Snetterton, 30 March 2008

David Roberts' Race Report

What a great start to the race season! Good weather, friendly paddock banter, and some super LMA racing!

The class C Tomcat felt well balanced and fast in qualifying, but I was held up and had to settle with a lowly 27th place... still out of 38 cars that wasn't too bad considering most were class A and B machines.

Race 1:
The start was chaotic. The Marcos Mantis spun exiting out of Riches and was stranded side-on in the middle of the track. Cars dived left and right, some locked brakes, rubbed bodywork, some took to the grass (but remarkably all got through). I was already positioned on the right having overtaken the Porsche Turbo and a Clio, saw my gap and grabbed it! Waved green flags beckoned me on, the Tomcat already on boost, I passed a few cars and flung the car into Sears corner. I had good exit speed, passed a Clio, got a tow off the Champion’s Civic and lined up a pass on Revett straight. Four a-breast and two wheels on the grass at 130mph I decided to settle back behind him. A tangle between the Temi Kahra and Jim Mepham at Esses handed me enough of a gap to sneak passed the Megane at Bomb Hole.

My tyres felt up to temp, so I nailed Coram flat-out, knowing the Civic was still looking nervous. Sure enough I was alongside and passed the Civic under braking into the chicane. Lap 1 - I crossed the line in 16th place FANTASTIC!

Photograph courtesy of James Roberts

Now fully committed and adrenaline pumping the Tomcat charged through Riches flat in 4th gaining hand over fist on Dave Pierce's lead Clio. I took loads of kerb at Sears flat in 3rd the Tomcat decapitated a marker post with it's wing mirror as I skipped alongside the Clio. But Pierce was fast and defended well, I settled back behind the Clio, out-braked him under the bridge, and quickly stretched away through Coram. Lap 2 - I crossed the line in 14th place.

Keep it going Dave... the class-B Tommy Kaira was not far in front! A clean lap saw two seconds gained on the Tommy and my fastest lap of the day - 1:22.7.

Lap 4, again flat through Riches, loads of kerb - the Tomcat was still well balanced on three wheels! I looked in my mirrors on the Revett straight to see the Civic 3-4 seconds behind (job done?), but here I was flat out side-by-side with the Tommy - I was hitting my red change light in 5th two thirds up the straight and maintained 6250 revs as long as I dare, out-braking the Temi (and myself) into Esses. The Tomcat snaked violently as I made the left turn, Just as I thought I'd controlled it for the right turn, the Tommy came back into view taking a glancing blow from my front bumper as he passed. I briefly took to the mud before slipping back onto the circuit. Naively, I took Bomb Hole at race speed (a roller-coaster when the tyres are warm and sticky, but covered in mud!) - the Tomcat span round and stalled. I rejoined in 26th place - all my hard work undone.

Photograph courtesy of James Roberts

Worse still, mud was wedged in the front wheels and the unbalance caused the whole car to vibrate like a cheap US motel bed. 135mph with the seat, dash and visor all rattling - I could hardly see! I managed to get back into the 1:23's and finished 3rd in class and 23rd overall - WHAT A RACE.

Race 2:
Knowing I couldn't challenge the class C M3's (330-350bhp and now running slicks), I decided to consolidate 3rd in class and have some fun with the Clios (but keep an eye open for any fast Vectras). Starting from 23rd I noticed my steering wheel was wobbly - all that vibration from race 1 had worked it loose! A tad worried, I drove a conservative 1st lap for a change and had a grandstand view of Jim Mepham careering across the track prior to Bomb-Hole (just like last year Jim!) I was close behind the green Integra, but nailed Riches again dancing the kerbs - fantastic fun

Photograph courtesy of James Roberts

Having dispatched the Integra, I quickly set about chasing Fergus Trenholme's Clio before the safety car made it's first ever appearance in LMA Eurosaloons. We circulated for two laps, weaving to retain heat in the tyres. Not being allowed to overtake before the start line, I wasn't desperate to be on the back of the four Clios ahead of me, but I was caught napping and crossed the line adrift (silly stuff!)

However, a bit of Dave Pierce rally-cross held up Fergus and Andy, by the end of Revett I was slip-streaming Trenholme's grey Clio, who in-turn was slip-streaming Andy Glossop's yellow Clio. I out-braked Trenholme under the bridge, still leaving room for the yellow clio to snap across in front of me (blimey this was closer than a sales rep on the M6)! In fact, too close, Trenholme couldn't help molesting my passenger door mid-Esses. I kept control and continued after Glossop. Now came four hard laps of chasing the Yellow Clio and Jason Tarling's red clio, all three of us interchanging best lap times. I was quicker round Coram, and sure enough eventually grabbed position from Andy under braking at the chicane. Hard work done, I then missed third gear to allow the rather puzzled Glossop back through - damn!

Meanwhile, the modified class B Tomcat of Tony Harrison had caught a glimpse of it's Orange adversary and was charging - fast (a 1:21.7, well done Tony). I watched the near-300bhp Tomcat obliterate my lead up the Revett straight, and realised I now had to turn my attention to defending position. Sure enough by the end of the lap he had caught me, but locked-up his brakes going into the chicane.

For the next three laps he was all over me - I was quicker through Riches and Coram, but he charged past on the straight, only for me to regain position on the brakes under the bridge. I was grateful the lapping super-tourers generated a breathing space between the Tomcats, and delighted to finally see the chequered flag - 3rd in class and 18th place overall.

Photograph courtesy of James Roberts

Return

Visit the LMA site for details of the LMA Euro Saloon and Sports Car championship and standings so far.

Check out the current points standing.

Send comments to: webmaster@nyssaracing.com