2001, Round 3, Oulton Park
The 106 boys .....
| Weather | Dry, sunny |
| Qualification result | 14th of 59 |
| Race length | 10 laps, 23.62 miles |
| Championship race | 9th |
| Lap | Time | Difference | Ave. speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lap Record (prior to event) | Not yet established | ||
| Pole | 1:47.51 | 79.08 mph | |
| My qualification | 1:50.27 | 77.11 mph | |
| Fastest race lap | 1:47.73 | 78.92 mph | |
| My fastest race lap | 1:49.59 | 77.59 mph | |
|
After another trip to EFI had managed to squeeze a couple more horsepower from the engine, I was feeling confident for qualifying. The session went well, I had no problems with traffic, the car was handling nicely on the corners, and seemed to be pulling out of them well. I was absolutely gutted to find that I was 2.7 seconds away from pole, and would line up in 14th. It's kind of hard to think where I can possibly gain that kind of margin. On a more positive note the top 10 cars were all examined (visually, not stripped), and I believe anything found to be out of place must be fixed by the next race. I am sure I speak for the majority of drivers in saying I am delighted that the championship is beginning to check cars. There was a long delay while we were waiting on the grid to start, and Daniel Neil's car burst a water pipe in an impressive cloud of steam whilst we were still waiting. Then when the red lights came on, they seemed to stay on for ages. I was having trouble holding the clutch against the handbrake, and began creeping forward. I dipped the clutch to stop this, just ast the lights went green. Gutted. Nightmare start, people passing me all over the place. At the first corner, my car suddenly flicked the back end out, possibly I had been nudged, but it actually helped me avoid the two cars on the outside that were running wide, and I managed to pass them on the way down to Cascades. Having started further back than I hoped, then having a bad start made me really determined to get further up the pack. Andy Herring was first, I outbraked him at the hairpin, but he managed to get the inside line for the chicane, so he was back through and there was nothing I could do about it. I finally got him with a lunge down the inside on braking for Cascades. Gordon Macmillan was next, but he made it easy by missing a gear after the hairpin. Paul Sheehan was a little harder to pass, and the move came when he ran just a fraction wide at Cascades, allowing a gap to appear on the inside half way through the corner. I went for the gap, and I have to say it was very close as we both moved to outside of the track at the exit, but I was through. I began to pull away from the chasing pack now that I had some clear track, and was gaining on the pack ahead. It seemed almost all of the lead cars were together, and this may have been helping me to catch them. I pushed as hard as I could for lap after lap, and the gap was coming down, but not fast enough By the final lap, I was certain to not catch anyone else, unless they made a mistake, and I now had Simon Tyrell behind me having recovered from a first lap incident at Cascades. He was not going to pass me either unless I made a mistake. Two corners from home, I made my first mistake of the race, when I got it VERY sideways at Druids, and Simon Tyrell was suddenly a real threat, but I was still ahead at the line for a 9th place finish to round off a thoroughly enjoyable race. Better still, it seems that determined charge had managed to shave 0.7 seconds off my lap time. That still leaves the leaders looking VERY far ahead, but it gives me food for thought for the next qualifying session! The race was won by the 106 Rallye of Pete Featherstone. Maybe it is time I got some sideskirts and rebadged my 106 as a Rallye so that I can fit a few of the parts he is allowed to use that I am not. Roger Ebdon and Pete Morgan once again proved that there is still life in the old XR2 to complete the podium. |
