Well we have just returned from a hectic weekend at Silverstone. My weekend got off to a really good start when I found out that I had been invited to join the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC) Rising Star scheme. This is a real boost my career and clear recognition that we have been doing a good job this year. I was of course delighted to accept the invitation and had my induction interview with the BRDC last Friday during a break from testing for rounds 13, 14 & 15 of the championship appropriately at the BRDC home circuit.
Testing went well and I was optimistic of a good performance in qualifying so was slightly disappointed to be down in 6th place. But I also knew that I had not been able to gain a tow as some of my rivals had so I wasn?t too concerned about the position and thought that if I make good starts then I would be in good shape for the races especially on the wide expanse of Silverstone where overtaking is maybe a little easier than many other tracks.
Race one was on Saturday afternoon, on a rapidly drying track after a heavy rain shower, and I did indeed make a good start and was quickly up to 2nd place all be it one a half seconds behind pole man Scott Pye. But I knew if I got my head down and worked hard I could have a good go at reeling him in especially as we had pulled clear of the raging battle for 3rd place. I was delighted to be on Pye?s gearbox by lap 6 and then set about pressurising him and looking for opportunities to pass. But inexplicably on the penultimate lap I lost power on the back straight. It literally felt as though the engine had cut momentarily and although it picked up again the car didn?t feel right and it was therefore a relief to bag a safe 2nd place. Behind me Josh Hill had won out in the battle for third.
Race Two on Sunday was dry and sunny. I again made a very good start and was able to snatch the lead on lap one and was pulling away from 2nd place driver Josh Hill on lap two when the safety car was called onto the circuit for two cars stranded in a dangerous position. To be honest this was the last thing I wanted as it bunches the field up again and I?d lost out in previous safety car situation when leading at Knockhill. For some reason it seemed to take a long time to clear the cars and all the debris which meant when finally cleared it would be a one lap dash over the 3 mile plus Grand Prix circuit. This could lead to some desperate manoeuvres but I timed my restart well and was able to maintain a comfortable but slender gap from Josh who was distracted by the attentions of third placed Dan Cammish. So it was fantastic to be standing on the top step of the podium again!
Race three was late on Sunday afternoon and this one was a real scrap. I wasn?t particularly happy with a driver ahead of me at the start who changed direction and edged me over towards the pit wall but I suppose when F1 drivers are seen to be doing this sort of thing it doesn?t help. But I gradually was able to make progress and in the closing stages was 2nd in a six car train close behind leader Josh Hill and felt that I had enough to pass him. But then on the final lap it all got a bit messy with cars cutting corners and making contact and I was forced back to 6th place but recovered to finish 4th at the chequered flag with Josh Hill taking the win by a healthy margin.
So all in all a pretty good weekend and what was most gratifying is that the problems that we were experiencing with the handling and performance of the car at Rockingham seem to have been rectified as we were in the mix in all 3 races at Silverstone and if luck and circumstances had gone our way we could potentially have bagged three victories instead of one. However I am happy with the performance and the fact that I maintained my championship lead.
The season gets very busy now with the remaining four events taking place in the space of just five weekends commencing in the weekend after next, with two rounds on August Bank Holiday Monday and the championship finale being the last weekend in September on the Grand Prix circuit at Brands Hatch.
