u/Early-Weakness7014

I’ve come to terms with being a mid pack driver with the occasional podium, who’s never going to be consistently competing for wins. 1700 irating for context.

However, I always wanted just ONE legitimate win in a respectable race, in a respectable series, for my own ego. My first ever win came two months ago in the fixed GT3 series on summit point, after nearly 200 starts.

The win was a bit sour with an asterisk in my head however; because after a mistake leading to a highspeed corner, the then P1 brake checked me as a desperate attempt to protect the lead. This caused me to rear end them off the track, and I finished the race to win. I count it, but didn’t want to win like that.

This week, IMSA has been at my favorite track, Spa. I’ve always been a mid 2:18 lap here, but after watching a suellio almeida video, I slightly changed my technique and how I approached section 2 mid session, which led to me finding a whole 1.3 seconds in my qualifying. I qualified pole at 2.17.2 and let out a huge “holy _____” after crossing the line.

Anyways, the race started and I immediately dropped to P2 at the start. I was okay with it because it’s a long race, gotta survive, and I wasn’t expecting to win, since my qualifying pace wasn’t sustainable. As the race went on, I did my best keeping up with the leader, and scanning my surroundings, since I wasn’t going to win on pure pace.

P4-P6 were fighting behind me, and P1 despite being slightly faster than me, was feeling some pressure I guess and unexpectedly pits early. I stayed out and pushed like hell in the clear air for as long as I saw fit, while P1 exit the pits into that 3 way battle behind us.

I’m now leading and pushing, but getting caught by now P2 after several laps. I pit as they get close and they stay out to potentially overcut. Fortunately I come out with decent traffic but nothing to majorly slow me down.

Laps and laps go by with others pitting, and next thing you know, I’m back in P1 with a 5 second gap to p2 (the same guy who pit early). I maintain a decent pace to not overheat my tires, keep it on track, let GTP’s through, but still stay ahead, then eventually bring it home for the GTD win.

This win felt really good, and I fully embrace it, with it being on my favorite track ever in the IMSA series, without any controversy. I even made a custom certificate for the win since iracing only gives a first win certificate, but this first legitimate win is technically my second.

I now feel like the cat is off my back and I can just race wherever whenever, without any pressure. Anybody else have any similar one and done weight off their shoulder race stories? Would love to hear them!