May-king Progress Through The Year...(+ QRT Oran Park Race Review)

Somehow, it's already May - the year has absolutely flown by - so much has happened - and yet at the same time, so little has happened too.

Previously

Between the 2nd - 31st March, 2023 I managed an entire month without doing an official race, Then between 27th March - 27th April, 2023 I managed a month without seeing friends and only going on the mainland to visit Germany to see relatives.

24th - 30th April, 2023 (Finishing April)

About 7 Weeks after my week in Devon, the pottery I made in Devon was sitting on our kitchen table, in a box, just waiting to be unwrapped.

After unwrapping them and putting them in nice places, it was time to move onto Tuesday. 25th April, 2023

Before the QRT Silverstone One-Off Event had even begun 10 days ago, I had signed up for QRT's Tuesday series - if the Silverstone event was anything to go by, this would be an absolute classic...and it was.

Admittedly, I was hesitant about racing due to it being Oran Park, and Oran no longer existing in real life - but it was Round 1 of the "Tuesday Series" - and a no-show of Round 1 isn't such a good omen.

Looking back, I'm SO glad I participated, it was absolute carnage - and I experienced every second of it.

Before I begin I would just like to note I'm only discussing GT4 class - as it's relevant to me - so pole-sitter, podium etc, positions - are only in GT4 class, not overall. --

Naturally, in practice, I was towards the back of the field. What surprised me, was an 8th place in qualifying - just -0.058 separated me from qualifying halfway up the field.

Practice

24th/29th (9th/14th in Class)

Qualifying

22nd/29th (8th/14th in Class)

Race

17th/29th (6th/14th In Class)

The race was absolutely crazy, with cars from both cars up and down the grid firing off left right and centre.

Despite losing a handful of positions off the line (due to being overly cautious, by lap 5, I had returned to my starting position of 8th - from here, it was just about keeping clean, consistent and out of trouble - letting the race come to me.

As the race wore on, drivers ahead kept dropping out - pushing me ever closer to a Top 5 finish.

By the start of lap 8, the race leader (GT3) had caught up with the back of the GT4 pack - the race entering a new stage from then on - letting the lapping traffic by without losing positions. It would only take a lap for him to catch me.

On Lap 11, luck would eventually turn my way. I was a good 2 seconds off P6 (Merc in pic.) - but after a dodgy overtake from a GT3 forced him off-track, I was able to capitalise on him letting more GT3's past and made the position.

Lap 13. Unlucky for some, a blessing for others.

.On Lap 13, it was an absolute curse for both P3 & P4, who had both been in a ferocious fight for the bottom step of the podium for the last 3 laps before violently crashing into the bridge - both were immediately sent to the infield medical centre for examinations.

Now, this did initially promote me up to 4th place, however I had the former-GT4 pole-sitter on my tail and after leaving the door open at just one corner, he was past and hunting down a podium.

With the pole-sitter clear - I knew exactly what I needed to do - get my head down and pump out some clean laps.

It was all-change in the next couple of laps - P4 (Pole-sitter - above) passing the Porsche ahead, putting him into the the podium positions (end of Lap 18).

On Lap 21, the Porsche in P3 pre-cursed the mistake I was about to make just two laps later and spun at turn one after putting a wheel on the dirt. I would be promoted back up to 4th from this.

Later, on Lap 22, the (overall, GT3) leader made a mistake at Turn 1 - letting P2 past - P2 having sat behind the leader for the most of the race - just waiting for a mistake to happen - or be forced into a mistake.

As I crossed the line to start Lap 22, I could see that there was about 15 minutes left - 15 minutes to go and 4th in class - a single mistake from either of the leaders and I could have my first league podium since 2020...

Unfortunately it wasn't to be. On pushing into turn one, I got a wheel wide onto the dirt - and from there, I was just a passenger.

Behind this Porsche in shot, P5 lay in wait for this moment.

I lasted so long, but eventually I too joined the long list of drivers that turn 1 claimed. I fell to P5...but lady luck wasn't quite done with me yet as starting Lap 29, I got a helping hand from behind, a Porsche GT3 rear-ending me, sending me into the barrier at Turn 1. Whilst I lost 4th (later on) - the Porsche that spun on lap 21 pitted - on the lap before I was punted out - so, I suppose a crisis averted, and only one position lost.

All things considering, I was incredibly lucky. I hit the car square on the rear - avoiding engine and steering damage and was not too far off my pace pre-impact.

Had I not binned it, I would have finished 4th and as a result lost out on 4 points. 4 points I needed to earn at Silverstone.

I had a very "fluid" braking marker for Turn 1 - sometimes I'd lift and then shift, sometimes shift down, then lift - but for 22 laps it worked - but with about 10 minutes to go and having significant aero damage - to go from P4 to P6 was a tough end to the race.

I think P4 was truly the best I could achieve - after the massive shunt with the bridge, the driver in 3rd went from P5 to P3 with quite some incredible pace.

Whilst Paul and Nick both benefited out of my misfortune, the championship really opened up as the championship leader (in GT4 class) didn't race in Round 2 - and I finished ahead of Nick - with Paul finishing in 7th (me 8th) - heading into Oulton Park - it's all definitely to play for - and anyone's to win.

Oran and Oulton are very similar in nature - very tight, fast but not flat turns, plenty of elevation - and very little run-off in places - I think Oulton will be a very exciting race for all.

--

Returning to real life, on Wednesday 26th April, I had a Universal Credit meeting, before I returned to the mainland on Thursday (27th April) to see friends I hadn't seen in a month.

The plan was to see a movie on Sunday and go to the beach on Monday, but it being a Grand Prix weekend, plans sort of fell through.

I'd watch about 5 races that weekend.

Saturday (29th April)

- Formula 2 sprint race (Baku)

- Formula 1 sprint race (Baku)

- Last 10(ish) minutes of the Spa 6 Hours (WEC)

Sunday (30th April)

- Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Baku)

- Indycar "Grand Prix Of Alabama" (Barber Motorsports Park) - ironically, had I been at home, IMSA Endurance Series (iRacing) was at Barber - watch it or race it I suppose!

Azerbaijan has quite honestly provided better races in the past, but nothing beats a Checo win! AND a Ferrari on the podium!

Monday 1st May (Finally Got There!)

May. In 2022, this would be my very last month at University - time flies.

Usually, I would stay on the mainland for as long as I'm needed, but with the QRT Tuesday Series going exceptionally well (at the time) - and me finding great enjoyment out of it - I decided to come home on Monday (to participate in that night's practice session...which didn't happen in the end).

On my way home, I saw another friend and had an enjoyable time out.

On my return home, I quickly found out that there wasn't to be a Monday Night session for the QRT Tuesday series - I had done a bit of practice at Silverstone - but it is always nice to know where my pace lines up.

Tuesday 2nd May (QRT Silverstone)

May has been very weird - it's been both hectic and rather uneventful.

On the 2nd I would have my league race at Silverstone - I was interested in where my pace was on a "safe" track (Silverstone is very wide and very flat) and at the time, I suppose I was further off than where I thought I'd be - but on looking back, I think I finished where I should have done.

In practice, as per tradition, I'd finish last of those whom completed a lap.

In qualifying, I'd qualify 8th (same as Oran) and in the race, I'd finish 8th too - I suppose I was hoping for a 5th/6th - but due to Silverstone being so flat and well-known, you've got to find different ways to make up time as opposed to waiting for others to make mistakes.

Oulton Park is next - and I'm once again looking forward due to the challenge of another technical circuit requiring precision and skill.

In all honesty, other than the Prologue of the VRG series (4th May), the rest of my week was rather uneventful, so, I'm going to thank you for reading, and say farewell until next week - as I have a packed weekend planned!