Thanks to our French friends for a great race, I know that you did not have all of your fastest drivers, but you still produced a strong team with some very quick drivers.
After getting to grips with the handling of the Brabham about 1 hour before the race started I was surprised to post a PB and get a mid place on the grid in qually. Only to throw all that good work away at Nouveau Monde on the first lap
.
Habit took over and I gave too much welly and was presented with my ass overtaking me and parking me neatly on the grass verge , where I had to wait for the whole field to pass.
So much for a good quali!!
It might have been a lucky move I guess , because it meant I had a clear track and was not caught up in any of the incidents that took out some of the other drivers.
I could see on prib that we were well represented at the front of the field and I set about trying to join my team mates. It was easy for the first few laps, as the Brabham warmed up and I passed several of the backmarkers and one or two other cars that had come to grief for various reasons.
Then I caught Fulvio who allowed me to pass very cleanly. next up was Mike Beattie in his flying BRM. Although I had caught him quite easily I could see nowhere to make a clean pass without risking contact so I showed my nose a couple of times but Mike had his red tinted visor on and was gunning the BRM for all it was worth.
I hope that it was not my presence that caused him to suffer a seperating of the whizzy bits at the end of the straight
. At first I thought that he had slowed to allow me to pass..an offer which I quicly took. Only to be frightened out of my skin when he shot past me on the outside of the braking zone and disappeared down the escape road at very high velocity. Oops I thought, was I responsible for that? but he did slow didn't he ? and allowed me to get in front? Now I know that it was engine failure, but at the time I spent a couple of guilty laps worryong about it
.
By now I was up to about 6th and I could see that UKGPL were very well placed, so I pressed on at a steady pace to ensure that I finished.
David V was very unlucky to lose the race 2 laps from the finish which moved me up another place and by the end I was a very chuffed with 4th place.
Grats to all who took part and well done all those who completed the race.
I hope we can race again soon .