Clint Cathcart AFFC Winton race notes

Cathcart the hard charger at Winton.

25 May, 2003 - Ford Racing KartStars graduate, Clint Cathcart showed a lot of promise at the third round of the Ford Racing Australian Formula Ford Championship.

Cathcart who has had a wretched run of luck since making the transition into the tightly fought Championship put in a superb drive during the second race of the round at Winton today to charge through the pack.

After putting in his best qualifying effort for the Championship thus far in 15th position Cathcart had a mysterious engine misfire in the first race dropping him to the back of the pack.

"The car felt great in qualifying but then I think the black cat I've run over somewhere returned to assist me with another unexplainable problem," said a disappointed Cathcart after the opening race.

But the 24-year-old didn't let the race one finish get him down. It fired him up more than anything else setting his sights on the highly sort after Revolution Racegear Hard Charger award.

"There is only one place to go from here -- forward," Cathcart said prior to the second 10-lap race.

And he certainly achieved that.

During the opening half of the race Cathcart drove conservatively in the CC Racing Spectrum before "letting loose" in the closing laps.

After only passing a couple of cars in the first half of the race Cathcart charged through the pack to rocket up the order as the race came to a close.

"I sort of gave myself a wake up call when I realised I had some great pace to be competitive," Cathcart stated about his movements during the race.

By passing 6 cars in the final 4 laps, making it a total of 10 throughout the 10-lap race, Cathcart felt at home on the 3 kilometre Winton circuit finishing 18th.

In the process Cathcart earned his second Revolution Racegear Hard Charger award of the Championship and proved his pace isn't to be taken lightly for the remainder of the championship.

"During the later stages of the race it was the first time this year that I have felt at home and confident that I have had the pace to pass comfortably," said Cathcart.

"It was just like being back in a kart and also great for my confidence. I'm now really looking forward to the next race."

Cathcart will forego the next round of Championship in Western Australia to concentrate on several test days before he returns to the Ford Racing Australian Formula Ford Championship at Queensland Raceway on July 18-20.

-ccr-