Time Attack round 5 Croft
Round 5 of Time Attack takes us to Croft circuit. I have never driven croft and was not sure how competitive I would be. Given that 4 of my competitors had been there testing on a trackday the day before.
For the past month I have been using YouTube as a way of learning the circuit.
Our team arrived at Croft at around 7am, unloaded the van and set up tent.
the car passed scruitineering without issue, after signing on and safety briefing it was time to head out onto a wet Croft circuit...
Session 1 WARM UP
I was trying to break in a new set of dry tyres, discs and pads in this session..... whilst learning a new track. A few lock ups and plenty of drifting through Complex and Hawthorne they was soon run in.
The session ended with 3rd place. Well done to Rob Oldman in his Fiesta turbo for his first ever session win
I had a laptime of 1:52....
Session 2 PRACTICE
For this session it was no longer raining and the track was starting to dry off.
I end the session in 2nd place with a much improved 1:44... behind Odwyers turbo mini.
After a long lunchtime break it was time to try score some points...
Session 3 Qualifying
A dry circuit!!!!
Straight out of the pitlane I am making my way through traffic to get a clear circuit, this session I most enjoyed.
Headlights on early for attack mode...
After a short struggle with traffic I find space for a clean lap early on and I am 1:36.... with brakes that feel a little numb. I fail to go quicker this session due to traffic but data shows I had a lot more to give...
Fastest qualifying lap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh8IiDKdAnk
Favourite shot of the weekend
Session 4 SUPER BATTLE FINAL
leaving for session very late after forgetting to re fuel after qualifying I feel very flustered and out of the zone...
Putting aside the fuel issue, as soon as I hit the circuit I am on it.
My laptimer is showing me 1:37.100 but I know I can go a lot faster!
The car is feeling slow and under powered but I carry on as fluids are good temps, afr and boost is all as usual...
I see a 1:37.095 and cant believe where my lap time had gone, nor understand where it was being lost
Hard into Tower bend from 120mph and the brake peddle goes almost to the bulkhead!
I drove a full 3 laps at cruise speed laying off the brakes but even at a slow pace struggled to slow for the hairpin even from 50mph!
I returned to the pits where Simon was furious with me... apparently Id gone quick compared to my competitors but had 2 laps disallowed. my laptime was a 1:38.9.. I was third.
I explained to Si that the brakes was gone but I had not broken the circuits limits.
Straight out of parc ferme I take a look at the front brakes, one had turned from silver to gold. the caliper had seized and overheated... Frustrated with being told id had laps disallowed, because I completely disagree I grab my wallet, camera and head off to see the clark of the course for an explanation as to where my laps had exceeded the circuits limits.
It was soon apparent that the TSL data was timed correctly and that I hadn't broken "circuits limits" but had in fact triggered the pitlane beacon, therefore disallowing my best times. This was clearly an error and I instantly insisted that it be put right, reinstate my laps and make it official by amending the timing paperwork.
With the data corrected I had won Croft scoring a max 15 points...
This meaning that not enough points left for 2nd place competitor to win at the final round even if I score zero.
GET IN!!! one very happy team.
I felt for Odwyer and as soon as I could I found him and explained what had happened with the timing data... he appeared to take it well. Both myself and my team went and talked to his team to ensure there is no hard feelings. Sadly for 20 minutes they believed they had a won Croft and still had a shot at the title at Rockingham...
Since this MR Odwyer had made it quite clear to Time Attack that he was not happy with the timing error and has pulled from Time Attack for good...
A real shame and loss to the class as he has been pushing me all season.
The trophy bird stood in his 2nd place spot here...
This has made the win feel a little hollow but fastest lap wins in time attack.
Im so happy for my team and proud to have the support from my sponsors friends and the community.
I can now go into the final round of this season with the pressure off.
To my sponsors I thank you for your support, an extra special shout to A-Drip plumbing services who have been transporting my spares, wheels, tools, tent and general stuffs
A-Drip plumbing are based in Louth Lincolnshire.
I could not ask for a better team. 3 clearly is the magic number
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