Flying Into February & CRAZY F4 Race!!!

I only have 6 words:

Where. The. F***. Has. January. Gone???

On writing this, it's less than a three days until Mid-February!

THERE'S 3 WEEKS LEFT OF THIS SEASON!

Before I begin properly, January has been absolutely jam-packed with motorsport events.

Even before 2023 began, The Dakar Rally kicked off on the 31st December!

Following this:

Duration	Event
​31/12/2022 - 15/01/2023	Dakar Rally
14/01/2023 - 15/01/2023	iRacing ROAR Before The 24
14/01/2023 - 15/01/2023	Formula E Mexico (Round 1)
14/01/2023 - 15/01/2023	Dubai 24hrs (Round 1 of 24h Series)
14/01/2023 - 15/01/2023	Le Mans Virtual (RFactor)
21/01/2023 - 22/01/2023	iRacing Daytona 24 Hours
28/01/2023 - 29/01/2023	Real Life Daytona 24 Hours
​28/01/2023 - 29/01/2023	Race Of Champions 2023
31/01/2023 - 16/02/2023	Formula 1 Livery Reveals
3/02/2023 - 05/02/2023	Real Life Bathurst 12 Hours
11/02/2023 - 12/02/2023	iRacing Bathurst 12 Hours
16/02/2023	Alpine Launch (Final F1 Livery launch)

Even more surprisingly is that out of the 31 days in January, I only spent a week (okay, 8 days) on the Isle Of Wight - although it is worth mentioning that this includes a 5-day family holiday to Germany.

During this time, I also missed a few incredibly fun iRacing weeks:

*On 23/12/2022 there was: GTE's at Spa (6hrs) & GT3's at Brands Hatch (3hrs)

*On 7/01/2023 there was GTE's at Le Mans (6hrs) & GT3's at Silverstone (3hrs)

Upon arriving home from Germany the motorsport world just...exploded

31/01/2023

On the 31st January 2023, the 2023 Formula One Season kicked off with Haas unveiling their livery for the 2023 season - but I'll review this in a subsequent blog.

On the same day, a new iRacing week began - signifying a few things:

- Back in 2021, on this day, I'd hit 1001 iRating in the VRS Endurance Series in the Lamborghini - a very memorable race for me.

31st Jan:

(2021: 1001

2022: 1128

2023: 1482)

- The iRacing V8 Supercars Series headed to Bathurst - with the real-life Bathurst 1000km now using GT4-spec cars (or similar - Mustang and Camaro) - I didn't know how many more times I could (officially) race the Holden at her home circuit - despite doing a few laps of practice, I never did an official race.

- With the Michelin Pilot series headed to Brands Hatch, I announced I would be racing in the Michelin Pilot series in Season 2, 2023 - alongside the Nurburgring Endurance Championship and IMSA Endurance Series.

- It was also a new week in the Formula 4/IR-04/Formula D Series - this week the series was headed to Montreal - a street circuit.

Formula 4/Formula IR-04/Formula D

Week 8: Montreal

Midnight struck on Tuesday morning, and a new week was upon us.

As per every week, I leap into the first session of the Week...and it's empty.

After a few lonely sessions, gradually they fill up and I start to get a sense of weather I'm strong or weak at the week's circuit

an 11th place in the first (full) session shows I've got pace for mid-pack - not exactly where you want to be on a street circuit.

From a 01:43.2, I eventually reduce my lap-time down to a 1:39/1:40 - a 3-4 second improvement.

Race-day

The following day, Wednesday, is race day - it's an early, 8am (in-sim) start - but I'm up and raring to go.

After a solid 1:40.280 in qualifying, I qualified 11th - it was going to be a long race.

Despite ending the first lap in 15th - on looking back, it could have been a LOT worse.

The driver who started on the row behind me got spun out at turn one - and was then collected by two more cars - 2 had severe damage - 3 more had to pit for repairs at the end of the opening lap.

In total, 6 cars were involved - with the 6th crashing with me later on in the 2nd lap.

~

Despite losing 15th at the start of Lap 2, I would instantly regain it as someone would spin into the first chicane (Turn 4) and would proceed to get stuck on the outside kerb of Turn 4.

Sadly, my run of bad luck would only continue from here, as into the Kubica Hairpin, I'd receive a rather nasty punch...

From 16th, I'd fall down to 19th...but I wasn't going to stay there long as the Racing Gods was rolling the dice...blindfolded. Absolute carnage was about to unfold.

Despite getting away with the initial contact with me, the aptly numbered #13 car found himself embedded in the wall of champions, gifting me his position - on emerging from the pits - I was 19th - and this time remembered to unselect fuel and tyres, and to select fast-repair! Result!

What isn't a result is the fact it's my third week in a row visiting the pit-lane.

After managing to finish Rudskogen and Long Beach scott-free - I've ended up in the pits at Monza (W3), Okayama (W6) and now Montreal - previously I would have retired and lost a shell-load of iRating - but since I've got so high and I'm protecting it - I feel a need to finish the race - I've fallen to 620 before - am I really at the level that my iRating says I am? I've ended up in the pit-lane three times in a row now...

Elsewhere on-track, absolute hell was breaking loose - At the end of Lap 2, the leader spun at the final chicane and fell to 7th.

Unbeknownst to the new leader, the opening laps had been an absolute wreck-fest and he now had to deal with bunch of unforeseen traffic - firstly 23rd and 24th who were emerging from the pits.

The former-leader's race would only get worse from here as he'd spin at turn 6, only further falling outside of the Top 10 (11th).

But enough about them. I had a job to do.

First to be ticked off the list was P16 - who span into the barrier at the same place the former-leader had his spin (Turn 6).

I knew it was a sprint race, and I knew that I was up against the clock - I said to myself Top 15 would be a solid result.

To my delight, the following lap P17 got on the accelerator too early at the Kubica Hairpin and spun into the inside of the circuit - another freebie! One more position and I would be in the Top 15!

This came half-way into the race, I looked up the inside of P15 into the final corner, he stared into his mirrors, braked on the grass, got out of shape, locked up and straight-lined the final chicane - well and truly gifting me P15.

I had the slipstream - so pulled along-side so I could see...

After a few laps of circulating on my own, on Lap 9/12, I rounded turn 4 and found a scene of much death, demolition and destruction...

Two cars strewn across the track - and a third (unfortunately a backmarker) awaiting a clear path.

#10's race couldn't get any worse - from leading, to P7 to getting wiped out in an accident that wasn't his fault...it certainly was one to forget

Leading up to the incident - the trio were in a massive fight for P12 - coming around Turn 4, #3 (Gulf) was on the inside of #9, #9 hugged the inside of the corner but got two wheels on the grass and ran a little wide on exit...unfortunately, #3's wing end-plate was already there...

The contact threw them both wide and into the wall - in trying to save their cars - they both weaved, and #10 got caught out in his competitor's mess.

The following corner (Turn 6), the backmarker peeled out of my way, and I carried on - on my way to reap my rewards.

Starting Lap 10, I was 12th - A Top 10 was very unlikely - but as this race has already proven - anything can happen - and on the other side of the circuit, it absolutely did - P3 & P4 were in a fierce battle when...

P3 (#15) had an awful Turn 8/Turn 9 chicane - and P4 (airborne) was about to take the position when on the exit - P3 closed the door and brake checked P4.

P4 continued, pitted and miraculously emerged in P7 - whilst P3 towed back to the pits and emerged in 13th.

After escaping a massive accident - Catching #3 for P11 was just a waiting game - his car had suffered a massive blow - and his straight line speed was not what it used to be.

Eventually down the back-straight (not start/finish), I managed to use my (not damaged) aero and slipstream to find my way past him.

In my usual style - P10 ahead spun out at the Kubica hairpin - putting me right on his gearbox for the final lap.

As if by luck, P10 jinked the steering wheel to the left whilst going around the final part of the right-hander Turn 1 and created just enough room for me to squeeze through

As they always say "it's not over until the fat lady sings"

I eventually came home to finish P10 from P19 (P11 on the grid) - which I think is a great achievement, especially for a street-circuit and that many fatalities happening all around me. As a result, I gained +7 iRating - nowadays, the gains are small, but they slowly but surely add up.

A big shout-out must go out to Alfie West who went from 20th on the grid to finish 4th place - an absolutely stellar drive!

As always, I did wonder - had I not been wiped out, what would have been the outcome - but seeing the results today - it's highly likely I would have got involved in something, somewhere, so I'm chuffed with the result.

Right. It's 04:35am. Time to sleep.