1999, Round 6, Oulton Park

It turned out that the exhaust down pipe had suddenly blown a couple of welds out, and I was now faced with a hole in each of the two pipes that make up the downpipe. Some temporary repair would be needed that would hopefully get the car back to full power, and then we would have to see if it would last the race.

The qualification run had been good enough for 19th overall, although it is now starting to show that some people are continuing to develop their cars and get better and better performances from them. Where you could have got up to 20 cars qualifying within a second of each other earlier in the year, you now get just 19 cars within three seconds of the pole time.

Temporary repairs completed (thanks to my fab pit crew), we make our way out onto the circuit to line up on the grid. As usual I didn't get a perfect start, but at least I only lost one place. The first corner, Old Hall, seemed no problem at all, the cars streamed through there, still very much bunched up, several cars abreast, and so it was through Cascades, on down the hill to the slow Fosters right hander. Here is where everything bunched up, several cars ahead there was tyre smoke, and a concertina effect had other cars slowing up behind, including me. From behind, a car went down either side of me, and we went three abreast into Fosters, which will never work. Since I was the sandwich with another car in contact with each side of my car, and I could not afford another serious shunt, I had to back off a fraction and let them go. By the time we got to Druids, I had hauled them back in and was looking for another chance to pass them back. Small chances came and went, but I was going to need to be certain.

Over several laps, a good scrap built up, until back at Fosters again, the car in front was taking a tight line in, which usually means a wide line out of the corner, so I decided to try a wide line in, and a tight line out, to get on his inside for the next right hander. Works well in theory, but he moved across to squeeze me out, and I took to the grass rather than make contact. After narrowly missing a tyre wall, and getting plenty of applause from the spectators, I rejoined last. Unfortunately it was clear that the exhaust had not enjoyed grounding over the kerbs as I left the track, and my power was all gone. In the run up to Lodge, I reckon I was 10 mph slower now than I had been before, and despite trying to corner faster to compensate, the rest of the pack remained stubbornly out of reach ahead of me.

I finished 22nd (last in the top race), but with a car that will definately live to fight another day, so I guess that is good. On the other hand, being a gent and backing out of confrontations didn't win me any places, and now that I have had experience of both, I can say with certainty that I enjoy passing much more than being passed. Well, I gave it a try, but take a look up and down the rest of the grid, there is no room for Mr nice-guy. I will not be in the race at Cadwell Park, but I'll be back... Keep watching your mirrors guys...!