dbRacing - Croft Race Report July 7/8th 2001

Race Report - Croft 7th/8th July 2001

The Circuit

Croft circuit is close to Darlington, North Yorkshire, and is very much my home circuit. Originally an airfield, racing there was very popular in the sixties, before its closure as a race circuit during the early seventies. (rallycross continued). The circuit reopened in 1996 using the original layout, but the course was changed for 1998 as the BTCC held a round there. At the same time the new pit complex was built and the startline moved. The circuit is fast and demanding, with the high speed bends of the Jim Clark Esses and Barcroft being a real test of a cars handling and drivers courage.

Practice - Saturday

I had been testing here the previous day, and was unable to get down to the times I achieved earlier in the season. The times I did in practice were still disappointing, and I was suffering from severe understeer at the hairpin, so I started from 8th.

Race 1 - Saturday

Following the cancellation of the Silverstone race, the round was rescheduled for Croft. Grid positions were taken up based on championship positions, so I started 8th, with Mike Clapham alongside and Colin Broster behind. I made a good start, only losing one place to Colin, well, that was until it was time to change gear. Now I know you when you count you are supposed to count 1,2,3,4, but for some reason I decided to go from fourth gear was the best follow up to first. By Clervaux I was about dead last with lots of work to do. I passed most of the class 3 cars by Sunny, and then spent the next couple of laps getting past the class 2 cars of Steve Winter and Steven Smythe. I then set about catching the rest of the class one cars. Once I passed Ian White, the next car in my sights was Mike Clapham. I was catching him at the rate of about a second a lap, when Steve Jaques, who had spun on the first lap, started looming larger in my mirrors. With just three laps to go I caught Mike Clapham, but a back marker cost me dearly as Mike was let through at Clervaux and I was forced to wait until after the chicane. The final lap was a race to the line. I closed up on Mike Clapham, but Steve Jaques was clearly quicker out of the hairpin and down the start/finish straight. I drove defensively as we rounded the hairpin for the last time. Steve accelerated out of the bend, drew along side me and we crossed the line just 0.02 seconds apart. I was 6th, he was 7th.

Race 2- Sunday

The weather was dry for the start and I made a better job of the gearchange and exited the chicane behind Steve Winter in about 10th place. Steve Jaques came out of the chicane and spun, forcing Steve Winter to brake. Jaques completed his spin, but his car looked as thought it was going to enter our path so Steve Winter braked again. I was too close, and gave him a heavy tap. Fortunately, there was no other contact and we continued without problem I passed Winter and started catching / passing some of the other class one cars when disaster struck. As I was coming into the complex for the last time, the car lost all power, and would not fire. I was able to make it to the pit lane, where a faulty fuel pump relay was identified. Croft was therefore my second DNF of the season. Surprisingly, the only body damage was to the front bumper/spoiler unit. Fibreglass must be stronger than I thought.