Written by member: Goose
Although not the longest season or even as long as it was initially set out it can’t take away from getting my 1st major trophy awarded on the site. Also the first trophy I’ve won in something that isn’t fifa which feels good.
The season started really well I managed to just pip pole position in qualifying in Australia by a couple of tenths. I managed a very clean turn 1 and ended up extending a lead to and winning by 10 seconds.
Race 2 Baku…..
Baku, Baku, Baku. Baku if nothing else raised concerns of me still being a bit naive in the game f racing. Or maybe just even a little too excitable. Having qualified pole with a second and a half gap to second I got to the grid on a high withough a care in the world, “same as last week, good turn 1 and get away” how wrong I was. Despite getting a good lights out reaction I’m 2nd going into turn one. I then spin out at turn 2 with seemingly no explanation finding myself down the field, that is until around sector 3 I realise to my surprise that some clever race director started me on hard tires to the result of me feeling like I had skates on. The naive lack of understanding and as a result of me trying to really push to get into contention ultimately led to me binning the car at the end of sector 1. DNF and no points really stung
Race 3 Monza
Being the Ferrari fan that I am and with a Ferrari engine in my Haas, Monza was one I really wanted to win. I managed to qualify p3 just not managing to match the pace set by Joe or josh. After what can only be described at a strumash at turn 1 I was on the receiving end along with some others of a very questionable penalty decision by the FIA doing everything I could to rectify this a chase the leaders I managed to place second however my time penalty taking me back down to 3rd.
Race 4 Silverstone
Silverstone was another pole position after qualifying and all was well. Until of course that is until we get to the grid and the clouds have burst. Cats and dogs it was. This was as sketchy as they felt personally and finished very surprised and someone proud to finish P1 along wil a 13 second lead, really mustering up any inner Ayrton that I had.
Race 5 Zandvoort
This was very fun and tense all in one. Opening again for the 2nd week running to rain was an unwelcome surprise. However no where near as heavy. Everyone started on hard however. I was 2nd after T1 having gave up the lead again Lando style I had a chase on my hands to catch Ben. The pressure paid off and I regained the lead on lap 4. I was constantly trying to get updates on weather and tires, leading to taking the plunge on intermediate tires around lap 6. Lo and behold only to be told a lap later that the rain was going off and the track would dry out. The decision was either see it out on inters or take a gamble on trying to catch the pack on soft in a couple of laps. I went softs and came out in 3rd behind Joe with Ben leading. The time penalties on Ben ment I only had to get into within 5 seconds midway through the last lap I managed to get it to 4. A sudden yellow flag was to indicate that Ben in 1st had suffered an issue and rustlers in the retirement meaning I’d managed to take P1. The one last scare was my fuel tank emptying on the last turn but managed to coast over the line just in time
Race 6 Miami
This due to there only being a 3 man race left if reasonably uneventful in terms of racing. However I had some IRL technical issues. I slowly felt myself getting further away from my brake pedal with every push. It turned out that the grip screw had came loose and my base seat was slowly detaching from my pedal mount. With a loft hatch behind me I’m glad I clocked it when I did. Managed to finish p1 in a race that actually, and I hope diode doesn’t mind me saying, ended up being more competitive that it had to be.
Final Race Portugal
Leading the championship by 22 points I knew 8th or better sees me win it, but if I’m honest and wanted a shootout. A 1st vs 2nd battle for it. And whatever happened, happened. Unfortunately however. It didn’t pan out that way as Joe didn’t race. But still. A very solid pole position from qualifying. Off the line my Haas teammate seemed to get the jump on me into the swoop of turn one and before I know it I lm getting spun. A three point turn later and I’m dead last. After a battle and a wing later. With the help of penalties awarded I got on the podium to finish the season with a 3rd place and the championship officially clinched.
My final stats where:
Points - 133
Races - 7
Wins - 4
Podiums 6
Pole positions - 6
Fastest laps - 3
Driver of The Day - 3
I would like to give a mention to the guys that allow us to do this as well in Payne and Josh it’s a great wing of the site and long may it continue. And to everyone participating making it what it is.
Here’s to next season on 24 and hopefully a full long season at that.