Race Report

A podium for Fireblade. Record mileage for Franc. N. Stein

A confident racing team arrived early at Rockingham Motor Speedway with high hopes of a good result following the Kent Heat and Fireblade's fastest lap. Franc N. Stein too had cause to be hopeful after a full strip down, clean and rebuild in the intervening weeks since Kent. Rockingham itself was impressive on a glorious day with imposing grandstands overlooking real pit garages. We were using the full 1.5 mile oval circuit for our race which, with its flat-out banked corners and wide track, was quite a contrast to the tight circuit at Kent a couple of weeks ago.

After getting both cars through scrutineering and a trouble-free practise session, before watching the Formula 24+ race, the team were ready for main event of the day - the Formula 24 heat. The starting grid was packed with 51 cars lining up. In the start line of 5 cars, Fireblade had poll position and Franc was in 3rd. Joining the two Philip Morant cars were two cars from Sandbach, Brian and Carbon QT. On the push start, Fireblade pulled away well and was joint leader into the first corner and then dropped back into the pack, settling in 6th place. Franc N. was 3rd into the first corner and then settled into 25th overall.

After the first 30 minutes some of the leading cars started to pit; Fireblade was able to gain a few places, and was between 2nd and 4th. This kept on changing over the next hour. Franc N. was running very steady and was working his way up the field. Just before the 2 hour mark Franc N. came in first and had the fastest battery change at 45 seconds and was on his way again (should have won best pit stop!). The fast stop meant we managed to gain around 5 places, and were now in the top 20. Fireblade came in on the 2hr mark in 4th place; once again we had a very quick pitstop of 90 seconds and came out of the pits in 4th place. As more of the front cars started to pit Fireblade's driver changes were going to be the key to the race. The drivers were getting ready and helped each other in and out of the car to ensure a quick turnaround. The pit crew were performing to a high level just like a F1 crew!
Approaching the 4 hour mark there were just 2 laps separating the top 6 cars. It was because of the quick driver changes that we were in third and catching up on the front 2 cars, which were just a lap ahead now. Franc was up into 17th and looking to shatter his PB of 67 miles. Going into the last half hour it was Brian in 1st one lap ahead of Twin Cambs Two in 2nd, who fireblade was catching to regain the lap he had lost in the hour before. In 4th it was Aon who had worked up the field. On our last driver change, it would be decided if we were to keep 3rd or not. Without knowing what Aon would be doing, strategy-wise we knew it had to be quick because only 30 seconds separated us. By the end we had managed to pull 3 minutes in front of Aon and just 10 seconds behind Twin Cambs Two to be on the same lap.

The Fireblade crew was awarded medals for their 3rd place finish with Fireblade. The 3rd place guarantees Fireblade a place in the national final at Goodwood in October, we also hope that Franc's record milage will be enough to secure him a place at the final for the second year running. The team received the "Spirit of Greenpower" award and both cars scooped distance awards for the miles they covered - bronze for Franc and silver for Fireblade.

Read the official race report and see final standings on the Greenpower website:

• Greenpower Rockingham 2008 Race Report

Race Pictures