1999, Round 2, Mallory Park
| Weather | Dry and cloudy |
| Qualification result | 23rd of 73 |
| Race length | 10 laps, 13.5 miles |
| Championship race | 18th |
| Lap | Time | Difference | Ave. speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lap Record (prior to event) | 0:58.73 | 82.75 mph | |
| Pole | 0:57.53 | -0:01.20 | 84.48 mph |
| My qualification | 0:59.52 | +0:00.79 | 81.65 mph |
| Fastest race lap | 0:57.64 | -0:01.09 | 84.32 mph |
| My fastest race lap | 0:59.21 | +0:00.48 | 82.08 mph |
|
The race format here is different to what we had at Silverstone for round 1. The high number of competitors has meant that ONLY the top 28 qualifiers get into the championship race. There is no promotion from any qualification race like we had at Silverstone. This meant that qualification here would be more important than ever. I had never driven my car in the dry before, but despite that, I was determined to be in that top race. I went out near the back during qualifying, so I hung back to give myself room to have a blast on the later laps. It was not long before I was passing other cars, and that felt so good, I needed to do it more. I was delighted to find when I got back that I had been consistently just under a minute per lap. Now there is an agonising wait to see if it was good enough for the top 28. I managed 23rd fastest with a time of 0:59.52, much higher than I had expected, but it was SO close. There were no less than 19 cars between 0:59.00 and 0:59.99. The race itself was very mixed. I had an appalling start. From 23rd on the grid I was 28th and last by the first corner, but from there it was all fun. I caught and passed 6 cars, three retired, and one was excluded, so I came 18th - which for my second ever race, and my first in the dry was very pleasing. I guess I need to work on those starts though! |
