Today started with Qualifying 1 and once again it was a fine and warm day here.
With only a 15 min session, qualifying would be run on a single run on one set of tyres. Our team elected to send out all drivers a few minutes in to the session to ensure that are tyres were at their peak when the track was also at it’s best. Unfortunately we were caught out with a few red flags which meant that we all were only able to put in 4 flying laps.
I managed a 1:29.7, which was my quickest here so far to finish on P10, but I know there is more there yet to come as the car was still getting quicker under me.
On the grid for Race 1, my car failed to start at all for the formation lap. We managed to get it going, but as the entire field had passed me by this point the rule is that I am unable to take my starting position back and needed to start from the rear of the field.
Photo: Bruce Jenkins
That was not in my control, but from that point I was very pleased with my race.
After a good start I managed to take 2 positions in the first few corners, and then another mid way through the first lap. Then in 12th position I had a lengthy battle with American Dev Gore, whilst at times needing to fend off team mate Petru Fluorescu from behind. Eventually after a number of attempts I was able to make the move stick on Gore and finish the race in 11th place.
Whilst not the end result we are looking for, I am pleased to have delivered an aggressive, consistent and pretty much error free race to improve my position throughout the race.
Looking forward to tomorrow where we will have Qualifying 2 for the Race 3 grid positions, with Race 2 grid being determined by where I finished this race today.
Photo: Bruce Jenkins
Photo: Bruce Jenkins
