With the Pug all repaired after the problems at Snetterton we headed to what it basically my home circuit. I love Donington and it’s a perfect circuit for the agile little pug. Qualifying started in the rain and we were running fastest when I handed to my co driver for his qualifying laps. Early on he ran wide into the gravel but rejoined having seemingly caused no problems. Keen to make up for his mistake, and on a drying track his lap times tumbled and once again we wound up with pole position. Checking the car after qualifying revealed the trip into the gravel had pulled the alternator belt off and the battery was now flat. The car was jumped started and headed out for the race. When the lights went green my co driver went off like a scalded rat, leaving the pack behind. At the driver change we had a healthy lead but the car wouldn’t start due to the flat battery. By the time we’d bump started it we were down to second. After 3 or 4 laps of chasing through the back markers I retook the lead, only for the race to be red flagged a lap later due to several accidents. We kept the win which was a nice result after the seasons poor start.
Tags: driver training, Peugeot 306, Race car