The 15th of April had seen us testing at Snetterton on the new track and new for 2011 Yokohama Radial tyres. This first proper test of the new cooling system highlighted an oil temperature problem which was fixed for the afternoon sessions and we managed to get some serious runs in.
The new tyres made a huge difference to our car. Suspension tuned over 3 years to suit the crossply tyres suddenly did not work. Still we chipped away and returned home with a huge to do list.

Thanks to Dad we got most of the to do list completed in time for our arrival at Snetterton on Sunday afternoon. A few slow laps in for tyre pressures and then out for a long run to check tyres and cooling systems. The cooling was fine but unfortunately the outside front and rear tyres were worn down to the canvas on the outside edge – odd as this had not been the case during testing. The timing sheet showed that I had been fastest overall 1.5 seconds up on Robert Oldershaw in the 2010 Championship winning Gunn TS11, with Rick Johnson unable to set a time with various problems.

Another to do list, a late night and a very early morning. Arrived at qualifying to test the changes. Out into the pit lane ready to go when the oil light came on. Quick glance at the gauge which read zero and switched the engine off. We pulled the bodywork off to discover that the alternator mounting bracket had snapped and the belt had fallen off taking the oil pump belt with it. After a quick discussion we decided to retire from qualifying and concentrate on the fix.

So I lined up last on the grid with 4 new tyres with extremely high pressure to stop the wear and completely untried suspension settings. Unfortunately the grid was so tightly packed together that I had nowhere to go with my blisteringly fast start. A spinner out of the new Hamilton corner brought a dust cloud onto the circuit causing the bottom half of the field to almost come to a standstill. 16 seconds behind the leader, Robert, on the first lap. 18 second after the second lap, but my 3rd lap, free of traffic and now up to 10th was 2 seconds faster than anyone else and I could gauge from seeing Robert leaving the 2nd hairpin as I headed towards it that I was gaining.

2nd place and 11.2 seconds behind Robert by lap 8, catching despite having to get past people and catching all the time. But it was becoming obvious I would not catch him in time so I started having to take risks. Only outbraked myself and ran wide twice once but as we crossed the line being shown the last lap board I was 1.4 seconds behind, both of us having just set our fasted laps of the race, mine a new lap record at 1:52.458.

In the end I caught Robert up under braking for the Esses 4 corners from the end. Unfortunately the new Coram corner does not allow overtaking like the previous layout so had to sit patiently behind him. Brake neatly for the chicane and boot it out. Came out about 10 meters behind but much faster. Stayed in the slipstream until the last moment and popped out only for Robert to move into my path, out wider to the grass, foot flat to the floor and crossed the line 0.009 seconds behind.

Review of the data shows I didn’t lift when he moved over but pulled 0.6g lateral acceleration taking avoiding action and probably costing me 0.01 seconds! Still a great race, 2nd place and a new lap record. Well done to Robert on his first Sports 2000 win.

Can’t wait for Cadwell in 2 weeks time!

My best lap on old tyes 3 years ago was 4 seconds quicker than the lap record (set in qualifying so does not count) - How will it be on the new tyres?
Qualifying 10:25am
Race 14:40 am
A very early start to get to Cadwell in time for signing on at 8.55am. The only changes in the 2 weeks since Snetterton were to replace the fabricated top alternator bracket that broke with a new machined aluminium version. We also wound on a bit more negative camber in order to try and make a new set of tyres last the day.

This was the first time at Cadwell in my car since 2008 when we were significantly faster in the dry than anyone else so we were hoping to be very fast although we were very worried about using the new radial tyres. If the rear end stepped out like it did at Snetterton it would be very confidence sapping.

Out for qualifying with new tyres. 4 laps and in to the pits to get the pressures checked, to be advised I was on pole by 2.5 seconds. Back out and managed to go faster finally setting my best lap at 1:24.5 which was 1.6 seconds faster than Rick in second. Overall this was a disappointing time, only matching the time we set on crossply tyres in 2008 with 15 less horse power and significantly less downforce. Unfortunately during my final lap of qualifying I noticed the water temperature was off the gauge. Quickly switched off and coasted back to the paddock.

The lower alternator bracket had broken causing the belt go slack and stop turning the water pump. This was easily repaired and I took my place on pole for a dry race.

An excellent start and led into the first corner. Maximum around the first 4 corners only to find red flags out as I approached the gooseneck. Half way round the 2nd warming-up lap I noticed that the water temperature was off the gauge and the electronic oil gauge was flicking between min and max. I assumed the alternator belt had fallen off again so pulled straight into the pits. Dad and Jim took the back off, shouted its okay put the back on and off I set. Unfortunately the race had started 30 seconds before. So once again I started from the back- only this time way behind.

So head down and off with the water gauge still reading 130oC and the electronic water gauge sweeping between 60 and 160oC. Caught the first person on lap 2, and then quickly past a few slowing cars that should have been at the front. Getting past people at Cadwell requires patience in some places and massive commitment in others, so it was just a case of absolute maximum for the full race distance. The car was handling very well although the engine was not at its best and I was not hitting the rev limiter on the back straight as expected. The only people I had not passed at the end of the race were Rick Johnson, Robert Oldershaw and Patrick Sherrington, so it was quite a surprise to be told I had finished 2nd only 14 seconds behind winner Rick. Robert and Patrick had both retired with suspension failure.

So the first two races have been very tricky for us but there are lots of positives. Championship wise it is my best ever start and I now lead the championship. I have been very pleased with my mental and physical fitness after 2 absolutely flat out races. At Snetterton I missed 1 apex under braking and Cadwell only 2. All this after some late nights getting the car ready. And Freya Jenvey, now 6 months, appears to love motorsport!

I have withdrawn from Spa so the next event is Donnington at the end of July. Prior to testing on the 7th July we will need a new engine. The highest temperature seen by the water temp data logger was 196oC and the engine was (only) 10% down on power in the race. Makes me even more pleased to add Cadwell Park Sports 2000 Duratec to my list of lap records at 1:25.2.

The first Sports 2000 double header at a revised Donnington Park - Can't wait!

Our double header at Donington Park had been cancelled and then thankfully re-scheduled to the World Touring Car event. With the big stage in mind we went testing on the Monday prior. The main focus was ensuring the latest suspension changes improved our tyre performance. Dad had spent many nights modifying the car as I had been tied up in a particularly busy period at work.

The testing went very well. We managed a 1:32.7 although we were overheating during the long runs. 4 very late nights later and with a temporary cooling system we turned up at Donington mid-afternoon on Friday 15th ready for qualifying. We went on very used tyres in an effort to save the budget we had spent on tyres earlier in the year. 3 laps and in for pressures. Back out and on the 3rd lap got my one and only decent lap in. Thankfully this was good enough for pole by 1.4 seconds from Robert Oldershaw and the Patrick Sherrington.

A long wait until 12.50 on Saturday and a wet track. We only had 1 option on wets which was 6 year old tyres on the rear and 3 year old duff fronts. So off I set from Pole. This became 4th by the end of the first lap and then 5th by the end of the 3rd lap. The tyres were giving no grip and obviously being old were too hard for the conditions. On about lap 7 then started giving grip in the aero corners and gradually started warming up. I quickly got past Harry Chapman for 4th and set off after the leaders who were 20 seconds ahead.

Rick was next, got him when he ran wide going onto the back straight. Dummied Robert into Redgate. When he ran wide on the exit I powered up the inside. He pushed me over as usual but sneaked by with inches to spare before the grass. Next up was Patrick Sherrington, in the lead. Crossed the line 7 seconds behind. Approaching the end of the next lap and the gap was down to 3 seconds. 1 more lap and I would do it. Unfortunately it was not to be as the chequered flag was shown the race having completed over 30 minutes.

Congratulations to Patrick Sherrington and MCR on their first Sports 2000 win. We have followed their rise very carefully and whilst I was disappointed not to win it was great to see another face on the top step. Another second place! So off to buy a new set of wets to try and grab that elusive first win of the season if it rained on Sunday.

And it did rain. A whole day of cloudy but dry weather came to an end 25 minutes before we were due to go out. I made the final call after the tyres had already gone to the pits. So we all ran to get the wets, quickly fitted them and arrived just in time to the assembly area. Robert was on slicks but he disappeared and returned shortly after with wets.

There was no sign of the race being declared wet and very little spray so I did not bother putting the rain light on as I lined up second on the grid behind Patrick – the grid was decided by Saturday’s race results. At the start Robert went past both of us. I just concentrated on abusing my new unscrubbed wets. Come lap 6 they started to give me some grip. I had a few goes at Patrick and eventually went round the outside of him into the Melbourne hairpin. The next lap was my quickest and the quickest of the race. I was gaining easily on Robert in the lead. But exiting the last corner, sideways on the rev limiter, I noticed far to my left a black flag with my number behind it. So slowed down and returned the pits to be prevented from continuing for ignoring the black and orange flag which I had been shown, and not seen, for 4 laps because my rain light was not on which was deemed a safety issue.

In doing this the organisers stopped a club racer from being able to perform (and I was going to win) at the biggest event he has ever performed at!

So it will be more hard work to make sure we win the next 3 races. We have the quickest car / driver combination but just need something to come together to make it all happen.

Victory by 38 seconds

With all the usual crew at a wedding (Congratulations Ferne and Tom) I drove to Oulton on my own to be joined later by brother-in-law James, Father-in-law Robin and his friend (ex British Rally Champion) John Bloxham. The new crew were going to prove extremely able and thank you very much to all of them.

Since the disappointment of Donington the whole car had been to pieces to properly repair a crack in the chassis (the 1st since Cadwell 2008). At the same time we had completed further work to the cooling system, gauges and data logging. I also decided to try longer 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears over previous years to move the 2-3 change further away from the apex of the 2 chicanes and hopefully be able to use 2nd for the final part of the Nickerbrook chicane where I believe Neil had a big advantage in 2010.

Qualifying was called very early and we were not quite ready so nearly last into parcferme. Two laps to warm the tyres and stated pushing. I completed 7 laps of which 2 were in the mid 1:40’s before coming in for tyre pressures. Out again and although the car felt worse I managed a 1:40.298 which was good enough for pole position by 1.5 seconds. This was especially pleasing as I had been held up by a slower car during the lap.

The main handling trait of the car was understeer (much better than oversteer at Oulton) so we decided to reduce the stiffness of the front anti-roll bar. Also of the tyres we used for qualifying, which are now 5 sessions old, the front left was down to canvas on the outer edge and the right rear had a puncture. So out came the even older slicks to replace the 2 with problems. I would need a very aggressive warm-up lap to re-bed the tyres in.

But 40 minutes before the race the drizzle started. Which tyres was it going to be? Wets or slicks.

When we got the call to go to the assembly area I had wets on the front and slicks on the rear. Looking around some were on slicks some on wets. I waited until the organiser on the tannoy sounded really angry that no-one had gone to the assembly area and with the drizzle appearing to reduce opted for slicks.

I was the second car in the assembly area. Patrick Sherrington (3rd on grid) arrived on wets, as did Craig Mitchell (2nd). In fact all the front runners up to Justin Everitt in the March in 7th were on wets.

2 warm up laps was not enough to get the slicks up to temperature and even worse the start was delayed. I could feel the heat draining from the slicks.

A good start and arrived at the first corner with Patrick right behind. This was the case for the next 2 laps. I really wanted to keep him behind whilst the tyres warmed up, so had to defend a number of times on the inside to keep him behind, but on lap 3 they finally warmed up and I pulled 1 second away, another 2 seconds on lap 4 and on lap 5 I was 6 seconds quicker than Patrick in 2nd.

At the final count I finished 38 seconds ahead of Justin Everitt (an excellent result in the March) with David Houghton 3rd (also on slicks).

So a win in 2011. At last. And a very satisfying one too. With Robert Oldershaw retiring on the warm-up lap (hence the delayed start) and Paul Tickner finishing 13th suddenly I am leading the championship. I still need to finish the next 2 races but after being reminded of the sweet smell of victory it will be wins we are going for not finishes!

Once again we are supporting the excellent Britcar 24 hour race which starts at 16:45 on Saturday

With qualifying at 5:10 on Friday we arrived with plenty of time to sort out all our tyres for the weekend. Having won a front and a rear tyre in the raffle at Oulton we purchased two more tyres, but saved them for the race hoping they will also cover Brands qualifying and race.

So out to qualify on old tyres. A couple of laps warming up and getting used to the new circuit, before going for it. Managed two 2:11’s then a 2:10.5, and then the rear started kicking out in the quick corners, and never managed to go quicker. Thankfully it appears I was not the only one with issues and my time was good enough for pole by 0.7s ahead of Robert Oldershaw and Craig Mitchell in 3rd.

It was a long wait for the race at 1:45 on Saturday, perhaps giving us too long to over analyse the rear end problem. In the end we increased the rear downforce and increased the tyre pressures which it turns out did not improve the issue and massively reduced the grip.

A good start and held the lead into the first corner. Rob got alongside into the Beckett’s left hander but I held on around the outside and all the way down the hanger straight. The car didn’t seem to have any grip and he finally got past into Luffield 1 taking Patrick Sherrington past with him. Patrick drifted wide out of Copse on the next lap but I went even wider and nearly into the gravel when Patrick slowed as his splitter caught on the astroturf. As I re-joined Craig got alongside but I held him off into Maggots and got past Patrick down hanger straight with a slipstream.

The gap to Rob in the lead was around 5 seconds so head down and tried to close the gap. Unfortunately I was only slightly quicker and closing in at 0.3 seconds per lap was not going to be enough. I kept going and hoped the backmarkers would help. With the Pinto, Duratecs and Historics all sharing a grid it was not long before we started lapping. I managed to close up a bit more through the backmarkers and just kept pushing waiting for Rob to make a mistake.

The first came as we entered to back straight. Rob got held up on the way out of Chapel. I got two tows from back markers and pulled to Rob’s inside. He pulled over hitting me then moving further over pushing me onto the grass at 137mph so I had to back off before having an accident.

The second mistake came on the first corner of the last lap. I was 0.5 seconds behind when Rob got caught up behind a backmarker out of Copse. He had to brake before deciding to go wide. I stayed on the inside and into Maggots first. He got alongside in the second corner but thankfully gave me room as I hung on round the outside and got an excellent run onto the Hanger straight. I had a reasonable lead as we entered the new complex. Seeing the yellow and waved yellow flags I backed off around the first hairpin. As I moved out wide for the second hairpin and to sit behind a back marker Rob drove straight past. I tried to get a better run onto the straight but there was another two yellow flags and by the time I got my foot down I was two far behind.

So I crossed the line in second. A quick visit to the Clark of the course and I was advised that the incident was being investigated. In the end Rob was given a 1 second time penalty so I won with him second.

Despite missing my moment on the top step of the podium I was really pleased with the win. Rob’s car was faster on the day, but by staying in touch and maintaining the pressure I managed to get the win.

I now lead the championship by 14 points (with 15 for a win). Just need to finish 14th or above at Brands – So we will go for the win!

Brands was to be the championship decider. I was leading the championship by 14 points from Robert Oldershaw, so for Robert to win he needed to win the race and for me to retire. To add to the mix Neil Burroughs was returning to the championship in Dave Crofts TS11.

Following our feeling that we had no grip at Silverstone we made some major suspension and tyre pressure changes for Brands. I left the pit lane cautiously but after 3 warming up laps it was already apparent that we had good grip and the snap oversteer had gone.

For some reason people were throwing themselves off everywhere so with waved yellows in 3 locations I came into check tyres pressures. Back out and did a run of 7 laps the quickest being a 46.68. Returned to the pits, lowered tyre pressure again and went out to continue what was essential a long run to see how the tyres performed over a number of laps. Very well was the answer.

My time turned out to be good enough for pole position by 0.45 seconds and ensured my record of being fastest in every single qualifying session I have started this year.

A long wait until 13:25 the following day. Again I made a huge effort to warm the tyres. And it worked. A good launch from the traditionally hard to start from pole position and ran alongside Patrick into Paddock. He stayed on the outside and held level all the way up to Druids. He finally tucked in behind me half way round Druids.

I kept Patrick behind for the first lap and started to open up a gap. Unfortunately an incident at Druids brought out the yellow flags and I slowed down more than everyone else. Worked hard to re-open the gap but I could now see Neil Burrough’s behind. He dove up the inside at Paddock, I had the line but decided he probably was over committed so turned out of the corner. My wide line compromised the run up to Druids and Robert went past on the way up to Druids.

A poor lap left me a second behind, but I quickly closed the gap. Had two goes into Paddock, before getting a huge tow down the main straight. Robert stayed to the inside. I went wide and just as I turned in there was a large bang and the rears locked up. A huge slide but managed to de-clutch and rolled up the hill to Druids and back down the other side, trying to restart the engine but to no avail. Pulled over behind the marshals post and into retirement.

I got the back off the car to see what I could do, but a broken bolt on the alternator mounting had caused the belt to fall off, taking the oil pump belt and crank position wiring with it.

So I watched on. Telling the marshalls that as long as Robert did not win I was champion. I half expected to Neil leading to pull over and let Robert by but to my absolute delight for both Neil and myself he did not and duly took an excellent win and I took the Championship.

But everything changed as I was dragged back to the pits. I was advised that Neil was invisible in terms of the championship points so Robert scored a maximum 15 points giving him equal points. But furthermore Robert’s second place overall was considered to be a first place overall so he had three wins (two real wins and the Brands win) to my two wins and hence he had won the championship.

Two weeks after Brands Hatch, following my appeal to the MSA stewards, it was confirmed that the race results stood as issued (and unprotested) at Brands Hatch and Neil should be considered as a Championship competitor. This means Robert scores 14 points for 2nd place overall.

Final results:

1st Mike Jenvey 73 points

2nd Robert Oldershaw 72 points

3rd Nick Bates 63 points

I take my 4th overall title as the 2011 March Racing Academy Sports 2000 Duratec Champion.

Follwing an extensive hearing by the National Motorsport Council it was decided that that Neil was a guest driver and the appeal findings were incorrect. This was based on evidence stating Neil entered not wishing to effect the championship fight.

Final results:

1st Robert Oldershaw 73 points (wins on countback with 3 1st championship positions)

2nd Mike Jenvey 73 points

Hopefully the club will in furture clarify the situation regards guest driver and potential championship effecting issues and in the future not allow 1 driver to take part in a championship deciding race with privilidged information that gives a competitive advantage. This not only effected me but could have made a big difference to those fighting Robert for 2nd in the championship. I find it extremely disappointing that the guest driver in question did not beleive it important to make his championship status (non-points scoring) known to those drivers fighting Robert for championship positions.

Moaning over - Now the focus moves to 2012!