The wrap up

It was an amazing week.

The last two days were tough: we covered over half the competitive distance, and most of it in the rain. We backed off the pace, took it a little easier, but still managed to achieve our dry times in the wet.

The worst stage was Queenstown - 99 corners on a slippery, greasy road ... On one side a rock all, the other a plunge to the valley below. I get the steering crossed up a couple of times, but we got through. The stage claimed one of the event's overall favourites, Kevin Weeks in his Lamborghini Gallardo - over the edge, and they needed the rescue team to cut them out of the car.

We hit better than needed times on all stages, so we achieved our Targa Trophy.

We did cop the penalty for passing too close to a chicane, which cost us about 5 placing in the overall standings, but we still managed to win our Class.

And now I've returned to life with speed limits and school pick ups. I guess my dream of becoming a professional race driver will have to remain just that.

Just a quick note

We weren't penalised for passing too close to a chicane. No mention of it by the officials, so either we got past before the 200m board or the person manning that chicane didn't know the rule.

Either way, we're clear.

Day 3 was great.

Some tough stuff to start the day - first stage was wet, the next two were intermediate, along with a couple of the a'noon stages. It's an obvious thing to say, but the car behaves differently on wet roads! Some bits of these roads almost never dry out - between low temps and overhanging trees there are traps for unwary drivers hiding on corners.

And in the afternoon, on a 10k stage - a double catch! Not only did we catch & pass the car in front of us (a 911T), but the one who started 30 seconds in front of him as well (a Mini Cooper) and all in 6 and a bit minutes, on damp roads. We were on fire that stage.

Long tough day today - 450k or so of total driving, and one of the best Targa stages - Cethana. 37.5k of twisty, windy stuff mixed in with a climb, a descent and some very fast bits.

Can't wait!

Relived.

I've just woken up and checked the results website - no penalties for car 713.

Very relived.

Today the pace and difficulty both increase.

And it's raining.

It's going to be a fun day.