Loughborough AutoSolo

Date: 2nd August 2009

 

 

 

Loughborough Car Club's SAS AutoSolo on Sunday 2nd August gave Sophie Bennett and Graeme Jones the chance to develop all the skills they learnt two weeks ago again.

 

Having stared at the Warwickshire Drivers AutoSolo, finishing third overall a lot was expected of Graeme. Loughborough saw a much bigger entry and higher class of car and driver. Half way through the day (following six tests - four counting to the results as competitors drop their slowest time on each test) Graeme was once again second in class to multiple BTRDA Allrounders Champion Duncan Stephens but only three tenths behind. Graeme was happy with this but even more determined to close in and win the class. Meanwhile Sophie had learnt a lot from two weeks previously and this showed in her times and was lying ninth in class and half a second behind Charlie Golding who was leading lady. Sophie had set her sights on Charlie and desperately wanted the Ladies award.

 

During the afternoon Sophie completed the tests first and was continually asking for advice of how to go faster looking for fractions to close in on Charlie. Following a steady time on the reversed test layout Sophie put a stunning time in on her second run which was fifth fastest in the class and within two seconds of Graeme who has much more driving experience and 15years her senior but unfortunately clipped a cone on the ultra-slippery concrete. Following strict instructions from her Dad not to hit anything or work herself up Sophie made sure that she didnt hit anything on the next run and was just a second slower, and finished in the top half and a very creditable tenth in class and twenty eighth overall.

 

What could Graeme manage? Having been sidetracked by other circumstances he got in the Micra and was soon focused and fired up to get that four tenths he needed and WANTED so much to win the class! A slow initial run that didnt count and then two times within two tenths of each other. Graeme was strugging for grip on the concrete but his superb car control proved invaluable.

 

Graeme ended up a brilliant third in class, just four tenths behind the class winner defying his lack of experience. Graeme also finished seventh overall out of forty-five. Meanwhile Sophie was just beaten to the ladies award by Charlie, after loosing ground with the cone during the afternoon. Sophie's result is still very commendable finishing tenth in a very competitive class.   

 

 

 

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