One of the utmost difficult combos, LM and LM Classics.
The first time I picked the 917LH because I find it very hard to drive but here I couldn't resist.
I practised quite a bit for this and from being 10 seconds behind AGM I managed to do a 2.17 flat in the race so it paid off. Also the hazards in this combo come to the surface in practice.
Fantastic start by everyone! Respect for a clean classic LM start.
Alas already in the right leading to Hunaudieres it went wrong. A very very rare occasion where we saw Manfred losing his car and the maygem was there. Micha and I were hit and I was very lucky to be not really damaged and not even losing too many places (because behind us a lot of guys didn't slow down at all and crashed. I set off in hot persuit and was close behind Bernd on lap 1. It takes a long time to know how everybody drives in different classes and cars but also how people warm up. Bernd wisely took time to warm the tyres but I almost got connected...
A bit later I could pass and then Shaggy was in front of me. I was a bit quicker, mainly because of strategy. I took only 70 Liter and planned to change tyres and take another 70. No idea if it would pay off but at least I had a fast vehicle in all laps. Shaggy accelerated like a demon though so it took some time to get close.
Alvaro pitted early and wouldn't change tyres for sure. I could stay in front for a lap but then the master was by and I didn't fight back, not losing too much time.
Just watch the replay from above his car, a work of art.
It was a good fight with Shags, even a side by side fight through the kink at Hunaudieres!
I was in front now and could slowly get away although I was on my roof once... and pitted after lap 9. Much to my surprise I passed Zwilling in the pits! Damage?
So, being 9th now I had no idea how far ahead I could get but I counted on others having older tyres. That was the case and also I was lucky because some went off I got to 6th place again. Then I started to gain on Bordi. Great catch run but when I was alomst with him he spun in Maison Blanhce, one of the most dangerous corners ever!
I saw the trouble and slowed down but focussed too much on finding a gap instead of braking hard (which you would do in real life).
Left is the gap! Nope, Bordi, who couldn't see sideways, closed it and then going right was too late. KABOOM! Bordi took of like a missile and set a new height record at ABB! More than 21 meters I just read.
I was already dead but Bordi landed on my rear and I flipped. race over. Alas, looking at 4th place but these things happen.
Again, slowing down immediately instead of looking and hoping for a gap at over 200Kph is the live saver most of us still seem to not understand, including me.
Thanks guys for a wonderful event! (except for hitting Chris of course)
Favoured: 0
Had I felt anything of course I would have at least waited.
).
