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May 2008
Third podium of the season at Croft for the Dynojet/Will Hoy Scholarship Ginetta G50
Round's seven and eight of the Ginetta G50 Cup Championship headed for Croft racing circuit last weekend.
The Saturday 15 minute qualifying session was held in dry conditions. With evident handling issues, Frank still managed to qualify 5th on the grid for both races on the Sunday programme.
Race day brought mixed weather conditions. Race one began with damp track conditions, but drying rapidly. The Team took the last minute decision to run slick tyres on the car. Frank tentatively found his way round the track getting used to the tricky conditions, before making the move up to 4th. After applying continuous pressure on the 3rd place car, he made a clean over taking manoeuvre at the hairpin at the beginning of the start/finish straight. Frank maintained consistent laps and brought the Dynojet/Will Hoy Scholarship car home in an excellent 3rd place and his 3rd podium of the season so far.
Whilst the cars were held in Park Ferme for the second race of the day, the weather rapidly deteriorated, threatening a heavy shower. The Team took the last minute decision to change tyres to wets. Although the meeting was declared 'open' for tyre choice, once the cars were assembled on the grid the rain started falling heavily, and the organisers allowed the cars with slicks to assemble in the pits and change tyres and settings to suit the conditions. As Frank already had wet tyres on the car, he had to stay on the grid, and the Team could not alter the chassis settings. However, Frank made a good start and progressed up to 3rd by lap 3. The rain continued to fall and as the spray was worsening, driving conditions became extremely tricky. Frank had an unfortunate incident with another competitor at the hairpin, which resulted in Frank dropping down the order. He fought his way back upto 13th, and was gaining lap by lap. Another incident out on track resulted in a safety car period which lasted 6 laps to the end of a 20 minute race, already reduced due to a delayed timetable. This in turn, ended Frank's chances of further progress.
Frank Jnr commented: 'The weather has played a massive part this weekend. The Team worked really hard and we had made all the right decisions, only for an incident in race two to deny us another podium. We have a good break now, and an opportunity to take our knowledge of the car and test different things. Hopefully we will return at the next round ready to take the top step of the podium.'
Next meeting: Ginetta G50 Cup Championship Rounds 9 & 10 Snetterton 7th/8th May
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Dynojet UK
Lower House Barn
Strickens Lane
Barnacre
Preston
Lancashire
PR3 1QJ.
Tel: 01995 600500
Fax: 01995 604724
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