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Thruxton Race 15th September |
| The Championship was pretty much out of reach but Mike and I arrived at Thruxton with a view to trying to win the final two races of the year. Sure we have been unlucky this year but we were hoping that this was going to change - but then again probably not!!! The official test day was actually before the Snetterton race and we were the only one of the top teams to participate. This put us in good stead as Mike managed to just take pole from the lead Saleen. The honours had passed between the cars several times in the dying minutes but the inside line into the first corner would be mine....
The beautiful weather for qualifying turned autumnal on the Sunday and it seemed that rain was in the air. Ironically this probably would have suited us as we knew we were going to have fuel problems if we had to run hard for the full hour with no Safety Car periods. The rain however held off and we rolled onto the grid,Saleens next door and directly behind.......
I led into the first corner but lost out to the no.7 Saleen on the run to the complex. I saw the big Speed 12 move to my inside and contemplated moving over but decided against it. I was down to third at the end of the lap but was did not plan on losing any more places. I wanted to hold on to the TVR which I did and gradually left the second Saleen behind. Although I could see the first Saleen moving away I knew that our stop would be significantly quicker. Sure enough after the stops we were second, and on the tail of the leader. Once again Mike proved we had the "legs" but Lady Luck was not smiling. A blow- out into the chicane nearly caught my partner out but he caught it and frantically radioed the pits. He dived for the pitlane and was on his way with a new front left.
We would have to settle for second..... or so I thought. As the Saleen took the flag, and our Championship, I waited for Mike to come around the corner. Our fuel fear was unfortunately correct. The second Saleen came into view followed by a very slow Lister......and then by an even slower TVR which had suffered the same problem. Third was all it was going to be......maybe Donington will yield some fortune!!!!!!
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