Ben Pitch

My first LoTRDC race was certainly a memorable one...

Arrived to a wet and miserable Combe at 7am with the old man already waiting (support vehicle) then proceeded to unpack and get the support tent up. Have to confess I was really nervous about the conditions rather than the race as I always seem really off the pace at wet track days.

Signing on and briefings were just a blur and I really struggled with traffic during Qualification stuck behind a class C car in the corners but unable to get past on the straights or risk a move under breaking on all the standing water! Tried dropping back but had to speed up with approaching traffic but eventually the car in question pulled in and I had a few clear laps. Ecstatic to find I had qualified 7th which was far better than I had expected! :)

Had a shocking start to race one (wheel spin) and was overtaken by MSC's white S1 and that blue and silver MS Exige but soon found myself behind Mr Scuffham (no idea how/when he got passed either actually maybe it was under safty car confusion?). After the lengthy safety car period I thought I was going to take Simon as he battled with a flapping roof which finally came off and parked itself on the line over Avon Rise! Finally finished 7th and managed to keep some of the faster guys behind me which I was pretty happy with!

The second race was pretty bad with heavy rain but I had a better start managing to pass Gav Kirby and keep the MSC car behind me this time! I kept with the front runners for a few laps then really started loosing pace until I was caught and passed by Martin Roberts S2. The next few laps were a real battle with Jamie Allison who was all over the back of my car for several laps. He actually managed to pass me once but I took a wide line into Quarry and re-took the place into the first chicane.

I was defending like mad right until the last lap when I hit a patch of standing water taking a tighter more defensive line into Camp. The resulting slide had me simply trying to keep it out of the pit wall! I think I was actually stationary pointing the wrong way up the start/finish straight when Jamie clipped the front right corner of my car. :(

The biggest PITA was the fact I couldn't get the engine re-started and complete the final lap to get a license signature. After suspecting the inertia switch had tripped I waited until the chequered flag to return to the car. It was actually the Cartek which was preventing the engine from restarting. I switched the power off/on, the engine fired straight away and I was able to return to the paddock. :wall

All in all I had a great day despite the weather, nerves, damaged clam and this has cemented my desire to compete in the full 2008 season. :up

Cheers

Ben

Retrieved from "http://www.elisetrophy.com/Driver_Reports/S1R6/Ben_Pitch"