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Alex MacDowall Blog: Three Points Scores At Thruxton…

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Hi everyone,

I hope you've all enjoyed this long spell of dry weather and made the most of it. I've been really busy this year with my gym work and preparation compared to last year. The past few months I have been going to a local gym six and sometimes seven days a week. It sounds a lot but if you know you're the fittest person on the grid that's one box ticked and you have another area some drivers might not cover.

I am a big fan of Andy Priaulx and his book is one of the best I have ever read. He never gave up on his dream and even when things were looking down he knew there were greater things to come and that his grit and determination would make his dream come true. He has definitely inspired me and made me more determined to make my dream come true.

Thruxton was a tough weekend for me and the team. The turbo cars had 0.1 bar of boost reduced for Thruxton but it still wasn't enough for the normally aspirated cars to close the gap. I had a nasty virus and throat infection that had just started five days before the weekend. I had come through the worst of it during the week but it was still with me when I set off to Thruxton.

I was so bad that the team had Rob Huff on stand by just in case I couldn't perform in the first free practice. At the end of the first practice I think I was a second off Jason and there were a few worried faces when I got out the car. Although they knew I wasn't going to be setting lap records, they said I was ok to race.

I knew it would be tough so three points finished was my aim. I qualified 11th and I was six tenths off Jason. I was so drained at the end of the day and felt dizzy so I knew Sunday was going to be a struggle. I woke up feeling a lot better on raceday morning though so things were looking up.

I got through the first race comfortably and I was in the points. In the second race I was in ninth position and managed to take eighth place by the chequered flag. The reverse grid worked out well for me in the third race but I got too much wheelspin off the line and dropped to fifth. It was going to be tough to stay there with a line of turbo cars behind me.

Gordon Shedden, in the Honda, managed to get past up the pit straight so I had to back off going into the first corner. It cost me a bit of momentum which allowed two more turbo cars through. I was still happy with the end result though which moved me to eighth in the championship, just two places from Jason. I used the same determination and belief that I could get in the points as I do whenever I turn up for a race meeting. I was glad the weekend was over though and I can now concentrate on the next round Oulton Park.

Between now and then there are a few PR events in my diary. Jason and I are participating in a media day for Chevrolet this Thursday. They haven't told me what is happening yet but I have been told to bring my race suit which gives a few clues. I am also attending the new Pit Complex opening at Silverstone with the BRDC Superstars. I haven't seen it yet so it will be interesting to have a look around and see how it compares to the old pits.

I hope you've enjoyed reading my blog, thanks as always for all the support.

Alex

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The Checkered Flag was set up in August 2009 and is dedicated to providing independent daily news and features from around the world of motorsport.
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