Season Finale at Spa
With six cars in Class Two still in the hunt for end of season honours the racing was likely to be competitive if not cut-throat. Given the fast nature of the Spa circuit and its unpredictable weather, the weekend was never going to be dull. It didn't disappoint!
Qualifying
A damp track greeted us on Friday afternoon for our qualifying session. Hoping the track might dry out we went for an intermediate set-up, enabling us to put in a fast lap late into the session. However, conditions worsened and we were likely to escape unscathed after a full 360 exiting Eau Rouge in traffic. Many others were not so lucky, and the barriers we had so fortunately avoided claimed several victims, the last of which, Gary Duckman, caused the red flag to be produced. We returned to the pits were the EMC guys adjusted the suspension to suit the wetter conditions better. We then went back out for three further laps, which proved to be the quickest of the session. Thinking we had done reasonably well, we were pleased to find that we had qualified third in class, notably quicker than some of our nearest rivals.
Race 1
Saturday brought sunshine and dry conditions for the first of our races. We made a good start and managed to avoid two slow starting Class One cars that caused a few heart stopping moments on the grid. The majority of the race saw us, Chris Dyer, Tim Bates, Alan Newbold and Andy Duncan closely contesting what was to be third place in an epic race long battle. We had briefly be running second, when one of the Open Series 911 GT3s decided he was going to knock of us rather than overtake in the usually fashion thus demoting us back to sixth. The race turned out to be the most exciting and cleanly fought of any that have taken place this season … and then there was the last lap! Coming into the Bus Stop for the final time Alan decided he was going to outbrake everyone! He ended up locking his brakes and wiping out his team mate Andy. The rest of us managed to avoid the carnage and we crossed the line to finish a creditable fourth.
Race 2
Sunday morning saw us greeted with pouring rain. By the time our race was due to start, just after midday, the conditions were truly awful. The race was started behind the safety car but after two laps it peeled in and we were left to fend for ourselves in a wall of spray. We managed to put an early move on class leader Chris Dyer before catching Tim Bates in second place. Tim clearly had the legs on us down the straights but were we easily able to reel him back in through the corners. Our progress was thwarted when Richard Ellis joined the scrap in his 911 and he was not only able to pass us but soon dispatch Tim as well. Frustration started to mount and after several laps of following Tim, a good exit from the Pouhon corner enabled us to pull level and pass him around the outside of the following corner. With clear track in front of us and much improved visibility we set after Richard. Within a couple of laps we were able to catch sight of the back of his car and were clearly pulling him in at a rate of knots. Then, with 10 minutes to go, on exiting Eau Rouge we went for fifth gear only to get a box full of neutrals. We tugged the lever back into fourth gear which was fortunately still there, and further investigative prods allowed us also to find third gear, but that was it! Despite this obvious handicap, not only were we able to maintain our third place but were still able to close in on second place. But as has happened too often this season, the chequered flag was waved before we were able to hone in on the back of Richard's car.
Reflection
A reasonably good showing particularly in the wet has given us good reason to finish the season feeling proud. It has also made us rue our bad luck this season and wonder what might have been. A huge thank you to everyone at EMC Motorsport without whom, this season we just not have been possible. We're all off now for a well earned winter's break but will be back in action early in the New Year!
Qualifying
A damp track greeted us on Friday afternoon for our qualifying session. Hoping the track might dry out we went for an intermediate set-up, enabling us to put in a fast lap late into the session. However, conditions worsened and we were likely to escape unscathed after a full 360 exiting Eau Rouge in traffic. Many others were not so lucky, and the barriers we had so fortunately avoided claimed several victims, the last of which, Gary Duckman, caused the red flag to be produced. We returned to the pits were the EMC guys adjusted the suspension to suit the wetter conditions better. We then went back out for three further laps, which proved to be the quickest of the session. Thinking we had done reasonably well, we were pleased to find that we had qualified third in class, notably quicker than some of our nearest rivals.
Race 1
Saturday brought sunshine and dry conditions for the first of our races. We made a good start and managed to avoid two slow starting Class One cars that caused a few heart stopping moments on the grid. The majority of the race saw us, Chris Dyer, Tim Bates, Alan Newbold and Andy Duncan closely contesting what was to be third place in an epic race long battle. We had briefly be running second, when one of the Open Series 911 GT3s decided he was going to knock of us rather than overtake in the usually fashion thus demoting us back to sixth. The race turned out to be the most exciting and cleanly fought of any that have taken place this season … and then there was the last lap! Coming into the Bus Stop for the final time Alan decided he was going to outbrake everyone! He ended up locking his brakes and wiping out his team mate Andy. The rest of us managed to avoid the carnage and we crossed the line to finish a creditable fourth.
Race 2
Sunday morning saw us greeted with pouring rain. By the time our race was due to start, just after midday, the conditions were truly awful. The race was started behind the safety car but after two laps it peeled in and we were left to fend for ourselves in a wall of spray. We managed to put an early move on class leader Chris Dyer before catching Tim Bates in second place. Tim clearly had the legs on us down the straights but were we easily able to reel him back in through the corners. Our progress was thwarted when Richard Ellis joined the scrap in his 911 and he was not only able to pass us but soon dispatch Tim as well. Frustration started to mount and after several laps of following Tim, a good exit from the Pouhon corner enabled us to pull level and pass him around the outside of the following corner. With clear track in front of us and much improved visibility we set after Richard. Within a couple of laps we were able to catch sight of the back of his car and were clearly pulling him in at a rate of knots. Then, with 10 minutes to go, on exiting Eau Rouge we went for fifth gear only to get a box full of neutrals. We tugged the lever back into fourth gear which was fortunately still there, and further investigative prods allowed us also to find third gear, but that was it! Despite this obvious handicap, not only were we able to maintain our third place but were still able to close in on second place. But as has happened too often this season, the chequered flag was waved before we were able to hone in on the back of Richard's car.
Reflection
A reasonably good showing particularly in the wet has given us good reason to finish the season feeling proud. It has also made us rue our bad luck this season and wonder what might have been. A huge thank you to everyone at EMC Motorsport without whom, this season we just not have been possible. We're all off now for a well earned winter's break but will be back in action early in the New Year!
