St Petersburg FunCup

A welcome boost after the disappointment of the gremlins with the GT3 mod...a very easy yet fun car to drive - much like the Skoda's - although perhaps the VeeDubs are that wee bit more twitchy! Was unsure if my Driven By Passion colleague was going to make it, so made a last minute decision to switch teams, and am pleased to make it pay off with a solid podium performance to back-up another victory for "The Boss" Dos Santos!

Qualifying was frustrating...every time I made a bit of track space, my flying lap was compromised by another car recovering from a moment, and also had a close shave with a car exiting the pits...mustn't grumble at a top 5 tho.

Made a decent start, and had front row seats for the battle between Dennis, Nikita and Maciej. Lost a bit of time when I had a moment at the fast left hander at the end of the back straight, but picked up a place when Maciej slowed into retirement. Dennis began to pull away but then had a clash with two backmarkers just before halfway, letting me sneak through into 3rd. We had a good battle for a couple of laps...then he got up the inside at the hairpin but I managed to do a crossover to get back down the inside for the home straight. We ran side-by-side into the first corner, but he made slight contact with my car as we hit the apex which sent him into a spin...bad luck. Was in my own race after that...too far behind Nikita and far enough ahead of 4th, although was kept on my toes by a couple of very questionable backmarkers...always a pleasure on a street circuit!

My wheel stopped responding race over.
Cong Mike and podium guys!

That was my first race here in Race2Play and it was very hard.

8th at qualy. I couldn't deliver a good lap. Too much traffic and one mistake on my only clear lap. Anyway, I would be 8th even with an 1 seconde faster lap.

After a clean start and first corner, I've made a mistake while being overtaken at the first right hander on the second split. I've tried to stay o the outside line, but touched the tyre wall and the car was thrown back to the track (my apologies to Yoran Gothango who was coming after with no chance to avoid the crash as well as Almir Junior who was also impaired). I was back after all cars have passed and made my way to 12th counting with some retirements and overtakings.

The car was damaged but was driveable. Only on few points of the track I could feel it really slower than normal.

Good fights, mainly with Paul Anstey until I could have a good gap to the cars behind.

At the end I was closing trying to catch on more position, but another mistake and I couldn't try anything.

It was very pleasant and I look forward to another chance to race and maybe do better without any incidents.

This was my first go with this VW FunCup mod, having driven the car unsuccessfully a long time ago and without having much practice, I knew what I had to avoid doing in order to keep it facing the right way. Although I'd signed up days in advance it was touch and go if I'd be able to make the race, I did just in time for Qualifying, and although my session was full of mistakes (mine and others) I did post a time good enough for ooo 21st!

At the race start, I thought I got a bad get away, but it seems others were either not ready for it, or my start wasn't as bad as I thought it was, into turn one for the first time, I was with the field rather than behind and out of touch as I expected. The first few laps, well corners really were filled with incidents and people having contact with each other or the walls with simerlar results. So I was able by the end of lap one to move from 21st to 14th.

14th became 13th and then eventually 12th where I'd stay for a long time. As the race went on, and people left mid-race (which is a shame to see), I moved up into the top 10. But it wasn't long before I was caught and after a lap or so being closely followed there was an incident and contact resulting in the lost of a place. Thankfully and kindly this gentleman driver (Yoran Gothango) waited and gave back the position and we continued to battle for another lap or so, till he could make the pass cleanly. So it was back to 11th which is where I thought I would stay till the end.

Following along behind Yoran Gothango for a few laps, we eventually caught up with Alex Dummer and Yoran managed to pass quite quickly, but the leader was approaching so I decided to hold back a little and the thought was to try and follow through the leader after he lapped Alex. That's not how it worked out, but the pass was done and into 9th place I went. Thanks to Mike for having the patience to not interupt the racing in his lapping.

Overall a good fun event, hope to make some more in the future.

Good race but after a few laps I'd spun and hit a wall. From then on my steering was off centre due to damage. Managed to come to terms with this and had some good fights. Thanks Roberto good clean racing :)