Cadwell Park 14/15 June 2014 - Ford Fiesta Junior
Fiesta Junior:
Following his maiden victory in the BRSCC Fiesta Junior Championship last time out at Anglesey, Geri Nicosia (15 last week) was looking forwards to building on that success at Cadwell Park. This was the circuit he made his race debut at last season, with its narrow track and very hilly and twisty layout, it is often known as the mini-Nurburgring.
After much too-ing and fro-ing in the days leading up to the weekend, the Friday test session finally went ahead, the juniors being given 4 x 15 minute test sessions. Mindful of this we drove up on Thursday evening and stayed at the Best Western Admiral Rodney Hotel in Horncastle - as did a number of other Fiesta drivers, both junior and senior.
Friday was hot and sunny, most unlike Cadwell Park. Once again, we had Chris Hodgetts on board to teach Geri a faster way round the circuit. The first three sessions were inconclusive, run on old tyres and with the extra weight of passenger, seat and harness so hard to quantify lap times in the 1:48s when we knew last year's fastest race lap was by JJ Ross, a 1:45.7.
We replaced the tyres for the final session with used but not completely worn out tyres and sent Geri out on his own. In hot conditions, he was running consistent low 1:46s, but more importantly, was looking very smooth and making no mistakes. Complete strangers were coming up to us and commenting that he looked to be going well - but neither Rob nor Michael were there to compare with.
A highlight for Saturday and Sunday was the presence of Phil Glew, former Clio Cup Champion. Phil was there as part of an MSA initiative called MSA Academy to help support junior drivers and was available for advice over the weekend, something which all drivers felt was very useful - big thanks from us to Phil for the advice he gave Geri.
Practice 1:
Saturday morning and it was all change - we woke up to light drizzle, which turned into rain as we approached the circuit. We had an hour before going out, and carrying on from Anglesey, the rain was stop/start making tyre decisions difficult. We opted for the conservative approach and sent Geri out on wet tyres with instruction to just get a feel for conditions and not push too hard. Aaron and Michael were on dries, everyone else on wets so we were not too unhappy when Geri finished the session 3rd, just 3/100ths adrift of second placed Rob with Aaron just 6/10ths ahead.
Practice 2:
More showers during the morning had left the track damp, but the sun was trying to come out. Once again, we sent Geri down to the assembly area on wet tyres, but there was a long wait while barrier damage from the session before was being repaired. Chris was observing from the other side of the circuit and telephone to say the track was dry that side, so we sent Geri back to the paddock to change the front tyres over to dry while leaving the rear tyres as wets. By the time we were back in the assembly area, it was plain that dries all round would have been appropriate, Rob had made the correct choice and topped the times with a 1:45.9, 1.2 seconds clear of Michael, with Geri a further second behind in third - but Geri had only done 3 laps before we pulled him into the pits to save ruining his tyres. He did one more slow lap before coming in, he had never driven on a mix of tyres before and thought the car felt strange, the rear was moving around too much. Aaron had an early accident in the session at Mansfield, leaving his team with work to do to get hom out in qualifying.
Back in the paddock, the team explained that the rear was mobile because of the tyres but Geri remained unconvinced - the team checked over the car and found a loose top nut in the rear suspension, showing Geri's diagnostic skills are coming on.
Qualifying:
Qualifying was in the afternoon, there had been no more rain and this was definitely a dry session. So back to dry tyres all round, a new pair on the front for the first time - usually we send Geri out to scrub in new tyres rather than to push from the start. Another alien feel for Geri as he struggled to understand the available grip levels.
Rob, on the other hand, is well used to pushing from the start and set the pole time of 1:45.888 on lap 2, backing it up a lap later with a 1:45.9. Geri was running P2 but Michael moved into P2 on lap 4, Geri took the place back on lap 5 with 1:46.4, only for Michael to respond with 1:46.138 on lap 6 to put Geri back in 3rd. Aaron was struggling with wheels that looked awry, but late in the session he pulled out a 1:47.3, 2 seconds faster than any other lap of his to move into 4th. Geri was posting a string of low 1:46s but took until the penultimate lap to beat Michael to the second front row spot by just 3/1000ths. So Rob, Geri, Michael separated by 0.25, with Aaron, Sam, Thomas, Nathan and Jessica completing the grid. The last four had not previously raced at Cadwell, Thomas had been unable to even test on Friday due to exam commitments, and neither of his morning practice sessions had run smoothly.
Race 1:
Sunday morning, the drivers awoke to rain, this looked like being a wet race and all drivers were on wet tyres as they went to the assembly area. With moments to go before the start, we considered swapping to dry front tyres in an effort to gain an advantage, but as our tyre gamble failed at Anglesey, we took the conservative approach and remained on wet tyres as did all other drivers.
Picture courtesy Rachel Bourne
Rob and Geri got good starts, Geri pulling alongside through Coppice, but had to tuck in behind Rob into Charlies. Behind him Aaron was right behind Michael, allowing the front pair to concentrate on their own battle. There was nothing in it over the first lap but already Rob and Geri were 4 seconds ahead of Michael and Aaron. On lap 2 Geri’s pressure paid off as Rob ran wide at the Mountain, Geri taking the lead. Aaron seemed to almost stop coming down to Mansfield, his engine had cut out and all the other drivers passed him as he rolled almost to a standstill before his car restarted, leaving Aaron no choice but to pit. Geri and Rob were pulling away at the front and by lap 5 had opened up the gap to 3rd placed Michael to 6 seconds, Thomas was flying and was little over half a second behind Michael. Rob was still right up behind Geri, just 0.348 seconds behind after 5 laps.
On lap 6 Rob attempted an overtaking move on the downhill run to Mansfield, there was side-to-side contact before Rob was seen skidding across the track in front of Geri and out of contention. Michael was now 2nd but 7 seconds behind Geri, with Thomas in close attendance and now promoted to the final podium position. Free from pressure behind, Geri upped his speed by over a second a lap, setting the fastest lap of the race, 1:49.348 on lap 7 and stretching out the lead. Thomas moved up into second place on lap 8, but Geri was still pulling away and went on to take his second consecutive race win by over 13 seconds from Thomas and Michael. Rob made up two places on the last lap, moving from 6th to 4th, with Jessica and Nathan finishing 5th and 6th. Sam Watkins had not been feeling well all weekend and finished in 7th place, 2 laps down after a couple of pit stops.
Post race, the cars were put through various eligibility checks and Geri’s car failed a ride height check. On investigation, there was an exhaust bracket whose weld had broken during the race and allowed it to drop below the minimum height. With Geri removed from the results, the win was awarded to Thomas from Michael and Rob, Rob also inheriting the fastest lap point.
Geri said "I know I won the race, I have the race video to remind me although it’s disappointing to take the win away from me for something out of our control. I’ll have to get my head down and gain as many places in race 2 as I can".
Watch the first two laps of race 1 here.
Race 2:
A further punishment for Geri was to start race 2 from the back of the grid instead of from pole, and also a further 3 second penalty at the start on the grounds of safety - not sure why this is different to if he had failed to finish the first race, as Aaron would demonstrate. Somewhere between the eligibility scrutineer and the Clerk of the Course, the scrutineer report went missing, by the time it found and we were summonsed to discuss, Geri arrived back in the paddock just 15 minutes before the cars were called for race 2, not exactly ideal preparation.
Race 2 was dry, the grid order was Thomas, Michael, Rob, Jessica, Nathan, Aaron and Geri - Sam had elected not to start as he was still not feeling well. Geri sat at the start as the other drivers raced off, 3 seconds later it was his turn. In front of him, Aaron had made a flying start and would end the first lap in second place! Rob had made a poor start falling back to 6th, with Geri in 7th. Nathan spun off onto the grass coming out of Gooseneck allowing Rob and Geri to move up a place while both Michael and Aaron had got past Thomas. Rob and Geri caught up with Jessica on the first lap between the Mountain and Hall Bends, Rob was able to get by while Geri had to follow Jessica and wait until he outbraked her into Park on lap 2 to move into 5th. Michael led Aaron by 3.6 seconds, the gap to Thomas was 2.4 seconds with Rob in 4th, just 4/10ths behind.
Picture courtesy Rachel Bourne
Rob got by Thomas on lap 3 going into Park, Geri would make a similar move on lap 4 but now was 2 seconds behind Rob and 8 behind the leader Michael. Thomas had a spin coming down to the Hairpin just missing all the barriers but losing 5 seconds to Geri. Rob and Geri were now the fastest cars on the track, Geri setting fastest lap 3 with 1:46.3, Rob taking it back on lap 4 with 1:45.89, which he held for 2 seconds as Geri responded with 1:45.84. Rob lowered the mark on lap 5 to 1:45.75 setting a new lap record.
Thomas set his personal fastest lap of the race on lap 5, but then had a brush with the barriers at Coppice leaving the front of his car lightly damaged and dropping him back in track position terms, Jessica was just 2 seconds behind him. Suddenly on lap 6 Michael took the exit lane at the Mountain, retiring from the race with engine issues. This left Aaron in front, but just half a second in front of Rob. Geri gained 1.5 seconds that lap and now the three cars were running with just 1.2 seconds covering them.
Picture courtesy Rachel Bourne
Aaron opened out the gap to Rob to a second on lap 7 before both Aaron and Rob posted identical times on lap 8, while Geri held station, 1.3 seconds adrift of Aaron and 0.35 behind Rob. Rob went back into the 1:45s on lap 9 with a 1:45.9, Geri had looked at a pass into Park but pulled out costing him time - the gaps were now 0.3 from Aaron to Rob and 1.4 from Rob to Geri. Lap 10, and Geri responded with 1:45.8 - Geri was fastest again on lap 11 as the drivers saw the last lap board. Aaron led from Rob by 1/2 second, Rob led Geri by 3/10ths. Such was their pace that race 1 winner Thomas was 43 seconds further back.
Picture courtesy Rachel Bourne
One lap to go, there was nothing in it. Geri got a good run down Park Straight, but Rob's engine light came on down the straight allowing Geri to catch and pass into Park, 2nd place was his. Less than half a lap to go - but Aaron was a few car lengths clear. That closed up exiting Mansfield, Aaron ran wide and Geri was within a length. Aaron defended into the Mountain, both cars jinked from side to side on the run to Hall Bends, and they passed almost bumper to bumper round the Hairpin and through Barn onto the finish straight. Aaron held his nerve to win from Geri by 0.38 seconds, just 2 car lengths with Rob finishing third a couple of seconds later. Thomas held on to his 4th place with Jessica 5th and Nathan 6th.
In championship terms, losing the first race win has cost Geri heavily, 32 points lost and 2 gained by Rob means that rather than lead the championship, he has fallen to 7th at the half way point. But his recent good form suggests that a strong second half to the season means his championship effort is not over yet.
After race 2, Geri said "that was a great race, I love this circuit. I just needed one more lap and I’m sure I could have got the win".
Watch the race 2 video here.
View Mick Walker's gallery page from Cadwell Park here
Check out the Fiesta Junior points standings.
Check out the Fiesta Junior points standing.
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