Race Calendar & Results

A lovely sunny morning and a competitive looking field.

Qualifying was shortened by a red flag so it became a bit rushed.  At the end it was as one might have predicted with Jamie Boot's mighty TVR clearly quickest than four of us very closely matched.  I was fortunate to find myself second.

The Race

As the lights went out I got a good start but the power of the TVR kept Jamie Boot ahead into the first corner.  It was not long before I had my hands full with Steve Tardy's E Type and on lap 4 or 5 he got past me.  I settled in behind him.  A few laps later there were XK's parked on various bits of grass so yellow flags appeared.  Then out came the safety car.  Whilst it was out the pit stop window opened and when the safety car headed back into the pits Steve Tardy followed it.  I stayed out and carried on chasing Jamie.  He then pitted.  I waited until near the end of the window.

When I re-emerged I was just ahead of Ian Cox in his Marcos and much to my surprise ahead of Jamie and Steve - so I was leading!  My few laps either side of my pit stop must have gained me some time. 

Now with about 15 minutes to go it was all to play for. 

After a couple more laps another XK left the track this time hard into the bark at Tower corner.  The safety car came out and soon had me as race leader behind him.  Then he waived me past.  Very odd but 'he who must be obeyed' so past I went thinking 'they have made a mistake - I will end up at the back of the field'.  By the time I was catching the back of the field the mistake had been discovered and the whole field had been waived past the safety car.  It took another couple of laps before they all caught up with me back at the head of the field with Ian and Jamie right behind me. 

The safety car went into the pits and off we went.  There was only enough time for 3 or 4 laps.  I hoped Ian would hold Jamie up for long enough!  But it wasn't to be.  Soon he was all over me.  Was this the last lap I thought as I locked up going into the Esses?  Around the corner and oh dear, no sign of the flag!  Nose to tail into the Quarry, ahead through the Esses - a tight line around Tower so he couldn't sneak up the inside into Bobbies, tight to the right up Dean straight - only Camp to survive.  But wily old fox that he is, Jamie hung back a smidgen, went wide and then turned tightly inside me exiting camp.  Foot to the floor and using the grass near the pit wall still wasn't enough to keep him behind me.  TVR V8 grunt and Jamie's excellent driving got him across the line a metre or so ahead of me to finish a great race.  Next year.....

Qualifying: 2nd in 1.21.771 (81.44mph)

Race Result: 2nd in 46.16.788 (69.55mph) gap of 0.2 secs

Best lap: 1.21.682