I went to Lydden Hill full of optimism, as it was only the 3rd round of the British Rallycross Championship that we have contested this year. The fast and flowing track suited our car, and the dry weather forecast made a pleasant change from the last 2 British Championship rounds at Pembrey. Not only this but we took with us a pair of nearly new and newly available Michelin rallycross tyres, which had proved to provide incredible traction during the final of the last weekend at Pembrey.
Practice went well, the car felt great and the Lydden Hill circuit was the most grippy I've ever known it. I spent the session chasing and keeping up with the current championship leader Tony Lynch, which proved to me our capability to keep with the front of the field. For the first heat I started on the inside of the second row, surrounded by fast starting RWD cars. I headed for the standard lap from the start, alongside the BMW of Vince Bristow and behind the older BMW of Gary Simpson, both of which I passed coming out of the long loose right hander of Chessons drift, leaving just Paige Bellerby in her super-fast starting Lotus ahead. As I came round through Chessons for the second time, some tyre rubbing started from the rear of the car, followed soon after by a small amount of movement from the rear axle. This small movement steadily got worse throughout the race, until I the point where I had to back off and cruise to the finish. Once we got the car back to the pit garage, we were able to identify the problem as a broken rear axle link and coilover. Unfortunately, we did not have a spare coilover, and despite asking around the entire paddock we could not find anything to get us back on track, putting us out of the entire race day.
It was a shame to not make the final at Lydden Hill, as I have done at every other British Championship round I have contested this year, however it was good to know that the car was on pace, and I can't wait until the next round at Pembrey!
Practice went well, the car felt great and the Lydden Hill circuit was the most grippy I've ever known it. I spent the session chasing and keeping up with the current championship leader Tony Lynch, which proved to me our capability to keep with the front of the field. For the first heat I started on the inside of the second row, surrounded by fast starting RWD cars. I headed for the standard lap from the start, alongside the BMW of Vince Bristow and behind the older BMW of Gary Simpson, both of which I passed coming out of the long loose right hander of Chessons drift, leaving just Paige Bellerby in her super-fast starting Lotus ahead. As I came round through Chessons for the second time, some tyre rubbing started from the rear of the car, followed soon after by a small amount of movement from the rear axle. This small movement steadily got worse throughout the race, until I the point where I had to back off and cruise to the finish. Once we got the car back to the pit garage, we were able to identify the problem as a broken rear axle link and coilover. Unfortunately, we did not have a spare coilover, and despite asking around the entire paddock we could not find anything to get us back on track, putting us out of the entire race day.
It was a shame to not make the final at Lydden Hill, as I have done at every other British Championship round I have contested this year, however it was good to know that the car was on pace, and I can't wait until the next round at Pembrey!
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