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Message: [QUOTE="sota59, post: 13424663, member: 297951"] [ATTACH=full]1015149[/ATTACH] [SIZE=7][B]SARDINIA!!!![/B][/SIZE] After epic Round 1, we go to Italy for Round 2. Sardegna will host race for first time since Season 9, this time to other direction. After long pitstraight, there is series of quick but tight corners, with plenty of elevation changes. Short circuit means traffic will make race even bigger challenge, on top of fact that most of drivers have very marginal experience on the circuit. Most prepared drivers should take big points, no matter how they performed last week. [SIZE=5][B][/B] [B]Gr2[/B][/SIZE] Round 1 win went to [U]TSR_JoeToGuy[/U] in [U]Nissan[/U], and after issues for his teammate early in the race, he took the win by quite a margin. TSR_JoeToGuy took his 3rd straight win in Nurburgring and moved to 2nd all time in wins in Germany. It was also Nissan's second ever win in Round 1, first since Season 5. [U]TSR_Tomsoft[/U] had some issues early on, but got on it after first stint, and eventually made it to 3rd, just short of bringing 1-2 for Nissan. He is now one of the hot favorites to take win in Sardegna, he needs to figure out qualifying first though. He said:[I] ''I'm hoping to get the job done and win round 2, car feels alright and I'm hungry for it, just not used to the circuit. Lapping cars will be difficult for Gr2 so I hope I won't be too affected by it''.[/I] His teammate is coming for dominant win, but repeat of that would be major surprise, even podium could be tough with success ballast:[I] ''It'll be hard to do well with the ballast. From what I've seen I'm not going to be at the front on pace, due to the ballast from Race 1. If everyone has a clean race, think I may end up 3rd or 4th''[/I] It was difficult start to the season for [U]Honda[/U], with [U]jonimestari91[/U] having issues, [U]sota59[/U] was carrying the team and only finished 5th: [I]''5th place is not ideal, but i could see it coming, one lap pace was solid, but consistancy was not there, and tiny errors lead to big time loss during the race''.[/I] With jonimestari91 unable to sort his issues, sota59 will be only driver again this weekend, but hopes are higher: [I]''I think i have found some consistancy and feel with the car, and i think speed is good too. But we will only find out in qualifying and race if this is true, anything less than podium would be very disapointing''.[/I] sota59 won in Sardegna in Season 9, will be interesting to see if he can do it when driving to other direction. Not double podium for [U]Lexus[/U] in Round 1, but they can be happy. [U]NWR_Bottlejob[/U] hold on to second place in his debut in Gr2 and [U]NWR_Spookyluki[/U] just missed out on podium. [I]''Absolutely exhilarating, really good strategic battle against Tomsoft. Unfortunately couldn't hold him away from a 3rd place but did help bottle get his 2nd, so happy with that'' [/I]- said NWR_Spookyluki. He can strike back this weekend after just missing success ballast, but he is not so confident:[I] ''A new track, I have some experience from other series but not expecting a lot. Hoping I can stay consistent and let others make their mistakes, don't expect a lot so anywhere near a podium will be a good result for me''.[/I] NWR_Bottlejob is also not expecting much, double podium might he hard to do: [I]''Not entirely sure how this one will go, without any target times its hard to know whether you're on pace or not and wrongly assuming speed will lead to a meltdown on the night. Especially with the +3 success ballast from my 2nd place last time out I'll be entering with an open mind and looking for a clean race''.[/I] [B] [SIZE=5]Gr3[/SIZE][/B] [U]Subaru[/U] started season well, as [U]RTA_SAFFA[/U] made correct decision in pits and took the win, even if not fastest car on the field:[I] ''I know I had the odds against me going into the race with Swablu being so quick and when we were in quali he really showed his pace. So my plan was always to start on mediums and try not to lose any positions. I caught a huge break into T1 where yBear got some contact and dropped him back just enough for me to stay second at my first stop. From there it was basically having no traffic to ensure my win. Great result for myself and look forward to the next''.[/I] It was his 6th win, and starts his return to GT-MES on top. Other returning star in second Subaru, [U]RLH_Wesley99[/U] having to settle for 5th: [I]''It was eventful, quali wasn't the greatest I have had and during the race I was consuming to much fuel compared to others limiting my strategy options, had some good battle with thunderpigeon and de-luck4 though''.[/I] Subaru should suit the circuit with its technical sectors, but RTA_SAFFA will have fight in his hands, lot of success ballast in tight field and possible technical worries, that he says could strike late in the race. This leaves it all on RLH_Wesley99's hands, who is hoping to kickstart his season: [I]''Hoping to found more pace for Round 2 and score a podium, I feel good on this track so I think I can do it''.[/I] [U]Jaguar[/U] and [U]TSR_Swablu[/U] came to Round 1 as hot favorites, and pace certainly was there. Quite easy pole and then he opened solid lead. But strategy errors left him 2nd after the race:[I] ''Went too long on the mediums and overfueled on the last stint which cost me the win, but i cant be too disappointed with P2 and FL. A bit frustrating to lose the race with a strategy error but nevertheless Saffa was great yesterday and deserved the win''.[/I] Despite missing win, he still earned some success ballast and that first win might need to wait for while: [I]''With ballast being on the car im sure its going to be difficult to get the result i want, but on the bright side of things i have gone over my race at Nurburgring and have realised what went wrong. Hopefully, if all things go well there might be a chance of getting on the podium''.[/I] [U]G4 Rotary[/U] had some technical issues in Round 1, but now comes into Round 2 without any ballast, and some rumours say he is fast. He wont want to repeat his performance from Season 9. [U]Porsche[/U] had solid start to their season. [U]y_bearr_[/U] could not match leaders speed, he did good job and took 3rd place, but was disapointed: '[I]'Bad race, my pace was slow. Good points, but can't do what I did in practice. Think too much about strategy''.[/I] He now has some ballast, and in past it has been major issue for him, but he is sounding optimistic for Round 2: [I]''This race gonna be very good. I don't feel the ballast but Rotary and both Supras are fast. So I think it will be Jaguar, Supra, Subaru and Porsche fighting for podium''.[/I] [U]amuda54[/U] in other car had difficult race again in Nurburgring, coming home 8th: [I]''I made a stupid mistake early on which made me lose a lot of time to the train in front, and got undercut by GTO. But I learned a lot from that race''.[/I] He gets some ballast relieve for Round 2, and should make step up, but dont expect miracles: [I]''This is the first time I’m running at this track, so it’s a new experience for me. I’ve adapted to this car really well and I’m really happy with my pace, even if my points tally so far doesn’t show it. I think that if I keep it on the road I can score some more points here''. [/I] Toyota[I] [/I]had solid race in Nurburgring, de-luck4 made his way up from 6th to 4th, and even led for long while after running alternative strategy to others. GTO250GTO struggled and finished 7th place: ''Hampered by my bad qualifying. I was a second off my pace. But last season this bad lap would still have me started 6th''. He says finding setup that is working is issue right now, surprising that he was driving this car last season. This weekend might be struggle for him, but let see if he can return to form in Spa and Red Bull Ring, where he and car excelled last season. de-luck4 is far more optimistic this weekend: ''Happy to see original circuit on calendar, because i am closer to leaders on those tracks, also Supra suits here very well. Only 2 things is challenge at Round 2: lack of practice and traffic during race. So if i can avoid incidents and make clean race, then podium is achievable''. [U]BMW[/U] made their return to GT-MES last weekend, and even if they did not get big points, pace was positive for [U]thunderpigeon[/U]. He was fighting for 4th place all race long, but eventually slipped down to 6th place, losing 5th in final corner. That does not sound like great race, but in this field Gr3 has this season, pace he showed is impressive compered to last season. More difficult race expected this weekend, circuit should not suit BMW:[I] ''I'm unsure on my chances for this round, having only raced this track once before a long time a go. I need to improve my end of stint pace following last week's collapse. I don't think I'll be on the podium but would like to be in the fight for it''.[/I] [U]doc-shipman[/U] had difficult race in Round 1 as expected, but also showed some potential. He is expecting step up in Sardegna, so let see if he can get first points of the season. [/QUOTE]

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