11 May 2004

MIXED FORTUNES AT SILVERSTONE

With an engine blowing during testing we were not able to set any meaningful times at the official test. Despite this, I was optimistic for our pace come qualifying and this was not unfounded when we qualified fourth for both races in wet conditions early Saturday afternoon.

With the track still damp and with a seasonally very low air temperature all cars were on slicks as we ventured out for the first race. I knew that things were going to be immensely difficult when I managed to spin on the warming-up lap! It was virtually impossible to get any temperature into the tyres, particularly the rears, and I predicted first lap chaos. It was.

Running fourth into Copse on the first lap I just managed to miss Jonathon Adam, my team-mate, as he lost it. This lost me momentum going up to Becketts but I held third up until Bridge, where I went wide to avoid some action on the inside. This left me on the wrong, wet line entering Priory and I subsequently lost the back end of the car with the other 19 cars bearing down on me. As I lit up the front tyres to straighten the car I braced for impact but actually only got hit in the door once before rejoining at the outer reaches of the top 10.

More spinners in Luffield made me take to the grass in avoidance and then a pack of around eight of us careered down the straight like a swarm of angry bees. I was just starting to turn into Copse when Mussi came up the inside like a missile - no way could he make the corner and, as he started to bounce off other cars, I lifted in avoidance and immediately spun. Vince Martin was behind me and did the same. He then collected the other side of my car, which was by this point at least a foot narrower than it was when it left the factory. After visiting the pits for some hammer bashing on an offending wheelarch and for a replacement wheel I managed another couple of laps before that tyre blew due to the body work rubbing. Game over.

Round six was held on Sunday in mercifully warmer conditions and for once, just when the car looks like something out of Days of Thunder, I raced without anyone hitting me. I had a very quiet run to fourth place, hampered by too much oversteer, which cost me the chance of fighting for the podium, but I relieved the impressive Simpson of a place towards the end.

So two weeks until Oulton gives us the chance to sort out the car once again and we will be on top form once more.