Martin Galpin | Racing Driver | number66.net

For a second time this year we arrived at Donington Park only to leave without a race due to subsidence of the track between McLean’s and Coppice. And just like earlier in the year, despite conditions becoming clear, the Clerk of the Course was forced to abandon the day on safety grounds.

I think this would be a good opportunity to reiterate a previous post - the 2010 British Grand Prix isn’t going to happen.

Even before the circuit became unsafe, it very quickly became a bad day for us and a far cry from the euphoria of one weekend ago. We were served a technical infringement during scrutineering based on Formula Ford regulation 4.1, reading “Any device designed to augment aerodynamically the downthrust on the vehicle is prohibited, as are aerofoils, nose fins or spoilers of any type.”.  This was in relation to the one inch peice of floor forward of the sidepods (it can be seen in this photo). I do not intend to write much about this because in any case it was rectified, however, what I will say is that this floor has been on the car since 2004 and in that time has been raced by at least three different drivers. No competitor has ever protested the eligability of the floor and for these reasons I feel that is was unreasonable to prevent me from qualifying until it was removed. So, Nick Brown and Neil went to work on the floor with an Angle Grinder generously donated by Paul Mason. Thanks to everyone for their help with this.

We eventually made it out to qualify after the session had started and I managed five laps before the session ended. To makes matters worse, during this time I had no clutch for what turned out to be leaking clutch seals. And having never been around the Grand Prix circuit before and under the circumstances, qualifying fifth was not a bad result.

However, it was very wet and we had a lot of work to do to make it on the pace. Over the next couple of hours it continued to rain – sometimes hard, occasionally drizzling. At one point it even dried. However, before the main event Superleague Formula qualification had finished, the activities on track were suspended due to flooding on the track between McLean’s and Coppice. With our race scheduled late in the day (at 1745), we were told that a decision would be reached by 1700. Indeed it was and we were informed that Superkart qualification would be the first session to resume on track, followed by our race. We arrived in the collecting area, lined up on a dummy grid and waited to be released to the circuit. We waited for half an hour before we were told the day was cancelled. So here are my questions:

• After this exact same problem occurred during June at our previous Donington Park round, what steps were taken to rectify the issue and prevent it from occurring again?
• Assuming any were taken, why is it that these steps proved insufficient?
• What steps will be taken to reimburse the BRSCC for a second cancelled meeting?
• In turn, what steps will be taken to see that all competitors will be reimbursed for the significant costs incurred (not simply our lost entry fee) in attending a second meeting with no racing?
• What steps will the MSA/FIA take in ensuring that safety standards, in all weather conditions, are sufficient to justify their permit?

Related posts:

1. Race Report: Donington Park (UK Formula Vee)
2. Formula Ford: Victory at Mallory Park
3. Race Report: Mallory Park (UK Formula Vee)
4. The Death of the 2010 British Grand Prix?
5. Race Report: Cadwell Park (UK Formula Vee)