Elbows Out at Lago Maggiore
Round 5 takes us to Lago Maggiore West for 20 sunny laps in Group 3 race cars. I qualified 2nd in the Alfa Romeo 4C Group 3 car, only 0.184 seconds behind the pole sitter, Jackrabbit_75 from Canada in the Peugeot RCZ Group 3 car. The first lap set the tone with both Jackrabbit and myself falling down the order after he jumped the start and I get pushed onto the dirt at the hairpin. By the end of lap one I was in 6th with Jackrabbit just ahead in 4th. I would move up to 5th when the Canadia served his false-start penalty on lap 2, but he would retake 4th at the beginning of lap 6. It would be short-lived as a three-wide exit from the hairpin— I was on the inside, bumped the Canadian into the dirt as had happened to me on lap one, allowing me to scoot up to 3rd position with 2nd and 1st right ahead.
By lap 10 I had moved up to 2nd place and within striking distance of the leader, who pitted at the end of the lap to put me in the lead as Jackrabbit re-entered the fight with an aggressive pass over the inside curb and grass at turn 2, pushing me wide and nearly causing a spin. I would regain the lead at the end of lap 11 when Jackrabbit pitted for tires. I stayed out for one more lap on the softs before switching to the slower tire, hoping I’d pull enough of a gap to overtake Jackrabbit. I pitted from the lead on lap 12 and re-entered in 4th position, picking up 3rd place on lap 14 after another car pitted. I was in good position for another podium finish when a mistake on corner exit allowed Jackrabbit to overtake me and reclaim 3rd.
Hard fought podium at Lago Maggiore West
With five laps to go I was embroiled in a nose-to-tail battle with the Canadian, swapping places momentarily but unable to make it stick. I would overtake at the hairpin but lose the position on power up the hill through turns 8 and 9. As the laps ticked down the battle became more intense. Jackrabbit’s blocking on the run down to the hairpin started to resemble swerving. Unable to make a move there, I looked to turn 10 and 11, where I was faster. On the final lap, with only moments to go I planned my move. Exiting the hairpin at turn 7 right behind the Canadian gave me a tow up the hill. It was now or never. As we approached turn 10 I was certain Jackrabbit would move to defend the middle, but they did not! The Canadian stuck to the racing line, allowing me to out-brake them as we went side-by-side down to the apex of 10. Contact! We banged doors coming out of 10 and, unfortunately, Jackrabbit was pushed off exiting the corner with only two turns remaining. I would take the 3rd spot on the podium and Jackrabbit finished 4th.
They say in NASCAR, “rubbing is racing”. This one had its fair share of rubbing intermixed with great, hard racing. I always strive to race clean and would have preferred a down-to-the-wire photo finish with the Canadian, even if that meant finishing 4th. But I saw the opportunity to pass so it was time to lick the stamp and send it, just like the Canadian did on lap 11. If you’re out there Jackrabbit, good race, bad luck, and apologies. It was not intentional. In a race where everyone has elbows out, we all got a little bruised.
Note: due to technical difficulties the live stream capture for this race failed.
Nations Cup results after five rounds
