2000, Round 7, Mallory Park
| Weather | dry |
| Qualification result | 15th of 58 |
| Race length | 12 laps, 16.2 miles |
| Championship race | 13th |
| Lap | Time | Difference | Ave. speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lap Record (prior to event) | 0:57.51 | 84.51 mph | |
| Pole | 0:57.83 | +0:00.32 | 84.03 mph |
| My qualification | 0:58.96 | +0:01.45 | 82.42 mph |
| Fastest race lap | 0:58.11 | +0:00.60 | 83.63 mph |
| My fastest race lap | 0:59.28 | +0:01.77 | 81.98 mph |
|
I qualified in 15th, the same place I qualified last time at this circuit. From there I got a good start, not losing ground to anyone behind me. I even kept ahead of Jay Frost, despite him starting from well forward of his grid slot, and the icing on the cake was that I managed to pass Jon McNiff, Robbie Watts, and Mark Davies into Gerrards as well. Up to 12th, but it wouldn't last, Jay was not about to stay back there and squeezed by on the way into the Esses, with Robbie Watts and Mark Davies following through in the gap Jay made. As we approached the hairpin for the first time I managed to re-pass Robbie Watts and Mark Davies on the brakes, but Simon Tyrell absolutely charged down the outside smoking his tyres and snaking wildly. He probably gained about 4 places through that move though. On the run down to the start line, away from the hairpin, Paul Sheehan got by to put me back in 15th where I started. Lap 2 there were 3 cars involved in some sort of scurmish just ahead in Gerrards, and I passed two of them, with Pete Featherstone rejoining just ahead of me. Mark Davies followed me through Gerrards in his 205, and then hit the nitrous on the short straight from Gerrards to the Esses and drove round the outside of me, moved across in front of me, passed Pete Featherstone up the inside, and moved back across in front of him, and all before needing to brake for the Esses. It really is STUPID that cars have that kind of power advantage in a championship designed to be vaguely equal. Lap 3 I managed to get back past Tyrell into Gerrards, and then things finally settled for a while as I tried to find a way past Paul Sheehan for the next few laps. About lap 7 or 8 I got shunted from behind by Sean Stanway's locked up, slithering, late braking XR2 which I was not at all happy about at the time, since he got past in the process, but watching him lose it again 2 laps later giving me the place back did slightly make up for it. 13th in the end, and the top XR2. A good result, but I still need more! Elsewhere, John Gladmans old championship winning 106 won, and was never really threatened. Mark Davies continued his charge up the field in his ridiculously fast 205 and managed to get right up to the sharp end by the end of the race. Julian Griffin proved he is now a force to be reckoned with by running 2nd for much of the race - until Mark Davies showed up. Darren Blumson had a bad day, as he is down on power due to a problem. Still, it could be worse, at least he knows that if he fixes it he gets more power. Just 5 days off, and then we are at Silverstone for 2 races! |
