2000, Round 2, Snetterton
So much for the sub-optimal route!
| Weather | Dry, cold and sunny |
| Qualification result | 14th of 66 |
| Race length | 10 laps, 19.52 miles |
| Championship race | 16th |
| Lap | Time | Difference | Ave. speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lap Record (prior to event) | 1:29.27 | 78.71 mph | |
| Pole | 1:29.34 | +0:00.07 | 78.65 mph |
| My qualification | 1:31.96 | +0:02.69 | 76.42 mph |
| Fastest race lap | 1:29.55 | +0:00.28 | 78.41 mph |
| My fastest race lap | 1:32.03 | +0:02.76 | 76.36 mph |
|
Qualifying went well - mostly - until a loss of power slowed me up three quarters of the way through the session, so I decided to settle for what I had already done, and get back to the paddock to fix the car. In the end I qualified 14th, which I was well happy about under the circumstances. I got a good start, passing Leslie Ott by the first corner, and then another car at the chicane at the end of the lap. 12th place by the end of lap 1. I lost one as Chris Owen powered by on the straight on lap 2, but then the power began to fade again, first by misfiring through the chicane, and then cutting on each of the next two bends, during which time I lost 3 places, but gained two as up ahead Robbie Watts and Alan Thorndyke retired. By lap 5, the power seemed OK again, and I was back on terms with those who had passed me, and I went to take back the first of those places. Unfortunately, as I pulled out to pass along the Revett straight, the power dipped again, and I fell back, losing a place in the process to Matthew Perks, but a quick swedish shuffle through the Esses, and I was back in front, but it put me on a different line through Coram curve, and I hit some oil, flat out in 4th gear! I shot off the track, and headed across the loose ground towards the tyre barrier, which I did not want to hit, so I had to keep the power down to keep control, and finally made it back to the track, still on full power at the entry to the chicane. I hit the brakes as hard as I could, and started to lose the back end one way , and then the other. I went through the second part of the chicane with my back end towards the spectators, on full lock, and full power, and finally regained control. All in all, that was quite exciting, but I lost three places in the process. The power was still lower than normal, but I had no pressure from behind for a while, so I concentrated on trying not to lose ground to the pack in front. In the end, that paid off, as on the last lap I retook two places!! Final position 16th, and very relieved to have managed that! Brands next, 6 days time, just 5 evenings to find the power problem and fix it. |
