MSW Racing News...
British Radical Cup Championship 2008 Race Dates
Rnd 1 - Snetterton, 26-27 April
Rnd 2 - Spa Francorchamps, 9-11 May
Rnd 3 - Croft 14-15, June
Rnd 4 - Castle Combe, 19-20 July
Rnd 5 - Donington, 2-3 August
Rnd 6 - Brands Hatch, 23-24 August
Rnd 7 - Silverstone GP, 12-14 September
Rnd 8 - Rockingham, 27-28 September
*All rounds less one will be counted towards championship points
Rnd 1 - Snetterton 26-27 April
Saturday Qualifying:-
We had a lot of trouble with handling and set up but Stuart went first as usual.
By the time I went out the car was down on power and the engine was rattling. I did 3 laps and called it a day.
We qualified P3 for race 1 and P3 for race 2.
A new engine was fitted and the handling problem was the left rear shock had collapsed.
Sunday Race 1
I started the race from P3 the weather was good but the track did not have much grip and all the SR8’s
spun on there own within the first 5 laps but nobody crashed. We brought the car back in 2nd place at half time Stuart tried to restart the car but the starter motor failed so he needed a bump to get going, about 5 laps into his stint the race was red flagged and stopped.
Final position 2nd.
Sunday Race 2
I started the race from P3 the track was wet but not raining with a dry line, after turn one we were leading and still leading after the 3rd lap but in turn 2 the car spun out, I restarted but the car was all over the place so we pitted only to find oil all over the rear tyres. A tooth off gear number 3 had came off and ground through the gear box casing.
Final position DNF
Championship standing – 3rd
------------------------------------------------
Rnd 2 - Spa Francorchamps 10th-11th May
Saturday Qualifying:-
This round is held with the Radical European Masters Cup.
We think we have found the handling problem so we now hope to have a good base set up.
Stuart went first as usual he uses about 20 minutes of the 30 allowed I then use the last 10 minutes
to get 3 timed laps which is all I need to do to qualify. Stuart’s job is to get the car on pole which he did. We qualified P1 for race 1 and P1 for race 2
Saturday Race 1
I started the race from P1, the weather was very hot. On the warm up lap there was a strong smell of petrol by the second lap of the race I had a wet bum with petrol and my feet where slipping off the peddles by lap five the pain was unbelievable. I held on and brought the car back at half
time in third. Stuart went out after the 2 minute stop by this time the petrol had stopped leaking as the level in the tank had dropped. The car in second place at the pit stop only stopped for one and a half seconds not two as they should and left in the lead jumping the first place car.
Final position 2nd.
Sunday Race 2
I started the race from P1, the weather was hot. At the start turn 1 we got bumped from the back this put us out wide and dropped back to third.
After the first lap we where still third keeping in touch, with a car just behind by lap four we had broken away from P5 and the rest of the cars.
Of the four cars up front we where the only British car then our engine dropped a rod and blew up.
Final position DNF
Championship standing – 4th
------------------------------------------------
Rnd 3 - Croft 14th & 15th June
Saturday Qualifying:-
Stuart Moseley was not racing with us for this weekend as he was racing in the 24hr Le-man.
The track was dry after the rain Friday and over night, we went out mid pack so after 1 lap we came back into the pit lane to wait for a gap. We went back out as the 2 quickest cars past, after 1 warm up lap we past the line with a clear track and a good chance of a fast time.
Approaching Jim Clark Esses we came up on a SR3 so fast I though he would have seen me and waited before turning, he did see me but turned in we hit each other at 130mph. The collision folded both the left side wheels which instantly deflated, the car left the track spun and hit the wall.
We did not qualify which meant we would have to start at the back of the grid for both races on Sunday
At that time I did not think I would be fit enough to race or if the car could be fixed.
Sunday Race 1 (weather dry, cloudy)
We started the race from the back of the grid (19th), as we had not ran the car after the rebuild we where not sure how it would handle or even if it would run OK I was also in a lot of pain and had a stiff neck. After the first lap we had passed 4 cars our car was working well, but it was loose at the back and hard to drive as the chassis was bent. The team did a great job to get the car back on track.
At half time the car would not start without a bump which lost us a bit of time. We made it up to 4th place but over shot a corner and dropped back to 6th.
Final position 2nd in class
Sunday Race 2 (weather dry, sunny)
We started again at the back but this time we knew how the car would handle and I had taken a full dose of pain killers. The start was ok and we made up places each lap. At half time I was knackered and in pain but we rejoined in 6th place. 15 minuets from the end I was really hanging on but by now we where in 3rd place with 2nd in sight we gave it one more burst caught him but could not get passed.
Final position 2nd in class
Championship standing – 2nd on 106 points
------------------------------------------------
Rnd 5 - Donington Park 2nd & 3rd August
Saturday Qualifying:-
It rained just before our session but had stopped and there was a dry line (just).
I started so Stuart would have the best chance of a fast lap on a dry track.
I brought the car back for the swap over in P1 the first time I have lead Qualifying.
Stuart did not get a clean lap but still got a best time of 1.03.
We ended P2 for both races.
Sunday Race 1
I started the race from P2 and got into a good pace just behind car number 88 after about 5 laps our brakes
started to fade after 10 laps or so 88 spun on turn 1 which gave me the lead I held that with a 12 second gap
until half time, Stuart went out by now the brakes where bad, but he held the lead and we won the race.
Final position 1st
Sunday Race 2
I started again from P2 but this time I could not get myself hooked up and fell behind but still held second until
half time with a good gap back to third. Stuart went out and tried hard took the fastest lap (1.04.1) and just missed
out on catching the lead car. Our car ran faultless.
Final position 2nd
Championship standing – 2nd
------------------------------------------------
Rnd 6 - Brands Hatch 24th & 25th August
Saturday Qualifying:-
We had struggled in testing to find a good setup and we where going out on another new setup.
It rained just before our session but had stopped and there was a dry line.
I started so Stuart would have the best chance of getting fast laps on a dry track.
After about 6 laps I brought the car back in for the change over,
Stuart did get a dry track and got a best time of .43
We ended P1 for both races.
Sunday Race 1
I started the race from P1 and led with car number 88 right behind after 10 laps it started to rain.
With this and our handling problem I lost confidence and he got past, we held on until half time when Stuart took over.
It had stopped raining but somebody had gone off and the pace car was out this allowed Stuart to get right up behind Rossie.
in car number 88. After the green flag it took Stuart 3 laps to take the lead with the gutsiest move I’ve seen.
Final position 1st
Sunday Race 2
I started again from P1 again with a new set up but this time the car did feel better. I got into a good pace
but on lap 16 I made a mistake in the hairpin after losing grip and car number 88 got past. On lap 18 the pace car
came out and was still out half time. We both came into the pits for our driver change over bumper to bumper.
Stuart took over but we lost some time in the pits and as the pace car was still out we rejoined about 10 places back.
When the race restarted Stuart drove well put in the fasted lap got up to P2 but just ran out of time.
Final position 2nd
Championship standing – 2nd
------------------------------------------------
Rnd 7 - Silverstone 13th & 14th September
Saturday Qualifying:-
I struggled in wet testing on Friday just could find the right line, Stuart however put in the fastest lap straight away.
Qualifying on Saturday was dry. Stuart wet out first on new tyres as normal however one of the SR8’s dumped oil all round the track on the racing line. We then swapped over I went out on the dirty track hoping it would clean up so Stuart would get another chance of pole.
We ended P2 for race 1 and P1 for race 2.
Saturday Race 1 (weather – dry, sunny)
I started the race from P2 and led out of the first corner. We made a good start and had a good race up to half time. I brought the car back in 5th place but 2nd in the British. Stuart took over worked his way up to the lead, took fastest lap and we won the race. We had no problems with the car, Derek and Steve our mechanics did a great job.
Final position 1st
Sunday Race 2 (weather - dry, foggy)
I started from P1 this time made a great start and lead the race but on lap 5 we let a Italian SR8 LM passed. We had good pace and brought the car back in 2nd overall but over 20 seconds in front of the next British car. Stuart took over and again took the lead again took the fastest lap and we won the race.
Final position 1st
Championship standing – 1st
------------------------------------------------
Rnd 8 - Rockingham 27th & 28th September
Saturday Qualifying:-
We came into this round leading the championship and we knew we only needed second place in both races if Terrence and Ross car number 88 won both.
We again had trouble finding a good set up so we ended up putting a lot of down force front and rear which helped the car in the slow stuff but slowed it down round the banking top speed was just under 160mph.
We ended P2 for race 1 and P2 for race 2.
Saturday Race 1 (weather – dry, foggy)
I started the race from P2 and led out of the first hairpin. (I so wanted to lead over the line) On the second lap trying too hard we spun coming into the first hairpin by the time we got going we where in tenth place. We made our way back up to sixth (4th in class) where two other cars
were battling for there championship. I let myself get tangled up in there fight which made my team go nuts down the radio. As we only need to bring it home.
Stuart went out got up to second and coasted the car back. Car number 88 won.
Final position 2nd
Sunday Race 2 (weather - dry)
I started from P2 but was told to let the others go but I couldn’t I had to lead over the line. We held the lead until lap five when I let another
Works team car passed but held second from 88 until Stuart came over the radio and told me to settle down. After that I just fell to bits realising
we could win this, I hung on and brought the car back in third place. Stuart went out got up to second place and again coasted. As long as we made
it to the end we had won. With five laps to go Ross no 88 hit the banking wall at 150mph and the race was stopped. He did get out OK.
We then won the race.
Final position 1st
Championship standing – British Radical Cup Champions
I would like to thank everybody that has helped us achieve this title.
The list is long.