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Oulton Park 1st May |
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Maybe this was going to be the race to end my Oulton Park blues. Sure we’ve still got our restrictor penalties but the car should be good as this is “a high down force track”. One could only hope... Testing on the Saturday was slippery and unpleasant. We spent our time bedding in some new pads and ironing out a few engine mapping dilemmas. Qualifying on Sunday however was dry and bright. This was Cheshire at its best and things improved again when we sat on pole (for 10 minutes anyway). Rob’s time was pipped by the NCK Marcos and I took the backend of the session. I posted a 1’40.25 quite easily and returned to the pits. On driver pairings we had the best times so I was relaxed despite further concern over the engine mapping. Race day was likewise dry and warm and to be honest I was “up for it”. McKellar, Cleland and Harvey were behind me and I was not going to make it easy for them to get past. I knew again that horsepower was going to be an issue on the initial drag down to Old Hall and this showed despite gaining an initial advantage from the Marcos. We had also had to bed in some new disks so I was warned to be “careful” with the brakes for the first few laps. The Marcos obviously had the inside line and a tap from the TVR behind warned me of his presence as I turned in. I was second into Cascades and then commenced the run down to Island. The TVR pulled next to me and just drove passed me – as I was cursing my power disadvantage disaster struck. No 6th gear and then no gears at all! Oulton Park had struck again. I rolled to a stop and watched in despair as they all disappeared over the brow. It seems that we’d suffered a broken input shaft – painful! The only solace is that none of our main rivals finished either but it’s a long time to watch a race for, I can tell you …. Maybe next year but then again probably not ………….
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