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Castle Combe Race 24th June |
| Having spent the official test day for Castle Combe hurtling around Le Mans, I was somewhat sceptical over how we would perform for this round of the Championship. Fortunately Mike was able to do the test and we had the added advantage of JC-W's input for the day. These two (together with the TVR duo) have had the benefit of many hours of battling around the Wiltshire circuit in their TVR Tuscans. By all accounts the circuit has a reputation for being bumpy (my last visit in 1989 unfortunately gave me no recollection of this.............however I did win that race!!) Until you drive it though in a stiffly sprung GT car.......believe me, you have no idea how bumpy it really is. We managed to sneak a few laps in the course car early on the Saturday morning and I thought Mike had been exaggerating - it felt fine in the comfort of this saloon!
When I tried my first lap however my opinion changed rapidly.........approaching Quarry corner I hit a bump so hard that it threw my foot off the brake and I had my first of a number of not insignificant "moments" as I attempted to learn the track. Mike had put us second and I knew that if we were to have any chance then I would need to get within about a second of his time. I managed it and we made some further adjustments to make it easier to drive for the race. We both knew we were up against it with the TVR. Both of their drivers had posted good times and their car looked so good over the bumps. We felt that the Viper was beatable though despite its power advantage. The forecast was also for hot weather which would also help us with our Michelins.
And hot weather it was.....(why couldn't we have had some of this last weekend in France??) As I drove into the circuit I could not believe the number of people there. It had been billed as the biggest event here in 25 years and the 17000 people were testament to that. Grid time and I lined up next to the big Speed 12. The Viper was behind him and as the lights changed I floored it. I could not however stop the big American muscle car from pulling alongside me and indeed ahead of me as we raced to the first corner. I was in third and knew I had to pass the Viper if Mike was to have any chance of catching the TVR. I was quicker through all the corners and indeed under the brakes but I just did not have enough poke to make a move stick. I could have been more aggressive but I was also acutely aware of our continual need to score points.
I was also sure we could get past them in the pits - we were nose to tail down pit road but he was slower than he should have been. I have no idea why. I hit the limiter, then found neutral as I brought the car to a halt. We unfortunately though did not have a good stop and the Viper was out ahead of us.
We were not going to find out if we had a better racecar than them though as an incident with a backmarker sent the Viper into a spin and into the tyres. The safety car was summoned and suddenly we were in with a chance. There were half a dozen GTO cars separating us from the TVR and Mike made it past all of these on the first green flag lap. He then started to reel in the Blackpool Beast. He made his move at Quarry and eased gently away to take the flag. A brilliant drive and indeed brilliant result at a circuit where we thought we would be disadvantaged. Next stop Brands Hatch........
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