Qualifying
Qualifying went well and we even had time to come in and try some Flow Viz on the car to experiment further with the front aero and air intakes! The car was quick despite the vicious bumps on the Castle Combe circuit which saw my feet bouncing off the cockpit floor on the approach to Avon Rise and Quarry.
P2 on the grid behind local circuit expert Josh Smith and very close to the Class A lap record.
Race 1
Lights out as we blasted away from the start I managed to get alongside and past Josh into the lead. I held on over Avon Rise only for him to dive down the inside into Quarry. He ran a bit wide though so I got the inside on the way out on the way to the chicane. Apparently you can’t get two cars through that chicane side by side but somehow we managed it with much shrieking from the commentator!
Josh got the better exit and although I was able to stay in contention and push hard I couldn’t get back past with second on the road and another Class A win being the result.
Race 2
Race 2 was wet with standing water in a number of places. Josh got into the lead with me a close second although the spray meant I had to drop back a little so I could see where I was going!
The circuit was really slippery and as I started to push a couple of big slides made me think twice. The gap to the lead changed markedly even lap as we both found grip or traffic.
On one lap coming through the very tricky Camp corner I encountered a spinning Norman Lackford right across the road. A jinked past him which took the car right into a serious puddle. The result was a 50m opposite lock power slide up the straight! Fun to watch on the video but not so much at the time!
A final push saw me close the gap to Josh and set the fastest lap of the race for another second place and Class A win.
Race 3
A great start this time and into the lead which I held for the first 4 laps before Josh squeezed by under brakes at Quarry. The race was fast and very close as we both pushed hard.
I couldn’t get past but a new Class A lap record and Driver of the Race were good reward for the overall pace and effort.
Another second place and Class A win!
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