Brands Race Report
April 24th 2005
Terry Roughton was quickest in qualifying with 1:00.01. Out of a field of 88 cars I was back in 39th with 1:02.13, making me 6th for heat 1. Paul Wilson in his 205 GTi on pole for my heat, beside Roger Neep.
Race start and Wilson smokes his wheels, I get between Matt Fincham and Tom Molyneux, and follow Neep through Paddock Hill Bend then into Druids. I pass Neep down Cooper Straight to take the lead. Lap 2, and I brake too early into the blind approach to Paddock, and Neep is back through, but cannot hold his line and I pass back. I lead into lap 3 but again I lack commitment into Paddock and Neep passes. I follow into lap 4, and this time I profit from a better line around Paddock to pass in Druids. Lap 5 and behind me Fincham has passed Neep. Fincham attacks around the outside at Druids, I'm generous enough to leave him some black stuff, so he passes into Graham Hill Bend. I chase Fincham for a further 5 laps until the amount of smoke billowing from the bonnet suggests I pull over. Fincham takes the win.
Heat 2 was a cracker, with Damian Cottrell and Andrew Thorpe crossing the line almost side by side. The win was given to Cottrell initially, but then to Thorpe, after Cottrell was given a ten second penalty for an earlier tangle.
Final race saw Darren Wilson get the jump on Roughton, to take the lead in his immaculate new 106XSi. As the pack followed into Graham Hill Bend, Wilson lost the back end and the front runners collected each other, Gareth Wright forced to retire, Wilson was able to rejoin at the back of the field, Roughton looking good for a win, but more accidents brought out the red flags. After the restart there were challenges from John Hemming, Christopher Petto and Robert Foreman, but Darren Blumson emerged the winner, scoring 3 out of 3 wins for the season.
Next up Donington, 14th and 15th May.