On Saturday 9^th May, Whyteleafe resident, Michael Gibbins, took part in the second race of the Sports 2000 Duratec calendar.  The race was held on the full grand prix circuit, one of only four times a year that the full circuit is used, and a track configuration Michael has driven on only once before Saturday’s qualifying session, back in 2013. Michael’s ‘A’ level commitments, as the exams begin the following week, prevented him taking part in testing on Friday.

After the first five minutes of the 25 minute qualifying session, Michael returned to the pits, commenting that something felt loose at the back of the car. As a quick 60 second check of suspension arms and rear wheels whilst in the pit lane did not reveal any problems, he drove back out on track, and improved his time to the third fastest qualifying time. A more thorough check once qualifying was over revealed that there had indeed been a problem – the studs locating the left rear wheel and brake disk to the wheel hub had sheered.  A hasty extraction from the hub of four sheered thread lengths, and a replacement of both studs and cracked brake disk followed in order to have the car ready for the race two hours later.

The race itself was to last fifty minutes; including a compulsory two minute pit stop.  From third place on the grid, Michael quickly took second place, and hounded the leader for about ten laps, after which his second time out tyres were past their best, allowing the new tyre shod leader to pull out a modest gap. A slightly sub-optimal selection of his fifth gear ratio also did not help Michael’s progress, as he was reaching the rev limiter on the two long straights. A safety car period seven minutes from the end of the race bunched the competitors up once more, but a number of lapped cars between Michael and the leader prevented him from taking advantage of the situation, leaving him to finish second.

Michael would like to thank sponsors - local companies Croudace Homes and Berringtons Jewellers – for their continuing support and encouragement.

Michael is looking forward to his next race at Thruxton in June, when he hopes to add to the win he achieved at the first round at Silverstone in April.