Silverstone International Circuit - Round 9, 18-20 August 2000.

Snetterton Test 17th August.

The weekend started with an extra test at Snetterton to try a few things and redress the lack of seat time I have been suffering recently through unfortunate circumstances.

The day was fine and Cor went out first to start the session. He trundled round on old tyres getting a feel for the set up and circulating in the 1 min 10s and 11s. Next up I set off to see what I thought of the settings. I drove for 8 or 10 laps and really enjoyed blasting round Snetterton, an excellent GT circuit, setting mid 1 min 8s and pulling around 175 mph on Revett Straight. We worked through some changes and then stopped for lunch.

In the first session after lunch disaster struck again. Cor was trying some further adjustments when a disc exploded at full speed on the straight. He managed to wrestle it to a halt but the damage was considerable. The wheel was broken by the impact of the disc parts and locked bursting the tyre. This delaminated and flailed through the bodywork and other parts spelling the end of our day.

When the recovery crew returned it to the pits the team set about removing the broken parts and quantifying the damage. With relief it was found that we would be able to make the race weekend.

We packed up and the truck set off for Silverstone to set up for the weekend proper. I arranged to borrow a trailer to transport the broken bodywork to a bodyshop in Brackley early the next morning. We hoped they could repair it in time or we would have to run without a spare. It would also have implications for the cars next race at the Lausitzring as Cor had to leave for Japan on Monday morning for the Suzuka 1000km race and would not have time to organise an alternative before he left.

Silverstone Test 18th August.

With the bodywork repair promised I returned to Silverstone just in time for the first test session. Cor went out to check that all was well with the car and with stoppages spent most of the session working on set up. I managed 3 laps at the end before another stoppage signalled the end of the session.

In the second session we planned to bed in brakes and pads. As the time approached the weather worsened and then it rained. This was not ideal for brake work but needs must so I spent the entire session driving round with my foot on the brakes to generate heat in the pads and discs!

Qualifying 19th August.

Against all the odds Saturday was dry and sunny. First qualifying went well with Cor setting a 1 min 20.826 to put us second on the grid. Times were amazingly close with second to fifth covered by only 4 tenths of a second. The BRDCs equalisation programme seemed to be working well until we looked at the gap to pole. The Lister had posted a 1 min 19.486 to be 1.340 seconds ahead of the field, the largest advantage by more than 100% all season.

I went out for the remainder of the session but with heavy traffic and only 5 laps set a relatively slow 1 min 22.4 sec lap.

The afternoon session was only 20 minutes long and Cor spent the session working on set up.

Race 20th August.

I was to start the race as usual. We had found a good set up and I was really looking forward to giving it my all in our attempts to beat the Lister. We set off from the grid and drove round behind the pace car. It pulled off into the pit lane entrance and we moved forward in formation towards the red lights. The lights turned green and I made a poor start. I just did not hook it up and ended up in 5th place by the time we had rounded Copse corner. This simply would not do!

I settled down and got going. Ahead was the NCK Marcos as my first goal. Down the inside I went into Abbey for the first time taking the place. Next up was the TVR and once I was on his tail I went down the inside again at Abbey on lap 4. Ahead was the Lister now, the one I had to beat! I set off after it and in the next 2 laps came to understand its enormous advantage. While I was driving my socks off to get close enough to attempt a move it went serenely on its way without so much as a twitch.

On lap 6 I saw the opportunity and yet again down the inside I went at Abbey. While the last two manoeuvres had been on the limit with my inside wheel just beginning to lock this one was right there with both front wheels gently smoking as I shot towards the corner. Despite a feint to the inside to block me I made it by and just went slightly wide at the apex. However I kept the place and had not even flat spotted the tyres!

I set off after the Lotus and within 2 laps, was 0.117 off its rear bumper. For the remainder of my stint I tried everything I could but the Lotus was able to hold me off in fairly vigorous style. I missed fastest lap of the first part of the race by only 0.008 seconds and had really enjoyed myself.

Peeling off I went for the pits followed by the Lister. Our pit stop went badly. I went for neutral and either caught the lever with my hand or had not fully put it in neutral. Net result was a stall and to compound our problem the engine would not fire up again. Once going again Cor set about reeling in the Lister except that he was not able to do anything about it. The Lister could respond and went serenely on its way pulling out the gap.

Then disaster struck yet again. I could not complain of my luck earlier in the year however the tables appear to have turned and luck seems definitely to have deserted us. Cor was close behind a Porsche as they passed a back-marking Mantis. The Mantis driver pulled aside for the Porsche but turned in on Cor. The resultant contact broke a wheel and deflated the tyre. To add to the woes the tyre delaminated on the slow run to the pits and damaged the bodywork. Cor rejoined a lap down and in usual style battled us up the order. However time was limited and by the flag we were lying in 6th place. This still leaves us in second place in the championship but now only 8 points ahead of the Lotus in 3rd place. The Lister? Well, a near unassailable lead of 19 points with 3 races to go. Will it attract a performance penalty? On the form of the season and the last 2 years the BRDC have failed to implement their own rules where the dominant car is concerned. Never mind, with 3 races yet to run they say anything can still happen. However I think we now rely on a Lister failure to have a chance in the championship and on current form that looks remote.

Next round is at Snetterton on the 1st to 3rd September. We will be there giving it our all.

Many thanks for this report to Melindi and Calum - You can follow Calum's activities in 2000 on his website, but you'll hear how he's doing right here!

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