Croix-en-Ternois 05-Jul-06

Making a mess of the complex!   [photo Dave Kirby]

• Alan sliding on his own coolant and retiring

For the third year in a row we're racing at Croix in France and this year it's going to be a hot one. With temperatures into the 30's, four layers of Nomex in a closed car with little ventilation is going to be uncomfortable... but at least I know what to expect. For some extra track time I've also entered the Pre-93 Touring Cars races. Both series will have one qualifying session and two races. The results of the first race setting the grid for the second. As such it's absolutely critical to qualify well and then equally important not to mess up in the first race.

Pre-93 Qualifying
Pre-93 qualifying is first which gives me some useful testing time and it's clear to see who's had the benefit of testing the previous day. Martin Dower and Dean Spurr have a tenth or two over me which reflects the very average feeling I had whilst driving around. Previously my car has been very good around the little hairpin-tastic circuit but whether it was me or the new tyres or the heat, it just didn't feel happy... With Brian Jordan's (class B) 325i on pole, I'm in 4th for the Pre-93. Alan Wileman has deliberately qualified at the back of the grid for a "bit of fun" in the race!

Production BMW Qualifying
After suffering with my heavily worn tyres going off in the heat, it becomes apparent that they will only last for 4 or 5 laps. My strategy for Production BMW qualifying is to put in some decent laps early on (without mistakes!) and then let the tyres cool for a few laps before trying for some more quick laps until they go off badly. Maybe even come in after half a dozen laps and prevent further wear on the tyres. What happened was that I was a bit too cautious in the early laps and missed my best chance. However, somehow I managed to put in my best lap towards the end of the session on lap 12 and for it to be quick enough for second place on the grid, two-tenths behind Alan. Very happy with the front row of the grid - just what was needed!

Pre-93 Race 1
I make a mess of the first Pre-93 race. A decent start gets me past Dean off the line and puts me right behind Martin into the complex part of the circuit. And on lap 3 I pass Martin under braking into the final hairpin but then throw it all away on the next lap. Towards the end of the complex section I go into the last hairpin too fast and after lifting for a while, get back on the power and rather pathetically understeer straight off the circuit, dropping two wheels into the gravel on the approach to Bridge corner. I lose 3 places within a second and find myself in 5th place behind Dean. I manage to close the gap to Dean and put in a nice pass under braking into the first corner (the 318's braking advantage shows up well here). But Dean's having none of it and uses his track position to regain the place through the complex. Great fun... but it's a bit too dicey for me with two important Production BMW races still to run and I don't try to pass Dean again.

Dean went on to pass Martin but performance of the race went to Alan Wileman who sliced his way up to second by lap 8 and then took the win once he worried the 325i into a spin. I take fourth.

Production BMW Race 1
Hopefully I've got all my mistakes out of the way! As the race gets started, everyone gets away well and I'm tucked up right behind Alan into the complex. However, my desire to push leads me to not adequately defend my position against George Haynes who sneaks past before Bridge... argh! George then goes on to pass Alan on lap 2. Try as I might to keep with Alan and George, I just can't do it. But Alan is giving George a hard time and I hold out hope for a mistake to help me close back up. George is under some intense pressure but holds out well and ultimately Alan retires on lap 11. I finish 6 long seconds behind George. Second place but hardly deserved.

Pre-93 Race 2
By this point in the proceedings the heat has taken its toll on a number of cars, leaving the Pre-93 grid full of holes. Significantly, Alan and Martin are missing which puts me on pole for an 8 car race. This has the potential of being somewhat farcical but being disappointed with my performance so far I could do with some more track time to get my head together. Brian Jordan's 325i rockets up up to take the lead before the first corner and then requires me to brake mid-corner to avoid running into it! But trying to keep up with a faster car without the pressure of fighting for position is helpful and I rediscover the magic of "slow in, fast out". Having insisted on running in 3rd gear through the complex thus far, the ever decreasing grip levels force me to use second through the tightest section and with it comes a vastly superior line and a much better feeling around the circuit.

After getting to this stage I consider retiring from what is the most boring race I've ever participated in. Seeing the marshals around the circuit I actually feel a little embarrassed but there's a trophy on offer so I carry on! I cruise around, with early upshifting and easy braking, happy when it's over.

Production BMW Race 2
Starting from second position again, this time with George alongside me but knowing that Alan is more than capable of arriving on my bumper within a few laps. We both make a reasonable start and hold our positions throughout the opening lap. This time I'm closer to George's pace but he's still able to pull out a small gap. And sure enough, on lap four, Alan is behind me and closing slowly. I think I can hold him off - it's very difficult to pass around here. Within another few laps, Alan is challenging me for the position but defensive lines and being careful to get on the power early seems to be working. I'm a little surprised that he doesn't have as much outright speed down the straights as in the previous races and am mindful that he has suffered from overheating problems.

On the 11th lap Alan starts to slide on his own coolant and retires [video clip]. I can get back on the racing line and do my best to close the gap to George who presumably has backed off while I was holding Alan up. But with only 4 laps to go my chances are slim. I'm mildly pleased to finish less than a second back.

But the overriding feeling is one of disappointment. Sure enough, two second place finishes and a nice tally of points is certainly a good result, but the way in by which I came by them was not deserving of podium finishes. Too many mistakes, not enough thought and perhaps even a lack of motivation. But it was a great weekend! :-)

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