CSCC Tintops – Stuart MacMaster

Last race of the season saw us back at Oulton where I started the year. Again, like my first race of the year, the circuit was wet and greasy, but unlike March, the weather was improving, and the track was only going to get drier as the morning went on.

This was a CSCC race, 30 mins qualifying, with a 40 minute race in the afternoon – to include a pit stop.

Our qually session was at 10:30am, so the track had dried a little, it was still greasy and damp, especially off line, though there was a slight hint of a dry line appearing in some parts of the track where the sun was breaking through. 

I took it easy at the start of the session, trying to find the grip and be patient in the hope that a dry line would appear. As it turns out, I seemed to get it just right! I found myself some space nearing the end of the session and went for it – setting my fastest time on my last lap before the flag came out for the end of the session. Out of a 31 car grid I was sat 5th, I was however, very aware that I managed to get the most out of the session, bothdown to anticipating the conditions, and knowing the circuit, and that there where some very quick cars behind me just waiting for a dry track so they could put their power on to the tarmac………

When the race came around in the afternoon the track was totally dry, and the weather had really sorted itself out! Anxious of the cars behind me I lined up 5th and hoped for the best….

Lights went out, clutch got dropped, and I made a near perfect start, going in to the first corner in 3rd place. It was then that the inevitable happened. The quicker cars hooked up, and I spent the next 5 laps going backwards as the faster cars found their true dry performance.

I eventually finished a respectful 10th overall, which was a pretty good result, just disappointing maybe after my position after qualifying….