Donington Race Report
10th May 2003
Qualifying session was first opportunity to test the engine rebuild after Brands, as the carb probs we had at Snetterton have now been resolved. All down to a perished fuel hose. The engine was great, but after a few laps felt like I was operating a pneumatic drill with the amount of vibration behind the wheel. Posted 1:33.72 to place 32nd for the final. A repeat of my first outing ever, at Donington in '01. Overhauled car during lunch, and thanks to Mark Hammersley, the wheels were stopped from wobbling.
Race started well and took positions off the line and by driving around the outside of the pack at Redgate. Busy into the Old Hairpin but all through with no problems. Into Coppice Darren Blumson had left the road spinning some unfortunate individual, and this in turn led Matt Lewis to avoid another competitor, and I took to the grass on the inside to avoid Matt. This took some speed off before the long straight, but I kept in a straight line to re-join track. Maintained position until lap three, when three cars left the track after Starkeys bridge, and Darren passed me into McLeans. By the time I got to the chicane Jonathan Howes was alongside, and in an un-Stock Hatch like display of gentlemanly conduct we travelled through side by side without contact, and I had to concede into Redgate. Mark Rodway also tried to capitalise on the opportunity here, but I had position and made it stick around the corner. Jon and I now had Dave Lewis immediately in front, with Mark and Carl Townend directly behind. Dave went wide out of the old hairpin, defended, held position, but in the process Carl went past me into McLeans. No change in positions over the line into lap 5 when Dave, Carl and Jon went 3 side by side into Redgate and somehow got out the other side, with Dave losing out on the exchange, giving me an opportunity to attack into the old hairpin with no success. By this time the vibration in the car had returned with a vengeance and I was happy to stay on the track and hold position, and was pleased to do so, the only other event being passing a limping 106 (Peter Felix?) on the final lap.
Gordon MacMillan took the top honours, I needed new wheel bearings, discs ( warped ), and pads. Done and ready for Oulton. Hope to see you there.