The conditions were very similar to
Donington Park last year; maybe not quite as bad but there was a lot of water running across the circuit. Before the start of race three was aborted, we lined up on the grid on slicks because we thought it was just going to be a shower – we didn’t necessarily think it was going to be as bad as it was. Then the heavens opened completely and they allowed everyone to change onto wet tyres for safety more than anything. I think the organisers might have felt it was just going to be a shower, but then they saw it was getting worse and you could tell it was going to be a lot more than just a small shower.
I couldn’t see a great deal through the windscreen of the car and I felt that if it had got much worse, I would have had to come into the pits. Visibility was bad just because of the spray coming up from the other cars and corners like turn one were tricky as the banked corner isn’t one you find on any other circuit.
Because of the amount of water, every turn was different and you didn’t know how good or bad things were going to be but as the race went on, the conditions got worse as there was more water than could be cleared by the cars going round. Most corners were filling up on the inside so you’d try to avoid it, but you couldn’t always see where the running water was and would hit it before you realised – which is when you have a moment and think you are heading off the track before saving it. Darren Turner went off as a prime example of someone who just hit some water and was unlucky to go off. However, we made it through and to finish on the podium was superb.
Overall, I’m happy with how it has gone so far this year, although I’m disappointed with the third race at
Brands Hatch and not scoring points there. However, these things happen and I’m sure it will happen to others as well at some point during the year.
