Tuesday 6 June 2017

Brands Hatch Indy - Round Three - First Place!

Having been bitterly dissapointed with my result at Curborough a couple of weeks ago,it was certainly time to have a good result this weekend at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit.

I arrived on Wednesday night as had booked two test days (for the Thursday and the Friday) and then some marshalling for the Saturday, with quali and the race on Sunday.   Unlike quite a few others, I came out of the two test days with my car intact.  Marshalling on the Saturday was a bit drawn out, but really gives you an appreciation for them as they are all volunteers and without them we could not race (the same goes vice-versa, but even so!).

Onto quali... I headed up to the holding area and luckily got the first slot out so could have a few clean laps to get some decent times in - well that was the plan; until the session was immediately red flagged by someone ending up in the gravel after Paddock Hill bend, which somehow meant I lined up last with 27 cars ahead of me!  Battling through the traffic I managed a time which was enough to get me 4th on the grid, which I wasn't overly happy with, but still would give me a chance for a podium finish.

Anyway, onto the race, here's the video:-

yyyeeaaahhhhhh - I won! ☺ What a rush!  One of the most incredible feelings of emotion in my whole life, and a moment I will relish for a long time to come.  Well done to Graham Macdonald (p2) and James Murphy (p3).
Top step of the podium was an absolutely perfect result to my first race
Top step of the podium was an absolutely perfect result to my first race
With some interviews out of the way, it was time to spray the champagne (well Prosecco)
Podium celebrations were fun
Podium celebrations were fun
I think I'm now leading the championship again, and with four races to go it's very close indeed!  The race highlights will be on TV this weekend - Saturday 10th June 2017 at 15:45, on Motorsport.tv (Sky Channel 447).

I'm going to take a bit of a break from the car for a bit and get some of my life back for a bit, so I think the next time I'll go out will be for the next event at Donington Park for the 60th Anniversary of the Seven festival over the weekend of 8th and 9th July.