Pembrey Race Report
12th July 2003
3rd on grid for heat behind Richard Kingsnorth and Tony Taylor, with Dave Balding alongside. Dave got jump on me at the start, and I followed on inside line, allowing charging Trev Corteil to get around the outside at Hatchetts Hairpin. Martin Boon was inside at Dibendi and shut me down into Paddock to leave me 6th. Still only the first lap and I've got John Munday alongside at Woodlands, but I'm inside this time, and brake late into Honda to hold position, although this loses me momentum down Park Straight, and John passes me at the start of lap 2, outbraking himself in the process and carrying on in a straight line into Hatchetts. Lap 3 and Trev passes Martin into Hatchetts, and John Hemming gets past me on the inside. Hemming then goes wide at Brooklands Hairpin, and I take back 6th. Lap 4 and I'm right along the pit wall down Park Straight to defend, but lose position again around Hatchetts, but take back as the Nova goes wide at Dibendi. Lap 5 and it's still John Hemming on the attack, this time taking the inside at Hatchetts, resulting in an interesting exchange leaving the corner. The best chance I got to take the position back was lap 7 out of Brooklands, but the Nova is quite wide, and I settled for 7th.
13th July 2003
Saturdays race lap times were used to determine grid positions for Sunday, and I started 7th, behind Boon, Balding, Forster, Taylor, Hemming and Laughton. Race start and Laughton moved to cover inside line, and having space behind I took the outside into the hairpin. On the exit Taylor spins Forster, and we travel through Spitfires side by side. Still inside at Paddock, I back off to avoid further contact, leaving Taylor the racing line and gifting 5th to Laughton in the process. Got back in a position to attack on lap 3 when Laughton passes Taylor, and again on lap 6 at Hatchets, but was now having to defend against the 205 of Horsey, who had passed Speed, Clarkson, Nind, and Oakes. After a lot of pressure, I was passed down Park on lap 10, but for the second time of the weekend, witnessed the faster car completely outbrake itself, continuing in a straight line. Ian Oakes capitalised and took up the chase, but I crossed the line 6th after 12 laps.