Castle Combe 25-Mar-06

Qualifying in the dry   [photo Paul William]

Six long months. It's no fun waiting for the start of the race season but at least it's an early start this year. The winter's development work has been limited to an engine checkup (including new piston rings) and more front camber as allowed by this year's regulations. I've never been to Castle Combe before and so I invested in a track day there a few days before the race. Well, the engine needed running in!

Race day starts off dry and bright, but with lots of overnight rain the track is very green. I do my best to arrive early in the assembly area for qualifying, but with 32 other cars trying to do the same thing, there are a small number ahead of me. As we head out onto the circuit I do my best to overtake as many cars as possible on the first lap to make some space. This doesn't help very much, because I come across traffic halfway round my first flying lap. Even on a 2 mile circuit, 33 cars seem to use up most of it, and I only manage to get 2 clear-ish laps in the 15 minute session. And I made mistakes on both of them.

When the qualifying times are published I'm a little surprised to be 3rd on the grid. Pleasantly surprised that is... and what's more, the 3x2 grid layout at Castle Combe puts me on the front row. Result! I'll be on the outside for the long drag down to the infamous Quarry corner with John Thorne beside me and newcomer Stephen Markey ("vastly experienced" according to Autosport) on pole with the inside line.

As the race draws closer, the skies cloud over and there's a little drizzle. Nothing significant but anything could happen. And just as we're called to the assembly area it starts to rain lightly. I decide not to make a kneejerk reaction and leave the suspension on dry settings. But the rain soon turns heavy and I notice those with the benefit of support mechanics making adjustments in the assembly area. Once I'm assured that the track is properly wet I run back to the paddock, grab a couple of screwdrivers and take a guess at softening the dampers. We're on new control tyres this year and so I don't know how they'll feel in the wet. There's just enough time to get myself strapped back into the car and calm down before we're put on the starting grid.

On the green flag lap I try to get a feel for the conditions and do my best to get some heat in the tyres. Stephen Markey leads the field around at a fast pace and it seems to take forever for the last car to draw up. Unusually, the red lights come on one at a time - F1 style. As the final red light comes on John Thorne jumps the line and I think that Stephen reacted a little to John. I refocus on the lights, knowing that the others will be rattled. As the lights go out I suffer with a lot of wheelspin before finding good traction. But it would seem that the others are having a worse time of it and I'm a car length ahead by the end of first gear. It's plain sailing down to the first corner. Bloody hell - I'm in the lead!

I'm afforded the luxury of a conservative approach through Avon Rise into Quarry. Nonetheless, I'm quite wide on the entry to Quarry and see Martin Dower has jumped from 7th to 2nd. As I'm contemplating a race with Martin behind me I see him spin in my mirrors. Eek! The resulting mayhem is obscured from view but I see Andrew Partridge and Stephen Markey slip through without too much delay. I'd better push.

And so I do. Without taking big risks under braking I feel my way round the corners, trying to keep the car just below oversteer. This is generally quite effective, as a modest angle of oversteer doesn't seem to cost any time. I notice that Stephen gets past Andrew but after a few laps I can no longer see him in my mirrors and I've a 10 second lead by lap 5. I consider backing off a little but decide against it. I've made a couple of errors but nothing problematic and I'm happier to carry on at the same speed than risk a different approach. A 10 lap race never felt so long!

On lap 7 I pass the first back marker and prepare myself for more of the same. There's no need to dive up the inside and the marshals do a good job with blue flags. Nonetheless, it's still difficult to pass on the straights when you've been compromised through the previous corner. And harder still when the back markers are fighting amongst themselves! On lap 9 I lose over 3 seconds to Stephen Markey while lapping other cars... but I can afford to be careful.

As I take Camp corner for the final time, the relief of seeing the chequered flag is immense - as is the satisfaction of winning the first race of the season!!! Yeeeee-haaaa :-)

I'm directed back to the startline for an interview and trophy. Stephen Markey pulls up in second with an ecstatic Andrew Partridge making his first podium finish. We're then taken around the circuit in an open backed car which was a terrific experience! Best of all was seeing my BMW being driven around behind the parade car. Fantastic :-)

With the 2006 season off to the perfect start, I'm not sure I can wait 4 weeks for the next race...

fourwheels racing © 28-Mar-2006