TPTCC-A Sebring

It was great to start a new TPTCC season. These Aussie tanks are a handful but somehow offer great racing. Slight problems at the start but very clean racing for the whole session.

Looking forward to the next one.

Stalled it at the start trying to avoid the car in front, and a few cars piled into me. Sorry about that. :( Pretty good racing after that. A little fender and bumper rubbing but nothing disasterous. Good stuff!

What a great season opener, if the racing continues like this we are gonna have 1 hell of a season.
Couldn't get my things together for quali so ended up at dissapointing 5th place. Made an excellent start only Rogier who was in front of me didnt, so we collided. After that we passed each other so many times I lost count, it was the best fun I had in a long time, only Peter and Richard could get away from us pretty easy. After my pitstop I came back out in 4th and started chasing Richard and Peter. Only at the end I finally caught up with them and passed Peter, after he made a mistake, for 3rd. He put the pressure on and I had to concentrate on my mirrors instead on what was in front of me, but I kept my position till the end. Blair showed everybody today how to drive these cars and really deserved the victory, congrats!!

Cya all at Brands Hatch!!

I couldn't get near Blair as he was lapping over 1 second faster than the pole time!

I had a great battle with Peter and we swapped positions quite a few times...My set was terrible for the race as after 5 laps of pushing it would not turn at all...My total lack of set up skills cost me a lot of time and that is something I need to work on...Great race from everyone!

Yes, an excellent close race with Richard! With good passing moves by him, and perfectly clean and thoughtful racing!
A bit annoying that our final battle - which Richard won to maintain 2nd - cost too much time and allowed Bas to finally get within range of me, with just two laps to go! And then he pounced - when I slid a bit wide coming onto the back straight! So I was left back in 4th. DOH

It shows how close the racing was. You only needed one slip up for gaps to be bridged. And you had to be running very good laps, consistently, to hold a position! Which is a lot of pressure.

Hi,

I was so tired during practices that i wanted to have a litle sleep time before the race, but couldnt wake up for the qually and race.

see you next time

Peter was much stronger than I during the second half of each stint and his pressure repeatedly paid off as he was able to catch me quite easily...Blair obviously slowed right down at the end and I was watching that gap when Peter disappeared and was replaced by Baz...Peter deserved 3rd if not 2nd place here and its a shame one little error cost him a position...It does go to show that nothing short of clean driving is going to get you on the podium...

We need a TPTCC A+ group for guys like Blair...It is very frustrating to be racing with 5 guys and watch the aliens swan off into the distance without effort!

Guys,

Great kick off for the new season!!! Surprised myself in Q, 3rd. My start was as it usually is with these v8's... it sucked! Bas who was right behind me bumped into me and unintentionally helped me to get the car moving. Thanx for that team mate :-)

The 1st stint that followed was one of the best I've had for a long time. Great racing; especially Bas and I had a great battle for position. After the 9th(!!!) change of position between Bas and myself in only a couple of laps, I made a small mistake, just enough to allow Tom Depke to pass me. Couple of laps later I was still right behind Tom, and I felt I was just a bit faster. Bas was only a couple of seconds in front of us. I decided to take an early pit stop to try and pass Tom and/or Bas this way.

It worked with Tom, but Bas came out in front of me after his pit stop (as I expected because of some traffic delay after my pit stop). I managed to keep the gap to Bas at 4 or 5 sec for quite some time, but I couldn't get any closer. So I baccked off a little to make sure the tires would last until the end of the race. 5th place in the end was a decent result, far more important though, I had great fun especially in that 1st stint.

Cya in Brands Hatch
Rogier

BTW, Raymond: too bad you didn't make it. Funny story though:-)