|
My first race of the season
Wow, what a start to the season, and to my participation in the new Race team for this year. I went to Sa Khaew hoping to be in the Top 5 as this was my first race, and the goal for the weekend was to be on the podium in both races. We all worked very hard to get ready for this first race event of the year, and we literally worked on the car until the last minute to be ready. I worked with Paul Abbott, a lot to set up my car for the event, and Khun Haew worked on the engine, to have it fast but reliable, and Ball tuned my Motec to get the best power all over the range. Already in Practice my car felt good, and even though I did not push at all, I was still 3rd fastest, so I was quietly confident of a good race weekend. I qualified well, and was in 3rd place in the time trial for both the race on Saturday, and the race on Sunday.
My first race came fast, and I knew that my biggest competitor would likely be my own team mate Tony Percy, who had been fastest in the morning practice, before his engine blew up Thomas instructed me that was to be a little aggressive into the first corner, so that nobody got in between me and the leading car, and that I should stay tight around the first corner, which I did We quickly pulled out a gap to the other cars and it was now only me and the driver in car No. 8.
Thomas had told me that he was on Silverstone, and that he was a driver that under pressure made mistakes. We had agreed that if we managed to get away from everybody, I should just stay close and pressure him, into making mistakes, and if the mistakes did not come, then the performance of the tires would likely go off, as they overheated. I did just that, and soon after he made his first small mistake, allowing me to go by, into the lead, but he was not about to let me get away with that, and pressured me hard to get the lead back. At the end of the back straight, he dove inside, to out brake me, and I stayed well clear, and allowed him to pass to avoid any accidents. I started to pressure him again, and again, he made a small mistake that allowed me past back into the lead…..We continued like this for a while, but on lap 12, I was again in the lead and he was no longer able to keep up, as his tires had overheated, and I opened up a gap, that I kept all the way to the finish line. It was a great feeling to win my first ever race in this class, and this without really pushing too hard to do so.
For the second race on Sunday, we were a bit more apprehensive, as we saw that Car. No. 8 had changed to Michelin tires, and knew he was going to be faster than the day before. We knew this was not allowed, but decided to be sportive about it, and not file a protest. I knew that Tony now was eager to get onto the podium, and if possible win the race, so I decided to drive my own race, and ensure that I finished in top 3, and got as many points as possible with me back from Sa Khaew.
Thomas again, instructed me, that there was no team orders, except for 1 simple one, (Do not take each other out !!!). We agreed that no driver would try to overtake the other team driver, unless there was no change of an accident, but that anybody could do their best to win the race. I again started well and was a bit aggressive to ensure I kept my place behind the leader into the first corner, and Tony slotted in right behind me, but Car No.45 was right behind Tony, and he passed both of us, into the braking area for the chicane, and we were now in 3rd and 4th place. Car. No. 8 just pulled away, and we concentrated on the fight with Car. No. 45, but 2 laps later, there was oil on the track, and he lost control of the car leaving Tony and me to move up into 2nd and 3rd place.
Tony was pushing hard as expected, and at the end of the back straight be tried to out brake me, so I decided to not try and close the door, and let him pass. He was on the move, and quickly opened up a gap to me, and a few laps later I closed the gap back down again, and coming out to the straight he waived me by, as he was having problems.
I was now all alone in 2nd place, with no cars behind me, and a long way up to the lead car, so I settled down, and kept a steady pace to the end of the race, to try and save the engine as much as possible. I finished my second race of the week in 2nd place, which was quite good, and I am now in a firm 2nd place in the championship only 3 points after the leading car.
I know I can do much better when I get some time to practice in the car, and I am confident that I can make a charge for the Championship in 2009. Next race will be the Honda Pro Cup race event at Bira on the 15th , 16th , 17th of May, and here I will be driving in the B-class.
|
