Events & Results

Radical European Masters   Round 1

3rd-5th April 2009 - Barcelona, Spain
 
Saturday Qualifying:-
 
We came to this first round not sure what to expect because there is a new 09 car (SR8 LM) it has a much stiffer chassis and a 2.8cc engine we still have our old car (SR8) with softer chassis and a 2.6cc engine. There are new rules this year, both drivers have to qualify the car for grid position, First driver for race 1 and the second for race 2.
We also have a new mechanic this year who did a great job as the car ran without fault all weekend. What we do have is the same drivers as last year Stuart Moseley and Derek Johnston.

We qualified P1 for race 1 and P6 for race 2.
 
Saturday Race 1        Weather- dry, overcast    
 
Stuart started the race from pole, he got mugged off the line off the new cars but dived back through into turn 1. At the end of the 1st lap he was 2 seconds in front by the 3rd lap 7 seconds and by the end of his stint 30 seconds. Derek took over at half time drove well and held a 27 second lead until the end of the race. This was a text book race.
 
Final position 1st
 
Sunday Race 2          Weather- dry, sunny
 
Derek started this race from 6th position on the grid by the end of the 1st lap in 4th and at half time brought the car back safe in 3rd. Stuart went out and after his 1st lap was catching the car in 1st place by 5 seconds a lap. He finished the race with a 10 second lead.
 
Final position 1st

  UK Radical Cup Championship   Round 1

  17th-18th April 2009 - Rockingham

Saturday Qualifying:-
 
Again we came to this first round not sure what to expect because we do not have Stuart Moseley in our car for this championship. We have a new
driver Jonathon Wright. He is the Radical 2008 club cup champion and will race along side Derek Johnston. There are new rules this year and longer races, this round was a single 75 minute race with re-fuelling as part of the pit stop. Derek started the session and got a best time of 1.16, Jonathon then went out and got a best time of 1.17
Again the car ran without fault all weekend.
 
We qualified P3 .

 Saturday Race 1        Weather- dry sunny    
 
Jonathon started the race from P2 (the new rules do not allow the Pro-drivers qualifying times to be counted) he fell back off the line but this was his first start in an SR8. After the first lap the safety car came out for a few laps it came out again about 20 minutes into the race we then decided to bring in Jonathan to do our stop. He did a good job and brought the car safe. Derek took over and rejoined the pack at the back, we made great progress then another safety car came out because one of the SR8’s had hit the banked wall at 150mph this took a bit to clear up but meant we bunched up we where in 4th place but 7th on track because of two back markers. The lights went green and we just went for it with 8 minutes to go we took the lead and won the race.
 
Final position 1st

 European Masters and UK Cup Championship’s   Round 2

Spa Belgium, 8th 9th May

Friday Qualifying:-

 After our success in the two opening rounds we were not sure what to expect here because the track should suit the new 09 cars (SR8 LM) As our car is down on power we have too run it with little down force this makes it fast but affects the corner grip, not good when you’re racing on a track with two of the fastest corners in Europe. We went into Qualifying with a new set up, harder front Intrax springs. Stuart went first and put in the fastest lap of the session Derek then went out and finished 4th.

 We qualified P1 for race 1 and P4 for race 2.

 Saturday Race 1        Weather- dry, sunny     

 Stuart Moseley started the race from pole,he made a great start and the end of the 1st lap he was 2 seconds in front, he continued to make great progress and by half time had a 10 second lead. He also got the fastest lap. Derek Johnston took over and joined the pack there was a lot of traffic to get through and our lap timer had stopped working which made it hard work. On the last lap we were over taken we finished 2nd on track but 1st in class and 1st in the UK Cup. The car ran great for the whole race.

 Final position 1st

 Saturday Race 2          Weather- wet, raining

 Derek Johnston started this race from 4th position on the grid but into turn 1 got hit up the back and lost 2 places by the next corner we had retaken one of the cars. As the start was delayed because of the rain the race was shortened but he brought the car back in one piece and in 3rd place. Stuart Moseley went out and by now it was very wet. There was some confusion because a few cars did not pit as they should but it got worked out and we finished again 2nd on track but 1st in class and 1st in the UK Cup. Another good weekend our car, team and drivers did a great job.

 Final position 1st

 Championship standing’s 1st overall, 1st in class and 1st in UK Cup

 

 

 

 

Radical UK Cup Championship  Round 3  

Brands Hatch  6th & 7th June 

Saturday Qualifying:- 

Stuart Moseley was back in the car for this weekend but as he is a Pro-driver can not qualify the car for a grid position, he only has to do 3 timed laps.So it was all down to Derek Johnston, he got two clear laps and put in a good time but came into the pits to check tyre temps before trying again, but just as he left the pits it started to rain so we called it a day.

 We qualified P3 for race 1 and P1 for race 2.

 Saturday Race 1        Weather- dry, cloudy     

Derek started the race from 3rd place, he made a good start and held position. The first 3 cars pulled away from the rest of the pack and although we suffered bad oversteer he brought the car back in 3rd place at half time. Stuart took over but was held an extra 10 seconds over the 2 cars in front ofus again because he is a Pro-driver, anyway he set off right into traffic made his way through and took 2nd place then caught the car leading the race he dived up the inside into turn one and took the lead he also took the fastest lap. 

Final position 1st

Sunday Race 2          Weather- dry, sunny

Derek started this race from pole position on the grid but made a bad start and lost the lead into turn 1 but by the 2nd lap he had retaken the lead.He held this lead for 20 laps but tired and handed the lead over, he maintained 2nd place until half time he also for the first time got the fastest lap (44.7) of the race.Stuart took over and again took the extra 10 seconds and rejoined the race in traffic, he was making great progress and catching the 1st place car when ourcar caught fire he quickly pulled off the track onto the grass and jumped out. He is OK as he got out before the fire took hold but the car is dead.

 Final position DNF  

Championship standing  1st  

Radical UK Cup Championship  Round 4

Donington Park 3rd & 4th July

Friday Qualifying:-

 Stuart Moseley was unable to make this meeting so it was all down to Derek Johnston to qualify and race our car which had been rebuilt after the fire at brands. It had been raining very hard for about 2 hours before, but had just stopped by the time we went out. The track was very wet but Derek did some good times, 2nd behind Ross but as he is a pro that meant we where 1st. We pitted with 10 minuets to go to give Derek a rest, reset the car and wait for the track to get dryer, but just as Derek left the pit lane they put the flag out 5 minuets early this meant we did not get a faster time.

 We qualified P3 for race 1 and P3 for race 2.

Saturday Race 1        Weather- dry, sunny and very hot.     

Derek made a great start from 3rd place, he got through to the front by turn 1 and just pulled away from the pack. He had a 20 second lead and the fastest lap when the safety car came out. This brought the pack back together, at the restart Derek took the lead again pulling out another good lead then another safety car. The pit opened for half time with the safety car out, we made our stop but when we rejoined we where 5 seconds behind the car that was behind us before the stop. ( not sure how). We lost another place as the race came to an end, our tyres, brakes and Derek where all knackered by know.

 Final position 3rd

 Sunday Race 2          Weather- dry, sunny

 Derek started from P3 again and tried to move up the inside of the car in front but he was pushed off the track half onto the grass but kept full on the throttle, he was then pushed again this time all 4 wheels on the grass. He recovered and made back up to 4th  but the car in front (the same one that knocked him off) shut the door hard every time Derek tried to pass he did get by but by now our car was battered the brakes where full of grass and the front left wheel was egg shaped. He hung on until half time When we put 2 new wheels on the front and removed all the grass. We restarted only to get into another tangle with an SR3 in the loop this bent a front upright and front wheel, all Derek to do was to bring the car home.

 Final position 5th  

Radical UK Cup Championship  Round 5

 Castle Combe 18th July

Saturday Qualifying:-

 Stuart Moseley did drive with us at this round but as a Pro-driver is not allowed to set a time in qualifying but has to do 3 laps. Stuart went out first then Derek Johnston took over on his third lap he put in a time of 1.02.25 which put us on provisional pole so we called him into the pits to save the car. With under 5 minutes left Ben Jackson put in a time of 1.02.19 and just took pole but we where happy with a front row.

 We qualified P2 for the race.

 Saturday Race         Weather- dry, bright.     

Derek made a great start from 2nd place and took the lead into turn 1 he held onto the lead and by the 3rd lap had pulled a small gap back to Ben in 2nd But on lap 10 one of the cars had dropped oil into the tight right hander off the start line straight which made it tricky and on lap 15 Derek got caught out by this, ran wide and Ben got through. Derek came in at half time in 2nd place, he had to sit in the car for 20 seconds before we could refuel because of Stuart being a Pro-driver. Stuart jumped in, but the car would not start we lost a lot of time but got him going only to then get black flagged for a rear body clip coming undone (not fair as there are 10 of them) he came into the pits, fixed the problem and rejoined in 3rd place by the end of that lap we where back up to 2nd  then a bit of luck Ben got in to trouble and we took the lead.

 Final position 1st  

 Championship standing  1st  

European Masters Championship Round 3

 Parkalgar, Portugal

 Friday Qualifying:-

 

As with all European rounds both Stuart and Derek have to set a time for each race.Stuart went first and set pole for race 1, then Derek went out and was 3rd quickest but had trouble getting hooked up with the track and could not find a better time and ended up 5th out of 25 cars. We had a good set up but the car was running a little hot.

We qualified P1 for race 1 and P5 for race 2.

 

Saturday Race 1        Weather- sunny, very hot     

Stuart started the race from pole, but after the 1st lap was second he made a good start but the SR8 LM’s are so quick off the line. By the 4th lap he was in front, took the fasted lap (1.42.7) of the race on lap 5 and came in at half time with a 19 second lead. Derek jumped in and set a good pace and we finished the race with a 36 second lead. It does not get much better than that. Our team did a great job on the car and also sorted the over heating problem.

 Final position 1st on track 1st in class

Saturday Race 2          Weather- sunny, very hot

 

Derek started this race from 5th position on the grid but into turn 1 got passed by a LM but by turn 3 was back up to 5th. He set a good pace and was lapping faster than the day before even though we were on old tyres. He came in at half time in 3rd place. Stuart jumped in and quickly got into second and took the fastest lap (1.43.0) on lap 18. With 3 laps to go he was going for the lead when the left rear tyre blew out ripping away the surrounding body work on the last turn, a 140mph right hander onto the start/finish. He somehow kept going and crossed the line in 3rd place.

 

Final position 3rd on track 1st in class

 

Championship standing’s 1st overall, 1st in class