ROUND 9 - JAPANESE GRAND PRIX - 26TH APRIL

Apologies, I won't be making this. Just remembered that I have the invitational on the same day :/

I put this in the sign-up thread, but just to make sure it wasn't missed, I won't be there either I'm afraid. Best of luck to you all

Wont make the race.

I've found I have some free time this evening, can I take the #1 Arrows for this event?

I'm not going to be able to race later. GL to everyone.

Man, is anyone coming along?

steviejb wrote:Man, is anyone coming along?

Here I come to save the daaaaay!

Well, that was fun.

First of all I'd like to apologise to Polacek for that bump at the start there. My car was rolling forward at the start so had to keep a foot on the brake to stop it, and I just didn't react quick enough off the line to avoid him. Don't know whether that damaged his suspension or what, but it cost me a trip to the nearest wall, and a lost front wing and it borked my suspension as well. Wrestled it to about 130R after hideous understeer etc. and spun off, and lost a wheel. As soon as I got it out of the gravel the engine overheated.

Thanks for the chance anyway guys

Well... that was a simply extraordinary race!    

Qualfied 5th. Not too shabby, I suppose. Got an average start and then Paul in the McLaren had a "total brain fart" (forgiven!   ) and spun me. Then I spun again on lap 2. Great start   
Much of the first stint was spent swapping positions with Paul and going up through the order, and I suppose I didn't do too badly on the hard tyres :)Got in the pits late, and I jumped Paul and was very close to Garth! I would be in 2nd for sure!   
Oh, hang on... there appears to be a stop/go penalty for speeding in the pitlane...  

Served the penalty, down to 4th, then drove the race of my life in a (vain) attempt to catch up to Paul. Three laps to go and it looked like it wasn't going to happen. Then I noticed yellow flags into Degner. Incredibly, the battle for 2nd appeared to have gotten a little messy, and now I was in with a chance - Garth was right in front of me, so I bade my time...
Made my move into the chicane on the second-to-last lap, having driving my nuts off trying to keep up in Garth's slipstream. Slam, bang! Contact was made but all was fair. I pulled a gap to him, and crossed the line 3rd*!

*Just noting, that's my first-ever podium finish in a circuit-based championship simrace  
Understandably, I'm delighted. Considering all the $#%@ that happened to me during the race, that was truly unforgettable  

Matthew Allington wrote:Got an average start and then Paul in the McLaren had a "total brain fart" (forgiven!   ) and spun me.

This sounds familiar. *Cough* Brazil *Cough*

Replay and results added to the first post. Thank you EVERYONE that took part and showed up tonight. Looking forward to seeing you guys in the V8's!

grats all finishers

does anybody have the replay file for the qualifying session ?

 Cheers lads!