Drivers Comment 17/06/07

The Australian Sports/GT Intermarque Championship 2007

Round 4 Queensland Raceway

Consistency Pays Off For Lyddiard

Scott Lyddiard drove the Xcarz racing Porsche (sponsored by Hydraulink QLD, Qtec Fire Services, Capitalcorp Finance and Just Nice Cars )  to an impressive podium finish with a consistent performance in round 4 of the series at Queensland Raceway on the weekend of June 16-17. 

Practice

Free practice on Friday which saw Scott running on used tyres but still lapping some 2 seconds quicker than his previous best at the circuit brought smiles all round and had the team looking forward to the weekend. Unfortunately gear failure on the out-lap of official practice on Saturday morning caused the bonnet the bonnet to fly up breaking the windscreen, severely damaging the bonnet, ending the session for Scott and leaving the crew with little more than an hour to effect repairs.

Qualifying

Looking only a little worse-for-wear the car was out for qualifying; wearing new tyres and hopes were high … until a failed weld in the exhaust system allowed part of the exhaust to part company with the car resulting in a loss off performance. None-the less Scott pressed on, qualifying a creditable 9^th and before bringing the car back to the crew who with the help of the ever present TAFE team repaired the damage (and then went looking for the black cat).

Race 1

Race 1 was a short 5 lap event held on Saturday afternoon. A brilliant start from the 9^th grid spot saw Scott holding 4^th spot for 2 laps before a couple of the faster Open Class cars found their way back past. Scott held on for 6^th place outright and was the 2^nd A Class car home.

Race 2

Race 2 was to be a 1 hour enduro with a compulsory pit stop. While many cars used 2 drivers Scott elected to complete the distance solo, which meant at the pit-stop he was required to exit the car, complete an entire circuit of the car, get back in and refasten his safety belts before moving off. Another good start had Scott holding 5^th place up until his pit stop. Rejoining in 8^th place after his stop, Scott gradually moved up and after all cars had completed their compulsory stops was holding 4^th. From there to race end Scott skillfully maintained his lead over the cars behind without unnecessarily risking an “off” or overstressing the car and was rewarded by gaining another position when the Open Class Porsche GT3RS of Holzberger suffered an engine failure on lap 40.

Scott took third outright for event, second in Class A and so earned another swag of valuable championship points. Championship standings now show him at second outright as well as second in class. An outstanding effort in this category for exotic sports cars from a young driver in only his second season of competitive motor sport, using a car first built 30 years ago.