The TWFA field, for the second time this season, arrived at a different layout to the GP 1979 drivers. In this case, however, they arrived in a completely different country. This round of the championship would be run at the go-kart like surroundings of the little known Oschersleben circuit in Germany.
A poor start by Rouke, on pole, caused the start of the race to have several position changes. He Dropped to fourth while Berti took second ahead of Huarte and Marco. Behind Paul Langford, Graham Palfreyman and myself, now running under my new name, all made similarly bad starts.
Huarte soon found himself under pressure and on lap 2 had dropped two places as the slow starters recovered. Behind Maiph was in 5th ahead of Baz and Langford and already the race seemed to have 3 sections. The lead four followed by a group of three then the battle for 8th.
Tallini was an early holder of that position but was under pressure from Metcalf with a furious scrabble behind. Palfreyman crashed out on lap 2 while Cooper spun away a bad start to drop to 14th just ahead of me.
Ted Ball was driving superbly and making his way up the field. By lap 5 he was 8th, aided by the retirement of Marco from the lead but then pushed to hard and retired on the next lap.
Lap 6 marked the last of most of the passing. In 10th place, however, Scott and Johnson were engaged in a monumental battle. The swapped places on laps 9, 10, 11 and 12, the final being an unfortunate accidental nudge where Kat's car was on the power when Johnson was still sorting his car out mid corner. He was unable to control the slide despite her backing off and she took 10th from Johnson but was quick to apologise.
Revenge would have to wait, however, as a late incident would cost him several places near the end of the feature race. But before that Rouke would improve his start as he only dropped one place at the start.
Some barging and boring occured in the lower reaches of the grids as cars had minor incidents and it therefore took a few laps for the field to settle down.
Not, however, before Rouke having retaken the lead had a big off at the end of lap 4 forcing an early piststop just before the pit window opened for him. The result was a long pit stop, a heavy car, and an extra stop.
Marco thus led at lap 4 from Berti and Huarte. Behind Tallini and Baz West were embroiled in a ferocious battle for 4th with Maiph holding start just behind.
David Kadlcak, who had gained the most places after a smooth drive in the first race, was already looking to do it again and was running an impressive 8th just behind the recovering Metcalf.
Tallini and West continued to battle until the former had a big accident halfway around lap 10 cost him nine places, dropping him to 13th. West continued unimpeded but was soon battling hard with David and Maiph.
Casedi pitted on lap 16, one of the first to make a regular stop, at the same time as Metcalf's recovery came to an end after crashing on his out lap.
The Pitstops were coming thick and fast by now but Kat stayed out. She was now running 7th but on lap 20 came accross the spinning Maiph.
Ralph had touched the grass approaching the T5 kink and spun. Kat had to junk right to avoid and ended up in the gravel, she lost about 12s in the gravel and with it any chance of coming out ahead of Graham after her stop.
With most of the field having stopped Marco continued to lead ahead of Berti, Juan and Baz. The latter was on huge charge, however, and he took the final podium spot on lap 26 with nine to go.
Kat dropped to 9th after her stop, the last scheduled, on lap 30 while Rouke was forced to pit again after an off a few laps earlier. Neill Johnson provided the last drama having incidents that dropped him to an eventual 12th.
Despite a circuit with few hard braking areas this was a race with plenty of action and good passing. Driver of the day was undoubtedly David Kadlcak after two superb drives from 14th on the grid.
Overall an excellent event at a unique circuit.
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