Snetterton Shocker for Taylor
After the 6 week break the Hi-Q MSA British Touring Car Championship was back and this time it was off to the east coast and the ultra-fast Snetterton circuit.
Following the disaster at his home race, Alan Taylor had one thing on his mind. To finish. After the heavy accident the car was completely rebuilt and was back to its immaculate self and all ready for free practice.
The first session was pretty much trouble free despite a minor incident with the Vectra of Matt Neal at Corum. " I saw Matt coming up behind me and I Indicated for him to pass on the right but for some reason he tried to pass me on the left and he went on the grass ripping his bumper off." After the session it was found that Alan's car had a slight fuel leak but it was no problem as the team had it fixed in time for the second session. The second free practice was no problem and Alan set a time that was good enough for 21st place.
Qualifying was the usual affair amongst the front runners and with Alan's car sporting some battle scars follow a couple of wide moments. The first 5 minutes for the Whitley Bay driver were instresting. going through the Bomb Hole the car snapped sideways and Alan came in to the pits thinking he had a left rear puncture. The team informed him that he had lost the wheel! The team checked the car and there was no damage, put a new wheel on and sent him on his way set a time to put him 21st fastest .
Race day saw a huge crowd and with the weather holding off we were in for 3 fast and furious races. Lining up at the back Alan's plan was to hang back and to just bring the car home for the first 2 races then go for it in the 3rd sadly this was not the case. On the warm up lap of the first race the left rear wheel parted company with the car at the second corner and Alan was forced to pull off the circuit. "I am really disspointed that i have had yet another DNF when is my luck going to change!!!"
Following the disasterous start to the Snetterton races Alan was determined to at least start Race 2. That he did, from 21st on the grid. As the race got in to its stride Alan was on the back of a furious battle for 8th place which stretched right down to 20th place . By lap 6 Alan was going well and benefitting from others misfortunes and was now up to 16th place after Andrew Jordan retired after contact with the Chevrolet of Harry Vaulkhard, Tom Onslow-Cole had a huge spin at corum, Stephen Jelley had gone off. Lap 10 and Alan had dropped 2 places and the expense of Jelley and Onslow-Cole who were recovering well after their dramas. Following a brief safety car period after one of the corner barriers had been dislodged Alan was back up to 16th place with the hard charging Tom Chilton behind him. As the pair rounded sears Chilton dived down the inside and contact was made causing Alan to suffer a slow puncture and dropping him to 18th and this would eventually put an end to Alan's race on the far side on lap 17. After the race had ended Alan who was furious stormed down to the Team Dynamics garage to remenstrate with Chilton. " I can't belive how stupid he was. I knew he was faster than me and all he had to do was wait 50 meters and I was going to let him passed down the straight, but no he has to dive down the inside of me and take me out."
Race 3 was going to be the one where the whole team was praying that Alan would finish a the race. As he arrived on the grid Alan was complaining fo a vibration on his downshift and on inspection of the right front wheel Team Principal Gary Robertshaw took the decision to push the car off the grid and try to repair it from the pit lane. Sadly this was not to be as the damper had collapsed and was unrepairable. "This has been the worst weekend ever. A tripple whammy but at least the next meeting is at Oulton where I went really well last yearin the Clio. Hope to see you all there."
Following the disaster at his home race, Alan Taylor had one thing on his mind. To finish. After the heavy accident the car was completely rebuilt and was back to its immaculate self and all ready for free practice.
The first session was pretty much trouble free despite a minor incident with the Vectra of Matt Neal at Corum. " I saw Matt coming up behind me and I Indicated for him to pass on the right but for some reason he tried to pass me on the left and he went on the grass ripping his bumper off." After the session it was found that Alan's car had a slight fuel leak but it was no problem as the team had it fixed in time for the second session. The second free practice was no problem and Alan set a time that was good enough for 21st place.
Qualifying was the usual affair amongst the front runners and with Alan's car sporting some battle scars follow a couple of wide moments. The first 5 minutes for the Whitley Bay driver were instresting. going through the Bomb Hole the car snapped sideways and Alan came in to the pits thinking he had a left rear puncture. The team informed him that he had lost the wheel! The team checked the car and there was no damage, put a new wheel on and sent him on his way set a time to put him 21st fastest .
Race day saw a huge crowd and with the weather holding off we were in for 3 fast and furious races. Lining up at the back Alan's plan was to hang back and to just bring the car home for the first 2 races then go for it in the 3rd sadly this was not the case. On the warm up lap of the first race the left rear wheel parted company with the car at the second corner and Alan was forced to pull off the circuit. "I am really disspointed that i have had yet another DNF when is my luck going to change!!!"
Following the disasterous start to the Snetterton races Alan was determined to at least start Race 2. That he did, from 21st on the grid. As the race got in to its stride Alan was on the back of a furious battle for 8th place which stretched right down to 20th place . By lap 6 Alan was going well and benefitting from others misfortunes and was now up to 16th place after Andrew Jordan retired after contact with the Chevrolet of Harry Vaulkhard, Tom Onslow-Cole had a huge spin at corum, Stephen Jelley had gone off. Lap 10 and Alan had dropped 2 places and the expense of Jelley and Onslow-Cole who were recovering well after their dramas. Following a brief safety car period after one of the corner barriers had been dislodged Alan was back up to 16th place with the hard charging Tom Chilton behind him. As the pair rounded sears Chilton dived down the inside and contact was made causing Alan to suffer a slow puncture and dropping him to 18th and this would eventually put an end to Alan's race on the far side on lap 17. After the race had ended Alan who was furious stormed down to the Team Dynamics garage to remenstrate with Chilton. " I can't belive how stupid he was. I knew he was faster than me and all he had to do was wait 50 meters and I was going to let him passed down the straight, but no he has to dive down the inside of me and take me out."
Race 3 was going to be the one where the whole team was praying that Alan would finish a the race. As he arrived on the grid Alan was complaining fo a vibration on his downshift and on inspection of the right front wheel Team Principal Gary Robertshaw took the decision to push the car off the grid and try to repair it from the pit lane. Sadly this was not to be as the damper had collapsed and was unrepairable. "This has been the worst weekend ever. A tripple whammy but at least the next meeting is at Oulton where I went really well last yearin the Clio. Hope to see you all there."
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