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News  Racing
XB808 Vice-Champion in SRS series, UK |
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| Race report by Brennan Ralls |
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Sunday the 8th of August would see Rnd 5 & the finale for the SRS series, with the series up for grabs between Bren Ralls, Mark Tatman & Karl Jackson. All had the oppertunity to take the title but with Karl on holiday left it too a 2 horse race, both Bren & Mark tied on points meaning who ever finished in front would win.
The Venue was Action park on the astro turf track which had been shut for 6 months but for one last time re opened for this event before it gets bulldosed for a different purpose. A 30 minute practice allowed us all to get things sorted before a quick drivers briefing & into racing. |
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Rnd 1 Bren & Mark swaped position but both made errors allowing others to take the top spots, 7th & 6th for both enough though to keep a position in the main.
Rnd 2 Bren got his act together & capitalised on Marks mistakes to get a clear run & 3rd in round & only a few seconds behind Elliot Boots who was flying as usuall.
Rnd 3 With it all to play for Mark with a tyre change found his sweat spot with a clear run went 2nd in round, Bren had a couple of bobbles pushing hard losing a few seconds but no marshall requirements but did enough to finish 5th.
Well for me is was job done so far as I was 3rd on the grid & mark 7th, my overall pace was slightly quicker & with the tyres worn where at there quickest.
With the sound of the horn got off to a good start & into 2nd, with Mark stuck in the pack capitalized on this & built a near 3/4 lap lead by the halfway stage. With race control calling a different order to what was true it was apparant the computer was having some problems with glitches & the race was stopped. |
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With the restart again soon was in 2nd but this time Mark & David Spashett where on my tail, we all traded places several times before i finally got the break & started to build a lead. Fuel stops went & passed, my lead grew to near 3/4 of a lap so was now just in cruise mode when disaster struck. A heavy landing after the crossover on a ridge of astro turf is all i can put it down to meant an engine cut, I allowed it to roll over the line as it was so close where i was quickly grabbed & restarted. From here I thought job done as I was still in front of Mark by some margin & finished in where I should of been & 2nd.
When Results where printed my score was down by 1 lap with others also but meant I was now 5th & Mark 2nd. Race officials convinced I did not cross the line although 3 witnesses agree I did but meant result would stand, computer glitch my opinion as the next race was also abandoned & re run with same issue.
Dissapointed as the series win was mine twice in the final but denied at the last hurdle & the way it has to go. My results where good in achievment with a 5th & 6ths when the national field raced at the first few events , 1st at Herts, 5th at action park & costly DNF at Kent but just not enough. Mark is a worthy champion taking advantage when easy points where up for grabs & the name of the game.
Overall would finish 2nd in the SRS series so no mean feat & an invitation to the champion of champions on the 3rd of October. |
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| Thanks goes to XRAY, HUDY, RC Disco, KO, CML, Byron, Proline, Kifopaint & Piraterc. |
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