USA FBMW: Istanbul

After the Euro race was cancelled earlier I was happy to get into the event. I even gained a bit of time this time out, and was happy to qualify in the top 10. First lap was a disaster and fell all the way back to 13th. Settled in and ran my laps, and spent most of the race chasing 11th and was able to get the spot. Then gained a few spots due to a few cars falling out. Overall, happy with my first road course race in quite some time.

Congrats to Wing and everyone, great race...

Dang this race was a lot of fun, two good races tonight, really enjoyed both.

I ran the Dubai G2 just before this so it was a mad dash to get into this race. Tried to get a qual lap in, but the session ended before I could. I started somewhere in the back, wasn't dead last, but close to it I think.

Got a good start and slowly worked my way forward to 6th spot. Looks like a few folks got tangled up or had some issues and I found myself in 4th hunting down Brandon. Got a good run on Brandon and he covered the inside so I went outside, then he moved outside and I jump back across the inside and was able to make the pass.

I started to reel in Scott who seemed to be running a high downforce wing setting. Got a good run on him but he managed to go deeper on the brakes and I couldn't make the pass stick. Then Garret and Tommy were catching up and it was getting real interesting!!

In another attemtp to pass Scott Garret took advantage and got the inside line, nothing I could do. So Garret was now chasing Scott and I was back in 4th with Tommy right behind me.

Then Garret snagged a little too much curb and got sideways and gift 3rd spot to me. Not many laps left but I was able to catch back up to Scott. I knew I had more straight speed so I made sure to get a good exit to the long back straight and get the best possible draft I could to get past cause I will need the distance since I knew Scott was so good on the brakes into that last left/rigth/left section before start/finish straight. I got the inside and braked as deep as I could, it was real close with Scott next to me but I managed to get on the power soon enough to hold the position for 2nd.

Great fun, thanks for some very professional driving from Scott and Tommy.

Congrats to Wing who had checked out.

Not a good race for me. I had a dream start and found myself doing quite well. Peter defending his position quite well nearly causing me to wreck on a number of occasions which let to Scott Berube catching up to me and getting a pass on me after one of Peter's blocking attempts forcing me off the racing line. I then drove the next 5 or 6 laps behind them and finally got a good pass on Peter and was closing down on Berube. I did not expect to see Rob and it rattled me a bit as i thought i could take back the position in the same turn but i gave it too much power and nearly spun it forcing me into the grass and back to 6th. I was VERY mad at this point for losing my position and i do not think i have ever been that mad for a race... so it caused me to take a lot of risks and get out of my groove. I finally got past garret after a mistake of his and we played bumper cars as we usually do for the last lap. I dove in too hot and garret had no where to go but bump me out of the way so no hard feelings there. 6th is not bad but i for sure will be looking for a win soon.

Best race for me so far. I spent some time before the race to set the car to be very stable, made sure there's no power on oversteer, and I can go through the 3 fast left hander combo with full throttle. As I used to the WTCC FWD taxi driving style, I am rude to the throttle, my setup did work out fine. And I was lucky to stay ahead of the car tangling starting from the second place. All in all a nice race, I watched the replay and the battling from second to sixth place was real fun.

Man.... Been thinking all day about that race. Was very upset that i made some bad decisions. First just added an extra click of rear wing before the race. I was having rear end grip issues. So i was losing valuable time throughout the race. Secondly... the last lap saw Rob and Tommy with blood thirsty smiles coming up quick. By the end i was skating all over the place. I knew they were going to get there. So i was already thinking how i can pull this off again. Had to fight Brandon tooth and nail for this spot and didn't want to just hand it over. Well in a way i feel i did. I got caught watching where Rob was going to make his move. Then when i looked it was too late. If i tried to block or even just get in his way, it was race over for both of us. So i knew i just had a few corners to hold Tommy off. Was able to maintain position. But i know if there was one more lap he would have had me also. Hats off to Wing!! Class of the field great drive! Rob, Tommy, and Brandon that was just great stuff. I really enjoyed those battles. Some of my favorite clean battles yet. Class drivers! I know there were more than just them in that mix. You all were great and i thank you all for a fun clean race!

But between Peter and Brandon i don't know who wore me down more!! lol Peter drove a tight line and was very hard to try to pass. So my only option was patience. But Brandon made the patience thing, almost a non entity. he was pressing very hard and i gotta say situations like all of those tonight, is why i feel like i get even better every race. The people here make it hard to relax and you learn to just keep pressing! Happy Times!!!!

Hey Scott what's the wing value you used? I use front 7 rear 10 and I found the tail to be quite stable. But of course you drove the whole race under pressure so you may feel something different.

Very fun race. Congrats to Wing and podium. Started 11th and made a clean start. I was able to get around Sean for 9th on L1. He raced me clean and never let off the pressure. It was a nice battle for 9 to 11 untill I got a little too confident and spun on my own. Well it was nice while it lasted. After that my only race was to finish the race before being lapped by Wing...barely made it.

I Raced here but not shown on the final results not that it matters after my results but just curious i dont want this to happen at WTCC event not being scored.

Well 2 weeks in a row :(

Practiced a few times during the week and picked up a lil time, not sure where the 121xxx came from for qaulify but was happy :)

But came out of turn 1 on 1st lap and forgot to down shift, was caught in wrong gear and saw Wing coming so thought it best to just let him pass he was going to anyway and was just going to settle in.
But NOOOO spun between 2 and 3 on lap 2...had never spun there before so was kinda upset about that. Was only left with trying to see how much I could make up before the end...same as last week. :(
With about 5 laps to go or so only really had the chance to get up to 7th I think, but got caught in Peters spin in t-1 and a few cars passed me again.
From there on there was much to do...BUT then on the last lap coming out of the turn on to the 1st long straight my dog tripped on my head phone cord and pulled my head so I end up on the grass and into the wall.
Just gave up after that.

Really disappointed in the last two races as my times were right up there and could have had alot of fun (racing) but instead spent most of it just trying to play catch up.

Btw Peter wish you would have just let a car or two by, i know its not racing but niether is spinning out 3 times in a lap and a half, I almost got caught up twice in your spins in T-1.
JMO though and please dont take it the wrong way...thats what i would have done, and your not me. Guess thats what makes it interesting.

Well..............maybe next week, really just about to say screw it. The last two weeks have been a huge frustration, last week being spun by John in T-1 and then this.

Anyway congrats to Wing on the win!
till next time, have a good week all.

had 8 front and 11 rear. Used 10 all practice and decided to play it safe and just add 1. Turned out to be a horrible choice.