FERRARI formula classic Snetterton Round 7 2005

Qualifying - early in the 20 minuet session I was overtaken by Pogson in his 328 which was spewing fluid out like an open tap, as I came out of the Esses my TR snapped sideways and this did give me more than a little cause for concern.

As I next entered the Essess I could see a line of fluid, it couldn't be water or fuel it would have evaporated, therefore it must be oil, I gesticulated to the Marshals that something was on the track and next time round flag for slippery surface was being waved.

I made the decision to come in and I said Adam and Matt I didn't feel as though I'd be able to go any faster than I already had and would be surprised if anyone else did, and I didn't go out again.

So when nearly everyone went faster on lap ten, I'd only done five, I realized I had made the wrong decision!

I new at the out set I would be unlikely to have achieved my goal and taken pole for Gp1 as the little seen LeMans Dayton was on the list, even so I did want to do my best and at least make an improvement on last years lap record of 1:30.12 so my quali lap of 1:32.59 was not what I was hoping for - even if I had short changed myself, although I was a couple of seconds faster than last year. I knew there was more to come.

The Race - started with confusion as we reformed on the grid after eh Green Flag lap, John Goodwin didn't seem to know where he should be, hesitating a couple of rows short and on the left instead of in the middle.
I gesticulated to the Marshals but it was too late, he was in my spot and couldn't get into the correct one so I took his.

It would turn out to be in my favor. In my maneuvering to get into Goodwin's spot I had left a small amount of right hand lock on, as the reds went out I quickly darted off to the right, had to back of the gas, recover to the correct direction by which time the engine had lost revs and bogged down.

As it picked up revs, I found a gap appeared and by the first corner Riches I had gone from 16th on the grid to 10th! A thought passed through my brain that "The first time in seven we didn't have an on-board video camera" Rats!

I keep 10th until lap 3 when Peter Everingham (Who had started from 11th) came past under braking in his 328GTB at Russell, lap 4 Marco Pullen (Mondial T) he had started from 13th - got past, I do remember Marco seeming to slow into Sears more than I was expecting and I found my self unexpectedly on his inside at the apex, there must have only been tissue paper between us.

On lap 5 Richard A-W who had started from 8th spot but had a bad start came by (he would finish 9th). Also past on lap 5 was John Marshall 328GTB (12h on the Grid)

I'm now being hounded by Goodwin (Mondial T) who by lap 7 has been caught and passed by Pullen, and is now right on my tail, hang on hasn't he been by once? I don't remember where he got past again, into Russell I think,

Marco got close once more but he dropped back he may even have had another spin I don't recall. Now on lap 9 it was Goodwin behind me but with a comfortable cushion of a couple of seconds.

So with, Goodwin, Hanson (512 TR) Burrage (Mondial T) and Campbell (246 GT) behind Pullen who was again on my tail, we were starting lap 11.
Pullen got past again and really all I remember is my taking him again down the pit straight prior to Riches, I was told afterwards the whole pit lane of spectators move forward to see the spectacle.

Which is how we finished, my best lap was a pleasing 1:27.9 over 2 seconds faster than the existing lap record of Chris Drake in his 330 GTO from last year, and some 6 seconds faster than my fastest lap from last year.

So 13th overall 2nd in GP1 the LeMans Daytona won GP1 and the race outright with a new lap record of 1:22.9.

I was happy a great race, great food and great weather!