News > WPR enjoy themselves at Oulton
01/08/2011The WPR team thoroughly enjoyed their first visit to Oulton Park on 29th/30th August.
Testing on Friday saw Tom Margetson out all day in the Reynard and Wayne Poole out in the afternoon in one of the team's Van Diemen RF89s. Both drivers were hugely impressed by the circuit (the full International version including the banked hairpin at Shell) and Wayne was looking forward to the two pre 90 FF races on Saturday along with Don Boyack in his RF88.
The team were also pleased to be made very welcome by competitors, organisers and circuit staff who made a point of thanking them for making the trip. As Wayne himself noted, this friendly approach to competitors really pays off as the full grid (plus reserves) for the Pre 90 FF race showed. The team are planning to return with Tom and Steve Bracegirdle on August 20th.
So what about the racing? For the first race Wayne qualified 7th overall and third in Class while Don Boyack was experiencing engine problems and only got in 6 laps of practice so qualified near the back of the large 33 car grid.
Wayne had a good race maintaining his overall 7th place which was good enough for 2nd in Class. Don unfortunately only completed three laps before his engine gave up. This is the original engine had used in Australia and there has been some question over it's valve seat's compatibility with unleaded fuel. On the plus side the engine is now on its way to Newton Abbott to get the Philspeed treatment!
Feeling more confident after a long lay off from race action Wayne was going well in Race 2 getting up to third overall when he decided to let Medina boss John Loebell (who had started at the back) through and hopefully get towed up towards the leaders. However a missed gear and boxful of neutrals on the run into Cascades meant a trip across the grass which got in to the radiators and sadly lead to overheating and retirement.
Nevertheless a good experience for all and a promise to return.
