I didn't get much time for training and although I felt good with the track (once again new to me) I was not very fast. In qualifying I managed to beat my best training time so was pleased but still only 15th on the grid.
I got a good start and managed to overtake some off the line and took the inside line for turn 1 then got rammed up the rear - at least that is what it felt like in the race, but the replay shows I wasn't fully to the inside and I actually moved over on Thierry so my apologies for that. In the resulting mele we both restarted quickly but had a second coming together at turn 2, again probably my fault so I deserved the fist wave! Later in the race Thierry would overtake me and just clip me on the main straight - I probably deserved that too!
I got stopped by a spinning BRM? (Pavel?) early in the race - I think this is where Tony got past me - and later had an unassisted half spin when chasing a Ferrari. But when my race settled down I was pleased with how I was driving and actually showed good consistency - I think you are correct Tony those walls concentrate the mind! - and made a few nice overtakes. For the latter part of the race, I was chasing Jan Mellissen catching him a little but very slowly. You must have had a bad lap Jan, because the gap dropped from 6sec to 2sec near the end.
And so we come to my confusion! I was head down trying to catch Jan but also spotted the leader was the next car behind me. He was catching me, but I was determined not to be lapped if at all possible (I still consider this a small win for me!). I crossed the line with the chequered flag waving and was pleased to have stayed ahead of Yannick but disappointed not to have caught Jan. I slowed and looked at the laps and I was one short of race distance and then the race results came out showing I was one lap down. I was certain I hadn't been lapped and have since checked the replay. Once again GPL has found a new way to catch me out...I did cross the line before Yannick so was not lapped, the chequered flag was actually waving for him not me. I should really have carried on for another lap and crossed the line (I would probably have caught and passed Jan on that lap
- no chance!).Anyway, a great race. Apologies again to Thierry and thanks to all the organisers and hosters.
