Qualifying
The Clerk of the Course didn't show up for my first time driver's briefing. He'd forgotten and by the time a Formula Vee driver and I had tracked him down and convinced him he was supposed to be doing a briefing I had already missed half of my qualifying. I was furious, really annoyed, especially as I have not been to this circuit before and even after telling him my session was imminent I still had to tolerate the most drawn out first time driver's briefing I've sat through yet.
What a great circuit though, the sun was out and Paddock Hill bend is just as scary I've been told it is. By the time I arrived on track there was already one car off in the gravel there on the exact path that I would take if I fell off the track. I did manage to stay on the track though, got 8 laps in. The best of which was a 1:04.21 which put me 4th from the back of the grid. Hmph, I'm convinced I could've been further up if I'd had a bit more time. Some were not so lucky at Paddock Hill bend though. Car 40's steering wheel came off and he went straight into the tyres (click):
His car has had it unfortunately, as well as needing his tracking done he'll need a whole new front end as the chassis is bent. The driver was absolutely fine though. He'd qualified 4th too . . .
Race
I still haven't got over the nerves of starting, in a way it's still the best bit! Lights out and away we went. I got a decent start, made up a place or two and the pack got through Paddock Hill bend without incident. A newbie, in his first race, didn't brake early enough for Druids and went straight on into the gravel trap and there was a good bit more carnage as a couple of cars spun, without contact, through Graham Hill bend. Car 91 kindly gave me a bit of room and I took the advantage and went ahead.
Remembering the briefing at Mallory Park, over the next lap or two I was careful to acknowledge and obey the yellow flags until the hazard boards were out at Druids and then got back on the pace. There were 5 cars behind me, including a couple of guys I usually lap with and I was gradually leaving them behind (click):
I eventually ended up lapping on my own with nobody in front and nobody behind me which was nice as it meant I was maybe getting faster but not nearly as fun as the close racing had been at Snetterton and Mallory Park. I did also wonder for awhile if I was the only person who didn't know the race had been stopped but there were no red flags out and nobody was frantically waving at me. I spent the rest of the race working on my braking points for Paddock Hill and I did eventually catch another car but by then we were in the last lap and the front runners had just caught me. A matter of seconds later the chequered flag came out.
I came 19th of 28 starters with 4 classified finishers behind me, 3 places away from points! The car I was catching in the last laps turned out to be someone I was about to lap, so nothing was lost there. My best lap was 1:03.12, over a second faster than in qualifying. Luckilly we're going back for a double header there at the end of June where I hope further improvements will be made, especially if I get my brakes sorted.
Next race is a double header at Anglesey on the 6th & 7th of June.
Simon
