Race Commentary

[geofff]

Hi All,

Here follows a quick (back to my usual standards I hope) commentary of Round 6 of the BARC Westfield Sportscars Championship IAW Avon Tyres at Brands Hatch.

Thrills, spills and drama packed into forty minutes of racing / qualifying! Words cannot do it justice but here goes..........

Details of the track layout & circuit facilities can be found here

The current championship standings can be seen here

If you have internet access try for all your race and qualifying times. except for the odd race we’ve done this season with the 750MC where you’ll need to look here

Expand 'Racing' and click on 'Results and Times' then look to the right hand column and you’ll see “West” hidden away. Click “West” and a pdf file will appear.

If you have a set of Avon’s and a zetec engined WF why not compare your times to some of the race boys in the BARC championship.above. See if you can teach us a thing or two! Speaking of which I have some really interesting (the family is going to love me this Xmas  ) footage of the Brands and Cadwell races. If you’re thinking of trying your hand at WF racing email me and I’ll see if I can russle up a copy DVD for you. You can see the standard of a midfield competitor. Ahem – only after I’ve got my Nero software working properley

I tested at Brands the week before the race and I was feeling a lot happier about car & driver. I was banging mid 55 second laps in and I had finally sorted the brake problem! Yes! Matthew Flowers was testing on the same day and I could just about keep up with him so I was well pleased. Matthew managed seven tenths faster than me in qualifying though I didn’t think I’d got a good lap in as I kept missing the apex for Paddock Hill bend.

Simon Pryke tested on the Friday with Seamus Harding, Thomas Robinson & Didier Prongue amongst others. Simon found the track very slippy and had trouble getting the power down exiting corners (I had the same problem). Simon and Seamus were putting in 56 second laps in practice with Didier slipping into the 54’s! When it came to qualifying Didier managed to duplicate his testing efforts and grabbed third on the grid Simon really went for it and qualified a whole second faster in ninth. I managed to pip him by one hundredth for eighth Seamus equalled his practice times with thirteenth completing only six laps after lodging the car in the gravel trap at Druids. He was not happy.

Troy Robinson of NMS had blown up his new engine during practice so he would not start. The NMS team were there during the weekend to help out other competitors though. As it happens they were needed

Tom Robinson who’s engine had blown up at Snetterton had a “dreadful” handling car during practice but managed to place fourth in qualifying. The car was reluctant to be pushed to scrutineering that morning and a binding rear brake was suspected. Tom’s recent good starting form kept him hopeful for the race though. Maybe he could grab a few places on the start which is slightly uphill at Brands.

The usual suspects could be found at the front of the grid. Nick Flowers took pole by one hundredth from Jonathan Young who was three hundredths ahead of Didier Prongue then Thomas Robinson. Matt Flowers rounded out the top five who were separated by less than two tenths of a second! “This is going to be a close race” – Didier.

The day was a scorcher, England were playing Paraguay that day, and quite a few people were watching the match. A bad crash in the Austin race held up the meeting for quite a while. Does anybody know who it was? Serious or not?

When the Westfields were called to the assembly area Nick Flowers was no were to be seen. It turns out the wiring on his car had shorted and burned through quite a few cables. So now two of the front runners, Troy and Nick, would not be starting. On the warm up lap a line of concrete dust covered oil could be seen around most of the circuit. It was going to be slippy.

We lined up for the start with the sun really beating down on us. I had to hold the car on the brake with my right foot but get some sort of revs at the same time on the accelerator. The lights went out and I got a lot of wheelspin away from the line. As the car was squirming from my heavy right foot Jon Chappell shot past on the outside. Twelth to seventh before the first corner! Simon Pryke was up the inside of me before the first corner and past Nick Sinfield. I just had to hang on around the outside of him.

Didier had a clear track in front of him for the start (no Nick Flowers remember) but over enthusiasm with the right foot and another great start from Thomas Robinson saw him in second after Paddock Hill bend with Jonathan Young slipping to fourth behind a fast starting Peter Chattin. Within a couple of corners Didier could see Tom’s car smoking. Thomas noticed the smoke and he was having lots of problems getting the power down. Would he get to the finish?  

I kept to the outside at Druids and managed to pull ahead of Simon Pryke in the run up to Graham Hill bend. Jon Chappell ran wide at the same time and I managed to squeeze past him along Cooper straight to regain a place. Jonathan Young pushed up the inside of Peter Chattin at Clearways to regain third and set about chasing Didier down Brabham straight.

On the second lap Jonathan Young went for the inside into Clearways overtaking Didier but he spun midway through Clearways / Clark. He gunned the engine trying to spin it out and round just missing Didier. There was a lot of smoke and I could glimpse cars through it. Peter Chattin went to the inside whilst I followed Matthew Flowers through the centre. Thomas and Didier had disappeared into the distance but I managed to drag past Peter exiting Clearways. I was in fourth! Simon got caught out by Jonathan’s spin and was passed by Seamus.

Paul Taberner had managed to get past Brian Small and Peter Daglish during all the mayhem. Peter was to have car problems which saw him drop two laps during the race. An accelerator cable playing up I think. Mark Curtis (who I never got to talk to) had his first race in the Westfield’s this year. He went a full two seconds slower in the race compared to qualifying so I think he must have been suffering with some mechanical glitch.

On the start of lap three I managed to close up to the boot of Matthew Flowers and followed him through Paddock Hill bend. He defended the entry to Druids and I took the wide line and managed to get in front entering Graham Hill bend. I’m in third ( so I get a bit exited don’t I ) and run wide and Matthew nips back up the inside – DOH! Okay calm down – no chance unfortunately. The rest of the pack is on our heels. Jonathan is cutting his way back through after his spin.

Lap four and I have a go up the inside of Matthew at Clearways. I get on the power too heavily and a tank slapper proceeds left, right, left………and all the way round too the inside. b*******! Hero to zero in a millisecond. The podium is going to have too wait for another day  I’m back to tenth /eleventh.

Didier was boxing clever and following Thomas (still smoking heavily) at a distance. Didier suspected engine oil was being lost but in fact it was a rear brake binding. This wasn’t stopping Thomas though and he kept on banging in the quick laps.

Jonathan Young went past Seamus and Simon whilst they were scrapping. Seamus and Simon came together at Paddock Hill bend when Simon went up the inside. Then later on as Simon exits Clearways he spins and lets Seamus back past. The next lap see’s Seamus do exactly the same pirouette and Simon nips past! Jonathan continues on his way taking Matt Flowers soon after. There were quite a few battles going on with associated spins. I’m not sure if Jonathan had to retake Peter Chattin and Nick Sinfield or whether they span but Didier was next in the sights.

Didier was a bit concerned when Thomas showed no sign of letting up. He started to push harder himself. Then Jonathan closed on Didier and got a good tow down the Brabham straight and they went side by side through Paddock Hill. Didier decided caution was the better part of valour and avoided the urge to shove it up the inside at Druids. Thomas’ brakes had finally given up the ghost. The brake pedal went to the bulkhead at Druids but luckily the binding brake managed to slow him down. He pulled over and let Jonathan take the lead with Didier back to second. Then his car started to smoulder and catch fire so he had his hands full putting it out. No extra damage was done but if only he’d looked at that brake prior to the race…………

Didier was running low on fuel on the penultimate lap and had to short shift to make the chequered. Jonathan took win number four of the season. Matthew took third and stayed one point ahead in the Championship. Nick Sinfield, Peter Chattin and Jon Chappell rounded out the top six.

Paul Taberner held of Brian Small for Seventh and I just could not get past Brian for Eighth. I stuck it up the inside at Clearways several times and tried it round the outside of Druids but nothing was giving. Simon pipped Seamus for tenth which allowed him to hang onto fifth in the Championship.

I must apologize in advance for any errors or omissions – they are all down to me and no one else. Please feel free to email / PM / post to this thread with anything I’ve missed and I’ll amend accordingly.

I have loads of photo’s so I will stick some up. I promise!

The next race meet is at Silverstone on the 22/23rd July. Qualifying is on the Saturday with race day Sunday. Come and see what a Westfield can really do in the hands of a complete madman! Well several madment to be precise

Ta

Geoff

Red 22

[GuyH]

... sounds so much fun!

Nice to read these reports.

[Northampton Motorsport]

Well done geoff. great report keep up the good work

[simon4007]

Superb Geoff, very nice write up!

Cheers

Simon

[custardtart]

There was a link posted to a great incar vid of the race at snetterton following the last race report - anyone got such a thing of the Brands race?

[geofff]

Hi custardtart,

That was Andy Mowbray's Archos download. I don't have footage in a PC format at the moment just on DVD from my mates recorder. I think he downloaded it to Google?

Ta

Geoff

[TPR123]

Hi Geoff,

Great write up. Any chance fo you bringing the Brands footage on DVD to the race so I can watch it on my laptop?

Cheers,

Tom

[geofff]

Hi Tom,

No problem. I'll put the DVD in the van tonight.

Ta

Geoff

[Mobsy]

Could someone please post the schedule for qualifying and racing at Silverstone this weekend.

I don't want to turn up and find everyone has gone home.  

[Keith Scarfe]

BARC Draft timetable

Hope you guys have fun. Wish I was there.

[geofff]

Hi Mobsy,

Try here

Ta

Geoff

[geofff]

Bu99er. Too slow as usual

[Keith Scarfe]

If only it was a real race... I look forward to beating you for real one day

[geofff]

Hi Keith,

All you need is a car! Are you still doing the Radical?

Ta

Geoff

[Keith Scarfe]

I have got a car, just no engine (plus other stuff). No not racing the Radical anymore, it was Jonathan Hawkins’ and he has sold it. I am having a year out this year – serious lack of cash. Hopefully get the Westfield back out in 2007. Will the championship still be going next year?