April 2005 Championship round at Snetterton

European Motorsport review

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EuropeanMotorSport (EMS) had another successful race weekend at Snetterton on 23rd & 24th May. Large crowds attended the two day meeting and were treated to some spectacular racing and glorious sunny weather. The EMS team again fielded the three cars and drivers (Howard Kirkham #21, Simon Lewis #65, Jim Shea #76) for the two Snetterton races.

See below for a full race report.

QUALIFYING.

Surprisingly, the weather was warm and dry and allowed us to test the new Vredestein tyres to the full. This was especially valuable as we could use the previous Snetterton car 'set up' to make comparisons.
The qualifying session was uneventful for Howard and Simon, but Jim was 'Black Flagged' (a warning of mechanical problems) after 4 laps for the engine excessively smoking. However, it was only an oil breather pipe which was subsequently fixed, but Jim missed out on 8 extra qualifying laps!
Simon put his car on pole position on the front row of the grid; Jim in 2nd position was next to Simon; Simon and Jim respectively had 1&2 in Class B. Howard, struggling with a gear box problem still managed 4th in Class B; Howard's gear box problem would prove to be a bigger challenge later!
Three new and extremely well prepared MK2 Jags in Class D (100kg lighter than Class B)) were racing with us at Snetterton for the first time. Two of these in particular proved to be very quick cars and challenged the EMS cars for pole position. We will have to watch out in future races when these two intend to spoil the EMS winning streak!!

RACE ONE (Saturday)

Front row was becoming familiar territory, with Simon on pole and Jim next to him and Howard having to live with an uncompetitive car! Howard commented; "the car is very difficult to drive on the limit, the steering is lacking in any feedback and you can't feel confident with it when you are flat out".
As the red lights went out signalling the start of race one, Jim again got in front of Simon to take the lead in to the first corner. Howard made a great start but immediately fell back as he could not engage any gears, this problem would force him to retire on the first lap!
Simon meanwhile was being climbed all over by the MK2 Jaguar of Ely and the MK2 of Cann. Jim used this opportunity to create a buffer between him and Simon and slowly opened up a few seconds lead. Simon continued to battle the Ely car and on lap five was out dragged by this faster car down the back straight. However, Simon was quicker through the corners and he stayed with Ely and eventually the pressure told. Simon carrying more speed through the difficult Coram Curve managed to get along side Ely as they entered the Russell Chicane; Ely tried to out break Simon to no avail and Ely spun out and Simon took 2nd place back. Simon started to chase Jim as the back markers started to get in the way, but Jim had a 5 second lead by now.
One final twist made the race interesting as Jim experienced a brake problem on the last few laps; causing Jim to unintentionally cut the chicane and take to the grass!! The EMS cars maintained their positions to the chequered flag and again took a one-two victory. Jim also took that vital extra point for the fastest lap.

RACE TWO (Sunday)

During the early hours of Sunday morning the EMS support crew managed to source a replacement gear box for Howard's, fitted it and tested it all before 11am on Sunday morning. This was a fantastic effort by the team which meant that Howard could race on Sunday. Howard would have to start at the back of the grid for race two, but he had a chance to score much needed points.
For race two the cars lined up in the finishing order of race one, so this time Jim was on pole with Simon next to him. Jim took the lead with Simon tucked in behind, with the two Jaguar MK2's close behind. Howard starting from the back made up two places immediately and was planning on making up several more places. Simon continued to try and pass Jim, with the MK2's trying to get Simon, this lead to three or four 'interesting' laps.
On lap four Simon's pressure paid off and he managed to out brake Jim in to the 'The Esses', to take the lead. Jim's brakes were fading badly and he could not hold of Ely's MK2. Discretion was 'the better part of valour' and Jim decided to wait until the last couple of laps for another attempt to regain 2nd place. Howard now was flying and had made up another 3 places, making 5 in total, but he wasn't finished yet! Howard kept pushing and halfway through the race he had taken back 6 places. Now the leaders were amongst the back markers which lead to a couple of avoidance manoeuvres and this time saw Howard taking to the grass at the chicane, but Howard still managed to overtake two more cars before he saw the chequered flag; this made 8 cars in total Howard had managed to get by and he pulled himself back to a fantastic 4th in class.
Simon kept his cool out on his own and preserved his 6 second lead and took a well deserved win (and fastest lap); Jim tried to force the MK2 in to a mistake on the last corner of the last lap; as the two cars exited the chicane Jim came alongside the MK2 and at the line Jim was only a fraction of a second off!! However, Jim still took a second in Class B as the MK2 was in Class D.

SUMMARY

Shea. Race one, 1st place (Fastest lap)
Lewis. Race one, 2nd place
Kirkham. Race one, DNF (did not finish)
Lewis. Race two, 1st place (fastest lap)
Shea. Race two, 3rd place (2nd in class)
Kirkham. Race two, 7th place (4th in class)

Thanks to Farécla Car Care, also presented the Class A winner with Farécla Anti Mist Treatment and Farécla Rain Repellent System. Thanks also to Nyetimber Vineyard for presenting their superb vintage sparkling wine to the race winners, fortunately both from the EMS team.

Don't miss the next race at Oulton Park on 14th May; Oulton is a fast technical 2.6 mile circuit and has some of the fastest corners of any of the circuits in 2005.

Regards,
EuropeanMotorSport

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