Spa Francorchamps (Belgium) 3 – 4 – 5 October 2008

Spa Francorchamps (Belgium) 3 – 4 – 5 October 2008

Porsche Open Series

One 30 Minute and one 50 Minute Race

Weather: Fri – damp, Sat – Dry, Sun – Wet (very!)

Our last meeting of the season, and all to play for. The 2008 Porsche Open ‘Driver of the Year’ would, for the first time, be awarded a race in one round of the 2009 Carrera Cup GB, in the Porsche Cars Great Britain run, ProAm2 car.

For Paul to win the prize drive we had to finish both races on this challenging GP circuit. Would we be up to the challenge?

Getting the Car to Spa

Taking the car abroad represents some significant logistical challenges for a small team such as ours, especially as all the support crew are volunteers. The truck was booked onto the ferry for about 6pm so we set off in plenty of time to get to Dover – the rest of the team would follow on as soon as they could. However, we hadn’t counted on serious traffic problems.

We rolled up to the track about midnight in the truck and took a space in a car park to get our heads down, the rest of the guys arrived overnight, some three hours later. We moved the truck into the paddock in the morning and after setting up the rest of the day was our own – we set up camp just outside the circuit and in the evening went out for a meal – looking forward to qualifying on Friday.

Qualifying – Friday (45 minutes)

Both Paul and Tim needed to qualify. The plan was that Paul would race in the first race on Saturday and they would both race in the second on Sunday. The session was dampish but Tim put in a time toward the end of the session that qualified the car in 7th, 2nd in class. Considering the conditions it was a good start to the meeting.

Race 1 – Saturday (30 minutes)

After a reasonable start Paul settled in to putting in some consistent laps and keeping out of trouble. He finished in 5th, 1st in class, so we all felt that it was a job well done – winning the series was within our grasp – only one more race to go. We were all praying for a fine day tommorow.

Someone had the bright idea that we should cycle round the track that evening. A motley crew of cyclists with a couple of outriders on quad bikes (just in case we needed a tow) took up the challenge. All I can say is; Spa looks a damn site flatter on the TV! I for one was glad to get back to camp and the BBQ.

Race 2 – Sunday (50 minutes)

Our prayers had gone unanswered – we had some wild weather overnight and it was raining in the morning. Our race was at 12.40 and it was still raining – the track was really wet. Tim was a little apprehensive about the race and it was decided that Paul would take the opening stint and Tim would take the finish line.

The race, in the end, was started under the safety car. A couple of sighting laps so the drivers could see where the standing water was laying and then the safety car came in and we were racing. Paul had to be sensible so it was unlikely that we were going to have an eventful race – however, you can never account for the weather, poor visibility, standing water and back markers having their own problems.

Down the pit straight a 944 had a bit of a moment in front of Paul. While trying to avoid him Paul just glanced is rear quarter. It was a bit of a scary moment for all concerned – but thankfully there was no serious damage and both carried on.

Paul came in to the pits for the driver change over and we noticed just how bad visibility was – but there was little we could do. Some quick body modification was needed after Paul’s troubles but Tim was out quickly, determined to bring the car back in one piece and to lay some demons to rest – Spa hadn’t been good to Tim the previous year.

Tim brought the car home in 6th place, 2nd in class with a huge grin. This meant that Paul had more points than any other driver that year and had won his prize drive.

The weather was still decidedly damp and none of us were looking forward to the trip home. It was a long and tiresome drive but I rolled back into Sturminster Marshal at about 3am which saw us back home by 4.

What a way to end the season.