SEAT Cupra Championship:
OULTON PARK 18-19 June 2005

Chris Egginton reports:
Testing on Wednesday was on a drying track. Having been out of the car for six weeks due to business commitments, it was good to get back behind the wheel.
Testing went well. Our fears of falling behind because of lack of time in the car weren't justified. We'd made some changes to the set up of the car and it was the first time I could exploit them and make some improvements to my lap times.

Saturday: Qualifying
We had a good first session and I put in the best time the lap before the Cole/Taylor incident. With Cole and Taylor both out for the weekend and Dave Pinkney on a 4 place penalty, I was starting 6^th on the grid - rather flattering but none the less still a 6^th place.
The second session wasn't so good. I over revved the engine on the way into cascades by shifting 5th to 2nd... 8700rpm!!
A big thank you to Gordon and Craig at Team GVR who'd removed and replaced the engine by the time I'd got home - awesome job boys!!!

Going through druids Young had a good run on me and managed to unsettle my car enough to really put the pressure on going into Lodge, I defended too hard and Young was able to take the inside line onto Old Hall. When he ran wide on the way out I thought I had a chance to pass him but he just hung on all the way down to Island and managed to break away. Next to pass was Alan Blencowe; again I was passed on the way into Old Hall. Alan was a lot quicker and I just couldn't stay with him. Bearing in mind I had buzzed the engine the day before, I don't think the day went too badly. I still have so much to learn about race craft!

but there wasn't time as we were called to the grid. The result was that the four drivers who made the bold decision early ran away with it. I had a good battle with Harry and Nick for most of the race only breaking away with a couple of laps to go.