GTx: Barcelona

A good ending to a terrible GTX-season. Four out of eight races out of the top-10 with one DNF amongst it. But I really wanted to secure a place in the top-10 overall so I decided to dust off the old Saleen again. I did many laps with it on Barca so I knew I had a chance. Even took of 0,2 from my pb in quali and was happy with 4th which meant the left lane on the grid. I could follow Mario and Donato until they both made a small mistake which put me in 1st with Ari 3-4 secs behind me. Then he did one of his magical pitsstop again and left the pitlane before me. Mario was already gone and Donato was much faster in the second stint so when I made a small mistake he passed me into 2nd. Guess that would have happend anyway. Then he closed in on Ari and I was about 7 secs behind them. Couldn't get any closer and had no pressure behind me so I brought the car home in a good 3rd and 6th overall. Mission complete. :-) Grats to Ari on a superb win and ofcourse on the championship.

Unbelievable how Mario Polilli ended my race.
This is one of those moments where you cannot pass the opportunity of asking: what were you thinking?
Had a great battle with Tolga and Pete, too bad was ended this way. Sorry about commenting during the race, I just couldn't shut up.
Congrats to the guys, was a great race disregarding this incident.

I was literally cursed today...

This is one of my most hated tracks and from beginning I didn't feel comfy at all... I really shouldn't have done this race.

Got a horrible start and coming into T2 me and Tolga's Vette touched so little but still, my car just jumped into kitty litter. Was 15th and making my way through somebody some drivers were 2s slower but they were doing all not to let me pass... There was a spinned lambo just a little on the track and somebody slowed down real bad, and with me a meter behind, I bumped the guy... Sorry but I can't react in 0.001s :|

Like that wasn't enough I had a stop/go for pit speeding and all went down down... Don't bother to write anymore, this is a race to forget.

Grats Ari amazing result with the Massi.

Knew I needed a good finish or my 2nd place would be under threat. Quali went well as far as my own time but in comparison to the rest it was pretty poor. At the start I had to brake to avoid running into the car in front when it had to brake, unfortunately I wasn't as lucky with the 550 behind me who punted me into the wall. I was a passenger in my own car as it hurtled towards T1, I was pumping brakes and fighting the wheel, trying to stop it before I went flying across the road. I just got it stopped but I was right on the apex and poor old Brian couldn't avoid me. Sorry Brian, I saw in the replay how careful you were but my car was all over the place and it must have been impossible to predict where I was gonna end up!
After that I had a puncture and limped round for repairs and spent the next 73 minutes slowly getting older (boring).
Congratulations to Ari on the win and the title, superb performances in the "slower" cars all season.
And congratulations to Scuderia for taking the team championship.

I was all set to enter with a Vette and try to secure a decent result to take the title. Then Sir Pete felt like going with Maserati, and I thought, "wait a minute, with all those fast corners that thing could actually be decent". A little testing before the race showed that there was a little more speed compared to Vette but it wasn't easy to drive. But why not.

Qual was actually a little disappointing. I did one test and got 35.7... but I guess it didn't make a difference in the end.

After the start Marko ran wide in T3, I got to fourth. I was pushing at 100% all the time just to stay with the leading Saleens. Luckily they helped me a little by battling between themselves. I passed Mario as he slid off but couldn't take advantage of Donato's off-road moment.

I happened to pit on the same lap as George. I tried to do everything optimally and it worked, I got out three seconds ahead of him. One lap later I also passed Donato as he was exiting pits. George wasn't able to catch me but Donato was closing up on me much too fast for my liking. When he reached me - partly due to me having trouble with two backmarkers - he didn't seem able to mount an attack. I guess Maserati can get out of corners with decent speed. Nevertheless I once again had to push really hard but without any mistakes so that I wouldn't lose the lead. It worked. I wouldn't have thought a win would be possible before the race.

Also congrats to Pete for second place in the championship.

Maserati, automobile fantastico!

Hey Darren less of the "old" !! :D

No probs mate and cheers for the apology 8)

Only got back from work 10 mins before practice with no set up. Tried to tweak set up from another track but never even got close to crap set up. The damn thing understeered and understeered with a bit of oversteer chucked in, oh and shit under braking!!

Started last and plodded away eventually finishing 10th.

congrats to winner and podium

also congrats to winner of series.

cheers

Congrats to race winner Ari and on the Championship.

I wasn't expecting such a bad quali result - 8th :( cars came out of knowhere to put me down the order, was funny maybe i didnt see it coming.
After having 2 maseratis get infront of me, and also seeing the pace the other saleens were setting .. some really fast times, i was a little bit unhappy with what i got out my car.

Race started well, I got passed a bad starting Joco and Pete, and then later on Marko's off helped me out a bit, then it was just trying to keep tolga off of me until i could get into my stride...

When that eventually happened, the front pack had pulled away, and i started getting breathing space to tolga and pete, and had started feeling very comfertable and relaxed, just wanted to bring it home safely.

Saw Mario in the wall on lap 11 or 12, saw him aggressively trying to reverse on track, I cant say i wasnt suprised with cristi's ''WTF'' comment.. I just knew it was Mario's re-entry to track, looking at the replay, it was a wonderfull full reverse onto the racing line, if cristi wasnt there, im sure it was pete's grave..

I was up to 4th by pit rounds, but so much gap infront of me, i knew my only threat was from a possible better stopping tolga.
When i came out the pit lane, There he was .. Screaming in the cockpit, shaking his fists in the air as i came out just infront. realised now i was on colder tyres and he was prime, gap dropped to about 0.7 before i found my legs again and pulled it away... :) put a smile on my face i didn't have to fight with him.

I would like to add an unlucky note to Teamie Darren, who while trying to protect his 2nd spot in the championship fell victim to a t1 punt.. still congrats on a high finishing result in championship..

After missing first 3 rounds due to holiday, I have really enjoyed my comeback to tie a championship result with George. looking forward to next season with the addition of variable weather, should seperate skill levels alot.

(EDITED) Mario Pollili.. I'm glad your ranking prohibits you from joining S8. Try the novice series for a while. Learn how to appretiate other drivers.

See yall in S8

I uploaded some nice pictures, and here is what happened next :)
http://eonvdk.blip.tv/file/765549/

Heinz thanks for the support.
See you all in S8

WOW. That's breathtaking. Heinz: the novice series doesn't deserve that either though. :\

hahaha classic justin