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Webb’s Wet Weekend at Croft
Webb’s Wet Weekend at Croft
Knutsford-based racing driver, Oli Webb survived the torrential rain at Croft to chalk up a creditable seventh place in the Formula Renault Championship, (31 May – 1 June).
Qualifying was dry like testing had been and Webb put in a good lap near the beginning, that initially put him fourth on the grid. As he came in from his best lap the remaining drivers put in excellent laps and he was dropped down to seventh. Croft’s abrasive surface meant Webb was only risking one flying lap for fear of damaging his tyres for the qualifying ahead. In the second qualifying session, Webb found the same problem as qualifying one with the ex-Formula BMW driver getting pipped in the last moments of the session. He pitted having posted a time for fifth only to be unsurped by drivers to leave him ninth on the grid.
Race day saw drivers considering outboard motors rather than tyres, with the rain coming down so hard that many doubted racing would take place at all. The British Touring Car Championship, which Formula Renault runs alongside had one race seriously curtailed due to cars flying off the track in undriveable conditions. Eventually after a gap in racing of two hours, competition resumed, albeit with Formula Renault reduced to one race, rather than the planned two.
By the time the race came round, the track had dried sufficiently to put the cars on slicks, although it was a very last minute call to switch. Despite the track drying out, there were still wet patches on the track and these tricky conditions meant overtaking opportunities were limited. Webb had a solid race and held seventh, despite a determined Chris Loane occasionally getting alongside him. Eventually, Webb caught up with Stoneman and Oakes and pulled away from Loane. From there Webb held station to bring the car home safely.
Afterwards, a somewhat disappointed Webb commented: “It was a frustrating weekend, all that dry running and then torrential rain. I’ve honestly seen nothing like it, we thought we wouldn’t get out because the Touring Cars are more than twice as heavy and they were aquaplaning everywhere. It is disappointing to head all the way up there and only get one race, but that is the way it goes sometimes and we will get that race back later in the year. I have to concentrate on Silverstone now and I am gunning for a podium this time round.”Webb will be back in action at Silverstone on June 7 and 8, he will be racing on the huge World Series by Renault package, which is likely to attract over 100,000 spectators to the Northamptonshire circuit.
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