Docker leads class in Britcar following Oulton Round
Tim Docker was back in the Golf last weekend at Oulton Park in Britcar and enjoyed a successful weekend moving him to first in class in the championship standings.
“We managed to repeat our Donington tally at Britcar Oulton this weekend with a 1st and 2nd in Class, notching up 55 championship points to put us on 226 points, now 97 points clear of Paul Calledine in second place in the Class 4 category.
I managed to break the 1 minute 45 second barrier in qualifying with a 1.44.9 to take second place behind Max Coates’ class pole of 1.44.3.
I lost some places in the melee of Cascades on lap 1 of race 1 but drove a strong race to fight my way through the field catching Guy Colclough, who’d taken the reigns of the Seat Leon from Max Coates, with about 6 laps to go. I call him “wide boy Guy” and he proved the point. I couldn’t get passed him on the narrow Oulton track as he defended again and again, finishing 2nd in Class behind Guy with his Class win.
Race 2 started with a puncture being noticed in the pit’s seconds before the 3 minute pit lane window. The only option was to replace the new front right with a “scrap” tyre from the last race. I started well and quickly established a healthy Class 4 lead, followed by a safety car which enabled me to pit and take the single driver advantage. As the remaining field pitted I opened a 57 second gap to second place whilst by now tyre issues and geometric in-balance due to a few over aggressive charges across kerbs were causing major vibration around every corner. I was struggling to lap at 1.49 and losing time quickly to the Forelle Estates, Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 in second place. Thankfully time ran out and I secured 1st in Class, still clear by 30 seconds. Pleased and relieved, to quote Chris Caton “you won that on three wheels”.
Next time we’re at Snetterton; after a fair old break on August 10th. Looking forward to it!!” – Tim Docker