UK Formula Ford Championship
OULTON DONINGTON SNETTERTON BRANDS ROCKINGHAM
BRANDS_GP KNOCKHILL SILVERSTONE THRUXTON COMBE

Graham's weblog: 2nd October: Thruxton

On the home straight
The team headed for the penultimate round of the UK Formula Ford championship in a happy mood. David had a good lead in the championship and barring a disaster, we were on course to clinch the scholarship with two rounds to spare.

Qualifying
What about Thruxton? It is a massive circuit, very fast, and difficult to learn. With no suitable testing available it was in at the deep end for David and as usual he coped well and was up to pace very quickly. Nagase, our main rival for pole, did a good job and looked comfortable on the circuit securing 2 pole positions. We were in the frame with 2 second places, and David was sure he was no where near his limit and felt that better times would come. The weather had been terrible when we arrived and it did not let up on both race days. Choosing tyres suitable for the conditions is always a problem and at this meeting, with the weather so varied, we went with the flow. If the other teams put on wets so did we. If they put on dries we changed too. It was the most sensible thing to do but it caught us out.

Race one
David drove well as usual, and in the wet conditions, he managed to make a race of it by chasing Nagase home, finishing second with fastest lap.

Race 2
This is where things got complicated. It was showery all day, and most races either started in the wet and dried, or started dry and then got wet. Our race was no exception. It was dry when the car left the holding area but out at the back of the circuit, unknown to the teams, it was wet. It also rained after lap six and on slicks this meant that David had to drive a very careful race. Jamie Jardine who started last had gambled on wets and this paid off, because when it rained he took advantage of the extra grip, and passed plenty of cars including us, to finish second in class. David kept out of trouble and was third.

Always read the regulations
We had no disasters, taking a 2nd and a 3rd place, and in theory, did enough to win the Championship. Then we read the regulations again, and our plans are in tatters, because the rules state that you have to attend a meeting to be able to count it as a dropped score. Silverstone, Thruxton and Castle Combe in three consecutive weekends is a tough task for an amateur team, especially as Kenny and I have other commitments, and we had figured on missing Castle Combe. The rules said otherwise and it is disappointing that we now have to make plans to go to Castle Combe.

Still dreaming
Thruxton was a great meeting. The F3s were top of the bill and I always enjoy meetings when they are on the bill. At this meeting there were also races for Classic F3s and the more modern Club F3 cars. I have been an F3 fan since my days as a Formula Ford driver in the late seventies & early eighties. Through a sponsor of mine we went to Oulton as a guest of RMC to see their F3 team. It was a great trip and to me F3 was real racing with real cars because they had slicks, wings and went very quickly. It is a formula that I have always fancied and with David doing so well I still fancy an involvement. At Thruxton I spotted the very car that had taken my fancy 27 years ago.

It was beautifully turned out and a credit to its owner.

Next race: COMBE

Pictures