Hethel was not exactly a "Gamblen" of a day but not my greatest event this year.
FIrst, the new track is great, all resurfaced, new kebrs, some re profiled corners, a pit lane and full circuit now in use.
1st practice lap was good with good grip on some used slicks I picked up lately and felt confident to push on on the later runs, (grip and tyre temp has always been a problem for me here). 2nd run then and went for it and was super fast around the first 2 bends but then the rear stepped out while approaching the 3rd turn (which is not even on the map, although, no excuses as I did walk the course) and although I caught the initial slide, I was heading for the kerb with a wheel on the grass which then became mud in which I sunk down into and spun around on. thanks for the marshals for pushing me out but I had been literaly swamped. God knows where it had come from, it is mid summer after all, i can only think it is left over from the building of the new track itself.
We spent the luchbreak clearing out handfulls of clay from everywhere and the wheels looked like they had just done the RAC rally circa 1979.
With confidence blown and a different set of wheels on, I went out in time for the second timed run, just in order to set a time to win the class.... (I was the only runner in class, the reserve watching my every move!). Job done then but probably the least satisfying trophy on my shelf.
Would recomend the event for anyone competing next year, not often you get the chance to compete on a F1 standard track, lets just hope the mud has dried up by then.
