Super Lap Scotland Round 1 - 22nd April
Well, where to start? My first time in competitive motorsport was a blast! I've only done one track day so far this season, and the clutch let go - meaning the car needed a bit of work before the first SLS event. Managed to get up to Knockhill and set-up for the Sunday morning with thanks to Dad (Alex) and Fraser (Gazeebo Hire)
So the first time I drove the car in anger with it's new gearbox, gripper diff and reduced final drive was in the first 15 minute warm up session on Sunday morning. This for me was a bit of a learning curve - trying to work out how much of a difference these changes had made to the gear change points around the circuit and the way the car behaved. I put in 11 laps including a quick stop in the pits to check tyre pressure's. Pleased to find myself nearly on the pace with a time in this session of 1:00.229 - second quickest in my class, 0.670 behind Stevie McNab.
Back out for a 15 minute open practice session next. Again, still learning and trying different gears at different points to work out what was best. All was going smoothly until I have a bit of an excursion on the brakes coming into Scotsman corner, sliding one way, then the other and finally bouncing over the inside kerb and down the grass - all right in front of Michael Foster. A gentle lap after that to make sure that everything was still okay and then pressed on to the end of the session. Improved on my PB to a 1:00.088 but Stevie & Michael had also improved both now under the minute mark - leaving me third.
After that it was onto qualifying, and it had rained during the lunch break but cleared just as we were about to take to the circuit. So now I was driving what was a relatively unfamiliar car in quite unfamiliar conditions. Straight out the pits and I found out fairly quickly where the grip level was by having a big lock up into Duffus! I circulated for a few laps until I found some space and a dry line so attempted to put in a quick lap. Coming out of the chicane and changing into 4th but getting 2nd by mistake was a surprise and ruined the lap. I cruised round and then made another attempt. By this point I was over thinking and afraid that the gear linkage had been moved during my off in practice so couldn't properly commit to every gear change, with the track now clearly having a dry line my times were not improving - ending the session with a disappointing 1:02.556 and qualifying 4th.
Back into the pits and Garry, Allan and Alex quickly set about checking over the car and adjusting the gear linkage. I took the car for a run around the paddock and was much happier with the way it felt.
So out for the final, and having cleared my head of any worries I got out for my warm up lap. I was running on track behind Neil so had a pace car to follow. I knew that I'd have to be quicker than Neil so gauged the distance between us and worked on reeling him in on my flying lap. Everything hooked up nicely and the car felt good. I felt like it was a good lap but I didn't know the time, and I knew Michael and Stevie were still to run. After scrutineering I got back to the pits to find out I'd finally got under the minute mark at 59:663 giving me second place, only 0.345 behind the class winner Michael. (congratulations)
So all in all, for my first event I was delighted and the car never missed a beat all day. If someone had offered me that result in the morning I'd have grabbed it with both hands. Thanks of course to Iona for coming to cheer me on - the real reason I managed to pull it out the bag in the final!
I came home delighted with 2 trophies - one for second place, and Rory also decided I deserved the award from CSOC Scotland - so thanks for that
Now looking forward to rounds 2 & 3 on June 16/17th and hope to manage a couple of track days before then.
Huge thanks to my sponsors and everyone who helped along the way!
LRM Landscaping & Groundworks Ltd | LRM Grab Hire | F1 Wheels ltd | ACS Motorsport UK | Road Track Race Parts | Pure Motorsport | MAC Grafix Ltd | Turner Autosport Ltd. | David Kirk | Christopher Ewing
