A Difficult End To A Phenomenal Week 13...

As I write this, there's just one day/race left in Week 13 and it's fair to say, I've had a pretty mixed week - but I absolutely called it.

Lime Rock and Rudskogen went phenomenally with a P5 (from 4th) at Lime Rock Park, and a 3rd place finish from the front row (2nd) at Rudskogen.

From here, things melted a bit.

"The Triple O"

Following Rudskogen, the Battle Of The Little Wings had a triple-header at tracks beginning with "O" - starting with Oran Park.

Oran Park (8th Dec.)

Okayama (9th Dec.)

Oulton Park (10th Dec.)

Okayama (8th Dec. - GR86)

In the beginning, things started relatively well - I never race at tracks that don't exist, so I took the opportunity to race the GR86 at Okayama.

After starting 4th, I got wiped out at Turn 1 (and then turn 2) by a driver behind... By the end of the first lap, I was outside the Top 20 - my car wasn't damaged - so I put a brave face on and powered through the field to an impressive 5th place finish - only 0.03 seconds in front of 6th.

https://www.kabortmotorsport.com/post/a-gr8-6-race-at-okayama-week-13

Okayama (9th Dec. - F3//Battle Of The Little Wings)

I then stayed overnight at Okayama, and rose the next morning to race in the Battle Of The Little Wings race. Things, once again started well - in fact incredibly well! I lead from Lap 2 - 6!

But on lap 7, my Week 13 came crashing down.

https://www.kabortmotorsport.com/post/oh-my-okayama-week-13

In short, a backmarker re-joined the circuit (from a spin) right in front of me - at the time, my eyes were in the mirror, keeping an eye on P2...and at that moment he spun back around the right way, collecting me and taking me out - my rear suspension breaking under impact.

As I was in the lead (in the moments leading up to the accident) - and I had qualified 3rd - I was curious as to where I could have finished, had I not been taken out - after all, I finished qualified 4th and 3rd at the previous two races and got 5th and 3rd respectably.

The moment I left the session, it was the strike of 12:00 - the 12:30pm session had only just opened...so I gave the race a shot - and finished an impressive 3rd...but something was bugging me - In practice, I achieved a 48.2 and 49.5 - and during qualifying in both of my attempts, I didn't do lower than a 49.8 - and I wanted to do a (qualifying) time which represented my qualifying pace - so I fired up the sim and gave it another shot.

Attempt 1:

Q: 50.151 (3rd)

F: DNF

Attempt 2:

Q: 49.813 (3rd)

R: 3rd

Attempt 3:

Q: 50.544 (2nd)

R: 1st (Pole-sitter didn't show up/started from pits)

I admit, I feel guilty - because I took 3 attempts - in real life, I would be packing up the truck and heading on the plane with a broken car - I knew I was competitive, and I feel I robbed people of a win - others who maybe could have had a chance at their first podium/win.

Attempt 4:

Q: 49.556 (Theeere we go!) (2nd)

R: 2nd (Polesitter didn't win)

Oulton Park

We next headed to the UK, my home race for this week - and after my first few laps of the midnight session, I needed a new visor and new set of underwear!

I was used to driving a GT3 or GT4 around circuits - nothing quite prepares you for a track as tight as Oulton in a Top-Class Open Wheeler - it's exhilarating!

Come qualifying, it was another stellar session, P4 (Okay, my joint worst of the week with Lime Rock Park, but still - I struggled - and very quickly it became apparent others struggled too.

But not before the nearest miss of them all - sitting on the grid, I could hear the birds chirping and competitors revving - when I went to revv (for the red lights) I had no input through my ears. My engine was off. Oh My Word.

No sooner had I fired the engine up and given it 2 - 3 revvs, the lights went out and we were underway - despite losing a few positions off the line - I was very much still in the running - gaining 2nd by the 2nd lap.

Other than falling to 3rd briefly (for one lap), it was a pretty clean and enjoyable race for me - P3 never being far behind - and certainly a race I'll always remember (even if I forgot to save a replay!)

And just like that, the "Triple (or quadruple) O" run ended.

Following this, we were headed to the states for the second time (after Lime Rock) - on this occasion it was Laguna Seca...and unfortunately, it was going to be a long day.

Midnight.

I attend my daily Midnight Practice session - my fastest time is a 1:17.617 - 6th fastest - I honestly don't know how people are going over a SECOND quicker than me - I was already pretty much on the limit as it was - but as they always say "there will always be people better than you...at everything"

My first race of the day started off surprisingly well - going from a record 10th on the grid (yeah, I know) to 4th in one lap - but just as Lap 2 is where my race started, Lap 2 was also where my race ended...In embarrassing fashion.

Alright...onward - let's move on from whatever that was...

Attempt 2

Just like at Okayama, the moment I left the session, the 12:30pm session kicked off.

Right from the off, Attempt 2 went MUCH better, qualifying 8th (previously: 10th) - with a pretty solid time of a 1:17.8 - to finish a miraculous 2nd place.

Once again, I felt guilty - as it took a second attempt - and I realised I finished on the podium a hell of a lot - it's tough - I can't do F3 officially - because the second I get a podium, I'll be whisked away to a very high split - and I'll stop being competitive - but maybe a lower series like F4 or GT4 might help me get to that higher level.

The Race

As said, I qualified 8th - two positions higher than previously.

By the time the field had reached The Andretti Hairpin (Hairpin at the start - it's disputed if it's T1 or T2) eight cars had already been taken out - three behind, and four ahead - putting me into a nice 6th position for the next turn - for the positions I would have lost if it all went to plan - I'll take 6th!

A corner or so later, a further car would go off - putting me into a nice Top 5 position - before 3rd would plough into 2nd into the Corkscrew - putting me into a nice potential provisional podium position. (Oh the alliteration!)

I'd stay in 3rd until Lap 7, when the leader would tangle with a back-marker - from Lap 8, it was all about keeping it together and bringing it home. Another well-earnt (?) podium - even if it was the second attempt.

Summit Point tomorrow ends Week 13...I cannot see this going well...