Thanks all.
Donington Masters Top Hat V8s and Group 1.
From an overall perspective I think this works. The power of the V8s compared to the better handling Group 1 cars made for some interesting encounters. Certainly a bigger grid would be great but as an experiment I think it was a success. John T will be doing his stuff later so can give you the spectator view. Good to see you yesterday John.
I had a great weekend but more by luck than judgment. I need a good practice session to get up to speed so when Ridhard Austin blew a core plug and trailed fluid on the racing line through Craner to McLeans it made my first few laps a tad slow, however when the track cleared I ran out of fuel
so I got a good look at the new tunnel and the “work” for the GP next(?) year. Thanks to the marshals for their help.
So I lined up second in Gp1 and 5th overall. However the Gp1 pole man had run a bearing so there was a gap in front of me. Sadly the marshals confirmed that I couldn’t move into it. We got away pretty well but I used discretion and let the Austin car pass me at Craners. Many people will know why I did this, but I thought he’d at least make life difficult for the V8s ahead. He didn't because the car brewed up again. By that time I’d been brake tested by a couple of Mustangs at Redgate but got ahead at the esses. Tried to settle into a rythm but it wasn't fast enough so played around with lines to my detriment and determined that the track was slower in the afternoon.
I stopped (the first?) at 15mins and when I emerged found I had no brakes at all going into Redgate so it was a slow lap pumping them up again. I think I boiled them during the stop so was a little bit nervous however they came back and I had a minor scrap with a Mustang into Redgate to regain my pre stop position. I think I was p3 at that point and would remain so although towards the end I was slowed a little by Paul Clayson’s Falcon which I caught at Redgate but couldn't pass until the esses due to the grunt in his car. Then I allowed my brain to fade in a desperate attempt to catch the second placed car and I think I was described as over driving (probably true) so reduced the gap but ultimately was 6.5secs behind.
So Third place overall and winner of Gp1!
Thanks to all the marshals and officials for making it a great day. Got to say hi to Claire Smith at last. John Gee was on form and Terry B in the SC. I would also like to advise the un named gentleman who accused me of cheating that in fact you are permitted to run adjustable dampers in Group 1. And For others the three winning cars were scrutineered and engines were magnet tested. Interestingly my car is 20kg over the CTCRC minimum weight.
So I think it’s legal.
Downside. Donington catering is dire!