North Weald - 24th April 2011

Back to North Weald for the second time of the year on an all new layout.

Much more enjoyable layout was used for the first time at this event, having traditionally not done well at North Weald I was expecting to finish a fair bit behind to the two Porsche 911 GT3's battling with a Ferrari 355 and mini cooper works.

The practice runs looked like confirming my suspicions and the most impressive thing about my runs seamed to be the rather heavy right foot at the start line, keeping the marshall entertained with quite a bit more wheel spin than was intended or desirable.

However come the first of the timed runs I managed to find some time and move up to second in class in front of the 997.2 GT3 RS, assuming this was a fluke I was very pleased to see after the second run I was still in second place

However second place wasn't to be as on the third timed run despite improving the GT3 also improved to beat me by just 0.11 seconds, mixed feelings, over the moon to get as close as I did to second place but slightly disappointed I couldn't quite hold onto it.

Can't wait until the next rounds, the strong runs today really has increase the enthusiasm, Can't wait for Goodwood next weekend.

Rushmoor - 10th April 2011

My first event at the Rushmoor venue, run by Farnborough Motor club. Arriving at the event we were yet again greeted by fine weather which always seams make leaning a new circuit much more enjoyable.

I'd watched some youtube videos from the last couple of years so had a ruff idea of what to expect before arriving, what I hadn't accounted for was quite how high the curbs where in places, these clearly weren't going to get on well with the expensive CSL wheels and there 30 profile tyres!

After a couple of tentative runs , the traction control was turned off and I set about trying to move up the scoreboard ending up 3rd out of 6, which I was reasonably pleased with as it was a new venue and my reluctance to be leaving great chunks of alloy wheel on the curbs.

Lydden Hill - 9th April 2011

First run at lydden hill of the year and more glorious sunshine, so pleased it wasn't wet and slippery like the October 2010 event.

A good result with 2nd place behind a 997.2 GT3 RS which I hadn't expected to beat

Mallory Park - 20th March 2011

My first ever time at Mallory and a welcome warm and sunny day and the absence of the two GT3's was no bad thing for myself.

Having never been to Mallory before I was reall

y looking forward to the new venue, a great close battle between myself, another M3 and a Z3M coupe for second place took place all day with me just about holding of the others to claim second in class behind a very modified looking V8 MGB, great day and much more happy with how I was driving than the previous event.

North Weald - 13th March 2011

Arrived at the first sprint of the year in the new CSL and not really sure what the targets were or how I'd get on. Typical March weather meant cold, wet slippery surface which was far from ideal for thefirst event.

A fairly disappointing day left me 6th in class and having been beaten by cars I'd expected to be quicker than ,I was beginning to wonder if the change to the much more powerful CSL had been the best Idea but was looking forward to improving at future events

a quick video of the event's here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfc8-qhLh74

New car for 2011

After a successful 2010 it was time for a change of car for 2011

With the S2000 sold it was time to look at my options for either moving into the over 2000cc production class or into the 4wd production class. Considered all sorts from evo's and impreza's to 911's and M3's

Ended up buying an E46 M3 CSL, if the way the car drives on the road is anything to go buy it should be superb on track, can't wait for the years sprinting to start.

It will be interesting to see how it gets on against the 2 911 GT3's that sprint in class A3

Lydden - 23rd October 2010

The last round of the year took place at Lydden Hill on 23rd October and promised to be another damp horrible day.

As expected the day was very grey but I really hadn't expect the circuit to be a slippery as it was, far worse than the wet day we'd had earlier in the year.

I really struggled to get any temperature into the R888's and as a result had quite bad traction issues with the car constantly feeling like the back end was going to brake away.

A spin on the practise run and seeing the fairly large dent in a skyline after the first timed runs resulted in a slight lack of confidence as I wasn't intending on taking the car home on the back of a recovery lorry so I held back from pushing the car too hard.

Result was some disappointing times, around 13s off of my best at Lydden this year in the Honda and a fair few seconds off of the wet times in the summer.

At least most others seam to be struggling as well so I ended up 5th out of 9 starters in my class which wasn't too bad and won the best Tunbridge Wells Motor Club member.

I believe the result leaves me 2nd overall in the Tunbridge wells motor club all circuits championship which was the only championship result which was yet to be decided going into the last round.

A huge thanks to all the organisers, clubs and marshall who have made this years sprinting possible, fingers crossed I'll be back next year, probably in a new car but not sure what as yet