Thread: Oulton Park

They are all at Oulton! Looks like a good race ahead. Pleased to see a new very fast driver joining the series in Will Bratt. He was always quick in open wheel but lacked budget like so many others to carry on. I remember when he was second quickest in his first test in GP2 behind the present Japanese Sauber F1 driver no less. Lets hope he can impress and become a regular.

Neal and Plato on the front row together, should be some fireworks with an additional driver behind them in the form of Rob Collard, who does get in the middle of their scraps sometimes. Will Bratt, in the meantime, will be making the change from single-seaters to a touring car.

Rob Austin and John Thorne will not be racing in the event, with Rob repairing his car and John further tuning his.

Plato took pole but he's not starting due to a broken wishbone on the grid. Matt Neal now in effective pole with Rob Collard having a clear run to the first corner.

Pretty good race. Inevitable performance drop-off from the BMWs, which was a shame. Good clean pass from Neal on Collard for the lead; a shame that Jordan had to push to do the same, but Collard's dished it out enough times. Still, Jordan was clearly right there with Neal in terms of pace, unlike Shedden who didn't seem to do anything. I wouldn't be surprised to see some action taken against Foster for the tap that looked like it knocked both Aron Smith and Wrathall off; Foster's contact with Morgan looked more like the latter's fault. Dan Welch looked very competitive, and what a great run by Will Bratt to take eighth on his debut.

Originally Posted by BDunnell

I wouldn't be surprised to see some action taken against Foster for the tap that looked like it knocked both Aron Smith and Wrathall off

Looked to me like Neate decided to shortcut the chicane when that all kicked off and pick up a couple of places for free, whereas he really could have taken the proper line, so maybe they'll look at that too?

Also, Toby Moody insists on calling Deer Leap "Deer's Leap", which is driving me mad!

Originally Posted by christophulus

Also, Toby Moody insists on calling Deer Leap "Deer's Leap", which is driving me mad!

Me too! I prefer him being paired with Simon Hill, by the way. Fewer attempts at 'banter'.

Agree about Neate. I would have thought he could have avoided it by staying on track. That said, he would probably have ended up ahead of Bratt and Foster anyway.

I've just brought up the 'who replaces Edwards' thread to have a bit of a grumble about Moody, he can be a bit James Allen-y at times, bags of enthusiasm but making obvious mistakes.

Originally Posted by MrJan

I've just brought up the 'who replaces Edwards' thread to have a bit of a grumble about Moody, he can be a bit James Allen-y at times, bags of enthusiasm but making obvious mistakes.

At least Allen's voice wasn't, and isn't, full of weird inflections.

I'm getting fed up of the bumping and "tapping" that goes on in these races. It's just cheating by any other name but TOCA don't seem to care. Is it just me?

Originally Posted by christophulus

I'm getting fed up of the bumping and "tapping" that goes on in these races. It's just cheating by any other name but TOCA don't seem to care. Is it just me?

I was delighted to see Mat Jackson with a puncture, he'd just barged his way through. When there is contact while they're side by side I can tolerate it (in fact I quite enjoy some of it) but Jackson had just punted Collard wide and driven up the inside, Jordan did the same to Collard in race 1 with no response from any officials.

Originally Posted by MrJan

I was delighted to see Mat Jackson with a puncture, he'd just barged his way through. When there is contact while they're side by side I can tolerate it (in fact I quite enjoy some of it) but Jackson had just punted Collard wide and driven up the inside, Jordan did the same to Collard in race 1 with no response from any officials.

Flying wing mirrors and whatever is all good fun, but a nudge under braking is just cheating. Sadly it seems to be acceptable nowadays.

I agree. TOCA needs to clamp down on it. In no way should it be 'a part of touring car racing'. The ITV commentators could make a start by not condoning it, as they currently do. Other than that, the racing is actually pretty clean at the moment.

What a terrific performance from Dan Welch in that race, and a good run from Nick Foster too. Lea Wood's a pretty good pedaller, isn't he?

Onslow-Cole is on pole for race three. Neal, the first NGTC runner on the grid, has four S2000s in front of him. Could be interesting, but I'd still expect him to win.

Originally Posted by christophulus

I'm getting fed up of the bumping and "tapping" that goes on in these races. It's just cheating by any other name but TOCA don't seem to care. Is it just me?

No, I agree with you completely. It would be nice to think that Platos cracked subframe was the result of his bumping in previous races but unlikely it was.

It now seems that pushing a car wide in a slow corner is the acceptable way to pass, but it stinks, and what is worse is that it is likely that younger drivers watching will see it as the way to drive as well.

Never mind TOCA, the RACMSA should stamp it it out now!!

WT

Originally Posted by Wasted Talent

Never mind TOCA, the RACMSA should stamp it it out now!!

Quite.

Originally Posted by BDunnell

The ITV commentators could make a start by not condoning it, as they currently do.

Agree with that as well.

One of the opening bits of the ITV4 programme was Collard's son making his race debut today, what is he supposed to think when he sees "professional" drivers driving like Hot Rod amateurs?

WT

2 enjoyable races so far, though Collard retaliating with Jackson was bloody stupid!

Brilliant to see Dan Welch and his team get a bit of luck and show what the car can do when it runs with no problems. I was really hoping that Plato wouldnt get past!

Originally Posted by Allyc85

2 enjoyable races so far, though Collard retaliating with Jackson was bloody stupid!!

Did he retaliate? I thought it was quite legitimate for him to try and keep the place on the outside given the BMW's good drive up that hill, and the fact that he was still in front of Jackson. Then they just seemed to get tangled up.

Well yes, he continued to turn right into Jackson who was never going to back out of it! He was annoyed about Jordans tap and pass in race 1 so was probably even more annoyed with that incident!