Oulton Park

As the team headed for Oulton Park near Cheshire another circuit the car had never visited before this weekend ambitions were high despite the already fast BTC spec cars being given a weight lift.

Qualifying: Took place on a dry sunny circuit Vaulkhard set an impressive first qualifying lap to put him 8th in the session, however at the start of his second flying lap an electrical gremlin that had been raising its head all season struck again on the run to the Nickerbrooke chicane, Vaulkhards Chevrolet rolled to a halt on the exit road. While the team relayed instructions from the pits over the radio Vaulkhard was working frantically to get the car going, unfortunately the marshals pushed the car as Vaulkhard got it fired up again and due to the ‘outside assistance’ he received he was unable to continue in the session. Non the less with only one flying lap he still managed to secure 14th on the grid.

“That’s annoying, I had parked well out of the way and the marshals pushed me about 4 foot backwards for some strange reason and that ended what was probably going to be a great qualy session as I usually go faster on laps 2-3”

Race 1: Took place in 25 degree heat. Trying a new start setting Vaulkhard got the car away to a dyer start and was engulfed into the first corner losing several positions, however Matt Neal made and equally bad start and Vaulkhard slipped past into turn 1 only to be spun round by the works driver, as Harry tried to regain control of the car his front wheel was struck by a passing car, putting the tracking out and bending the front wishbone. Vaulkhard carried on and managed to gain back several positions to get back into 14th spot with an ill handling car, it was later revealed that a camber bolt had also dropped out of the front wheel, meaning the cambers were changing for every turn.

Race 2: The team made good progress in the break to repair the car, as Vaulkhard left the line in race 2 the temperature was 30 degrees C and around 55 in the cockpit. A similar start to race 1 saw him lose another position. After a hard fought first few laps Harry was back on terms with the leading independents and fighting hard against the newer machinery, it soon became apparent to the young Tynesider that the problems in race 1 were ongoing, as the power steering began to fade on lap 5. Without the power steering Vaulkhard was unable to carry on pushing the group in front and had to concentrate on holding off the attentions of the chasing pack. Harry managed to finish an impressive 14th despite the car having steering characteristics “similar to an old land rover.”

Race 3: Again in the short break the team were up against it to fit the new steering rack and components in time to get the car out. In the rush they were unable to ‘re-set the car’s geometry’ Vaulkhard made a fantastic start and after a great first lap was up in 8th position ahead of numerous works cars. Again as the race progressed Vaulkhard realised that bad luck was yet again on his side, the car began to under steer widely and was a real pig to drive over steering in the fast corners and pushing on at the front in slower turns. With nothing else he could do Harry made sure he kept the car on the track and had to watch people drive past him who he’d worked hard to get ahead of previously. Harry managed to bring the car across the line in 12th position. After the race a dejected Harry said
“Everything seems to be against me this season, the team and I are working so hard to do the job right but things keep fighting us all the way. I knew it would be a tough season but its so hard when we seem to get all the bad luck and were already fighting an uphill battle in an old s2000 car. We’ll be back for Knockhill!” After the race the team set down sheet revealed the issue to be the front tracking was way out.