My start in the second race left a lot to be desired. I let the revs dip too low and narrowly avoided stalling, but once I got going I made up quite a lot of ground, I was up to 19th at one stage and then the trouble started – suddenly there was chaos with cars going everywhere and I was hit two or three times on the first lap! I began to struggle in a big way with understeer and it was not until after the race that we understood why - my front left rim had been damaged on the first lap and I had lost one bar in tyre pressure which accounted for the struggle.
However worse was to come as Ceresoli lost control coming into the hairpin and spun into me backwards at well over 200kph destroying both his own car and mine. It was a heavy hit and my neck is still feeling it, though I am nearly better now and I am very thankful for my Hans device. It was a racing incident and I was an unlucky victim. I got going again but I limped home in last place, an unfortunate end to a difficult weekend.
I am still settling into the WTCC, and I am still trying to understand the professionalism that is required for the championship. My father Eoin and my brother Aran have been at every session to date this year and their support has been incredible, as has the support back home in Ireland - its just been fantastic, My poor mother has been left at home baby-sitting my Bengal kitten, so she has been nervously watching on the races live on Eurosport!
Something that has been a surprise to me though is the support that I am receiving within the WTCC paddock and within the championship where there is a great spirit. I have to say that Andy Priaulx has been really good to me and after qualifying he had my father, brother, and I over to his motor home for a drink. He has been very supportive to me and is really having a big influence on my career without even realising it! His advice has been invaluable to me and he is one of these guys that is so professional, but also has his feet firmly on the ground.
