This was always going to be my best days racing due to my knowledge of the track but after finding out I was down on power it lowered my expectations. Had some really good hot weather with a nice dry track. Qualifying: got some clean air after a couple of laps and got some good times down, positioned 12th on the grid (best so far) which gave me an outside chance of a top ten.
Race 1: Made a good start around the outside gaining a couple of places. Couple of laps in passed car #60 as he missed a gear going up the mountain. Started to get some really fast laps in and was catching the guy in front and pulling away from the guys behind. Then narrowly missed #33 spinning out only for him to catch up to me and pass me on the penultimate lap but I wasn't letting him get away with that! He went well wide leaving the track going into the back straight so I went up the inside only for him to dart right across the track and push me half onto the grass. I kept going and we went side by side into Park, we both braked too late with him going off onto the grass and then retiring to the paddock and me spinning on the inside and stalling. Car #13 got past me but I managed to get it started again and didn't loose any further places.
Finished 7th!! Best result yet, very happy with that and also won the team prize!
Race 2: Positioned in 7th which meant I had the inside line, started ok and kept position. I was definately quicker than 13 in front of me but just couldn't find away around anywhere, just didn't have the power to be able to make a move. This meant everyone else caught me up and I started to loose places. Eventually finished 9th due to people spinnig off ahead of me, can't really complain about 2 top ten finishes with a slightly dodgy engine but I was 1.5 seconds a lap quicker than the guy in front so 7th was possible if I had been able to get past.
Thanks to all those who helped me out and supported me on the day.
Monday, 29 June 2009
Friday, 12 June 2009
Silverstone June 2009
Here's a brief summary of the race weekend:
Spent a cold wet Saturday Marshaling, at one point we had 4 Formula Palmer Audi's in the one gravel trap and it was rumoured that the meeting was close to being called off.
Woke up the next day to some deafening rain on the tent, you actually had to shout to talk to anybody inside. I thought the meeting was going to be called off but instead the qualifying was put back until 1040 by which time it had stopped raining and started to brighten up.
Qualifying - despite it stopping raining it was still a wet track but I actually had fun out there. Didn't really get a clear lap in to get a good time but still managed to qualify 22nd out of 30. Had one slightly hairy moment when I did a 720 spin and stalled right in the middle of copse corner. Apparently there is some on-board footage from the car directly behind me so that should be good!
Race 1 - the track is now completely dry now which disadvantaged me a bit as some of the cars that were slower in the wet got past me quickly. Was by myself again, ahead of the back of the pack but not quick enough for the middle of the pack. Race was red flagged on lap nine as 2nd, 3rd and 4th all came together with a fair bit of damage done to everyone. Finished 20th.
Race 2 - this race was going to be a bit more interesting as the fast boys that didn't finish the last race were now starting behind me. First half of the first lap was manic, cars absolutely everywhere, I decided to try not to battle too much as I didn't want to risk doing any serious damage to the car and these guys were going to pass me at some point anyway. Copse was definitely my weak point but I was getting quicker around it every lap and started to catch back up with the middle of the pack. Got right onto the back of one car and just needed an extra lap to get past him. Finished 24th but did manage to get ahead of one car that was in front of me in the first race.
Other cars where still pulling away from me down the straights as they had at Snetterton, some of it will be down to the driver but I'm now pretty certain the car is down on power so it will be going in to a racing garage this weekend to get it compression tested and dyno'd. I may have to part with a bit of cash to get it fighting fit for Cadwell.
Spent a cold wet Saturday Marshaling, at one point we had 4 Formula Palmer Audi's in the one gravel trap and it was rumoured that the meeting was close to being called off.
Woke up the next day to some deafening rain on the tent, you actually had to shout to talk to anybody inside. I thought the meeting was going to be called off but instead the qualifying was put back until 1040 by which time it had stopped raining and started to brighten up.
Qualifying - despite it stopping raining it was still a wet track but I actually had fun out there. Didn't really get a clear lap in to get a good time but still managed to qualify 22nd out of 30. Had one slightly hairy moment when I did a 720 spin and stalled right in the middle of copse corner. Apparently there is some on-board footage from the car directly behind me so that should be good!
Race 1 - the track is now completely dry now which disadvantaged me a bit as some of the cars that were slower in the wet got past me quickly. Was by myself again, ahead of the back of the pack but not quick enough for the middle of the pack. Race was red flagged on lap nine as 2nd, 3rd and 4th all came together with a fair bit of damage done to everyone. Finished 20th.
Race 2 - this race was going to be a bit more interesting as the fast boys that didn't finish the last race were now starting behind me. First half of the first lap was manic, cars absolutely everywhere, I decided to try not to battle too much as I didn't want to risk doing any serious damage to the car and these guys were going to pass me at some point anyway. Copse was definitely my weak point but I was getting quicker around it every lap and started to catch back up with the middle of the pack. Got right onto the back of one car and just needed an extra lap to get past him. Finished 24th but did manage to get ahead of one car that was in front of me in the first race.
Other cars where still pulling away from me down the straights as they had at Snetterton, some of it will be down to the driver but I'm now pretty certain the car is down on power so it will be going in to a racing garage this weekend to get it compression tested and dyno'd. I may have to part with a bit of cash to get it fighting fit for Cadwell.
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Snetterton Race Apr 2009
Seeing as i've just completed races 5 and 6 I should give a brief account of races 1 ans 2 (missed 3 and 4)!
Qualified 21st out of 25, afterwards found a loose vacuum hose which improved the engine note 100%.
Race 1: Didn't do as well as quali, well off the pace, eventually finished 19th but at least I finshed it and didn't get lapped.
Race 2: Kept up with the rest of the field for the first lap but then got hit in the rear going into russel and spun off the track. Car wasn't too badly damaged so I continued and managed to overtake one car coming out of russel and then another under braking into the esses. Finished 18th and knocked 2.7 seconds off my quali time.
Good day out for my first couple of races, still a lot of work to go to keep up with the main pack. possibly down on power?
Qualified 21st out of 25, afterwards found a loose vacuum hose which improved the engine note 100%.
Race 1: Didn't do as well as quali, well off the pace, eventually finished 19th but at least I finshed it and didn't get lapped.
Race 2: Kept up with the rest of the field for the first lap but then got hit in the rear going into russel and spun off the track. Car wasn't too badly damaged so I continued and managed to overtake one car coming out of russel and then another under braking into the esses. Finished 18th and knocked 2.7 seconds off my quali time.
Good day out for my first couple of races, still a lot of work to go to keep up with the main pack. possibly down on power?
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