Had been really looking forward to returning to Trac Mon, Anglesey, where I took my ARDS test one year ago. Once again thanks to Ashley Gregory and her dad, and Ady my dads old friend who all helped us to get the Saxo prepared in the short time between this and Donington Park.
Friday practice was going well, the sun was out and complete opposite conditions to when I was last here. Was lovely to hear "Welcome back Sandro" when I went to the desk to sign on, (suppose a visit from a crew filming a BBC documentary won't be easily forgotten).
Using our methodical and structured testing pattern as we had done previously with Aston of Nurburgring Tours, we were trying different things and I was working hard on getting my laptimes down in the heat, until disaster struck in the penultimate practice session....going through a right hand downhill corner and the left strut failed, collapsing the front corner of the car, & tearing out the suspension, driveshaft and brakes. Thankfully it happened on a slightly slower part of the circuit and I aimed the car dragging it onto the grass. This still caused a red flag for the session to be stopped.
After the marshalls had made sure that I was ok, they set about the difficult recovery on the incline, and we could only watch in horror as the car was lifted up and the front left wheel dangled with all the detached parts, oil pouring out of the gearbox, and huge clumps of turf stuck to the underside of the car where it had dug into the verge. Huge thanks to the marshalls for delivering my car back to our garage area and lowering it carefully onto the axle stands so that we could assess the damage and set about the repairs.
Photo Credit Team Adz 1928
Lucky for us the JSCC paddock is a friendly helpful place and we had most of the spares needed to replace the damaged parts. The parts we didn't have were very kindly lent to us by Wheatley Motorsport and our friends the Parkers. Huge thanks also to Ed Cottam for kindly sticking with us putting the car back together, his experience, knowledge, and calm methodical manner, and help from Rob got us through. This teamwork meant we just about managed to get the car back out for the last practice run, although I only drove one test lap as the car needed a lot of persuasion to turn right, kind of essential on a clockwise circuit.
But at least the brakes worked properly, and we now had the rest of the day to go over the car more thoroughly and time to get the tracking aligned.
Saturday morning after a rainy night we were heading out for qualifying for the three races of the weekend on a wet track. Not quite as quick as the warm dry Friday sessions and on this close field I was still a little disappointed with P18 for the first race in the afternoon. But with three consistent fast laps this meant that I would start the third race on Sunday in P15.
Race one and the track was now drying and even though it looked like it may rain again we made a tweek to the setup before going out. There was a huge accident on one of the fastest parts of the circuit on lap one, and a lengthy red flag and safety car. Seeing one car roll before me, and another in the barrier, I was relieved to be told that our friends were safe although they had sustained major damage. On the restart enjoyed a four way battle with Ryan, Chapman and Constable and finished P16.
After a very stormy night we woke to a lovely Sunday morning, back to the warm dry weather we had enjoyed in Fridays practice. I looked back over our setup notes and data with my cousin Javi before starting Race two P17 on the grid. Made up for my poor start and came back to improve on my practice day pace, and finished the race in fourteenth place.
Photo Credit 3SixtyVA
Was great to have some family come over to watch and support me this weekend, (thanks Uncle Colin, Auntie Julie, Grandma and Grandad ). Getting back to business and looking forward to the last race of the weekend and my highest starting position, we went back over the previous data and onboard in the hope that I could top my previous best finish and aim for the top ten. A little eager I got some wheelspin off the line and this caused me to lose positions in the first two corners, but I soon put that behind me. Determined to get back up there I took a few places in what had become my favourite corner, and soon found myself up behind regular race winner and fast friend Jamie Petters, and I really enjoyed the racelong clean and respectful battle with him trading places a couple of times, before coming in P15 to his experience. Ended the race weekend pleased to deliver what I think is my best performance yet in the car plus a new personal best, and all with Adam Kluj looking on, as he arrived just before the start of the race to personally transport my racecar home. This leaves me confident to return again in a few weeks to the track where I drove a Saxo for the first time last year, Pembrey, for another triple header weekend. Can't wait.
Once again thanks to everyone for your messages of support, especially after the incident on Friday, to all my sponsors, Kluj Transport, for their incredible commitment this year. Can't believe that already I have nearly completed my first season car racing with just two meetings to go.
Also we are working hard on some other events coming up soon, take a look through my website for upcoming events,.... a car show later this month, a Racing with Autism UK team entered for the Children In Need Kartmasters race in November just after the JSCC season finale at Brands Hatch, as well as our regular Autism Friendly karting sessions and a sim racing challenge.
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