07 January 2024, 23:25
This was an interesting race..
I practiced Wed and Saturday, once to learn the track somewhat and the second time testing endurance aspect.
Wednesday I spent more time starting the lap over, sometimes getting used to the car behaviour as much as missing brake points.
Saturday VR slipstream joined so did some laps with them too, managed to do 25ish mins before needing to pit and the full 30 on one set of tyres,
practice was ok nothing really to report quickest lap was 2.00.3xx
Qualifying thought a low 2.00 would be ok, but Sven put in a great 1.59.8xx. with the final 6mins of qualifying set out to try better, finished on a 1.59.9xx for second position start. (ACRfuel recorded 2.31l for that fastest lap)
Race time
I got off to a bad start by not using the clutch to start, managed to keep second into the first set of corners, with Sven going wide/breaking late for the second chicane/hairpin I snuck into first.
By keeping consistant lap times going I was able to make the new fuel amount 23l last to the 20+ minute mark, I was probably averaging around 2.1-2.2l per lap.
As far as I can tell my fastest lap 2.00.086 and my last lap approx 2.02.500 - I tried to lap consistantly within 1-2 seconds.
This kept me from overdriving and crashing out, I think I had a rear tap and front/side hit with that and three 'light' side hits on the barrier.
Sven caught up fairly early in the race but spun braking to the inside of a corner, I dont know if this was his mistake or mine? Seemed a bit of a dive at the time but please let me know if this was my fault?
First pit about 20-21mins.
Around 37-38 mins Sven managed to pass me but that same lap needed to pit so regained 1st again - until I pitted. Sven put some good laps in and mine were a bit sub par coming up to the pit.
Second pit around 41-42 mins
Following Sven 4ish seconds back tried to keep pace without pushing hard to save tyres (knowing mine were 2 laps fresher) once the timer hit the 6-8min left thought I best start pushing. A coulple of laps from the end a rare mistake by Sven into the last chicane/hairpin let me back through into first.
The last lap I probably could have made the time go to another lap but with only a second left coming up to the line I lifted to finish at 60.00.3XX on the clock (I had about 3.6l of fuel remaining so had the fuel for another lap).
By only needing 2 pit stops compared to others needing 3 allowed me to save about 20 seconds of pit time.
Finished 1st!!
I practiced Wed and Saturday, once to learn the track somewhat and the second time testing endurance aspect.
Wednesday I spent more time starting the lap over, sometimes getting used to the car behaviour as much as missing brake points.
Saturday VR slipstream joined so did some laps with them too, managed to do 25ish mins before needing to pit and the full 30 on one set of tyres,
practice was ok nothing really to report quickest lap was 2.00.3xx
Qualifying thought a low 2.00 would be ok, but Sven put in a great 1.59.8xx. with the final 6mins of qualifying set out to try better, finished on a 1.59.9xx for second position start. (ACRfuel recorded 2.31l for that fastest lap)
Race time
I got off to a bad start by not using the clutch to start, managed to keep second into the first set of corners, with Sven going wide/breaking late for the second chicane/hairpin I snuck into first.
By keeping consistant lap times going I was able to make the new fuel amount 23l last to the 20+ minute mark, I was probably averaging around 2.1-2.2l per lap.
As far as I can tell my fastest lap 2.00.086 and my last lap approx 2.02.500 - I tried to lap consistantly within 1-2 seconds.
This kept me from overdriving and crashing out, I think I had a rear tap and front/side hit with that and three 'light' side hits on the barrier.
Sven caught up fairly early in the race but spun braking to the inside of a corner, I dont know if this was his mistake or mine? Seemed a bit of a dive at the time but please let me know if this was my fault?
First pit about 20-21mins.
Around 37-38 mins Sven managed to pass me but that same lap needed to pit so regained 1st again - until I pitted. Sven put some good laps in and mine were a bit sub par coming up to the pit.
Second pit around 41-42 mins
Following Sven 4ish seconds back tried to keep pace without pushing hard to save tyres (knowing mine were 2 laps fresher) once the timer hit the 6-8min left thought I best start pushing. A coulple of laps from the end a rare mistake by Sven into the last chicane/hairpin let me back through into first.
The last lap I probably could have made the time go to another lap but with only a second left coming up to the line I lifted to finish at 60.00.3XX on the clock (I had about 3.6l of fuel remaining so had the fuel for another lap).
By only needing 2 pit stops compared to others needing 3 allowed me to save about 20 seconds of pit time.
Finished 1st!!