So 1st Round both Nations and Manufacturer Cup.
Plan was to get a decent "banker" result in the kart race in the 1st slot and then focus on the Manu race at Suzuka.
Rd1 - Nations Cup
In free practice I managed a 49.3, enough to break into top200 EMEA, by far my best result in any practice.
During quali, I was unlucky with the slipstream so I only got on P5. Start was good and I was quickly part of the top6 group that manage to break away from the rest. But after lap7-8 the diving started in first corner and last chicane - at least 1-2 drivers doing the same thing every lap. After 4-5 laps getting pushed around I was fed up playing clean and got my elbows out. Few laps before the finish, we remained just 5 in front. Last 2 turns I was in 3rd, but the leader pushed the Spaniard in Front of me in the wall - leaving me with a good 2nd position and 106p. This was enought to put me 2nd in the Romanian leaderboards - but the heavy hitters did not enter this race.
So, mission accomplished then moved in Manufacturers for Suzuka in the Alfa.
1st slot - Manufacturer's cup
Good quali, I put my Blue Alfa second on the grid. In front, was the same Spaniard from the previous race, the one that was pushed in the wall in the last corner, in a Scirocco.
Behind me was a red Ferrari and a White Mazda. I started on Softs, but the VW managed to get away after 2 laps. The Ferrari and Mazda was pressuring me, recovering on the straights what I was gaining during the twisty bits. In 3rd lap, Ferrari overtook me in T1, but he was slower during the esses. At the double right hander he took a wider line and 2 wheels on the sand and I pushed through in the 2nd turn. He managed to get it back on the track, but we touched and he again got two wheels out of the road - losing the 3rd place in favour of the Mazda. But he got mad, and in the hairpin he bumped the Mazda and pinball physics took care of me. Lost about 7 positions, and then pushed too hard getting back. Messed up twice and had to settle for 13th.
2nd slot - mediocre quali only good enough for P10 on the grid. Started on mediums and planned for 5 safe laps on them. Almost lost it in T1 on cold tyres but managed to save it but then started to climb as people made mistakes. I was in P5 when I pitted for Hards - got out in P7 and pitted again in the next lap for Softs. Got out in P13 but climbed up to P8 next lap as people made their first pit. I was behind a Dane in an grey SLS and we had 4 laps of close, hard and fair racing. Again, what I gained in the corners lost on the straights - as the Mercedes was able to pull away even when I had the slipstream. In the end I overtook him when he got a 0.5s penalty and at the end of the same lap got up to P4 after people pitted. Distance to top3 was around 10s but end of the lap12 both cars in front pitted and I was again in 2s range, with them on Hard tyres and me riding worn Softs. 13th lap was enough to melt the gap and catch up to fight in the last lap. In front of me, an M4 and the Porsche in 2nd. The M4 let me pass during the esses as I was clearly faster and he did not want to risk anything. I pushed hard next 2-3 corners as I would need to catch up with the Porsche and make my move before the spoon - afterwards I will lose my Alfa's advantage. Pushed hard in the double right hander, got the pass, not got the right rear wheel on the grass and lost control. I hit the wall, lost 3 positions and spun in the hairpin because of dirty tires. Had to settle for P10 in the end.
3rd Slot...
...there was no 3rd slot. I mistakenly thought that the race was starting at 22:00. Waited in the front of the TV watching different streams and logged in at 21:45 for the registration and last laps...just to realise that the race started at 21:40. Had to settle for the 72points.
Looking forward to the 2nd round...
