Hi everyone,
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog from Croft.
I am looking back on the weekend with slight reservations with regard to results, however, I am actually really pleased with some of the other aspects from Croft. For those of you who have been following my progress this season, it seems I am more often than not moaning about qualifying!
My main aim for Oulton Park had been to sort out my qualifying performance but on that occasion I crashed the car heavily in the wet. Therefore, I was really determined to clear this hurdle and get a good qualifying result, especially as Croft is a circuit which I have never raced at before.
The team had set me a target of completing less than three flying laps in qualifying due to the amount of tyre degradation we were experiencing. They also set me a target of a top four grid position.
I felt this was achievable and my personal aim was to be around Carl’s [Breeze – team-mate] pace as I always use his performance as a direct comparison. So to qualify third, two tenths off Carl was a good start to the weekend.
In race one I was hoping to compete with Carl and bridge the extra two tenths to Charlie [Robertson – polesitter] which I knew could be found in sector 1. Frustratingly, I took way too much kerb going into turn one after a good start and this knocked the tracking out on the front right.
This contributed to Charlie and Carl disappearing off into the distance. I thought third place was in the bag but contact knocked me down to fourth by the end of the race.
Race two was even worse! I defended aggressively off the line and going into turn one I was hit in the rear right quarter. This put me into the tyre barrier and ended my race with a bent track rod.
At least, for race three, I knew we would have comparatively good rubber and no pressure starting from the back of the grid. I was set a target of a top six finish and sure enough the race tended to go my way and I finished fifth.
The United boys had done a great job as always to make mine and Carl’s car not only quick but kind on it’s tyres. I really think we are on top of the setup now. I just need to get some results out of it!
I was pleased to get fastest lap along the way to fifth. The car felt quick and I made progress through the grid quickly. I was a little frustrated how long it took me to pass Charlie, but I hope that next time I am in that situation I will do a better job.
Cheers,
Luke
