I got close enough on the long main straight to get a good slipstream and pulled out at the last second to pass him down the inside. I was feeling proud of that move as it was a bit tight, but Andy was the pro and had to give way. I then pulled away by over a second a lap as the car was now hooked up. The team said I had to push like hell as we were running a good third, and I was ready to give it a go, but, on the very next lap, as I came out of the turn five hairpin and went up the gears, there was a BANG from the rear of the car as the gearbox broke.
I got back to the pits, but the race for a podium was gone. The team had a look at the problem, but not much could be done, so I waited in the car till the end of the race and went out slowly to finish the race and complete 70 per cent of the total distance just to get some points.
This was our first major problem with the car this year, and the team did really well to get a good race car with so little time on the track. We had a chance of being third, but it wasn't to be.
The next ALMS race will be Lime Rock, as we go from the biggest track to one of the smallest. This is one we can do well at though, as it should suit us a little better. Also, the team is based just up the road, so it is a home race for the Highcroft team.
Next for me, however, is the greatest race in our year, the Le Mans 24 Hours. Preparations with Aston Martin have gone well, so I can't wait for pre-qualifying in a few weeks time...
DB
