Going backwards
It is right to say that if you are going to get overtaken repeatedly it is much better to be nearer the front so that the end result does not quite look so painful. But it is also true that being overtaken is horrible. So this is the story of a long day at Snetterton.
An early start from home as the normal pre-race nights sleep was punctuated by wakefulness and then eyes wide open at 5ish. As ever all was ready to go on arrival at the circuit and I decided I would be first out on the track to give myself a little more time. Two other guys (Simon Davey and Oliver Robinson) went past almost immediately but the former knows the circuit as well as anyone and the other had been testing on Friday.
I was taking it steadily and started to build up speed but my turning in was generally too early This feels rather like a novices error (although one I commit all the time) and has something to do with thinking it will be too late and you will not make it around the corner. My times did get quicker but I was stuck around the 1.20.2 mark when I came upon the ever helpful Roger Newman who towed me all the way down the back straight. Suddenly I had taken a second off my time and I was 3rd on the grid - and chuffed - but knowing this was a bit of a lucky break.
The gap between qualifying and the race was such that I watched the Grand Prix and had a doze. My starter motor almost packed up but Bernard held onto it and allowed the car to start and we formed up on the grid. A reasonable start saw me hold my place with a bit of a gap to the following cars and Davey and Robinson, yes them again, got pretty close to each other - with me alongside them down the back straight. Slowly though they pulled away and my temperature gauge started to climb. I was almost in touch when Robinson spun excitingly at Riches causing me to completely lose Simon. Whilst I was in second for a while it was not to last.
Over the next few laps Steve Hare, Paul Walton and finally David Penlington got past me.
And now is the time for the touch of arrogance that one needs as a racing driver but is not something I am comfortable with. I do not believe I could have made the car go much faster. I never have a perfect lap but I simply could not stay on terms with anyone who went past me and when the lap times appeared after the race I was again off the front runners pace by at least a second. The gauge was showing 110 degrees on occasions but did fluctuate quite wildly and I wondered if the gauge was faulty rather than the engine overheating. I decided to keep going until the oil pressure disappeared - but this appeared relatively stable and I was still 4th or 5th.
Of course the race was then stopped (wrongly, when the marshalls overeacted to a car which spun but then continued) after 6 laps and as you take the positions on the previous lap I was 4th and David Penlington, who was actually in front of me, was relegated one place.
Now 4th is a great result but there were 10 drivers with a faster time than me. So either I am getting slower or it is the car - and I really think it is the car. At one point I followed Steve Hare through a corner and I braked in the same place, took the same line but he just drove away and left me scrabbling. All drivers must want to blame their tools but I just have to believe it is not me. Confidence could be an issue and I admit that when cars are close to me I am still a little cautious but I was charging around coners with all my old bravado so this was not the problem.
This does leave me with a simple choice. If it is me - I will give up as I cannot carry on without some hope of winning. My problem is finding out and so Bernard is going to try the car at Pembrey and let me have his wise diagnosis. If Bernard is positive about the car and testing does not get me going more swiftly it may be that I shall admit defeat sometime soon.
At least I only have to wait a couple of weeks before I can have another go.
An early start from home as the normal pre-race nights sleep was punctuated by wakefulness and then eyes wide open at 5ish. As ever all was ready to go on arrival at the circuit and I decided I would be first out on the track to give myself a little more time. Two other guys (Simon Davey and Oliver Robinson) went past almost immediately but the former knows the circuit as well as anyone and the other had been testing on Friday.
I was taking it steadily and started to build up speed but my turning in was generally too early This feels rather like a novices error (although one I commit all the time) and has something to do with thinking it will be too late and you will not make it around the corner. My times did get quicker but I was stuck around the 1.20.2 mark when I came upon the ever helpful Roger Newman who towed me all the way down the back straight. Suddenly I had taken a second off my time and I was 3rd on the grid - and chuffed - but knowing this was a bit of a lucky break.
The gap between qualifying and the race was such that I watched the Grand Prix and had a doze. My starter motor almost packed up but Bernard held onto it and allowed the car to start and we formed up on the grid. A reasonable start saw me hold my place with a bit of a gap to the following cars and Davey and Robinson, yes them again, got pretty close to each other - with me alongside them down the back straight. Slowly though they pulled away and my temperature gauge started to climb. I was almost in touch when Robinson spun excitingly at Riches causing me to completely lose Simon. Whilst I was in second for a while it was not to last.
Over the next few laps Steve Hare, Paul Walton and finally David Penlington got past me.
And now is the time for the touch of arrogance that one needs as a racing driver but is not something I am comfortable with. I do not believe I could have made the car go much faster. I never have a perfect lap but I simply could not stay on terms with anyone who went past me and when the lap times appeared after the race I was again off the front runners pace by at least a second. The gauge was showing 110 degrees on occasions but did fluctuate quite wildly and I wondered if the gauge was faulty rather than the engine overheating. I decided to keep going until the oil pressure disappeared - but this appeared relatively stable and I was still 4th or 5th.
Of course the race was then stopped (wrongly, when the marshalls overeacted to a car which spun but then continued) after 6 laps and as you take the positions on the previous lap I was 4th and David Penlington, who was actually in front of me, was relegated one place.
Now 4th is a great result but there were 10 drivers with a faster time than me. So either I am getting slower or it is the car - and I really think it is the car. At one point I followed Steve Hare through a corner and I braked in the same place, took the same line but he just drove away and left me scrabbling. All drivers must want to blame their tools but I just have to believe it is not me. Confidence could be an issue and I admit that when cars are close to me I am still a little cautious but I was charging around coners with all my old bravado so this was not the problem.
This does leave me with a simple choice. If it is me - I will give up as I cannot carry on without some hope of winning. My problem is finding out and so Bernard is going to try the car at Pembrey and let me have his wise diagnosis. If Bernard is positive about the car and testing does not get me going more swiftly it may be that I shall admit defeat sometime soon.
At least I only have to wait a couple of weeks before I can have another go.
posted by Anthony at 4:23 PM
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