Race Report Zwartkops 28th July 2007

        I was looking forward to this race especially as I had fitted new semi-slicks. My old slicks had done all the races and events since the Piper Series in February.

        Wednesday's practice was to bed the new tyres in. I did 3 sessions and about 30 laps or so but could not get close to my best time with the old tyres. I tried playing with pressures but was still over a second slower than before. The Westfield was under steering like never before. I was hoping Friday practice would be better.

        Friday I still had under steering problems but it was slightly better. Unfortunately turn 1 and turn 4 were the worst corners for the car to understeer. I am normally flat out in 3rd through turn 1 but with the new tyres I was having to back off to go round the turn. Not good for lap times.

        Saturday qualifying was a bit better but still just under a second slower than I normally would do. For the first time in quite a while I could not get under 1:15.3. My best on the old tyres was 1:14.15.

        I qualified just in front of Brad and was worried he would out drag me on the start as the Locost is slightly stronger at lower revs and is now just as quick as the Westfield. I managed to keep ahead of Brad at the start of race one. Turn 1 was quite hectic as we were all bunched up for turn 2. I managed to get in front of Brian in the Sports. The race was a battle for me with the Westfield still understeering. I finished ahead of Brad in 6th place in class. Not my best result. Best time of 1:14.9, at least I got under 1:15, Brad in the Locost set up a faster time.

        The 45 min race was what I was waiting for as I had lowered tyre pressures and made a slight change to the rear shock damping.

        The start of the race I was in front of Brad on the grid and I had planned my start so I could stay in front. Fortunately I managed to get in front of  2 of the Sports 2000's and slowly started pulling away. I managed to stay in front of the 2 Sports 2000's and Brad for about 7 laps until one of the Cobra's came off at turn 5 and the safety car came out. This is what changed the race for me as I should have dived into the pits for my compulsory pit stop. (At the SRA briefing we were told to pit only after the first 10 laps or before the last 10 laps) as I was on the 7th lap I followed the safety car for 2 laps. The safety car went in and we were off again. I new Brad had gone in as I did not see him on the track.

        I had a close incident approaching turn 8 when one of the class A1600 Sevens locked up in front of me and started spinning. I managed to avoid him by taking turn 8 close to the pit wall. Another accident had the safety car out again and this time I did pit. Total pit time 3min.17sec's. I exited the pits right in front of Brad and this is where the race started. The 2 of us battled for the rest of the race swapping places 3 to 4 times in one lap not giving in to each other one bit. I had a major battle trying to hold Brad off as my times were slower and was still battling with under steer. (Best of 1:14.6).

        This was by far the best race to date, even better than the race with the Golf at Phakisa as we were in similar cars and this was exciting. I wish I could see video footage of this race. Brad dived me at every corner and was faster through turn 4 and up the hill. Turn 5 on just about every lap we went in 2 cars abreast and literally stayed like that all the way to turn 8.On some corners I would out brake Brad and get out in front and others he would do the same.

        On one lap the 2 of us were side by side up the hill again, Brian in the Sports 2000 was just going round turn 5 when we caught up, I passed Brian on the inside and it was a close shave when he turned in for turn 6 and I was next to him. I managed to pull in front hoping he would hold Brad up for a while.

        One one lap Brad tried to go on my inside through turn 1, I was wrestling with the car to hold him off but the car would not turn in and I put 2 wheels on the grass. Not the best place to do this. I think Brad backed off due to the fact that we could have collided if I started to spin. I did not and managed to hold him off through turn 2, but he managed to slipstream me through turn 4 and pull me up the hill again.

        The best one was when Brad slipstreamed me up the hill and dove in on the inside, I did not back off and as we turned into turn 5 Brad had the Locost Sideways with opposite lock going a bit wide, I dabbed the brakes changed my line and pulled in on the inside for turn 6 and got in front again.

        The last lap I new Brad would try his utmost to get to the finish first. One of the Cobra's caught up and came between us. I came out of turn 8 with Brad close behind and just got over the finish in front of him.

        In the end Brad took the win due to his strategy by pitting on the first safety car. This left me a lap down on Brad. A disappointing result for me but the actual race made up for it tenfold.

A well deserved win for Brad by taking the overall index and 2nd in class SR3. I ended up 5th in SR3.

        Once again the Rocams proved themselves and anyone in the crowds who watched the race must have been impressed by how close the racing was. (Reminds me of a certain FI race in the 70's between Gilles Villeneuve and Alain Prost who swapped places 3-4 times in one lap.)

        Now where are all the other Locost's .get those cars ready everyone and come and enjoy the fun of close racing.

        I just need to point out one very important fact. Brad and I were driving our socks off to get in front of each other and at no time did we bump each others car or go off the track. Even with us taking a few chances changing lines mid corner or leaving our braking till the last moment. Goes to show how good the cars are as well as how they allow you to drive fast even with a lot less power than other race cars.

        Can't wait for Wesbank..