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Rain dominates a soaked Scottish weekend
Team JLR welcomed guests from Texaco and Kleeneze this weekend, but spirits were not dampened by the heavy rain that descended upon Knockhill circuit - for rounds 13 and 14 of the Formula Renault UK Championship with Michelin. Snetterton front-runner Stephen Simpson was away testing in France this weekend with the South African team in A1 GP, so was unable to attend the meeting. Jody Firth was also absent from Team JLR's paddock due to sponsorship difficulties, so just two racers competed this weekend - regulars Tom Kimber-Smith and Jason Tahinci.
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Clouds of spray at Knockhill |
With qualifying being run the previous day in the dry, race day was a complete contrast with standing water in certain parts of the circuit. Racing in such conditions is always more of a challenge for the driver. "I couldn't see a thing out there" commented 2003 Formula Ford Champion Kimber-Smith after the first race. "There was so much spray I couldn't even see the edge of the circuit! But the car is great, and even though it's hard out there, it's great fun."
With disputes as to whether the race should have actually begun due to the bad weather, Kimber-Smith completed the first race of the day in 11 th position - despite a last minute battle with Team AKA's Alex Storckenfeldt - and Tahinci completing the race in 20 th position.
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Tom Kimber-Smith at a wet Knockhill circuit this weekend |
Race two of the day - and round 14. The relentless rain continued to pour on the circuit, causing an incident on the second lap between Matt Shawyer & Will Bratt that brought out the safety car to recover debris. Subsequently as cars slowed behind the pace car, this caught out Frenchman Jean Robert Nigoret. Following Team JLR's Kimber-Smith, Nigoret failed to slow down quick enough coming down pit straight and hit the rear of Kimber-Smith damaging the rear suspension and putting him out of the race. "I was aware of the safety car out on the circuit and was concentrating on slowing my own car down for the first bend when I just felt someone hit me from behind. I didn't see him coming in my mirrors and really didn't expect it" said Kimber-Smith afterwards.
Jason Tahinci ran comfortably in 12 th position until the wet conditions put him into a spin at Real Radio hairpin dropping the Turkishman to 16 th and the back of the field.
The championship continues on 10 th and 11 th September where rounds 15 and 16 will form part of the Renault Sport World Series at Donington Park. All 150 000 tickets have been allocated for the event, drawing possibly the circuit's biggest ever car racing crowd.
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