The first round of the ABKC Winter Series
at PFI in Lincolnshire on 2 November was, for Jonny, about as enjoyable as the
weather - wet and miserable.
With a different format to that of Super
1(timed qualifying followed by two heats and two finals) the Winter Series only
has two heats with one final. This means that - to get a good grid position for
the final - finishing well in both heats is crucial.
"I was running
really well and was in 3rd on the last lap and just clipped a kerb on the exit
of the second hairpin and suddenly the chain threw itself. I couldn't believe
it, I'd just touched it a little and the chain came off" Jonathan explained.
If that wasn't bad enough, the weather turned and the rain started to
teem down. However, Jonathan's team found an excellent set-up for the following
race and he came through the spray to take a fine 3rd place.
"I was
happy with that, although the earlier DNF (Did Not Finish) messed up my chances
of a decent grid slot for the final."
Jonathan started it from 8th
place, but on the outside of the grid - which is more often than not a bad
place to be at PFi.
Having survived the clashes in the first half of the
opening lap, and the treacherous wet conditions, Jonathan found himself tipped
off the circuit by a rash challenge from a newcomer into the KF1
class.
"I'm not sure if it was deliberate or just a lack of experience.
There were a lot of new faces there and they tended to be the ones knocking
into people. Still, I got back on and managed to get back on (the track) and
pass a few people."
Jonathan took the chequered flag, and whilst it
wasn't the podium he wanted, he'd seen plenty that was positive.
"I was
fast in the dry and competitive in the wet. I'll soon have the new Gillard
chassis that took 3rd in the Asia-Pacific Championship (at Macau, 29/30
November), so that's going to give us another advantage, I'm
sure."
Jonathan has now embarked on a comprehensive testing programme in
readiness for his assault on the 2009 British Super 1 Championship and selected
international races.
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