We entered the 750 MC Roadsports series at Snetterton as we had a long gap between CALM All Porsche races. The regulations are similar, but open to almost any make and model of car, with a familiar 45min pitstop race format.
We arrived early and setup in the garages we'd been allocated for the day. We had time to fit the series title sponsor (https://www.tegiwa.com)
windscreen banner and other sponsor stickers before going out for qualifying.
Qualifying:
The 25min qualifying was slightly longer, so we allowed for two timed laps for the first driver before switching in the pits. Mike set a 2m16s benchmark. As Garry headed onto track it started to rain, and by the next lap it was too wet to improve. Rain got heavier, lap times plummeted and most cars pitted.
But we persevered, blue skies were coming across, and lap times improved. The final lap was virtually dry and we improved to 2m14s, jumping back to 21st of 48 on the grid.
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Our car sits in the middle of the power to weight band for class B and without aero (front splitter and wing) we weren't going to trouble the class leaders. We still wanted to finish mid pack and ahead of the fastest class C Honda type R's.
Race:
The rolling start was a bit erratic, which allowed Garry to gain a few positions, but it was hard to maintain the class B front runners pace.
An incident ahead coming under the bridge got a couple more places (16th now), but a car had left oil all round the track. We got sideways the first time around but weren't aware it extended the whole of Coram, Murrays and to the pit lane. Next lap we spun - the lack of marshals (surface change red and yellow) flags was a bit disappointing.
After rejoining a couple of places down, we lost a lot of time round those final corners due to being really nervous of another spin, struggling to stay ahead of the Type Rs.
We had a near miss then the Darkside Motorsport Audi TT lost control behind us. The closing speeds of the Class A car is quite stark, especially as we don't have aero so our corner entry speeds are a lower.
The safety car came out for a stranded car and we pitted the following lap when the pit lane was less crowded, however this lost us some positions.
Our driver change wasn't very smooth, so rejoined the back of the safety car line quite a few places down in 27th.
With 15 mins remaining, the race resumed and Mike set about reclaiming our lost positions.
Every lap he lined up another pass either out braking cars ahead, or using the Boxster's straight line power on the main or back straight.
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It was hard work as he also had to navigate the class A leaders coming through under blue flags, without giving places back.
We finished 21st - where we started which was a great recovery.
The Roadsports series was good fun. The racing was fair, with a great variety of cars, and we didn't pickup any damage. Most cars run with splitters and wings which made it more difficult for us to be competitive without taking a lot of further weight from the car.
The track time will set us up well for the CALM All Porsche race here in August.
