8 September 2003

DELIGHT AT DONINGTON

The pre-race test at Donington was once again met with clear skies and warm temperatures, in fact and despite the forecast, this was the weather for the whole race weekend. The car was looking as new following intensive care by TCR after the Brands Hatch 'stock car' meeting and immediately we were on the pace, which was a surprise given the pasting we have taken of late.

Qualifying on Friday afternoon was greatly aided by the TCR driver coach, Malcolm Smith, who had given me some invaluable advice which gave me an added edge and some clear laps chasing my team-mate and champion elect Jonathon Fildes, the result being a fourth place for the first race and third for the second. Relief at having qualified clear of the midfield was tempered by the need to perform at the sharp end without letting down either myself or the team.

Saturday's race was 14 laps of unrelenting pressure, close, close racing and probably one of the best races of my career.

Having dropped a place at the start I lost another to Tom Onslow Cole at the end of lap one. This group of six circulated as one high-speed train and with several competitors swatting each other with their proverbial hand bags I was happy to play the waiting game just as long as the leader did not start to break away.

As predicted, mistakes were starting to be made and I started picking up the pieces and the pace - setting the race fastest lap and moving up to second behind my team-mate. Over the last laps of the race Neil Waterworth was starting to make his presence felt and I am always happier being the hunter rather than the hunted and I lost second place on the penultimate lap. Starting the final lap I was immediately quicker than Neil and pressured him into an error at Coppice which put me back up a place going down the back straight. However trying to cover the inside line and brake late saw me fumble the chicane and I was pipped into third by the length of a bumper... Despite this I was more than delighted at the resultant podium placing, as were the team, to whom this result is dedicated such has been their persistence and hard work all year.

Sunday morning was an early race; although sunny the temperature was down and the car was not happy without sufficient heat in the rear tyres. I lost my customary place off the start line and another to Pead at Coppice, which I snatched back at the chicane. At Redgate there was confusion; we were under the safety car, which was out for several laps clearing up several badly damaged cars. An ominous-looking fluid was spilt over the apex of the Old Hairpin - I hoped it was water, as no cement dust was put over it. It was only when racing recommenced that we realised this was oil.

This made this corner immensely tricky to negotiate, as several unlucky people found as they speared off into the scenery. I felt that I was going to join them every time I went over it! Ed Pead was behind me for the remainder of the race and I kept my fourth place to the flag.

A good weekend, then… this is the kind of result for which I came Clio racing. I hope we have turned the corner and can complete the last race at Oulton in the same vein.