Zany Zandvoort! FalkenTyre SportsCar Challenge Race Review

Following the high of Mosport the previous week, it was Zandvoort - I knew the Zandvoort layout well enough - it was a fast, flowing circuit with plenty of overtaking opportunities.

Up until my very first lap in practice - I thought that we were using the Grand Prix layout - but I was mistaken...badly mistaken.

That week, we'd be running the "Club" layout - GT4's were able to do a lap in about a minute (flat) - the LMP3's could do it in about 58 seconds

I instantly knew that this was going to absolute chaos.

I qualified 7th - right in the meat-grinder of what was about to be a bloody race.

The Race The leaders didn't even make it to turn two before wiping each-other out.

Due to a cautious opening lap from me - I returned to 7th - and my starting position, after two other cars managed to out-brake me heading into turn one.

Sadly, I didn't even finish the first lap before being wiped out myself...

It was indeed quite the re-join...

By the time I had recovered, I had fallen to 11th and last place.

Any positions from here would be a bonus.

If it was any consolation, a McLaren had gone off at turn one, and I was back in the Top 10 in class.

By Lap 5, the LMP3's had caught up with the back of the GT4 pack - and using a particular LMP3, I was able to nip down the inside of P9 - who left room for an LMP3 - and me to follow.

Finishing Lap 5, I had flashbacks of a torrid opening lap as another Mercedes crashed heavily at the final corner - the Porsche behind me seemingly unaware of the danger and ploughing into the back of me.

I survived, neither did the Porsche or Mercedes - but I was back up into P8 - one more position and I'd be back up to 7th - my starting position.

Two laps later, on Lap 7, P7 would spin out on the exit of the cut-through (the bit where the Club circuit splits the GP circuit) - and I was back up into P7.

We weren't even half way through the race - I had still plenty of time.

Onto P6.

On Lap 12, P6 would be brought to me as then-P6 tangled with a backmarker - if the race continued in this fashion - I could be on for my third Top 5 of the season!

Starting Lap 13, I'd stay behind this same backmarker (same one who rear-ended me on Lap 5) until Lap 14 - where he'd dip a wheel onto the grass at Hans Ernst Boch Chicane straight line it - almost collect me (as I went around it and not through it), before eventually letting me past.

Next up was aiming for 5th - but I knew it would be a tall ask.

On Lap 17, a third Mercedes (and convinently 5th in GT4 Class) would crash out at the final corner - handing me 5th with just under 10 Laps to go.

Other than a bit of shuffling around in the overall order, (LMP3's etc.) I would remain 5th and finish 12th overall - despite losing Safety Rating, I'd hit my second highest iRating of my career.