Last weekend we had our fourth race of the Nationals series. This time at the MACH Heemstede, the worlds 2012 track. A very fast and wide open track. Normally not my type of track to perform well as I prefer smaller more technical track. With a lot of local drivers it should be a difficult weekend. For sure to compete with John Bruins, former B main modified driver at the 2012 worlds.

Practice on Saturday went very well as the grip on the track was good from the start. During the day it became a little hotter but the car seemed to stay ok.

Sunday morning in qualification I soon noticed John was doing some very good laps as he was in a heat before me. After 2 rounds I both finished 2nd, close behind John. In Q1 it was a difference of 2 seconds, in Q2 only 1 second. To secure 2nd spot on the grid I needed to drive Q3. John did sit out this one to save tires.

In final 1 I had a very bad start as the track was very hot now and the car felt very difficult on the warm-up lap. The start was good as I stayed 2nd during the first few corners. But at the end of the straight the only technical part of the track the car became to go sideways and I couldn’t stop it from sliding. The 7th or 8th car did hit me very hard (my fault). For me now the race was over as even my battery went out of the car.

For final 2, I made some set-up changes to make the rear of the car a little more stable. This worked out good as the car felt great again. I was able to manage second position and finish behind John. In final 3, it was the same story. John a little too fast to catch and behind me a big gap to the rest of the field. So cruising to the finish line. At the end a second place on the podium and 2 good finals that do count for the Nationals Series which I’m currently sitting in first position.