Formula Ford: Silverstone Review

Filed under: Formula Ford, Race Reports, Uncategorized on July 2, 2009

Last weekend represented the half way point in my season with two rounds of the National Formula Ford 1600 championship, one counting as a round of the Midland South Formula Ford 1600 championship. It was a very difficult weekend for me, underwritten by mechanical woes and other difficulties.

This was the fourth straight race weekend I would not be testing the day before. As such, qualifying was my first opportunity to drive a Formula Ford 1600 on the National circuit and in regards to set up and gear ratios, we were running the same as at Donington Park (which ultimately didn’t actually happen).

Both Saturday and Sunday would be run as independent races – the Saturday had qualifying and a race for the North West Formula Ford championship whilst Sunday had qualifying and a race for the Midland South Formula Ford championship.

First qualifying on Saturday was marked by a slow puncture (caused by a faulty valve core). I qualified on row four, 7th on the grid.

When it was time to race, we were absolutely baking in the heat on what was the hottest day of the year. After making a decent start, I was quickly engaged in a race long battle with Matthew Parr and Neil Pattern for 5th position. I have to admit, this was the most enthralling duel I have had since 2007 and Formula Vee. We continually changed positions, twice or even three times per lap. The racing was hard, but fair. However, with about 4 laps to go, I started to be unable to shift into third gear and gradually lost touch with Parr and Pattern. I eventually retired to the pits on the last lap (unknowingly), crossing the line as I made my way to my pit garage.

Whist investigating the gear selection problem, we noticed we had a different and much more serious problem. It quickly became obvious that the clutch itself was slipping to the point it was no longer possible to pull away from static. Interestingly, there was no clutch slip during the race.

I was able to purchase a new clutch from Medina Motorsport and we all worked hard into the night to change the clutch. A really huge thank you to both Neil Paxton and my Dad who worked tirelessly to get the car ready in time for Sunday and to Justin Dawkins who helped us with the gearbox and initial diagnosis.

For Sunday’s race we again lined up 7th and on row four. This time I was a bit disappointed to have not qualified higher but after everything that had happened on Saturday, I was just glad to be racing. I had gone about 4 tenths slower in qualifying than I had during the previous race but I think that most of this I can be attributed to not really getting a clean lap. Of course, I cannot blame anyone but myself for this!

It is hard to believe but as we were sitting in the collecting area waiting to go to the grid, it started raining. It rained hard enough to warrant a change to wet settings but with barely two minutes before we were released to the grid, we opted to stay on dry settings.

The circuit was very greasy and as the rain fell it brought the previous weekends Formula One rubber to the surface. The wettest portion of the track was at Becketts whilst Copse, on the other hand, was just damp.

Off the line I made a good start and was up to fourth position on the first lap going into Brooklands. However, more bad luck presented itself as my gear linkage broke again (this time in a different place to Saturday!) and the linkage sat idle in my lap. It took me a lap or two in order to learn the technique but I realised that I could continue to drive but needed to physically hold and line up the gear linkage as I approached a braking area. Likewise, going up to the gears, I would have to pick the linkage up from my lap and move the rod forward and back in the hope I would correctly move the selector forks! I can think of one moment, driving through a wet Woodcote corner with one hand holding the linkage off of my lap and the other correcting lock as slid sideways through the turn.

I brought the car home in a respectable 6th, disappointed and frustrated with not being able to push to the maximum in conditions I enjoy. But none the less, it was a good result considering the circumstances, the bad luck of the weekend and how hard everybody had worked.

It is now time to leave the National Formula Ford 1600 championship as the next two rounds at Oulton Park and Knockhill, together with the final meeting at Mondello Park (Ireland) will be too expensive for me to compete. I will instead consolidate where we are in the Midland South Formula Ford 1600 championship (currently leading Class B) and concentrate on improving the car for the end of season trophy events. After contemplating the weekend, I think I can draw parallels between this season and 2006 when I had a difficult (and unreliable) year in my GAC Formula Vee. I kept my head and the following year I went on to win the championship.

My next race will be on July 26 at Mallory Park for the next round of the Midland South Formula Ford championship and the coveted Edwina Overend Trophy.

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