Yes, as
@Ashthebash kindly put it, I made the most of my chances in the TS050 tonight.
Joined him and
@T_revisio for the 17:00; another near one-make lobby save for a solitary '16 R18. Elected to pit for new Softs early into qualifying after encountering heavy traffic and a bombastic Dutch driver at Rauch. Held for several seconds so I could get as much of a clear run as possible, which paid off as I hammered in two consecutive 1:16.2s. Fastest was the first at 1:16.257, despite going too deep under braking at Remus. Good enough to start 3rd on the grid, but I have to wonder how things would have turned out if I approached Remus a little differently...
Started on Softs for obvious reasons, but initially conceded the place to a Sonic-liveried Brit between Rauch and Wurth. Didn't want to push the TS050 too hard, but held up to pressure from an Italian and caught up with 2nd (another Italian) and 3rd (Sonic) until the former picked up a penalty. Pitted for Mediums on Lap 7, jumped Sonic into 2nd. Lost 2nd on Lap 10 after going a wee too wide at the exit of Niki Lauda Kurve and receiving a 0.5 second slowdown; I wasn't too concerned at that point as Sonic and I were still at least three-and-a-half seconds clear of the German in 4th. Things from that point on were fairly processional up until after I took on Hards on Lap 15.
5th and 6th-placed Germans were flying up the road on softer compounds; by Lap 17, I was happy to let the first one go through Rauch. On Lap 18, the second makes a last-minute dive up my inside - again through Rauch - resulting in light contact as he understeers away from the apex. We carry on, and after witnessing the second German nearly lose it on the exit of Schlossgold, I almost pass him. Had the inside through Rauch, but clipped the grass on the apex and had to back out so we could make it through without contact. Either way, the first German swaps Mediums for Hards on the final lap, and the road is clear for me to finish 4th.
Or is it?
At Remus, the second German, struggling even more on his worn Softs, picks up a penalty for going over the run-off on exit. He slithers his way to Ridnt, drifting onto the astroturf before the final corner. I close in and take the apex at Red Bull Mobile. Side-by-side, we cross the finish line just under 65 hundredths apart... and I jump up to 3rd! Couldn't see it from my bumper cam, but as we drew alongside, the German received a second penalty for the excursion at Ridnt; a cruel late twist to his charge from 16th!
Considering how difficult most of my earlier 2020 season races turned out to be, I will happily take 247 points and leave it at that. Well done to T_revisio (5th) and Ash (8th) for reaching the top 10, too! Should also add that the German driver who dived past me at Rauch apologised for his move; he explained afterwards that the rear of his Toyota had been loose for the whole distance. Not to worry, though... it's great to be back at the sharp end.
🤬🤬🤬
!
). My second account is USA. One last chance tonight but it means missing out on the first NA slot which is normally the cleanest.
