XL Autosport

Qualifying: The track is wet and possibly a bit icy. Conditions are very difficult and I’ve got my usual problem of the front nearside locking first. I take it easy for the first two laps trying to find grip and working out how much I can push.  Third lap and I decide to go for a flyer. Up the main straight and I outbrake two cars going into Ritches, so far so good. Flat out for the short straight up to Sears then down a cog to second. Except the car won’t go into second, I have another bash but it just won’t go in, as I’m struggling the engine stalls and I lose servo assistance. The front’s lock up and I gently slide into Peter Scatchard, probably the unluckiest driver this season. I catch him just behind the drivers door and put him into a spin. I drive into the pits and take a look at the damage. The front nearside wing is pushed into the body and it’s rubbing against the tyre. We pull it out as much as we can and I rejoin the session. I’m going for a flyer so no time to check anything, around Riches and Sears I drop into second, along Revett I attempt to pull third but the gearstick is stuck in second. I’m trying to get it out but it’s stuck fast. I pull off the track and wait until the vehicle comes to a stop, as soon as it does it slips out of second. I engage first and then go straight into third, there are two second gear corners on the track at Sears and the chicane. Unfortunately they both lead onto long straights with Revett being the longest in UK motorsport. Coming out of these corners in third means I’ve compromised my speed down these two straights and ultimately my lap times.

Once qualifying is over we spend most of the morning tidying up the wing. the marshalls can stop you racing if you have flapping bodywork and it’s important we go out and race. I’ve been informed by the series organiser Steve Vince that Simon Hepplewhite qualified on pole. If he goes on to win the race and I fail to score any points then he’ll be runner up in the standings. Even though I know we’ll get nowhere we must still make the start and try and bring it home. I need two points to retain the runner up slot and you get one for starting.

The race: As I drove to the grid second gear reappeared, everything seemed fine but it wasn’t to last. I’m in sixth position on the grid and as the red lights go out I blast away and even make a place. I try to pull second but my gremlins return so I go straight for third. The entire field goes past me and by the first corner I’m plum last. Around Riches and Sears and onto Revett I’m still bringing up the rear but going into the Esses I out brake one car and hold it. Then around Corum I keep up with a pack of three cars, I carry as much speed as possible around the chicane and when we get on the home straight I’m not far behind the pack. Lap one and I’m last but one, up to Sears and there’s a gap between the MR2’s in front as they fight each other. I dive into the gap and stake my claim to the road, the other two have to slow or go wide. Another car on Revett straight and a couple of retirements sees me up to sixth place by the chequered flag. Not bad, my fastest lap was only 13 hundredths of a second slower than the best, more importantly I picked up enough points for me to be the runner up in the overall championship.

Post race/championship: We didn’t achieve what we came to do, that was win the championship for 2005. Runner-up is not bad but the record speaks for itself, 5 wins, 6 poles and 7 fastest laps is the best record of anyone. We were let down by mechanical failure and the odd scoring system which saw some rounds awarded double points. I’m not complaining, next year we’ll be running a mark two. See you in 2006!