ITCC Round 7&8
Anglesey Coastal circuit, Wales UK.
June 23rd & 24th
Weather: Dull and overcast with some sunny spells.
Following my fast pace in the previous rounds, i was confident of picking up from where i left'd off by getting to the top of the grid in Anglesey. Double points were on offer so finishing both races was #1 priority but finishing them in a high enough position would reward the brave drivers!
I arrived at the circuit in the back of a van with my mates Damo and Mark and a couple of crates of beer
We instantly got to work and Damo made adjustments to the rear ARB and aero which would give me greater control of the car in the fast areas of the circuit.
When we got everything ready, we hit the beer and partied into the night mostly in the back of foggy's camper with guitars and craic all the way through to dawn!
Saturday testing proved very successful and after only a handfull of laps on a completely new circuit i set the fastest time in the class with a 1.22.4
I was happy with the early pace and knew with a bit more balls out on the fast corners i could go quicker. The test session was invaluable as we encountered and solved issues which in race conditions would have meant a DNF!!!
Qualifying went well and i improved my times into the 1.21 range with my best of 1.21.602 which was good enough for second place albeit 8 tenths of John Greaney. After only a handfull of laps to be second on the grid 8 tenths off pole, was pretty good considering the pole sitter had 2 days extra testing, a full professional race team and a superior gearbox to my own.
I scrubbed in 2 new tyres during qualifying which i would use in the races.
Afterwards we went for a walk around the track. The racing teh next day would be a big challenge with the changes in elevation. This view from teh top of the corkscrew is beautiful.
Race 1:
I started on the outside of the front row and as usual made my customary 'Rocket Start'. By the first corner I had taken the race lead on the outside, but Greaney was able to regain the lead in turn 2. Greaney was right on the pace of the slower Super Touring cars from the off and catching him was going to prove an impossible task and i was more concerned about keeping the chasing drivers behind. However entering the fast parts of the track on lap 3, Carey and Rabbitt passed and I was left defending from Bailey who had far superior speed down the back straight thanks to his new K20 conversion.
However Carey soon had to retire after blowing his engine. This left me in fourth and i was right on the pace of Bailey. But alas, coming out of the corkscrew i pushed to hard and spun out. I managed to finish in fourth after a good dice with Konrad Nicholson. Things were made even sweeter when Rabbit was DQ 'd after a racing infringement. This promoted me to third and a beautiful trophy and extra points
Race 2:
I started in 5th due to the reverse grid positions from race 1. By the second corner i had worked my way up to P3 behind Kershaw who herself has showed good pace in race 1.
Getting by her was a hard task and i took me a full lap before i went up the outside into the square left at the top of the hill. I held that line and took teh position into the next corner. It wasnt long before i cought Paddy Howley in the prelude and i passed on the outside coming into the corkscrew. This left me with the lead of the race which i held for the next 2 laps. Such was Greaneys pace that once he cought me after making his way through the pack i didnt even defend from him as he was incredibly quick in and out of the corners. I tried to keep pace with Greaney and managed to pick off consistently faster laps that i did in qualifying with my best of 1.21.227. But this was miles off Greaney who just barely kept the right side of the barrier time with a 1.20 dead.
I brought it home to finish in second place my best result of the season.
Looking back on my performance, i am pleased with how things went. I have taken the second highest points total from the event only second to a competitor with almost everything at his disposal.
My pace was consistently fast and professional.
And most importantly the car is back in one piece and should be ready for the next rounds with only a small bit of work
A massive thanks to Damo and Mark for without them i wouldnt have finished where i did and also to my sponsors:
BC Designs
SimAutoParts
CT Motor Factors
D4D Photos
Hughes Recovery
Philip Burdock from B-Racing
for their advice, help and encouragement throughout the year so far!
I must also thank Katie Burdock for a sterling organisational job which kept the event running smooth all throughout the weekend.
Trophies in my career so far, and ive only just started out:
Stay tuned for more updates!
Next Round:
Mondello Park. Rounds 9&10. July 21 & 22nd.
See you there!!!