Silverstone, home of the British GP
Silverstone, the iconic British circuit and home of the British GP was to provide a taste of the realities of racing in the real world.
Qualifying
After two days of testing in the dry and demonstrating pace in the top 10, the qualifying session was in damp and greasy conditions. The format of 3 laps to qualify gives no time to learn the circuit, and no room for error.
A small excursion at the fast 'Maggots and Becketts' section of the circuit meant that Jude became caught up with a slower driver. They chose to defend in the remaining two laps, leading to a disappointing qualifying position of 18th. Disappointing as Jude had demonstrated top 8 - 10 potential.
Race 1
From 18th on the grid, it was always going to be a battle to make progress. With drying, but not completely dry conditions, a careful start led to Jude holding his place for a few laps.
He started to push his way forward, and had a great battle, demonstrating some good race-craft to move up to an hold onto 16th place. After some door to door racing, and a drag race to the line, Jude finished two places higher than his starting position.
Race 2
Race 2 provided a key lesson in the difference between sim and real racing. In very wet conditions, the race organisers decided to start the race from behind the safety car. This makes for a safer start, but unfortunately for Jude, a relay failed in the wet, leading to a complete loss of power on the formation laps. The good news was this did not happen during the race which could have been more dangerous. The bad news was that as he did not finish Race 2, he would start from the very back of the grid in Race 3. The harsh reality of racing underlined by the failure of a simple electrical component. Jude kept his morale high and was looking forward to the challenge of the final race.
Race 3
Race 3 gave Jude a full view of the grid. Due to the engine failure meaning he could not take part in the second race, he started from the very back of pack.
Head down from the start, Jude aimed to pick up as many places as possible. He managed to make up 5 places in the first lap and then settled in to working his way up the field. Taking the decision to 'work with' one of the other drivers he made his way to the top 18. In the last five minutes he went for it, and made his way up to 16th, a full 10 places reclaimed.
The silver lining at Silverstone was two further podiums in the freshman class a demonstration of determination in the face of technical difficulties and the craft to win back 10 places. A lot learned and onto the next where the focus is to qualify better and have a chance to fight at the front.
