The weekend began early for me when I attended a 3-hour training session on Thursday the 1st. My instructor was
Jamie Stanley, who gave me excellent tuition and practice time on the track.
I spent the afternoon arranging and applying my sponsors stickers onto the car in preparation for the racing at the weekend.
Friday we were at the track early for 4 x 30 minute testing sessions. The track was dry and we soon built up speed. I could
feel myself getting more confident as the day went on. As the testing drew to a close I felt exhausted, I had really given
the day my full concentration and attention.
Race 7:
I qualified 7th on the grid. Got a little bit held up on my quick laps but I was pleased with 7th. Sheena having an engine/car
change meant she was at the back of the grid now making me now in 6th place.
The sun came out for the race and my heart was beating faster than ever before as the crowds started to gather for the truck
qualifying which was on after us.
I had a brilliant start, I jumped up to 4th place. I held 4th for the first few corners but at Surtee's corner (at the end
of the back straight), a driver span infront of me on the racing line. I was going full throttle and couldn't avoid her. I
crashed into her at high speed (70mph approx), hitting my head and jarring my back and neck and by the time I was free of
the crash and regained my composure, I was last - and on a mission to climb back up! On the next lap round at Paddock Hill
corner 2 cars span infront of me. I made it through past the crash but the race was red-flagged.
Sat on the grid again we were put into our original grid positions. 6th place driver was out of the race so now I was essentially
5th place (with Sheena starting from the back again). We had to wait whilst they cut Jenny Grace from her car. In the 20 minute
wait, the mechanics came out to the cars. The Clerk of the Course insisted my exhaust (which was hanging off) was fixed up.
I knew my steering was very damaged also - straight ahead was now full lock to the right!! But I did not tell my mechanic
or the clerk as I knew they would disqualify me from the race. So I waited patiently for the green flag lap and second race
start.
I found the car incredibly difficult to drive on the green flag lap but decided to give it a go to try and finish the race
anyway.
The lights went out and I charged on into 4th place again. Unfortunately I soon discovered that the awkwardness of steering
the wrong way for corners slowed me down. After a few corners I found that my neck and back were causing me great discomfort
and I had to slow at the corners to cut the g-force down. 2 cars overtook me easily! I was on the point of pulling in because
of the pain but then I saw the last lap sign and managed to complete the final lap.
On pulling into the pits on completion I managed to get out of the car but then in obvious pain the medics cornered me! They
laid me down on a board, strapped me in and rushed me off to hospital with sirens blaring.
My parents met me there. I had to wait 45 mins or so for my x-rays which then took 35 minutes to complete. Finally, the doctor
came over and informed me the pain was just severe bruising and there weren't any breakages.
So I got given some painkillers and went to pick up my car from the track. Jenny Grace was not so lucky, she had bruised ribs
and would not be racing the next day. I, however, was determined I would race the last race of the season and had an early
night with room service!
Brandshatch Race 8 Report
