Despite being P18 at end of lap 1, and battling other cars for position for first 25 minutes, being on a 1 stop strategy paid off. Here, 1 lap to go as I flash Jon Uyan to take my P7 spot on back straight. Reason 2 litres fuel left and I need 2.8!
Battle for P15 hots up. On the main straight I got a great tow into T1, coming out of the slipstream and making the pass on Bell on the inside. But it's mighty close as Larson and Virt want a piece of the action too!
Moving up the field! Exiting last turn it's De Koning and Graydon, side by side, in a long drag race to T1, inches apart all the way! Opening 25 minutes were hectic at the back, here it's for P15. Hidden from view are Larson and Virt.
OPPOSITE LOCK! This is into dipping T2 left hander, Neil Larson having just tapped my rear left. Just managed to save it and avoid Razvan in the Volvo. Mayhem also on the outside of T2! Hectic racing for sure!
AIRBORNE! Lap 1 T9 tight uphill left hander. Saw Alves coming late on inside so gave space. On exit he 'floored' it and understeered into me door to door! Rejoining from gravel I was P18 of 20. See what happens when you try to be nice?
Mosport! First time here and this picture says it all. Intense, hectic racing - both within class (P2's here of Erickson & Graydon) and intra class (GT2 Porsche of Linton). Ranks as one of the toughest races I've ever done over this distance.
Lap 1. Having rejoined from my T6 incident (suspension and aero damage) in P23 and last, here I blast through 'Lauda' (T7), scattering leaves on track, and hoping the car is still fast! Albert Park basks in sunshine and shade - clouds on the way!
Pushing hard after my stop, it takes a couple of laps to get by de Koning - here my momentum tells as we go through Lauda (T7) and I make the pass on the inside into T8 Clarke a few hundred metres ahead, to take P13. Onwards and upwards!
One stop strategy (pitting at mid point of race), and steady pace thereafter, brings me into P14 here as I pass team-mate Virt as he exits the pits. Fresh rubber earlier than others seems to have worked nicely:)
Fantastic early battling with Pieter and Eugeni. Eugeni has just passed Pieter into Ascari (T12), and I'm about to do the same here at Senna (T14) to take P18.
Aftermath of T6 Marina, having hit the left hand wall twice I now slide across the gravel and put the front end in the wall! Suspension damage too, and rejoin in P23 and last. Bring it on!
Lap 1, up to P13, T6 Marina - a car behind misses it's braking point and hits me hard, here sending me into the wall on the left and JUST missing Lorente!
Start was frenetic to say the least. I got a flyer from P18 on the grid, making up 2 places within a few metres and here about to have the door shut by Alvarez and Eugeni as I try for the gap between their cars!
The "WOW" factor was extreme here at Laguna Seca. Lap 9 and already the P2 field bunches up as they catch up with the GT2 field. Here Steve Taylor in the Ferrari F430 is swamped into T1!
Entry to Corkscrew, last lap battle for P4 between Graydon and Anzolin. Leader von Steinen watches closely (1 lap ahead). For last 12 laps it was intense nose to tail action, old rubber (me) vs damaged car (Felipe). Great stuff!
