Qualifying
Lot’s of controversy was had in the build up to the Mallory Park double header event. Due to the large number of entrants, and the restrictions on numbers of cars that can start a race, the usual race format was amended into two qualifying groups and 3 race groups.
I was in qually group 2, so had the benefit of seeing the first group tackle the circuit first.
I heard it was the fastest circuit on the calendar for Vee’s, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. On paper the circuit looks a tad mickey mouse, with just a hairpin to really slow things down. However, the fast speeds with which corners are negotiated really burns that presumption to ash! Gerards being a nightmare if you get it wrong as there isn’t much run off!
Weather….perfect
Track conditions….perfect
Things started off well enough until a red flag was declared literally two laps into qualifying. The ghost of Brands was haunting us! Nothing major thankfully. Rik Lanyi’s car had stopped in a precarious place, and a restart was needed.
Driving standards were generally good during the session, and I was able to bring it home 4th fastest overall in my group.
That placed me in group A for the remaining races (race 2 and 3 later that day)
Race 1 – Group B vs C
Good to be a spectator watching!
Race 2 – Group C vs A
Starting 14th of 19th on the grid I thought I had a good start, but the car bogged down in 2nd gear and I lost 2 places before the entry to Gerards.
Must work on that!
A good exit and I was able to draft past Neil Aldridge before the Esses. Heading for Gerards trip #2, I saw the orange Storm of Sam Engineer take a wide line through the corner and start to pirouette as he touched the grass. Now, making a bit of a school boy error I was too focussed on the orange Storm up ahead instead of the racing line. I ended up joining Sam in a tandem Storm pirouette…Doh..
Must work on that!
I was able to rejoin easily, but a few cars had passed. I was just able to see the faint silhouettes of the pack up ahead and I was determined to catch them up. The hunt begins.
After 2 laps I was right on the gearbox of Neil Aldridge; I went round the outside of him through Gerards and was then chasing the monstrously quick Predator of Peter Cann. The slipstream simply has no effect when you’re chasing that car.
A one handed move out of the hairpin (my car kept jumping out of second), and I swept past Peter round the outside and onto the Kirkby Straight. Dave Wallis was the next victim through Stebbe Straight. The one car I could now see up ahead was that of Rik Layni.
Rik had a wobble and lost control through the Esses on the next lap, and I was gifted the place.
With no other targets up ahead, I brought the car home for a 10th place finish.
Race 3 – Group A vs B
I had a respectable start this time, only losing a place to the ‘pit lane to podium’ guru Peter Belsey.
The immediate battle up ahead was between my teammate Vaughn Jones and the AHS Dominator of Craig Bell. During their tussle Vaughn’s car got unsettled through the esses, allowing Craig past. As Vaughn was attempting to recover his speed, he left a gap on the entry to the hairpin.
Seeing an opportunity, I attempted to take the inside line through the corner under breaking. However….I messed up the heel toe downshift and the rear kicked out when second gear engaged. This led me to lose control and I ended up rotating 180 degrees and facing on-coming traffic!
Going backwards up the banking, I waved the first few oncoming cars past, as soon as I was able to rejoin, I did. That put me back towards the rear of the pack, but ultimately not at the back.
Now ultimate Deja Vu kicks in once again, I’m chasing Neil Aldridge for position. On the next lap a good exit out of Devil’s Elbow enabled me to slipstream past Neil and get the inside line yet again through Gerards.
A few laps later, Rik Lanyi was passed on the Stebbe Straight. At this point I think I might have eased myself into a false sense of security, seeing no cars up ahead I forgot about the quick ones who might be carving their way through the pack.
From nowhere, Ross Price pings past me through the esses. Francis was caught napping yes indeed!
That move was the start of a 3 way battle between myself, Ross and Rik. On Stebbe Straight we were 3 wide heading for the esses. Being caught in the middle, I eased off on the sight of Yellow flags. Rik may have not seen the flags, and sped past myself and Ross.
Now…there is no easy way to communicate to other drivers other than with your hands. Both myself and Ross were frantically gesturing for Rik to give the places back. The green flag was shown on entry to the hairpin, and we were back racing again.
Sadly what followed was some car on car contact on entry to Gerards between Rik and Ross. Rik went sideways and right onto my immediate pathway. I had no choice but to chuck the car left onto the grass and sit out a long drawn out trip to the barriers!
Thankfully no major damage done as the nose cone had a gentle kiss with the barriers. Accident avoidance is now becoming a speciality – this felt like Brands Hatch all over again.
With everything crossed, I was able to restart the car, have another bumpy trip across the lawn, and finish the race sadly in last place.
That didn’t dampen my spirit though as I’d had a good day’s racing. I’ve definitely seen an improvement in my pace overall and I felt more confident behind the wheel. The next checkboxes for improvement are having more consistent lap times…and…not spinning out!
Next race report will be from the picturesque Anglesey race track in North Wales.
Until then folks…