Race Report - Porsche Open 16th March 2003
Practice
This was to be a shakedown test after the work that had been carried out on the car over winter. Following the accident damage at Silverstone last year we decided to fit a new inner wing and front valance, and the car only came together the afternoon before the race.
It was a beautiful sunny spring day and Tony Brown had turned up in a 968 having decided not to continue with the 2.7RS in the new Club Championship structure. Ian White was also there in his upgraded 3.2 as was Richard Harrison in a new to him 3.2 carrera. Quite a few of those Club competitors who were not racing decided to come and watch to see what they could find out for the new season. Yes that means you Colin, David & John !
I wanted to get three laps in and took it steady at first, understandably as it had been about 5 months since I was on circuit and didn't want to go off at the first corner. Nonetheless I did overtake a few of the new class 1 cars before the water temperature started to rise and I was reminded of the aroma of boiling coolant. After just 6 laps I went back to the paddock to identify the source which was nothing more than a loose hose which had worked free from the retaining clip. Fortunately nothing major, and the car would be ready for the race. Better than that I was not even last on the grid having got in a quicker lap than Ray Hollyman in his obviously troubled 964 Turbo
Race
This was to be a quiet race after the first two laps. I got my usual slow start and was behind Wayne Jackson, Richard Harrison and and Tony Brown as we went down Craner Curves. The four of us stayed together until on the second lap Wayne decided to try passing on the inside at Coppice. It would best be described as an ambiguous move and post race he admitted to being a little surprised by Tony turning in on him. Meanwhile I decided to hang back a little bit, watch the fun and then took the advantage on the run down the straight to pass Wayne whose exit speed from Coppice had been compromised.
On lap 3 Wayne gave chase and had nearly caught me at Mcleans. A quick glance in my mirror allowed me to see plumes of smoke as Wayne had a most terrific tank slapper and that was to be the last I heard from him for the remainder of the race. The next car I had a minor battle with was the blue 964 of Henry Firman. Though he was quicker in a straight line he was slower around the corners in the early laps which allowed Richard Harrison to pull away and out of touch. Once Henry pulled away it was a pretty lonely race, except for keeping an eye in the rear view mirrors for the faster GT3's 930 of Brian Robinson and 935 of Richard Chamberlain who lapped me twice.
Here's a picture taken in the paddock at Rockingham of Henry Firman, Porsche Open competitor, with his beautiful blue 964.
