Thruxton Race Report April 16th 2001
The Circuit
Thruxton is near Andover in Hampshire. Circuit length is 2.2 miles, with a back section which is difficult to spectate from, but which is very fast for the drivers out in the country at Church.
Practice
This was the first time out with the new car in the Porsche Championship, and hopes were high. I parked next to the other Carrera GT new to the championship, and was pleased I'd chosen an original Zermatt Silver colour for the car, different to the mango orange Colin Ingram had chosen (and I almost had !).
There was a minor problem with the new Michelin tyres.... they were not fitted to the wheels. Eventually the new rubber was fitted about 2 minutes before the session started. By the time I was strapped in the session had been underway for about 3 laps. With the misfire I found out that I had in testing at Oulton park I knew I had about 3 laps to set a decent time.... at a circuit I had not been to for 2 years.
Race
Short this bit...... After getting the revs right and almost keeping up with the 911's off the line I was coming into the chicane at the end of the first lap and saw lots of smoke around me. Was someone trying to outbrake me ? No, the head gasket had gone.
I didn't even get credited with one lap. Time to take some pictures and head off back north again.
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Photos © Mary Harvey, Steve Jones and dbRacing.