|
|
|
More bad luck costs us at Spa !! |
|
Surely things were going to be better at Spa - after Snetterton I was hopeful that this would be the case...Arriving on Thursday in beautiful sunshine I was actually fairly optimistic. Although the track was deemed to be "home turf " for Cor, I knew I could rely on Jamie for some fireworks.
We were in my new car which actually hasn't finished a race yet but it's first outing in Japan was in unusual circumstances. I had no reason to assume it could not complete an English round bearing in mind it was brand new and that the old package had been so reliable last year. This view was strengthened by the way we dominated both testing and indeed qualifying. I had reason to be fairly optimistic....... Jamie's time in first qualifying rattled the paddock - a low 1.21 (only 5 seconds off GT1 pace.....and indeed quicker through some corners than the GT1 car.) The other Lister was in the high 24's and I posted a mid 25 in the afternoon session. Most of the other drivers I would be starting with were in the 28/29's....As I said I had every reason to be feeling optimistic....
Race day was again bathed in glorious sunshine - I would line up next to the Mantara and had the Lotus behind me. We were, like most of the competitors, worried about fuel so the pace car lap was slower than usual - I was however determined to enter Eau Rouge first and as the lights changed to green, that was exactly what I did.
I was also determined to play my part - I would hand the car over either in first or with only the other Lister ahead. Tiff obviously had a good start as it was he who appeared behind me coming up to the Bus Stop at the end of lap one. On the Kemmel straight he was the only one I could see and we ran in glorious formation. On lap three I waved him past on the basis that he could give me a tow. It was a bad move as it happens as the Safety Car board came out as Andy Purvis had another "woopsy".
That allowed the pack to bunch up again and the TVR managed to squeeze by me on the restart leaving the Mantara in my mirrors. I knew I was quicker round the lap but was concerned over my Eau Rouge exit speed. I managed to stay ahead though and he disappeared into the pits soon after that. I came in one lap later and we executed another fine stop. Only the other Lister was ahead but not for long.... Jamie had a comfortable lead over both the Marcos and the Lister. With 20 minutes to go I heard the car splutter in the middle of Eau Rouge and a look of concern spread over our faces. Car number one did not finish the lap. As I said I had every reason to be optimistic but this is racing my friend......
One left and trailing by 11 points - not quite what I had in mind really........
|
