Circuit:	Brands Hatch, Kent
Date:	October 21st 2006
Championship:	Caterham Academy Championship 2006

Come Friday morning and qualifying, conditions were frankly awful and getting worse. At signing on, we were given amendments to the programme and it was only then that I'd learned one of my fellow drivers, Richard Edwards, had been forced to withdraw from the race following a big off in testing in wet conditions, on the Wednesday before. Pre race scrutineering was nearly a problem as the rain light didn't seem to want to work but this was fixed just in time. By the time we lined up to go out on track some 30 or so minutes later, the heavens had opened and we were experiencing one of the heaviest rainfalls I can remember in a long time. Visibility was almost non existent and one was more or less having to drive by reference to the side of the track as forward vision was nil, partly because of the driving rain and partly because of the spray caused by the cars in front. Surprisingly, grip wasn't too bad. Although one could just about make out the very dim glow of the high intensity rear light from the cars in front, my fear was driving into a car that had spun, as one simply wouldn't be able to see it until the point of impact. Ouch. I was conscious of sitting in a pool of water, so things in the car were fairly uncomfortable all round ! Qualifying became almost an act of blind faith, as one just pushed on into a wall of spray, driving rain and nil visibility. Many of us didn't even see the chequered flag which signalled the end of the session and indeed several reported seeing the blue overtaking flag, after the chequered flag, which was a little strange. Anyway, given the terrible conditions, I was quite pleased to have learned I'd qualified in 6th place and more importantly, brought the car home in one piece. Championship leader Lewis Hopkins had set a very quick time in the wet, some 2 secs ahead of me and he was closely followed by Andrew Thomas. This had been the first time we'd qualified on one day and raced the next, so after qualifying was over and the typically, the sun started to shine through, I decided to relax and watch some of the other racing/qualifying. The forecast for the next day was for mixed showers, so I was pleased to wake and find a very sunny autumn morning. We'd organised a hospitality box given the likely mixed weather conditions, as we had a few friends coming down to watch the event. The morning was therefore spent organising that & just chilling out. Conditions changed rapidly from very wet to bright and sunny and back to strong winds and showers. It was very difficult to make a decision on the wet/dry set up as some of the morning races benefited from a dry line whilst others had cars aquaplaning off the track. The marshals, tow trucks and safety cars were certainly kept busy. We were due to leave for the collecting area at 3.30 p.m in readness for the race at 3.50 p.m. I decided to make a final decision on the set up at 2.30 p.m. and then stick to it come what may. In the event, although the rain stopped at this time, there was still lots of water and spray on the track, so we went for the softer wet set up. I was conscious of the fact that I had a couple of very quick drivers behind me who I felt would undoubtedly be putting me under huge pressure, including early season Championship leader Morgan Parry and Gareth Thomas, with whom I'd had a close race over several laps at Mallory Park. I'd also targeted at least one driver in front of me that I thought I was capable of getting past. So my realistic target as I lined up was to try and retain my 6th place and bring the car home without damage. As the red lights went out and the race got underway, I could see cars in front of me appear to struggle momentarilly to get traction, so I lifted a little, the tyres dug in and the car shot from the line, immediately passing 5th placed man, Peter Young. Going into Paddock Hill bend for the first time in a race environment on a damp but drying track was certainly an experience and my next target was Mark Bowles who'd qualified 3rd but who appeared to be struggling round Paddock Hill and the run up to Druids. I took him fairly quickly as did others, as Mark got a little out of shape, although I had to go very close to the gravelline in the run down from Paddock to avoid him. I was therefore up to 4th by the second corner. Coming down towards Graham Hill bend for the first time, I could see Chris Legg, running in 3rd place just ahead of me, struggling to find grip and apparently lacking pace. I moved across to the inside but wetter line and managed to get on to the apex at Graham Hill making Chris take the wider line. However taking the wet line meant I was having to throttle back and I was therefore conscious that others behind me would come out of the bend on full throttle on the dry ine and would therefore be quicker down the straight, so I moved across to take Chris and at the same time, defend as best I could. I was up to 3rd and really enjoying this ! However looking in my rear view mirror as I rounded Clearways for the first time, I noticed Chris Legg spinning off the circuit. Gareth Thomas in the meantime had come out of Clearways alongside me very quickly and passed me going over the start finish line to take my 3rd place. I immediately moved across behind him to the inside at Paddock & forced Gareth to take a wider line, giving me the inside at Druids and I grabbed 3rd back again. I was really enjoying this ! As I came round Druids, I could see the safety car lights on and realised it would be pulling out this lap probably to enable the marshals to rescue the trapped Chris Legg and sure enough as soon as Andrew Thomas rounded Graham Hill end, the race was neutralised and the SC boards came out. As soon as we started racing again, I was under pressure from Gareth Thomas and had to defend as best I could. I kept 3rd place but on passing Paddock Hill bend at the start of the 5th lap, I noticed Alex Monighan trapped in the gravel at the bottom of Paddock Hill. Poor Alex, his second off in the very early part of the race in two consecutive races. Another safety car period loomed and sure enough the car came out ahead of Andrew Thomas as he rounded Graham hill bend. Again the race was neutralised for a couple of laps and I knew that I would come under pressure from both Gareth Thomas and Peter Young as soon as the lights went out. So, as I saw the safety car's lights go out, I deliberately hung back a little from Lewis Hopkins in 2nd place to enable me to start a full throttle run out of Clearways and down the main straight a little earlier than might have been expected by those behind. My strategy proved correct and as I passed the start of the straight I knew I was closing on Lewis ahead of me and just as importantly, pulling away a little from Gareth and Peter behind me. As I passed the start/finish line, I was right behind Lewis going into Paddock Hill at full chat and moved across to the inside to take him. I was up to 2nd ! Lewis didn't give me too much pressure for the rest of the lap but I did notice he took a wide line at Clearways behind me, allowing both Gareth and Peter to fly by. Lewis was clearly thinking of defending his Championship position and was not willing to risk losing that by tussling for a race point or two he didn't need. I worked very hard to defend 2nd place for some 5 laps but that meant having to take defensive lines on damp parts of the track which would obviously slow me, whereas the chasing Gareth and Peter were able to take more of a qualifying racing line, somewhat quicker and therefore they came up behind me and made me work hard to defend the place. Coming up the straight to start lap 11, I could see the first of the back markers, Clive Hillman, in front of me. I hoped I would be able to catch and pass him at a place where I didn't have to compromise pace. Coming out of Druids, Clive was on the dry line and I made a quick decision which would prove to be the wrong one. I had the pace to move over to the damp line and take Clive on the inside at Graham Hill bend but risk him not seeing me and turn in on me, or hang back for just a second or so, wait for Clive to get round Graham Hill bend and then take him on the straight. I felt I couldn't risk the place and the car by having Clive inadvertently turn in on me so took the latter option. I was therefore on a balanced throttle on the apex whereas I knew the guys behind would be able to get the throttle down a fraction sooner. Sure enough, as I pulled out to pass Clive, both Gareth and Peter had the pace out of Graham Hill bend to come alongside me. There were four of us across the track about to turn in for the Esses before Clearways and its only really possible for two to get round there safely. Must have been quite a spectacle. Apparently Peter Young's parents & brother, who were all watching, all turned away and couldn't look for fear as to what might be about to happen. ! Gareth had edged just in front of me on the inside, I could do nothing about that. Peter had come between Clive and myself and then moved to turn in but I couldn't in unison, to keep my distance from him, as Gareth was of course to my left. Peter's car hit mine and that was enough to induce a spin and away I went into the mud of the inner field !!! Game over. Expletives !!! I then watched a stream of cars fly by me as I struggled to get out the mud and finally regained some traction on the track in, I believe, 11th position. Bugger, bugger, bugger. Should have taken Clive at the very first opportunity and not hesitated. Anyway I set off again in pursuit of the pack although knew it was a no hoper to regain a decent position as there was only a minute or two (i.e. just a couple of laps) left to the end of the race. Coming out of Clearwys for the last time, I caught the then 10th placed man, Stephen Mansell and passed him down the straight to take his 10th position. Sorry Stephen ! Another very frustrating race for me but perhaps a big lesson in racecraft. I was proud of the fact that I'd defended so well for so long and had come so close to that 2nd place. What might had been, had I come up to Clive either a moment earlier or down a straight where I wouldn't have needed to life. Such is life !! Andrew Thomas had won easily from the front row and Lewis had secured his Championship at the age of just 17. Two very worthy winners. A very big thank you to the loyal contingent of supporters who all travelled a long way to watch me. They had seen the entire race from the comfort of the hospitality box overlooking the start/finish line and I was very pleased to have given them what was to me, the most exciting race of the season, with the changing weather conditions adding to the racing spectacle throughout the day. Although a disappointing finish, my efforts in the race convinced me to go racing again in 2007 ! NEXT RACE Croft (Yorkshire) Non Championship double header (two races) Saturday, 11th November 2006