Hi everyone.
Pace Park - Pampa Report
I didn't have any quality time during the week to practice. I enter two nights with a *JB* setup to test times and get to know the track. I didn't like it at first and it was hard to memorize, but I managed to get decent times.
On Friday, I was in for a bit, and on Saturday, I couldn't get in. Today I went in worried because I hadn't been able to practice short races on the track. It's understood that seeing the dynamics of where each driver brakes, how he approaches and navigates corners, and going further, if he monitors what's happening in his mirrors, helps make for smoother races with fewer incidents.
I took pole position and got off to a good start, although Titanium, with the Escort, arrived first at the initial corner. I was able to pass him on the second lap and from then on, I started to gain as much distance as possible. My fear was the BMW 3.0s and their two pit stops. I had a nice fight with Rdjango coming out of the pits at the start of the second stint.
Luckily, I pulled away quite a bit, but at the end of my second stint, my tires were showing significant poor wear. I took a gamble and decided to change tyres, hoping to compensate with a faster pace in the second half of the race. While it wasn't a perfect stop, I managed to get out just behind Helmet, whom I overtook after a few laps.
I was somewhat surprised to still be in the lead after the "long" pit stop, with the final stop remaining on lap 45. I came out behind Titanium and was worried because I thought he'd already pitted. Luckily, three laps later he also pitted, and I had the final laps left, which seemed endless.
What can I say? My first win on a server. It really hurt not to have been able to win Imola in this same ETCC edition. This is a small compensation. Thanks to the Xungos for their support and good humor, to the Ballesta guys for their camaraderie, their technical attention to detail, and their good advice ("via Radio Santander"

, and to the Orliebraker guys, who gave me a spot a few years ago, when I was a novice with a Playstation 3 joystick and zero experience.
Thank you so much!
Pampa (Luis)