For the third round of the season we travelled to Belgium. Spa is a long time fixture on the Formula one calendar and an awesome circuit. Corners such as Eau Rouge and Blanchimont require so much accuracy, skill and bravery. The whole lap is a breath taking rollercoaster. On the thursday test we carried out a few minor changes which set the car perfectly for the circuit. In qualifying the rain came along but that had little effect on our pace, with the car once again finding itself on class pole. My co driver and car owner took the start but on the run to Eau Rouge dropped a couple of places with a missed gear. Trying to slot back into the pack he ran slightly wide on the exit and the rear wheel hooked the damp exit kerb pitching the car into a spin. Most of the pack avoided the spinning car but a Westfield also ran wide and hit the back of the Pug, now stationary on the grass. The result was the Peugeot was for the second time this year running on 3 wheels, and the race would go no further for us. 
Posts Tagged ‘Peugeot 306’
CSCC from Spa, Belgium
Friday, July 1st, 2011CSCC from Donington
Wednesday, June 1st, 2011With 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.
CSCC from Snetterton
Sunday, May 1st, 2011The first race of this season was at the new Snetterton 300 circuit. I’ve got to be honest I didn’t like it much, I missed the old fast corners but the revisions that have been made are definitely a challenge. I guess it’s just a matter of personal preference. Either way we didn’t get to see much action. The car for this eyars racing as an ex BTCC pug 306 which is prepared elsewhere but we are helping with set up and driver training. Half way into the qualifying session the wheel studs sheered leaving the front wheel to make a bid for freedom. It’s the first time we’ve run the car in anger and it’s had a hard life after 10 years of racing. There will clearly be some parts that have seen a lot of stress over the years so it’s understandable that stress failures will occur. On the plus side despite only running half of qualifying the car was still fast enough for pole position. Shame it didn’t have enough wheels on it to race!
AA Sport
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011AA Silencers is going racing this year with sister company AA Sport. AA Sport deals with the performance side of the business including chassis tuning, car handling set ups and driver training. Company owner, Mark hammersley, is co-driving an ex BTCC Peugeot touring car. He shares the seat with Nigel Tongue who is campaigning his first season in this car. Mark will help with getting car and driver onto the pace and to the front of the grid. Pre season testing has gone well so far, time will tell when the lights go green at the first race!
