So, race report from last weekend at Brands hatch with TARC Tricolore Trophy.
First time I’ve Raced Nicole for nearly 2.5 years and first time I’ve ever driven at brands hatch, it’s a 650mile round trip hence the lack of previous experience! So wasn’t sure how we would get on, had everyone got faster while I’ve been away, had I forgotten how to drive?!
That being said I booked the 30minute practice session on the Saturday to give me an idea of the circuit.
Van all packed up ready to go
My home for the weekend
Getting there was a nightmate, accident on the M25 cost me 2.5hours so was a rush once at brands to get scrutineered ready for practice.
Practice went ok, nothing fell off and I got a few easy laps in just trying to keep out of the way of the BMW compact cup guys. To my surprise we were on the pace with mid to high 55 second laps and I wasn’t really pushing so it looked like we’d be ok, just needed to learn the finer details of the circuit and quickly!
Testing done we got unpacked and setup ready for Sunday’s quali and 2 races.
Having scrutineered on Saturday I didn’t have to on Sunday do gave Nicole a wash as she was filthy and covered in road grime and salt from the 325 mile trip down.
Onto quali then, because we had a full grid I didn’t really want to be in the middle of the que for quali and wanted to get a clear lap on my own so sneaked off to the assembly area early and lined up first ready to qualify looking pleased for myself! Onto the circuit and warmed the car and tyres up over a slow lap ready to start a flying lap, when I crossed the start line the end of the field was still leaving the pits, so that was all for nothing and I’d have to get a time through traffic! Picked my way through for a few laps and was putting decent times in low 55’s but car felt ace and knew it’d go faster so got myself some space and put in a flyer, 54.7 flashed on the dash and I knew that I’d be towards the front somewhere so was happy. Turns out it was enough for Tricolore Pole with just Rich Hockleys rapid K20 EK civic in front with a 54.3, pleased with that.
Come the start of race 1 I Still hadn’t got the hang of some corners, my line out of the final corner, clear ways, was terrible and I thought I could be faster through paddock hill. Not to worry I got a decent start and held my place off the line with
@Tony Hunter ‘s clio and Chris Bassets 205 behind. Rich in the civic pulled out a small gap and I managed to pull away from the cars behind, all was well until we caught the back markers which didn’t really work out for me, got hit from a 206 who wasn’t paying attention meaning the cars behind were right on me again. Fortunately managed to hold them off until the end to take the Tricolore win. Awesome to win first time at brands and first time back in the car for 2.5 years but definitely thought there was more in the car even though we did a 54.4
Race 1 video
Felt happier going into race 2 and thought I’d let rich off in the civic easy so vowed to stick with him as close as I could from the start. Got a great start this time and got along side the civic all
the way to druids where I tucked in behind and gave chase. I let the tyres come up to temp before I started to reel him in and was right on his bumper when there was a car on its roof at paddock hill bend next lap around, the race was red flagged. I was gutted but lined up as we were again for a 10minute sprint.
Got a good start again and got in front of the civic this time but added complication was a Turbo Rx-8 Mazda had launched off the line infront of the both of us. We had an absolutely awesome battle for the next 10 laps with places swapped between the 5 of us at the front. Truth be told the Rx-8 held us up and we couldn’t get passed which was a shame as I think we could of dropped into the 53’s. We finished like that, 3rd overall and Tricolore win again with Chris bassets 205 and Tony’s Clio just behind, we managed the fastest overall lap of any Tricolore/nippon car over the weekend with a 54.1 so over the moon with that.
Race 2 video
You get a great view from Chris bassets 205 behind so watch his race 2
So all good from the weekend with trophies and garlands and all good stuff like that
However we’ve got some damage aswell. Bumper, grille and wing damaged, both offside wheels have damage and I’ve got a gearbox leak.
Well I did have until tonight!
Hopefully sorted the leak, was all set to take the ‘box out tonight but found a missing bolt holding the 5th gear end cap on so I’m fairly sure that’s been the cause of the leak so all cleaned and bolt replaced.
Sorted my grille and centre bonnet pin that was damaged too and cleaned as much rubber off the bumper as I could.
And there we are, first races out of the way, onwards to Prembrey in 3 weeks, somewhere else we’ve never been!
Russ