Sorry I’ve not updated for quite some time, but been real busy with Race Car Builds and working life!

New car built this year and looking hot as are the other 2 mini’s running under the Team Sleigh Racing Banner. Pics will be uploaded to my galleries soon but some are viewable now on Facebook:

Please check out  Team Sleigh Racing and select the “like” tab……. Information, pictures and realtime updates will be provided throughout the season.

Brief Results so Far

First meeting  Knockhill April 10  Qualified 4 th, Race1 P2, Race2 P3, Race3 P2.

Second Meeting Knockhill May 1  Qualified 1st, Race 1 P1, Race 2 P3, Race 3 P3.

I’m currently placed 2nd in the Championship trailing Vc Junior by 5 points.

Will update again soon.

Next meeting at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire Jun 4/5.

Cheers David

Qualifying

Out on a dry track had my closest gap to pole this season with less than 4/100ths of a Second between us. The car felt great, I felt on it and was exited about the races ahead.

Race 1

Got of to an OK start but Oly Mortimer’s was better and he led into corner 1. At the Chicane Oly got it a bit sideways scrubbing speed allowing me to go alongside and arriving at the next turn side by side after trading a few blows in the process. I tried to squeeze him to the inside but was unable to carry enough speed to make the full pass and after a couple more bashes we arrived at the hairpin alongside with me still on the outside but another car inside me. I manage to get the squeeze on 3^rd place and exited still in 2^nd place.

Several laps of nip and tuck followed but I couldn’t find a spot to pass Oly who seemed to have the door closed at every place possible. The battle allowed Covey in 3^rd to close in forcing me to defend the final corner of the last lap where I finished in 2^nd place with Covey less than 2/10ths behind.

Race 2

Starting from 2^nd on the grid Oly got the Hole shot again and a close battle ensued for the next 5 laps until I was awarded a drive though penalty for hitting the floppy marker twice at the Chicane. After my drive through I had dropped to 12^th with 2 laps left to go and battled on to close the gap but was unable to make up the time and finished in that spot scoring zero points.

I was really annoyed with the penalty applied which effectively ruined a very close race where I thought a good chance of the top spot was on.

Race 3

Well back on the grid in 12^th place the race started and I made 2 places round the outside of turn 1. Another place round the outside of the harpin then another on the inside of Leitch at Scotsman and I was in 8^th. On lap 3 I got up the inside of Carol Brown at the hairpin and was on to the back of Geoff Gillies and very close to the leading pack. Geoff made a few mistakes and was blocking hard which slowed us both down until I found a way past at Carlube but by this time the gap to 4^th was considerable. Unfortunately I ran out of laps and finished 5^th to Rory Butcher in his return to the Mini Cooper Cup.

Results

Qualifying 2^nd

Race 1 2^nd

Race 2 12^th

Race 3 5th

Next Round Oulton Park in Cheshire July 31 2010< >< ><–>

During the gap between Mini races I decided to join my Bro Tim in the XR2’s at Cadwell Park in the Hire Car. 

In excellent Summer conditions I qualified Pole and went on the win the race by a good margin setting the 2nd fastest lap, which was susbsequently changed to fastest lap after a fellow competitor was disqualified for being underweight. Tim finished 3rd after an incident with Wayne mid race.

In race 2 I started from first but was outdragged by Tim into the first corner and sat behind him for several laps. Unfortunately I ran into problems later in the race after clashing with Wayne Macauley and retiring from the race with a sheared driveshaft  joint.

Had an excellent weekend at one of the best tracks in the country. Well done to Tim for his point scoring postions and to Russell Milloy with his strong performance at his first ever XR2 race. Thanks to all of our supporters/team who made the trip and the other drivers who went to the expense and effort to make the event.

David