CFFC Race 2 Hockenheim 6 - 7 May 2005

 
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Training

Free practice was wet and but I got some track time. No big events, but had a couple of moments but no big offs.

1st Qualification

The start of the qualification was dry. I had new brake pads and was bedding them in. So my times weren't great. I could follow a couple of guys quite comfortably through the corners only to lose out on braking. Then when I just thought the brakes were okay, it started to rain so that was any hope of a proper time. It did not only start to rain but it poured and the track was flooded in no time. The whole thing resulted in a poor 14th place with a time of 2:04.6 some 4 seconds slower than my fastest time at Hockenheim

2nd Qualification

Again a wet training so I was able to improve my rain skills. I don't think I'll ever be a regenmeister but if you don't try you'll never learn

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Race

Starting 14th of the FF1600 is no easy thing in a rain race but having a total of 26 FF2000 and FF1600 in front of me that doesn't make things easier. I got a bit of good advice on how to see the cars in front through the mist from Dan Gouweloose. After the first corner I was trying to find a bit of track where conditions weren't as atrocious so I steered to the far right of the track and found nobody was using this part so I had vision and a clean run to the next corner. I did the same on the Parabolica and gained some places. Next lap I did the same and with increased confidence I managed to pass quite some people. Another few overcooked it on the Spitzenkehre (Hairpin) and I was lying 6th or 7th coming into the stadium. Unfortunately I had to set the pace now with 8 cars on my back. In the kink after the Sach corner I lost the car and spun. All the cars following me passed and I had to play 'ketchup'. In the next lap I overdid it in the kink before the Mercedes stand and made a nice 360° at speed. Now any hope of getting a decent result had gone and I cruised home getting in some more rain experience. I finally finished a meager 13th.

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This picture shows some of my progress through the field

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All alone after my outing of which a few scars can be seen on the nose of my car