VF-Racing @ Thruxton
15 August 2011, 10:39 PM
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VF-Racing @ Thruxton
Vaughan Fletcher No:16 @Thruxton 13th & 14th August 2011
Thruxton is well known for being the fastest circuit in the UK and is located adjacent to the A303, 5 miles west of Andover in Hampshire
The track is 2.356 miles in length and has a licensed grid capacity of a maximum 38 starters when saloon cars race.
In addition to hosting race meetings for cars, trucks and motorcycles, Thruxton provides many other facilities, with more exciting developments planned for the future
Thruxton Circuit was originally constructed in 1940 as RAF Thruxton: a World War II airfield which was home to both the RAF and USAAF and was used during World War II for troop-carrying aircraft and gliders, including operations during the D-Day landings.
The circuit has been used to host motor racing events since 1950; with the circuit initially being used to host motorcycle races from 1950 and motor racing since 1952.
A popular circuit with fans and racers alike for the huge speeds reached through “Church” “Brooklands” and “Woodham Hill”, down to the last minute lunges for position through “Club”
Pre Race:
Following Pembrey, it was obvious that we needed to look into the handling issues, that had spoilt an otherwise good weekends racing.
With a short amount of time between Pembrey and Thruxton, it was a matter of urgency to try and understand why we were having the problems we were.
Having spoke to our suspension provider, and inspecting the units themselves, we have hopefully got to the bottom of the problem, and also got some more set-up information to try along the way.
We have also been lucky enough to have some assistance prior to the event from a couple of the top teams in the BTCC, so we would be interested to see how their input helped matters.
In a further attempt to get more air flowing through the oil cooler, and to feed the air filter, we have revised the cooling to the front brakes. We have moved the ducting for the brakes into the front splitter, which frees up a bigger surface area of uninterrupted airflow. We have also added a small scoop on the side of the bumper to try and make sure the maximum amount of air is directed towards the oil cooler.
Data after the sessions will allow us to see what temperatures were achieving, so we can adjust the car accordingly.
Race Day:
Having not raced at the circuit before, it would be a big task to become familiar with the daunting circuit and confirm the cars set up in just 15 minutes of qualifying.
We checked the suspension and made adjustments to set up the car the best we could, but only our lap times and driver feedback would tell us if we were close or a million miles away.
Race day dawned dry after heavy rain on Friday night, but as we were not qualifying until later on in the day, the circuit would have plenty of time to dry out.
The car was given a final once over and enough fuel was added for the session.
Qualifying:
A4 was made up of:
09. Nick Williamson Ford Escort Cosworth
12. Ian Froggatt Subaru Impreza RA
16. Vaughan Fletcher Subaru Impreza RA
32. Martin Davies Sierra Cosworth
For the rounds at Thruxton, the “Classic Thunder” championship would race on the same grid as the “Boss” Ford Championship, which would mean we would be in competition with some fast Ford’s as well as our usual rivals!
With Williamson joining our class for Thruxton, we knew there would be added challenges to add to “Davies” who romped past us at Pembrey in race 2, and to “Froggatt” who was returning to CT with a freshly rebuilt car following a dramatic engine fire a few weeks earlier.
With 23 cars lining up for race 1, we wanted to get a good grid position, however there would be at least half a dozen other cars looking to do the same!
With a lap estimated to take around 1 min 26 sec, we’d have a maximum of 10 laps to record our best time. However with having to take the time to warm up the car and tyres, as well as learn the track, there wouldn’t be a lot of time left to set a quick time.
Initially there was a harsh vibration from the steering, which nearly ended the session before it had really begun, but after a few laps it had gone, and Vaughan was able to push on.
When the results came in:
Qualified 3rd in class
Qualified 5th overall
Fastest lap: 1.27.683 sec on lap 6 of 7
Checking the tyre pressures and temperatures highlighted we hadn’t put enough air in the tyres to start with, which was likely to be the culprit behind the earlier vibrations.
With this knowledge we adjusted the car accordingly.
Round 9:
With the course car safely off track, the grid snaked its way through “Club” and onto the Start/Finish.
Starting in 5th place on the inside of the grid, we were alongside the blisteringly quick (and fragile) Mitsubishi Starion of Neil Philpotts and behind Ilsa *** in her Seat Leon Cupra and Davies in the Sierra Cosworth. Pole man Williamson was alongside the über quick BMW M3 of Garrie Whittaker.
With the lights out, “Williamson” and “Whittaker” lead the pack, whilst “Philpotts” cut through the grid to take 3rd.
The Cosworth powered Mk2 Escort of Craig Rainer followed “Philpotts” through the gap, which put Vaughan back down to 7th before the pack entered “Campbell”
Already fighting back, Vaughan re-took 6th place from *** and was back into 5th having passed “Rainer” at “Cobb”.
Ahead was now class rival “Davies” in the Sierra, who was going to make it as difficult as possible for Vaughan to take his position.
The Sierra was showing better straight line performance over the Subaru, but through the corners and under braking, Vaughan was able to close the gap significantly. Pushing hard lap after lap, the Sierra was twice shown the driving standards flag for cutting the curbs, but he was still defending well.
The stricken Starion of Philpotts presented itself on the start finish straight at the beginning of lap 9, which provided Vaughan the opportunity to make a run up the inside of Davies around “Allard”. At the very same time, “Davies” suffered a puncture, which meant his race was run and he pulled off the circuit out of harms way.
Now in 3rd place, Vaughan could see “Williamson” in the distance, and could see that he was closing the distance between them at a great rate. With the bit between his teeth, the Escort would be the next milestone.
Unfortunately, the driving gods had other ideas, as whilst rounding “Village” there was an almighty bang, and all drive in 5th gear was lost.
Dropping to 4th gear provided relief in that it wasn’t an engine failure that caused the problem, but it was the destruction of 5th gear.
Without 5th gear, the pack that Vaughan had driven so well to leave behind soon began to fill his mirrors.
Back into 8th place, it looked like we could hold that position until the chequered flag was waved. However, having just passed us, fellow A4 competitor Ian Froggatt in the 2nd ScoobyClinic Subaru span between corners “Segrave” and “Noble” which allowed one place to be taken back.
Finished 2nd in class
Finished 7th overall
Fastest lap: 1.25.665 sec on lap 2 of 15
Summary
Even though the weekend was over for us, it had provided some excellent racing, and allowed us to try out a new way of setting the car up.
The circuit is certainly fast, and both driver and car felt at home until the gearbox failed.
Up until the point of failure, it had been Vaughan’s best race to date, with some huge battles.
The gear that had broken was the only standard part within the casing, as all other gears were from PPG.
Cadwell Park is in 3 weeks, so hopefully everything will be resolved for then.
Pictures thanks to Oliver Read.
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