CC Racing AFF Queensland race notes

Troublesome weekend for Cathcart in Queensland

21 July, 2003 - CC Racing Spectrum driver Clint Cathcart was plagued by mysterious problems at the fifth round of the Ford Racing Australian Formula Ford Championship last weekend at Queensland Raceway.

During the opening practice session the Ford KartStars graduate endured a jammed throttle stopping him after only half a lap. Added to a broken ignition switch and engine failure in the second and third sessions respectively it left the 24-year-old with a mere 8 flying laps around the circuit heading into qualifying.

With the Borland Racing team working tirelessly throughout the evening to get Cathcart back on track he took to the track in the first qualifying session to not only post the best possible time but also gain more track time around the circuit.

"With missing so much of yesterday's sessions it has really out me behind the 8-ball for qualifying," said Cathcart following the opening qualifying session.

Unfortunately for Cathcart the gremlins returned in the second qualifying session when he lost oil pressure. Following the combining of the two 15 minute sessions Cathcart would start from 20th on the grid.

With carnage during the opening laps of race one Cathcart's first goal was to simply keep out of trouble, which he achieved successfully. He then continually improved his times throughout the race and was classified as 19th after the 10-lap journey.

"Whoo hoo I got through another session without something silly going wrong. It was a bit of heart in the mouth stuff on lap 3 but I got through OK," Cathcart said after race one "I just don't know how many black cats I've run over to deserve the luck I've had this year."

The second race was plagued by two safety car incidents that bunched the field and made for one of the most exciting races all throughout the field of the Championship thus far. Continuing to improve Cathcart passed several cars to cross the line 15th.

"The car was very loose through the fast turns one and two costing me top end speed at the end of the back straight. Despite making changes to the car the lack of track time early in the weekend hampered us," commented Cathcart.

It wasn't all doom and gloom for the CC Racing team however with Ford KartStars driver Troy Woolsten breaking through for his maiden victory at the adjacent Willowbank Karting Raceway. Fellow CC Racing driver, Josh Arandt finished third.

The next round of the Ford Racing Formula Ford Championship will be held at Sydney's Oran Park on August 16/17.

-fccr-