Silverstone Classic weekend. Race Report
Discussion
The weekend was hard for me because we didn’t do any testing or get any free practice. I haven’t raced at Silverstone for 20 years and it’s changed a bit since then. I did a track day on GP circuit last year but we basically qualified completely blind. The differences between the GP and Historic GP circuits are Vale and Abbey, entry to club is susequently quicker but not a huge difference on a lap, its Abbey that makes the difference as it’s now flat in 5th. Mark Sumpter had entered in a 996 cup and is ‘Mr. Silverstone’ so I tried to follow him round in qualifying but couldn’t find him on the circuit so I just drove my tits off for 20 minutes and scraped together a messy 1.56 which was a full 2 seconds slower than Sumpter but I knew there was a lot left in me so I wasn’t worried just frustrated to be honest. Mark Started P3 over all in Race 1 ahead of most of the Class 1 cars. I started P10 on the grid (P2 in class) again ahead of about 5 or 6 class 1 cars. My plan was to try to latch on to Mark in the race and learn from him but the pack were so slow through Maggots that Mark was gone by the time I exited Beketts so I trundled round and picked up a few places to finish P7 and 2nd in class but a second quicker with a best of 1.55. We spent hours going through the data trying to find time. I knew it was there and it is fantastic working with a team that can work with you in this way. We spent hours looking the Maggots complex alone and worked out a different line through there and for Stowe, Bridge and Luffield 1 & 2. Yet again I found myself forming up behind Rupert Lewin’s monster GT2R at the start of race 2. I knew he is sometimes slow away so my plan was to get as much heat into my rears as possible on the warm up lap and use the traction to leapfrog Rupert at the start and try to latch on to Mark who was starting from P2. I tried a little too hard to light up my rears and span at Luffield 2 lap but it wasn’t a problem although I’d picked up some mud on my front nearside wheel rim and had a lot of vibration. When the lights went out I got a stormer and went up the inside of Rupert and Adrian Slater in his 996RSR. God knows how I didn’t hit the pit wall, but I didn’t. Aparently, Rupert drove into the back of Adrian and was collected by another RSR on the start line, nasty. By Copse I was almost with Mark and behind Jim Geddie’s 997cup who was just behind Nick Stavely’s 997 cup following Mark. I was desperate to pass the 997’s and get on the tail of Mark but was taking time out of them in the corners only to see them break the tow a few seconds onto the straights. It was very frustrating, I got alongside Jim Exiting Bridge and into Luffield 1 a few times and had the run on him out of Luffield 2 but he just drove away from me down the straights. For about half the race I was keeping with Mark but still behind the 2 997’s but I’d basically used up my tyre resource by pushing too hard in the corners to try and get a run on the 997’s and the car started to get very lose and go away from me so I settled for 7th over all and P2 in class. I didn’t get a clear lap when my tyres were good because I was being held up by the 997’s but my clear sector times were quicker than in Race 1 and my ideal best lap was a 1.49 which stunned me but we checked it and it was right. Realistically I think 1.52-53’s were on for me in clear air. There were 42 cars on the grid and the speed differential between pole and last was over 40 seconds so we were lapping cars after 3 laps. I tried to be committed in traffic which let to a few close calls which included overtaking on the grass in 5 th gear at Abbey, on the grass at Vale and round the outside of a car at Copse on the astro turff. All in all it was a good weekend and Parr were fantastic at interpreting my data and helping me find time around the circuit. Being in a class team is a huge help. If I had tested, I think that we could have given Mark a good race but it was it was a huge learning experience but a fun one. In the circumstances 2 x P2 in class finishes was all I could hope for and I achieved that so I’m happy. Richard Chamberlain's car was very quick - such a well developed package - it was a pity to see it retire.
Henry drove a good race on Saturday and was unfortunate to lose time with a spin on Sunday but hopefully he will post his race report in due course.
Steve R
Steve R
Henry drove a good race on Saturday and was unfortunate to lose time with a spin on Sunday but hopefully he will post his race report in due course.
Steve R
Steve R
Johnnywishbone said:
MIKE JOHNSON !
FIRST TIME OUT IN OUR CAR ! taken out in the first race by a back marker , finished eighth ,second race started eighth finished first overall!
his fastest lap time 1.52.8 !!!!
JOB DONE !!!!
JWB
Is that you car?FIRST TIME OUT IN OUR CAR ! taken out in the first race by a back marker , finished eighth ,second race started eighth finished first overall!
his fastest lap time 1.52.8 !!!!
JOB DONE !!!!
JWB
Nice to see Mike in an 996RSR. Pity he couldn't dice with Adrian. I think he drove well and made the most of the car.
Nice bloke as well
scotty_917 said:
Well done Steve...me & the other half were watching you & Henry closely on Saturday (Nos.24 & 65!)....
As you say Mark has an 'unfair' advantage...though he was rather unfortunate in the Group C race....
Thank you As you say Mark has an 'unfair' advantage...though he was rather unfortunate in the Group C race....You should have come over and said hello!
You may be a little unfair on Mark. Circuit knowledge isn't really unfair and he is a very quick driver..
Steve
"I haven’t raced at Silverstone for 20 years and it’s changed a bit since then."
I'm amazed nobody has said 'Gosh Steve, you don't look old enough...'
Top weekend and some crackin' racing -nice one!!
BTW, I'd love to do a track day on the Historic -ruling out those two 90 degree left-handers looks a good idea to me and, of course, easier on the brakes!!
I'm amazed nobody has said 'Gosh Steve, you don't look old enough...'
Top weekend and some crackin' racing -nice one!!
BTW, I'd love to do a track day on the Historic -ruling out those two 90 degree left-handers looks a good idea to me and, of course, easier on the brakes!!
melv said:
"I haven’t raced at Silverstone for 20 years and it’s changed a bit since then."
I'm amazed nobody has said 'Gosh Steve, you don't look old enough...'
Top weekend and some crackin' racing -nice one!!
BTW, I'd love to do a track day on the Historic -ruling out those two 90 degree left-handers looks a good idea to me and, of course, easier on the brakes!!
Its a lovely layout and a pity that its not offered as a track day option as both Vale and Abbey are very quick but not really a higher potential accident threat than say Copse or Stowe.I'm amazed nobody has said 'Gosh Steve, you don't look old enough...'
Top weekend and some crackin' racing -nice one!!
BTW, I'd love to do a track day on the Historic -ruling out those two 90 degree left-handers looks a good idea to me and, of course, easier on the brakes!!
Good to see you there Mel
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