19/09/2016
What an ending to my season :-)
After a slightly misjudgment last race in Denmark, where i came out of last turn 1 meter to far too the right and kissed barrier AND lost position 20 meter before finish line,taking away a hat trick as i won the first two races.
This weekend made my season finish a thriller.
Before weekend start i was 11 points behind leading 2005 Opel DTM, and going to his "home track" where he has 52.9 as fastest time vs. my 54.5 it looked all but lost.
Q
Traffic, driver hot and not at his best gave me P3 with 54.1, behind Christian 53.9 and Opel DTM at 53.7
Race 1
Good start, close and good racing, three cars in front, me on third was close all the time... BUT Christian took the lead.... :-) So DTM attacked all the time where his downforce is at its best, but overdid it and spun out, two laps from finish line .... I was hot on Christians heel but no chance to overtake safely anywhere. Last corner, Christian go a different line, giving me the opportunity to go along side him and win by 0.1 sec.
Thanks Christian, owe you one.... 👍🏻
Race 2
Reversed start grid, so i started 6th with champion leader in front of me and Christian by my side.
Going out of turn 1 i was right behind leading Opel DTM , my best start ever....
Christian also had a perfect start and was hot on my ass....
The DTM in front is just too quick and a GT car has absolutely no chance against it when its left alone in front...so race ended with DTM winning, me second and Christian third.
Opel DTM is now leading championship with 8 points
Race 3.
Pressure was now on Opel DTM car
Opel DTM started last of the front grid with Christan in Front of him and i was alongside Christian on fourth place grid.
Again a perfect start, and even we suspect the Porsche RST in front of me playing on Opel DTMs team, i managed to get the lead going into turn three.
Christian was fighting for his second position, and the race ended in this position after tight good racing. Opel was again overdriving and had to do a PIT drive through on the second to last lap.
Opel DTM complained about unfair driving from Christian, i have seen the race in recording and do not share that opinion. Neither does the majority of people, incl. officials i spoke to.
Situation after last race of season is tie on points between me and Opel DTM, we have the same number of P1, P2 and P3... so i won championship based on last race weekend where my two P1 and one P2 gave me the edge.
Super happy with that !
After all, winning Norwegian Championship this year with stiff competition and not running the first three races in beginning of year felt really good.
Against an Opel DTM that everyone with a slight insight into racing know is a lot faster race car.
Have to say that due to Christians difficult technical year, the fight in the front was not as it would have been if his car didn't fail on him.
Update Note:
Opel DTM team protested on my car after race1, they claimed my car was not BoP correctly according to Norwegian GT1 rules.
Jury dismissed the protest as my car is every bit as it should be according to Norwegian GT1 rules, i even weigh 100 kg too much or has too little power
BUT Opel DTM team owner has appealed the jury and we have to wait for that decision to take place.....
I think most people know what i think about BS..... 😖
Hope to see Joachim the driver of Opel DTM anyway, the team owner............. lets just say the jury is out on that one ? 🤔