Snetterton 23 Sep 06

Chasing Tony Doe in the Pre-93 race   [photo Michael Leete]

So we're at the last race of the season and with the championship already won. No pressure other than my unbroken run of finishing on the podium at every race so far this year. I really want another podium today!!!

There has been rain/dew/fog overnight which has left the circuit damp and patchy - my least favourite conditions. A changeable circuit with variable and sometimes unpredictable grip levels. I pootled around for the first few laps to find my feet and tidy up my lines. I've never really liked it here. The quick corners are unrewarding, the straights are too long for a low-powered car and the last section of the circuit, which is actually quite interesting, is over all too quickly. But I steadily up the pace, combined with a drying track and know that the last two laps will be crucial.

Jez Clark is making an appearance in his old car from last year. And at his home circuit he should be formidable. He comes past me during qualifying and I try to keep in touch for a lap... but after the first corner he brakes so late that I nearly fall off the road trying to follow! Instead I make some space for myself and put in a couple of OK laps before the chequered flag. I've made a small mistake on each of them but I'm reasonably satisfied with my performance. I expect to find myself on the 3rd row of the grid but I'm pleasantly surprised to have qualified 4th (second row). However, I'm a whole 2 seconds behind Jez Clark's pole position time.

By the time Pre-93 qualifying comes around the track is dry and everything feels much better as a result. Being able to lap consistently really helps me find better lines and more time from the track and I know my last lap was a good one. Good enough to put me second in class which is encouraging as the 320's have a decent advantage on the long straights.

Lined up on the grid for the Production BMW race I have Neil Fox directly ahead (great qualifying performance) and Andy Shulz to my right. After a delayed start to clear a stricken car from the grid I get an excellent start and clear both Andy and Neil to go second into the first corner! I'm then pleased to see that Jez is not driving away from me. Andy has a go at me into Sear Corner at the start of the second lap but ends up spinning on the exit, allowing Jez and I a comfortable gap whilst the others take avoiding action. I'm now confident that I can hold onto Jez and look for a pass.

Jez is making a few mistakes and twice on the exit of Sear I'm able to get alongside on the long run down the back straight. But I don't quite have the legs on him to make a pass into the Esses and have to pull back behind him. I wonder whether I should hold off until the last lap to avoid him coming back past me. But then I sense that I have an opportunity on the exit of the Bomb Hole. Jez is slow on the exit and on lap 6 I'm able to stick my nose up the inside into the long right hander of Coram and make it stick into the chicane. I'm in the lead!

Initially I need to take defensive lines down the straights but my superior cornering speed allows me to stretch out a gap and bring the car home to a delightful win with a 3.5 second lead. What a fantastically satisfying race and an absolutely perfect way to finish the season. It further extends my winning margin on the championship and marks my fourth win of the year, not to mention my unbroken run of podium finishes!!!

The Pre-93 race doesn't go so well. The cars either side of me in qualifying have suffered damage in the PBMW race and have withdrawn. This allows me an easy class lead ahead of Tony Doe. That is until, a number of faster cars overcome their poor qualifying result to come past me. One car in particular causes me bother by holding me up all through the last part of the circuit and allows Tony to close up. At one point I'm able to re-take the position only to lose it again a lap later. A few laps in and there are a gaggle of Pre-93 barges seriously holding me up through Coram and Russell. On lap 8 one of them spins at Russell requiring me to take avoiding action and cut the chicane over the grass. Tony does the same, but at greater speed and collects me as we rejoin the circuit. I'm tapped into an oversteer moment but the recovery costs me time and I'm fuming to have lost a place to Tony.

Over the next 2 laps I get my nose alongside Tony at least 4 times, once even slightly ahead down the Revett straight but as soon as I get to the top of 4th gear it's all over and Tony drives straight past me again. It's immensely frustrating, coupled with the expectation of finding the LHS of my car stoved in at parc fermé. I pass the chequered flag 0.2s behind Tony but am somewhat relieved to discover that I've got away with little more than a scuffed wheel. These are tough old sheds!

After congratulating Tony on his class win I realise that I've done enough to win the Pre 1993 Touring Car series overall! Two titles in a year can't be bad :-)

fourwheels racing © 28-Sep-2006