Coming into this weekend (June 25-26), the end of the first half of the season, the team were quite happy following their heroics at Oulton Park last time out. Aiden getting his first trophy of the season and Dexter getting his first championship points were a great result for the team and they were keen for this success to continue at Croft before they go into the mid-summer break.
In Saturday’s first free practice session it was clear that the improvements the team had made at Oulton Park were holding good — Dexter did well and ended the first session 24th with some good feedback and learning points from the session.
For the second practice session just before lunchtime once again the boys were quick out of the blocks, but an early red flag after Dan Cammish crashed his Ford Focus at the first corner held up everyone’s session, including ours. The circuit did a great job in clearing up the mess and we were soon back out and putting the laps in. We were certainly quicker than we had been, in both cars, and things were looking good!
Qualifying:
The session began in a similar fashion to the way that Free Practice 2 had ended with everybody pushing hard and the entry into Clervaux (turn one) was spitting people out towards the gravel trap before Hawthorn bend. First up it caught Adam Morgan out in the BMW who hurtled sideways into the barrier to bring out the first of three red flags. Then Stephen Jelley suffered the same fate, but missed the barriers and left a huge cloud of stones, dust and debris right on the corner where Dexter was rapidly following. Dexter was blinded in this sandstorm at full speed – see the pictures. As he came through the cloud, he was only a foot away from the barriers and had no chance to avoid the heavy impact. Although signalled as a red flag, Dexter was able to keep the car going round to the pits, but it was deemed too damaged to continue in the session.
Race 1:
Dexter started in P28 after his qualifying drama. But it was with a positive mind-set that he flew off the line. He took Will Powell and Nicolas Hamilton before a safety car. As the safety car went back in, Dexter was at it again with some brilliant overtakes on Jade Edwards and Ricky Collard before we had yet another safety car!
The race restarted with only three laps to go and Dexter pushed as hard as he dared; in the end Dexter gaining 8 places to finish 20th. Quite a result.
Race 2:
Dexter was initially in 20th, then down in 24th before managing to pull off a series of breathtaking overtakes to finish 18th.
Race 3:
Dexter drove brilliantly from 18th on the grid and despite the attempts of those around him, he was able to hold them off and give as good as he got to finish in 16th spot. It is clear that Dexter is learning his craft very quickly and we are sure that he will develop further as the season continues.
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