2021 Time Attack Championship Round 1: Cadwell Park
Direnza driver Jonny Fletcher returns for the latest installment of the Time Attack Championship.
This years off season has been the longest since Jonny started competing eleven years ago. In fact, it has been almost seven months exactly, since the final round of the 2020 championship.
We are starting this year under very similar circumstances to 2020, not least, the lack of fans due to the ongoing restrictions of the pandemic. This also means identical online briefings and scrutineering via forms and zoom.
There are no pit garages at Cadwell Park so it’s always recommended to bring your own coverings. As with most rounds, we arrive the day before to set up and unload the car. Putting us in the best possible shape come ‘race’ day.
Warm Up
Despite predictions, we began on a completely dry circuit, but with rain almost guaranteed later on in the day the initial plan was to complete a few steady laps to get the car up to temperature before pushing on for the rest of the 15 minute session. Jonny set a best time of 1m44.486.
Practice
In between sessions the car was checked over and with nothing untoward to report, we prepared for 1st practice. The rain arrived roughly 30 minutes before the start of the session. Although only light drizzle, grip levels where considerable worse than the morning warm up.
With condition proving difficult, the target was to find the levels of the track without being a hero and risking damage to the car. Especially as the practice session would not count towards championship standings.
One problem that did become apparent from this session was a windscreen wiper speed issue. The only speed available was fast and it simply wasn’t raining heavy enough and not using them wasn’t option given the spray and drizzle. Something that needs sorting going forward.
Over lunch, the rain got considerably worse so it was time to put the wet weather plan into action in a bid to improve on our wet pace in 2020.
Qualifying
You could now classify the track under full wet conditions. It was clear straight from the off the circuit was going to be incredibly slippy. Although Jonny managed to build the pace lap after lap, a misting windscreen was becoming an issue as the heating element appeared to have failed.
After 2 laps the misting windscreen was starting to become a safety concern. Fortunately, the session was red flagged providing the team with time to investigate the heated screen or lack of.
Unfortunately the rain didn’t back off and if anything got worse throughout the afternoon. After a lengthy delay the championship organisers called off the final session on safety grounds. A fair call considering the rivers running across the track.
So there we have it, not the way we wanted to start the season but you cannot control the weather. One positive to take from the day is the cars much improved wet weather performance and really strong dry pace.
Rounds two & three will take place over the weekend of June 19th and 20th at Brands Hatch for the seasons first double header!
Images: Time Attack UK 2021 https://www.timeattack.co.uk/ | Eat My Pixels