Martin Galpin | Racing Driver | number66.net

Finally, I’ve won. I had a car which could win and I did. The opening round of the 2007 UK Formula Vee championship certainly did not disappoint. With an epic four car battle for the front, it provided drama enthused by wreckage, retirement, controversy and glory.

Thanks is due to the priceless videography skills of Nick Brown for this footage.

Before I continue, I think I should pay homage to those who made it possible. After six-minutes of qualifying my engine failed with a broken push rod. Subsequently, it took a lot of effort to diagnose and later fix the problem. I would therefore like to thank every single person who both gave and offered their assistance, notably: Alan Woodward, Nick Brown, Alan Harding, Mark Dunham and the others I’m sure I have forgotten. I would also like to thank Dave Kilburn for the atmospheric photographs.

The day began as if it were still last year – pretty badly. Whilst we were confident we had done everything possible to prepare the car to the usual high standard, fortune is frequently predetermined. As usual I was amongst the first to the assembly area for qualifying. Experience tells me that the few laps in clean air you inherit at the start pay dividends in reaching your own limit in the car.

After starting to pick up the pace, it was initially difficult to find an uninterrupted lap amongst the slower traffic. In addition, a trail of oil compromised the entry to Gerrard’s which unfortunately is the most critical corner on the circuit.

On lap seven I found some space to push and put in a reasonable lap and I could see little traffic on the horizon. At this point I decided I would have one last push on my own before dropping back to find some help. However, I never finished that lap as whilst exiting the Devil’s Elbow my engine let go some 50-metres before the start line.

To my relief the early laps were enough for the front row and second on the grid behind reigning champion Sam Oliveira (Jenvey-Sheane). Martin Farmer (GAC) was third, Jake Oliveira (Storm) fourth and Daniel Hands (GAC) fifth.

The grid at Mallory Park is two-by-two. Sam Oliveira (on pole) was to my right whilst directly behind was older brother Jake. I do not really see the advantage of being on pole as personally, I would much prefer the left-hand side on the first approach to Gerrard’s. I am somewhat surprised that this hasn’t come up before.

As the lights went out I made a less than perfect start with too much wheel spin. This was masked, however, as Sam missed second gear and I took the lead into turn one, followed by Martin Farmer and Jake.

Onto the back straight for the first time and I defensively moved to the inside. This did very little as Martin powered past me on the outside and took the lead into the Esses. Bunching up as the road narrows into the Hairpin, Martin moved to the right whilst I went left and Jake made it three wide in the centre. Pole-sitter Sam Oliveira had recovered and was now
following his brother but had no where to go.

Not realising quite how little road was available I jumped on the brakes with my left-rear tyre on the grass and corrected the car which snapped sideways. I went deep into the hairpin, forced it into a gear and took an unconventional exit in second place. Farmer missed a gear coming out and so the order starting lap two was Jake Oliveira, me, Sam Oliveira and Farmer.

Back onto the far straight and Jake went to the inside. I moved to the left and but had little chance of progressing this time. With a better exit from the Esses, Jake again went defensive and I found space to the left. As I made my move I realised I had underestimated how close Sam had become and with his opportunistic move I had little choice but to concede the position.

Into Gerrard’s for the third time and Sam received a perfect draft from Jake, pulled out of his tow and swooped around the outside to take the lead. I closed the gap to Jake mid-corner and was able to draft alongside him down the back straight. With the inside line into the Esses, I made the pass for second position, however, the red flags were shown immediately for an accident at the Hairpin. Although I’m still not certain, I am told Tim Hill rolled heavily over the top of James Birch.

As usual, a red-flagged restart means the grid is formed by the last full lap and so it was Sam and Jake on the front row, I shared the second with Evans, Hands on the third and Farmer unfortunately, another row back.

As the lights went out for a second time, Evans got an incredible start from the outside of row two and made it three wide into Gerrard’s. I had made a reasonable start and moved to the inside in defense as Sam finally assumed the lead.

Out onto the back straight and I was initially concerned this was going to give Sam the break that he needed as Evans, who was running in second position, was not running at the same pace as us. Jake forced his way through into the Esses whilst Evans went defensive into the Hairpin, I switched back to get alongside out of Hairpin. With a better run out I carried more speed around the outside of the Devil’s Elbow and completed the pass into Gerrard’s where I started to chase down Jake.

After another lap we reached the Hairpin and I was back in touch with Jake. Under braking he made a signal not to fight but instead we work together to catch Sam. As this is sensible for the next lap I did not challenge for position and as we exited the Esses we were visibly closer to Sam. Jake moved to the inside behind Sam and I did the same, just in time for Sam’s engine to blow up and for the contents of his sump to be deposited over both Jake’s and my car.

Exiting the Hairpin, Jake inherited the lead, I was second and Martin Farmer had recovered to make it a leading trio.

After another lap and I was beginning to feel pressure from Martin and also felt that I could possibly run faster out in front on my own. I concentrated on a getting a good exit from Gerrard’s and as Jake moved to the inside, I decided that I was going to make the pass and there was no backing out. I went deep into the Esses and around the outside back into the lead.

Jake was compromised on exit which allowed Martin to get alongside and past into the Hairpin. Crossing the line for lap 10 and I was leading from Martin Farmer and Jake Oliveira still in third. The three of us had now put almost 10 seconds between us and the following cars.

As we plunged down the Devil’s Elbow I looked in my mirror to see a short gap back to Farmer and began to move to the left to take the ideal line through Gerrard’s. I had absolutely no idea Martin had such a fantastic run and as he literally rocketed up the outside of me, we touched wheels and he took the lead for the first time since lap one.

We continued to bunch up for the next two laps, Martin and I side by side with Jake scrabbling for track position. Martin would go defensive and I would take to the outside, draw alongside him and try to cut back on the exit.

Lap 14 and I got the switch back from the Hairpin and a much better run through the Devil’s Elbow and the lead with Jake still close behind me in second. With Martin no longer in my mirrors and a brief gap behind me, I was able to become a little more conservative with my car. After qualifying, I was concerned about reliability and after pulling out a one second gap to Jake, I was able to use 200RPM less than previously.

Another exit from the Hairpin and the chequered flag waved to my delight but not relief. I was comfortable and in no hurry for the race to end. Over that final lap, I have never loved motor racing so much.

When Farmer and I touched wheels on lap 10 the contact ripped off the valve from his tyre which resulted in a slow puncture from lap 12 onwards. In the end he finished 3rd, eight seconds back from Jake. The final result was Hands fifth, Evans fourth, Farmer third, Oliveira second and you know who won.

With my 2007 programme regrettably uncertain, I must take every opportunity to win races.

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