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NA Belgium Race, post your comments here...

Posted: 17 Sep 2007, 03:35
by Bilbo
The server replay and results files can be downloaded here:

Qual results: http://nar.kicks-ass.org:8086/narresult ... M_Qual.xml
Race results: http://nar.kicks-ass.org:8086/narresult ... M_Race.xml
Replays: http://nar.kicks-ass.org:8086/narresult ... ELGIUM.zip (13MB, contains race and qual. replays)
Web-stats: Click here for stats!

Posted: 17 Sep 2007, 03:57
by Bilbo
Woohoo, my first victory of the season! 8)

Well, things are still a bit blurry (could be from the champain) but that victory was a bit unexpected after a relatively bad qualifying. Getting P3 was good but a 48 should not have given me P3...

Anyways, I had a correct start but I lost at least one position there. Most important, everybody in front and around got through T1 safe (AFAIK). There was Juan pulling away in front of the pack and Aaron and SteveB battling together like crazy. Flow was behind me and since he appeared faster than me in pre-race, I let him pass when I miss my braking at les Combes. Anyways, he can't go anywhere because of the battle in front between the Ferraris. :twisted:

Somehow, I move forward due to casualties. In no particular order, I saw Flow spin, Aaron spin and Juan trackside with damage. So that left SteveB as leader and me as runner-up, and runner up I did. I was in SteveB's ass around 0.5 secs behind him for most of the 1st stint (of a 2 stop strategy). He pitted 1 lap before me and I jumped on the occasion. I came out of my own stop about 5 seconds in front of him and that was pretty much it for most of the race onwards. I could increase my lead slowly and, this being a long track, I don't even remember meeting lapped traffic. I went relatively easy, not very slow but not pushing either. I just wanted to keep my concentration and not do any big mistake.

Around the middle of the race, Flow did a fastest lap of 1:48.5 and that got me thinking about if he switched to a 1-stop strategy and made that kind of times, I could maybe be in trouble but I realized that could not happen and just continued on my merry way. I later did a 1:48.2 just to deny Flow that bit of celebration. :twisted:

And, ironically, McLaren now leads the NA constructor's championship! Now, where did I save those emails... :wink:

Posted: 17 Sep 2007, 04:31
by Steve
Come on Bilbo, pat yourself on the back !!! Nice win for you m8. I was disappointed in my race, DNF while in 4th place, lost my concentration for a split second hit the wall, and was upside down, race over :twisted:

Posted: 17 Sep 2007, 14:38
by Flow
Well, congtulation Bilbo! Great fair clean win. About changing for a 1 stop? I tried, but i reatch the limit of fuel on board and still had to pit with 10 laps to go, i should ask Honda for a spare thank :mrgreen:

My qualif was good, but a mistake at S2 marker, i went wide in rumble, cost me time.

My was race pretty exciting, all went fine trought T1 and i started the chase to come back to front, but i was ready to be patient, as it usualy pays in NA. I was almost crying to see Aaron and SteveB fight like hell to pass eatch other. I was shure that something bad would hapend, and they were loosing so mutch time doing it, that i had to back off a little to not be cought in it. I was sqeeze behind 2 Ferraris's and Bilbo in my ass. I was doing 50% front driving, and 50% mirror driving, reacting from what was going on in front, and adjusting from Bilbo's move in back, that was not an easy one. Aaron went wide, and instead of patient, i went, this is enough, i push, and push too hard on accell : 170sec of repair in pit.

I had to come back, got stuck behin Juan for at least 10laps, he was doing realy great in front of me, with no mistake, no passing. Same for QcMike, i must say that he was driving like a Pro last night, i was stuck behind for 5 laps untill he mist a braking point. From there i was trying to erase Bilbo fastest lap, but not possible, my car drop of 4-5km/h on top speed because of my crash, damage was affecting a little my car.

I think it was an excellent and interesting race for all driver, we cant all drink that champane, but still, we can say we all did a great job.

Posted: 17 Sep 2007, 22:32
by Juan G
Congrats to Bilbo for his first win this season and also to Steve B and Flow for the podiun.

Well my Q lap went well, manage to be at front, .055 diferent from Steve B.

Race, the start went well a lot of presure from Steve B at one point we went side by side :D. I start to get away from Steve, no problems untill lap 7 computer froze and broke front wing and damage suspencion 63 sec repair :evil: . around lap 22 broke front wing again and 68 sec repair, almost quit, but need to colect points for the team :lol: .

I whach the replay and there was great battles, Steve B and Aaron, Steve and Bilbo, Flow and my self, Flow and Mike.

Once again congrats to Bilbo, SteveB and Flow.