A Fun-tastic Finale At Oulton (DML Race Review)

Good afternoon.

We start this blog in late June (28th June) at the finale of the DML (Delta Motorsport League) GT4 Showdown at Oulton Park.

The finale had a very interesting layout called the "Island" layout - which provided a lot of action.

Race 1

After qualifying 5th, I started the second lap in 7th as my row-mate had a much better start than me - B. Robert also finding a way past at the end of Lap 1.

Cronk ahead went wide on the exit of "The Cut-Through" and I returned to 6th.

On Lap 6, I'd be promoted to 5th as Sol grazed the inside barrier at Hislops and spun out.

Pease would later spin out from 3rd at Knickerbrook (wheel on the grass on entry) - further raising me to 4th before Cronk would pass me on the start/finish line at the end of Lap 13/start of Lap 14.

It was difficult because I was very much a sitting duck with a flickering throttle pedal/input - even worse was the fact that it was the final lap too!

Race 2

Somehow, losing the position to Cronk meant that...I was on pole position for race 2 - this could NOT end well...

No Pressure Mate...

Heading into Turn 1, it was two rows of three wide - there's no way this could end well...

Good Luck...

But somehow, they all made it through turn one - and I lead another corner...

Even after turn 1, they were scrapping three wide, before calming down and filtering themselves into a single-file line for Cascades.

Sadly, on the exit of "The Cut-through, Cronk came into contact with Pease and both went off into the barrier.

Somehow, I managed to lead a lap - followed by Robert and Sol - Sol launching up the field from 9th on the grid.

Into the braking zone of "The Cut-Through" - the top three played bumper-cars - Robert bumped me, on correcting I bumped into Robert who was trying to get down my inside...somehow we all survived - Campbell in 4th saying "thank you very much" and picking up three for the price of one - Robert giving up the place to both Campbell and myself.

I then went wide on the exit of the Knickerbrook Chicane - almost losing two positions AGAIN.

The final straw was when I went wide at the final corner and both eventually came past - now to get back all the time and positions lost.

On Lap 6, my patience would pay off as Brandon (blue Cayman) would go off at the exit of Cascades, promoting me back up to 3rd.

I'm not even scripting this - Sol also went off - but forgot to take "The Cut-Through" and did the entire Oulton-Park circuit layout - promoting me up to 2nd. RESULT!

With 5 laps to go, Robert completely reeled me in - and proceeded to pass me under braking at Lodge Corner - despite finishing 3rd - Campbell had pulled out a 26 second gap - and Robert had recovered from spinning to catching and passing me - both deserved 1st and 2nd because they absolutely earned it - and would have likely been ahead of me anyway.

With a further 19 second gap behind - the race results were decided - and what a wild finale it turned out to be - Thank you ever so much to the organisers of DML for organising such a fun league, the drivers for being so respectful and all the marshals for keeping us all safe.

And I'm pumped for the next one!