15 July 2007
2nd Annual RACER rF3 International Sweepstakes - Brands Hatch

Broadcast available here

After a long time away from RACER, I felt it was time to make a return when I heard the 2nd Annual rF3 International Sweepstakes were being held, a race I competed in last year and finished 5th. I enjoy these cars and have always been pretty quick, and I have been wanting to have a race on the Brands Hatch 2005 circuit for a while now, so how could I refuse?

The entry was reletively small, but certainly full of talent. The 15 strong field was headlined by the likes of George Sandman, Laurent Vaisman, Theo Gort, and Jonas Steffans amoungst others, all extremely fast drivers who would take some beating, so going into the race my target was a top 5, a podium would be an excellent result.

Pre-qualifying was a nightmare. My car understeered like a boat while on low fuel and I had to make some adjustments to stop crashing. Eventually I got it nearly right and was at least able to beat my race setup PB, but couldnt quite muster up the 0.03 I needed to overhaul Theo Gort for 3rd. At the front it was George Sandman predictably on pole with a 1:16.7, then Jonas Steffans sitting outside the front row with a 1:15.5. Theo and myself both ran 1:15.7s, and Laurent Vaisman rounded out the top 5 with a 1:15.9. A tough qualifying race was ahead.

I arrived on the grid for the 12 lap qualifier and realised I hadn't practiced a start! I had to wing it, but I got away ok (I've always been good at starts) and nearly took 2nd in T1, but didnt want to risk the 3 wide move, so hung back behind George, Meanwhile Theo Gort jumped from 3rd to the lead. I was able to follow Sandmandow the inside at Druids to take 3rd, then watched Jonas spin in my mirrors, giving me a gap back to 4th. I pretty much just hit my marks and played it safe for the remainder of the race, watching Sandman close up and eventually take the lead. Laurent Vaisman and Tom Studans were able to close up on me while i was taking it easy in the early going, but both span and retired in the first half of the race. I put some pressure on Theo Gort in the last few laps, and was able to inherit 2nd on the last lap when Theo bobbled through Surtees. So the grid for the main event would be:

George Sandman
Scott Michaels
Theo Gort
Mike Fertitta
Richard Crozier
Gonzo Beaty
etc

Off the start for the 50 lap main event I got a really good jump and so nearly drove around Sandman through Paddock and Druids, but eventually had to give way. Then he made a mistake in Graham Hill and I was through. Further back, a lone spinner in T3 caused a pile-up which ended up causing the retirement of 5 drivers on the first lap, which was a real shame and reduced the 15 car field to 10 immediatley. Two of the cars knocked out were Jonas Steffans and Tom Studans, who I expected to see near the front before the race was over, so it was a real shame to see them retire so early.
Vaisman had made a great start, climbing from 10th to 3rd on lap one, but spinning his way back to 5th a few laps later. While passing his teammate, he had another spin which sent him straight to the wall, and out of the race. So yet another strong competitior was out.
Back at the front, George was stuck right to my tail, but 3rd on back seemed to have no pace at all, so I assumed I was the only one on a two stopper (quite suprising because I calculated it was at least 10 seconds faster over the race distance than a one stopper). I just drove as fast as I comfortably could for the first 17 laps, and George never made an attempt to pass me. I was doing mid 18s for most of the stint I think. I pitted right when my fuel ran out, which was right at 1/3rd distance, and came out still in 2nd, a bit ahead of Theo Gort, which was extremely pleasing! George kept up the pace and I couldnt quite find a rythmn on the new tyres and kept setting mid 18s, which was frustrating, but at that point I had guessed that I was pretty much locked into 2nd. I kept pushing, George came in and out of the pits right behind me again, and he shadowed me until lap 34 when I pitted again. I rejoined 25 seconds behind him and 25 seconds ahead of Theo, eventually closing down to 21 behind George, and extending to 45 ahead of Theo (yes that was all I could think of to keep myself interested on an empty track!!!). A very fun race and a satisfying result... at least more so than 5th last year. I still cant beleive George's relentless, blistering pace, but I'm happy I finished on the same lap as him this time!