This last weekend 17th Feb was Rnd 4 of the CML Badlands Challange held at DRT. With perfect conditions all week & no rain the DRT dirt track had been preped to perfection, with temperatures well in the minus figures all night the track was well frozen when I arrived, but was to thaw by mid morning & late in the finals would start to blue groove.
With an entry of 75 & many top names entered racing would again be close, with recent changes to the track with new jumps, adverse corners & technical section the track would be fun to drive & very rewarding when you hit the lines spot on.
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To racing & round 1 with a frozen track lap times were slow, with a small error mid race would put me 5th in round. Rnd 2 the track had now thawed & grip levels were now up, with a good clear run finished 2nd in round 3 seconds off TQ. Rnd 3 with no changes to the car other than a tweek to the engine tune the car felt like it was on rails, having to negotiate several cars per lap every lap through this run never really got to find cars true pace but again went 2nd in round 2 seconds off TQ & to qualify 2nd in the A Main.
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With the start of the A main the track now had began to rut up in some sections & blue groove in other, with the pole man crashing out on the 1st lap I took the lead & pulled a half lap lead by the first fuel stop. With the car being so easy to drive from this point had settled into a very steady pace & lapped the field upto 2nd place by the end of the 20 minute final. With Alex & Jason both improving on there start position in the A main a good day for team XRAY.
Badlands Challenge Rnd 4 final results: 1. Brenn Ralls XRAY XB8EC
2. Sam Taylor
3. Richard Bettaney
4. Matt Reuben
5. Simon Dudman 6. Alex Gillbanks XRAY XB8EC
7. Janos Nagy
8. Glen Clark 9. Jason Dixon XRAY XB8
10. Mike Cradock
Thanks to my sponsors Xray, Hudy, Proline, O'Donnell, Ace, OS, Nosram, Piraterc & trusted pitman Arron for your support.
