2022 BRSCC Mazda MX-5 SuperCup.
Round 3, Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit.
For the first time in my career, we were given the chance to race on the full Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone. It was a fantastic experience; I really enjoyed the Becketts sequence and the challenge of the longer lap.
As we were supporting the Citroen C1 24 hour race we only had two races, compared to our usual three. This was compensated for by them both being 30 minutes instead of the usual 20 minutes.
Qualifying was brilliant fun because as expected trains of cars developed so people could benefit from a tow down the long straights. We were doing quite well, but then I managed to post a lap with a good tow which put me third fastest.
In the first race I got away nicely and at the end of lap one was running in the front pack, in fourth place. I managed to stay in the lead pack and after ten minutes I gained a position when Sam Smith pulled up with a mechanical problem. However, I lost it again when Adam Bessell passed into Brooklands. Realistically the front two were faster than us and were edging away from Bessell and myself. I made a small mistake and dropped back, but was edging closer to Adam when his car failed on the 24 minute mark. This left me in third place with a large gap in front to the leaders, as well as behind to fourth. I was then able to conserve the car, pace myself to the end and score my best result of the year so far. Plus chalk up my first SuperCup podium in the dry!
Starting seventh in race two, I got away well at was fifth into the first corner. My plan was once again to try to stick with the front group and pull away from the cars behind. As the front three started to edge away I made a move on Blackwell-Chambers to go into fourth, but it was quickly clear that on pace that would be as high as I could get. Patrick Fletcher passed me at one third distance, then I lost a couple more places over the next two laps. I got fortunate once again with two cars dropping out in front and for the last part of the race had a great fight with James Cossins, just edging him at the end for fifth.
We still have work to do to get quicker, but we are going the right direction and will keep pushing at Brands Hatch next month.
