Blog A Day 15: Wacky Weekend!

Good evening, I hope you are all well.

I’m not going to lie, I was looking forward to today - Brands Hatch and Spa both being circuits I enjoy to drive.

With the GT3 Challenge off at Mid-Ohio (don’t own), it was the trio of Symkhana (Brands Hatch), Week 13 Ridiculousness (Spa) and The Funny Weather Series.

Upon waking up at Brands Hatch and wondering around the paddock, I was surprised but disappointed to see that bar the stewards and the food vans, I was the only one there.

Come the race, I’d be the only one to participate.

The only reason I can think of as to why nobody showed up was its difficulty (getting the car stopped at Paddock Hill Bend on the dirt) - ditto for Graham Hill bend.

Anywho. Grand Chelem, obviously.

Pretty dull race, but Robin Truswell was a nutcase in particular,

According to the standings, it just wasn't a very popular circuit - only reaching 10+ entries three times throughout the day (3:15am, 8:15am & 9:45am)

~

Next up was the 13th Week Ridiculousness - and it was the polar opposite of Brands - a car I could control, a massive entry-list and a thrilling race.

I qualified 14th, didn’t like the prospect of being in the middle of the grid heading up Radillion - so as before, I started from the pits.

The race was predictably anarchy, with a VERY dirty track offering little to no grip nor confidence. After a late charge on 7th, I’d eventually finish 7th after starting down in 25th. From 25th, I'd start the second lap in 15th thanks to:

28th - Gilmour (DNS) 27th - Sanchez (DNS)

26th - Renfro (DNS)

25th - Aal (DNS)

24th - Salas (DNF) - was spun out/crashed along Kemmel Straight

23rd - Pope (DNF) - contact/netcode at Bruxelles, retired.

22nd - Groce (DNF) - had damage, spun at Blanchimont. Pile-Up.

21st - Paw (DNF) - Blanchimont Pile-Up

20th - Tombleson (DNF) - Blanchimont Pile-Up

19th - Macavei (DNF) - Blanchimont Pile-Up

18th - Barnette - PIT (L1)

17th - Erlandsson - PIT (L1)

16th - Parrott - PIT (L1)

The positions would just keep coming as P3 would go off at Radillion, taking out P4 with him (P4 continuing) - sat parallel at the top of Radillion, cars behind would dart left and right to avoid the stranded car, P8 being the only one of two to make contact with the barrier and sadly retire.

The other was P11, but they continued on.

Ten positions back, I'd also overtake P14 - for what was now 12th position.

By the end of the lap, I was in the top 10.

former P8 (mentioned earlier) spun at Stavelot,

former P6 would become Blanchimont's latest victim

And I would jump from 12th to 10th.

Come the half-way point in the race (Lap 5), I'd pass 9th before hunting 8th up ahead.

8th would turn into 7th as P5 pitted, gifting me 8th.

My last overtake of the race came on the penultimate lap of the race as P5 spun coming out of the bus stop.

From 25th to 7th was an absolutely solid result and I was absolutely chuffed with the result.

After an exhilarating race - and an idea in my head, I completely forgot to do the Funny Weather Series race - ooops!

That night, I tried to do the last race of the night, but missed it.

Sunday

As the penultimate day of what's been a fantastic Week 13 begins, let's take a look back at this week's results so far.

Sunday was a wild old day - almost ending in two wins in the two races I participated in.

With Symkhana (Hell) and GT3 Challenge (Thruxton) being held at circuits I don't own, it was down to The 13th Week Ridiculousness Series at Le Mans and the daily Funny Weather Series to provide the goods - and oh boy did they not dissapoint!

13th Week Ridiculousness @ Le Mans My first showing of the day was the 13th Week Ridiculousness at Le Mans - it was a first chance to drive the NSX in anger on one of the world's fastest circuits.

After finishing practice in 3rd, I was in high spirits heading into the race.

Despite a scrappy lap, I'd qualify in 2nd place - I was confident for the race.

As the green flag waved, I started in 3rd.

By mid-way through the first lap, I had fallen to 5th, but was back on a charge as the Porsche ahead of me quickly disposed of our rival he was battling.

I'll be honest, from my perspective, the race was a slow-burner - watching the battles up ahead.

On Lap 3, P3 ahead dipped a wheel onto the grass at the Esses and spun, gently glancing the barrier and continuing.

My hunt was still on. Unbeknownst to me at the time, but the former leader out-braked himself at the first chicane along the Mulsanne straight - as he cut the corner, the battle for P2, became the battle for the lead.

Later that same lap, I'd have an impressive battle with new leader before he'd go too deep into the last part of the Porsche Curves and I'd sweep past him to take the lead starting Lap 4.

Kemp in P2 kept me honest right until the very end...the very end of my race.

Devastatingly, I'd crash out on the penultimate on entering the Porsche Curves - with 2 laps to go, I was incredibly concerned about fuel - and if I'd make it to the end - I calculated it correctly at the start of the race, but was very nervous and kept checking the timer and how many estimated laps of fuel I had left.

This "checking" and the pressure behind led me to leave my braking - and shifting for the Porsche Curves much too late, I shifted down to 4th and the back swung around. Snap of oversteer, over corrected it and straight into the barrier I went.

Lesson learnt - don't check fuel levels going into the Porsche Curves when you have the rest of the track to do so.

Funny Weather

Following the bittersweet (I led 3/4 of a lap) disappointment of Le Mans, I quickly loaded up the next race of the day - the funny weather series - Other than the time I forgot to race, this series has bought a 100% podium rate - and 200% chaos rate.

Today was no different - despite starting 3rd, on the second row, I had 7 cars behind me (5 BMW M2's) and decided to start from the pit-lane.

For the 6th time, I was once again proven right and went from 15th overall to 9th in just one lap - In class? From 5th to 2nd.

The first victim being Wallace, who qualified on GT4 pole, then started from the pits, bounced off the wall at the second corner.

Sadly for Zulendy, it wasn't going to be his day as he aquplaned over The Foxhole Stream, which pitched him straight into the barrier.

Credit to Zulendy, he attempted to limp home despite his BMW being VERY broken.

He'd make it all the way to the Karrusell before I'd catch and pass him, before starting/completing the final lap to win my second Funny Weather Series of Week 13.

What me starting from the pits DID mean, was an M2 managed to finish in 4th overall - behind the trio of GT3's, and in front of me - an incredible effort from Nazarenko to pull that off - Lapszynski finishing behind me in and M2/GT4 sandwich.

P3 in the M2's would finish behind P2.

I'd then dart off to see some friends (yes, I have some friends)

Tomorrow: The Last Day Of Week 13 - Can I pick up any last minute podiums?

Tuesday follows, before Wednesday - and the first race of a new Season and indeed year. Big announcement coming there.

With the GT3 Challenge ruled out (at Knockhill) - It'll be a battle in the states as I race at Daytona (Road) in the Ridiculousness series and Phoenix Rallycross in the Symkhana Series.

One thing I WON'T miss about Week 13 is having to constantly spell Ridiculousness - Come on, why can't we just have "13th Week Madness" 😂

WEEK 13 WITH ONE RACE (PER SERIES) TO GO:

Day | Track | Q --> R |

(P = Practice)

GT3 Challenge

Tue (Mugello) - DNS Wed (Thruxton) - DNS

Thur (Suzuka) - 7th --> 7th

Fri (Thruxton) - DNS

Sat (Mid-Ohio) - DNS

Sun (Thruxton) - DNS

Mon (Daytona Road)

13th Week Ridiculousness (GT3 VS Supercars VS BMW M2) Tue (Daytona - Road) - DNS Wed (Spa Francorchamps) - 6th --> 3rd 🥉

(P - 2)

Thur (Monza) - 14th --> 7th (Class) (P - 7th)

Fri (Thruxton) - DNS

Sat (Spa Francorchamps) - 14th --> 7th

(P - 22nd) Sun (Le Mans) - 2nd --> DNF*

(P - 3rd) *Led until penultimate lap

Mon (Knockhill) - DNS

Week 13 Tot: 1

3rd

Symkhana (Toyota GR86 VS Renault Clio - Rallycross Tracks

(No Qualifying because...rallycross.) Tue (Daytona Rallycross) - 14th --> 7th Wed (Hell RX) | DNS

Thur (Daytona Rallycross) - 2nd --> 4th

Fri (Charlotte Motor speedway) - 2nd --> 2nd 🥈

Sat (Brands Hatch Rallycross) - 1st --> 1st 🥇 (Only participant)

Sun (Hell RX) - DNS Mon (Phoenix RX) - TBC

Week 13 Tot: 2

1st - 1

2nd - 1 Funny Weather - GT3 VS GT4 VS BMW M2, Nurburgring Nordschliefe (Didn't participate in qualifying, random/iRating based grid)

Tue - 1st --> 3rd (7th Overall) 🥉

Wed - 1st --> 1st (2nd Overall) 🥇🥈

(P - 2nd) Thu - 3rd --> 2nd (2nd Overall) 🥈🥈

(P - 1st, GT4 Class) Fri - 2nd --> 3rd (9th Overall) 🥉

Sat - DNS

Sun - 3rd --> 1st (5th Overall) 🥇

Mon () - TBC Week 13 Total: 5

1st - 2

2nd - 1

3rd - 2

Total Week 13 Count: 8