1999, Round 12, Mallory Park
| Weather | Dry, cold and sunny |
| Qualification result | 14th of 54 |
| Race length | 10 laps, 13.5 miles |
| Championship race | 13th |
| Lap | Time | Difference | Ave. speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lap Record (prior to event) | 0:57.64 | 84.32 mph | |
| Pole | 0:57.51 | -0:00.13 | 84.51 mph |
| My qualification | 0:58.55 | +0:00.91 | 83.00 mph |
| Fastest race lap | 0:57.51 | -0:00.13 | 84.51 mph |
| My fastest race lap | 0:58.49 | +0:00.85 | 83.09 mph |
|
This time out, the format would be that the fastest cars went into the championship race, and the slower ones went into the 'B' race. There would again be no migration from the top of the 'B' race to the back of the championship race. My ambition this time was to ensure I got a points finish, ie top 16. This should allow me to gain a couple of championship places, and give a much better representation of the year I've had. So, step 1 was to qualify well. I found enough track during the qualifying session and set some times that I was very happy with. I was 0.7 seconds faster than I had been in March, partly due to being a better driver, and partly due to an increase in power since March at the hands of EFI. My qualification result was 14th. It was inside the top 16, which had been my aim, but not quite as high as I had hoped I might get. The same time in March would have given me 7th place, but times move on. At the start of the race I got away fairly well, gaining on the car in front, and looking for a way past. Unfortunately, as we passed the pit lane entrance, I was hit on the rear wing, turning me towards the wall. To me it seemed scary, I was facing the wall, trying to correct it, and all the time losing speed. When viewed from the on-board video, it was not as bad as it had seemed, but I did lose a couple of places over it. The first time we all reached the hairpin, the bunching was incredible. Bumper to bumper, nowhere to go. There was however the tiniest of gaps round the outside, and a couple of cars actually overtook the lot of us by just driving round the outside. One lap down, and 6 places down. Not good for my chances of a points finish. Lap 2, I took the first place back at the Esses, leaving the braking a bit late and running very wide (sorry Gordon). Lap 3, myself and the Fiesta in front got past an out of shape 205 on the exit of Gerrards, and I passed that same Fiesta under braking for the hairpin. Lap 4, I passed a 205 as it braked earlier than I do for Gerrards, and I just drove up the inside. Laps 5 and 6, I was stuck behind a Fiesta that I felt I could outpace, but not by enough to make a passing move. On lap 7, I got a better run through the Devil's elbow than the 205 that was now in front of me, and wanted a way past. He blocked the inside line, so I went outside along the pit straight, and barely lifted off the throttle entering Gerrards, to ensure I was well past him. Later in the same lap, the car 2 places ahead went across the grass at the Esses, and rejoined, trying to block those of us behind from getting past. It was not to be, I outbraked again at the hairpin and was through. I had caught up again with the same Fiesta I was stuck behind earlier, and there I stayed for the final two laps, coming home 13th. That was a fast and furious race, and I really enjoyed it. I got the points I needed to gain three places in the championship, and I felt good about everything except losing so many places on the first lap. It's getting better though! A post race exclusion promoted me to 12th overall. |
