wide formation and I was sent a bit offline... just enough to disturb the car I've just lapped on my left... sorry about that.

Claus was gone and I was observing my gap towards Kent. I felt comfortable for the second place but then came traffic again... a battle for 10th between Gregg and Tracy I think. It took some time to get through but in the end all went well and I was able to pass. 2 laps to go and still 3 seconds to spare so I just took it nice and easy to finish up 1 second ahead of Kent.

Great race everyone!