Nippon @ Brands - K20 EK Civic Race Report

[drmikey]

Really apprehensive about this weekend. Had never driven Brands before and heard a lot about the track including Paddock Hill!! Also I knew that it was Dixon's home circuit and also was Kris’s last race so he had nothing to lose.. Also it was the last meet of the season and just wanted the car to come home in one piece. It was also going to be wet and I had a new aero package - front splitter and high level spoiler which I hadnt time to test so it was a suck it and see weekend.

So woke up Saturday morning as like vomit as a pig – I think it was one of Timmy’s dodgy burgers rather than the beer - honest!. So after a few sessions over the bowl, managed to get my act together sign on and get scrutinnering out the way. Then went back to bed to try and recover for quali at 9.30.

So holding off the like vomit, went for qualifying – didn’t go well, started off, then realised my bonnet pins were open so had to come in. Went back out had a few laps but really didn’t get into it as well as trying to stop filling up my helmet with diced carrots and onions!

Anyway, terrible qualifying – 15th on the grid.

Was feeling much better by race 1. Not too bad a start - despite a few up front jumping the lights! Bit too hesitant into paddock and gave a couple of places. Had a lap or so overtaking those who passed me on the start then just squeezed past Vaughan in the Impreza. Little tussle with the blue MR2 and then passed that awesome little turbo Mr2 Mk1.

Then spent the rest of the race trying to keep up with Andy in the swift until backmarkers put pay to that. Thanks to Andys lead, I seemed to be gaining ground on Kris but on the penultimate lap he got bashed by the Impreza putting pay to his finish.

Was really pleased with my lap times, only 0.7 secs behind Dixon and from 15th to 7th wasnt bad and 2nd in class.

Race 2 - Was potentially in a much better position - 7th on Grid, but Simon Deaton jumped the lights (blinkin TAers!) - causing the lights to go into disco mode. Yellow flash (aborted start) then to green then to off so in the end no one really knew what was going on, but with Simon already on paddock everyone just went in the end. So again, crap start and was overtaken. Also my exhaust came off the header coming out of the holding area - hence the noise but knew I just had to go with it - if I came in it would have been game over!!! Decided I wouldnt really cane the car just in case the fuelling was up the creak.

Basically the whole 15 mins was a race with the Master - Andy - he was playing very difficult to pass blocking all the potential (wet) overtaking lines into corners - was a cracking race. Came in 8th and 2nd in class.

So great end to the season for me, not so much for others.

Roll on 2010.

Videos:

Race 1 - Nippon Challenge - Brands Hatch 2009 - Race 1 - K20 EK civic on Vimeo
Race 2 - Nippon Challenge - Brands Hatch 2009 - Race 2 - K20 Ek Civic on Vimeo

[drmikey]

Some pics courtesy of Lance:

[Jag.]

Well done Mike Will need to check out the videos when i get home. Can't wait for next season to start, I heard that there might be a round a knockhill next year?

Oh did you get my PM near the end of last week?

[JIMBOB-EK9]

Sounds like a very eventfully weekend for you mike!

Well done on both your 2nd in class finish's!

Look forward to seeing you out agen next year!

[NeilVtec]

Sounds like a good day out, if not a bit ripe at the start!!! or Starts...

Nice pics! looks like it was a very wet circuit lol ,Dixons & Kris's cars looking mean aswell