Knockhill in Scotland is a very long drive from my home near London in the South East of England; almost 450 miles! Getting there in some of the most atrocious weather conditions to grace the good old British summer was an achievement in itself!
However after what seemed like almost a day of driving, we duly arrived at the home of Scottish motorsport built high on a hillside overlooking the Forth Road Bridge in the distance.
The circuit is actually owned and run by the family of Rory Butcher who has been my main rival this year in Formula Ford and the venue and facilities are a real credit to them. Rory made a point of coming over to greet us soon after our arrival which I thought was a nice gesture. We may be fierce rivals on track and give and expect no quarter but we get on very well off track. However Rory did draw the line on showing me the way round the circuit when I cheekily asked him for a lesson as I know he works as an instructor at the track?s race school.
We spent Saturday afternoon testing and I was quite happy with my lap times which were very much on the pace so although I knew it wouldn?t be easy I felt quite confident that we would be competitive. However aside from Rory there was also all of the regular Scottish Championship drivers and a strong contingent from the Northern Irish championship; many of whom had raced at the circuit before. It was a very strong entry, over 40 odd cars in all, competing in Scottish Formula Ford, Northern Irish Formula, UK National Formula Ford and the blue riband event of the weekend, the Sir Jackie Stewart Golden Helmet Trophy.
The event itself was a real festival of motorsport with not just motor racing taking place but also a rally stage and an autotest and a fantastic display of vintage and prestige four and two wheeled vehicles. Despite the changeable weather, the crowds flocked in and it was a really good attendance.
I was disappointed to miss out on pole in qualifying for the first National race. I struggled to get a clear lap and then when I eventually did the session was brought to a premature end by a red flag so I would have to be content with a 2nd place start. This was not what I wanted as I knew that Rory who had pole would be extremely difficult to pass. However I made up for this disappointment in the separate qualifying session for the Jackie Stewart Golden Helmet event. With so many drivers entered we had to be split into two qualifying heats and Rory and I found ourselves in the same session and this time I did get a clear lap and just pipped Rory to the pole position.
I didn?t make a great start in the first National Race. The car seemed to not want to get going off of the line; I think in truth I may have not have had the revs high enough. By contrast Rory got a flyer and in my supreme effort to give chase I ever so slightly clipped the tyres at the edge of the circuit and although the damage wasn?t serious it was enough to throw the steering tracking out and make the car not handle particularly well. I was able to maintain 2nd place easily enough but could do nothing about Rory who was away down the road and put in a faultless performance to win the race.
For the second National race I again started from 2nd place and made a much better start this time but Rory to his credit was very fast over the first few laps and by lap 4 we were already lapping back markers and Rory?s superior circuit knowledge certainly counted here to help him maximise his advantage. So although putting in a better performance I again had to settle for a 2nd place finish. To be perfectly honest this was what was expected as I knew Rory would have a big home advantage but I was pleased that I had maintained a very comfortable 2nd place in both races against some very good opposition which maintained my 100% record of 1st and 2nd place finishes in all nine National rounds to date.
After lunch we would get on with the main event of the day the Sir Jackie Stewart Golden Helmet Trophy. This would be interesting as I was starting on pole and although I knew it would be really difficult to break away from Rory I was pretty sure that I could make my car as wide as possible and keep him behind me.
We had a fantastic scrap, Rory tried everything he knew to overtake me and I did everything I could to keep him behind me. I could feel his nose cone hitting my gear box and post race inspection of both cars proved this to be true but it was what I expected and as I said no quarter is given on track between us. But we also trust each other not to be reckless.
I held Rory off for the entire race and looked to have the win in the bag but on the final corner of the final lap third placed John Ferguson tried to overtake the pair of us right around the outside and I could see he had enough grip to do it. I had no choice but to firmly cut him off which allowed just enough of a gap to let Rory to get alongside on the inside on the drag up to the chequered and grab the win by the tightest of margins. I knew this race had kept the huge crowd on edge by the compliments we received afterwards and Rory made a point of coming into the awning and paying me a tribute of being the most difficult driver he?d ever tried to pass at Knockhill.
The win in the other qualifying heat had gone to local driver Carol Brown so I would start the main event in third place with Rory on pole and Carol in 2nd.
As we left the pits to form up on the grid the black cloud overhead burst but it rained very heavily at the bottom end of the circuit and hardly at all near the top start finish straight. The heavy shower subsided soon after but left one half of the circuit soaked and the other half almost dry!
The red light went out and Rory got a flyer but so did I and by the first corner I was past Brown and up to 2nd. This time I was determined not to let Rory get away but I also knew my tyres were past there best for the conditions having run the whole meeting on one set due to budget restraints. It was a balance between not being reckless but also trying to maintain the pressure on Rory.
But once again back markers came into play and Rory just seemed to either catch them in better places than me or be able to get past them quicker than I could as he began to open a gap. After 9 laps I knew it would be difficult to reel Rory in but I kept pushing none the less and 2nd place was secure. Then a bit of luck! A car had spun off at the first corner and the officials decided its dangerous position would mean a red flag would be necessary. With no pace car in operation we had to re-grid for a restart. I knew this turn of events had played into my hands and this was my chance.
This time as the lights went out I made a slightly better start than Rory and managed to get alongside him into the first corner; but Rory is a tough competitor and wasn?t about to concede the place easily. His front right wheel made contact with my rear left and the pair of slid off and onto the gravel. I managed to keep going but lost a lot of places rejoing the battle down in 7th place whilst in my mirrors I could see Rory getting back on as well. This was now going to make it a real show for the spectators. The pair of us had less than five laps to redeem ourselves. But that?s exactly what we did. I carved through the cars ahead of me to take the lead on the penultimate lap while Rory managed to get up behind me on the run up to the final hairpin on the last lap. I fully expected him to force his way inside and could see the pair of us sliding off again but I kept it as tight as I possibly could and this time it was me that won the drag race to the line. What a finish to a hard day?s racing, we?d both given it everything and so to their credit had the rest of the 28 car field. Special mention for Carol Brown who came home third and my team mate Cormack O?Neil who finished fifth.
Sometimes lady luck runs for you and sometimes it goes against you. When it goes in your favour you have to accept it with good grace. I?m a great believer in what goes around comes around so this was simply a payback for one of many past motorsport disappointments. But I did feel for Rory as he must have thought he had the race won before the red flag but that?s motorsport; it?s never over until the chequered is waved and it felt great to win this very highly regarded competition.
I have to say thank you once again to my team Cliff Dempsey Racing who did a brilliant job all weekend and to Lynne and Shane from Baines Leasing Services who came to support me and to Stephen Donaldson and Gaynor and boys for their loyal and very valued support. It?s really appreciated!
Next event Castle Combe 9th August
Post Script
Our elation on the long and tiring drive home turned to shock and sadness when the news came through that Henry Surtees had lost his life in a tragic accident. I knew Henry from Karting right at the start of his career. His father?s Team and my team Project One Racing used to pitch their awnings next to each other at Buckmore Park. Despite being an absolute legend John Surtees always had time to talk or offer advice to young drivers and Henry certainly didn?t carry any inflated opinion of himself despite his dad?s superstar status. I should imagine it?s incredibly difficult following in the footsteps of a very successful father and people by nature will make comparisons but Henry really seemed to be making good progress in F2 this year and good things looked to be on the horizon. Words are completely inadequate in these situations for the deep sense of loss that John and Henry?s family and friends will be feeling. All I can do is offer my very sincerest condolences.
