Brands Hatch April 2012
Qualifying Practice
With the track drying under the morning
sun, James recorded the perfect start to the 2012 season by setting the fastest time in qualifying practice. Completing the 1.21 mile Indy circuit in a lap time of 57.036 averaging 76.24 mph, James was just ahead of Belgian Guy Fastres, by 0.053 secs with 2010 champion Lawrence Davey 0.106 secs off the pace in 3rd.
Round 1 - Saturday 21st April
Race 1
In the 'grid ball' draw, James drew 18th position on the grid to begin
the season. As usual with the legends, action is non-stop and there was a red
flag before the start of the race to recover a stricken car, which held up
proceedings. Once underway James made serene progress on the opening lap to
make up 7 positions and to climbed to 11th place. This progress continued until lap
5 when the red flags stopped the race for a serious incident involving the
#51 car of Paul Simmons, who barrel-rolled at Surtees. Restarting the
shortened race from 7th, James quickly made his way up to 4th challenging the leaders,
however with 3 laps to go, a misfire developed and he had to be content to settle for
an excellent 4th place.
Race 2
Starting race 2 from pole position, James shared the front row with Elliot Bunn
in the #41 car. James converted the pole into an early lead, with John Mickel in
the #4 car 2nd and Bunn in close attendance. These three were joined by the #2
car of Lawrence Davey, and these four drivers put on an excellent display for the
crowd, swapping positions every lap. James made an audacious move around the
outside of all 3 drivers on the last lap into Druids, but couldn’t quite make the
move stick having to settle once again for 4th just 0.511 sec behind the winner.
Final
With the points added up from heats 1 and 2, and the grid reversed, James started
in 16th position on the grid. After initially making a fantastic getaway an incident
at Druids on the opening meant that at the end of lap 1 the JRA Motorsport driver
only made it up to 13th. James had to do it the hard way, making several superb
overtakes, coming through the field into 3rd place. James held onto the position at
the line from Ben Power in the #55 car by 0.054 sec, demonstrating the closeness of
Legends racing. The overall results are a collation of all three races positions and
James and the JRA Motorsport team secured an excellent 2nd place to begin 2012 in fine style.
Round 2 - Sunday 22nd April
Race 1
The grandstands were packed in anticipation of an exciting days racing, James started race one
from 12th on the grid, and this race saw some of the weekend's best action with lots of wheel to
wheel combat throughout the field. A fantastic battle over the last two laps took place with Dean
Brace in the #7 car. The two cars completed the final laps almost side by side all the way around,
with James getting the crucial drive off Clearways and just pipping Dean to yet another
4th position by 0.055 sec at the line.
Race 2
Starting from 7th on the grid, James quickly moved up to 4th position. A five way scrap
for the lead ensued, with the race pace being absolutely ferocious, lapping close to record
speeds. A personal best lap time of Brands Hatch was set by James in this race, at
56.06 sec, just 0.1 of a second off the fastest lap of the weekend. Again the racing was superb
with positions being swapped on almost every lap, James had to settle for what was becoming
a familiar 4th place this weekend, with Richard Pocklington in the #16 car taking the flag.
Final
Shortly after the cars came off the track from race 2, the heavens opened and the rain set
in for the final. In his karting years James had always excelled in wet and slippery conditions.
However he had only raced once in his Legend in the wet. The name of the game here was to
build up experience and gain valuable information for the team as there was no real set-up data
to fall back on. James drove an excellent and consistent race, starting from 18th each lap saw an improvement in his times enabling him to close on the front runners. By the chequered flag he was in 6th place, an excellent result in the circumstances. James remarked afterwards he needed the race to be twice as long as he was learning so much about the grip and the characteristics
of the car in wet conditions, but is hopeful for a better result next time it is wet!
Points-wise it was an excellent day for the JRA Motorsport team, with another podium spot for 3rd place overall in round 2.
James and the JRA Motorsport team lie 2nd in the championship after the opening round
and head to Silverstone on 5/6 May in high spirits looking to grab their first overall victory
as they continue their quest to win the 2012 Legends Championship.
Championship Standings
1. #2 Lawrence Davey 1140
2. #83 James Holman 950
3. #41 Elliot Bunn 870
4. #16 Richard Pocklington 815
5. #55 Ben Power 810
6. #28 Guy Fastres 740
7. #66 Steve Whitelegg 730
8. #7 Dean Brace 710
With the track drying under the morning
sun, James recorded the perfect start to the 2012 season by setting the fastest time in qualifying practice. Completing the 1.21 mile Indy circuit in a lap time of 57.036 averaging 76.24 mph, James was just ahead of Belgian Guy Fastres, by 0.053 secs with 2010 champion Lawrence Davey 0.106 secs off the pace in 3rd.
Round 1 - Saturday 21st April
Race 1
In the 'grid ball' draw, James drew 18th position on the grid to begin
the season. As usual with the legends, action is non-stop and there was a red
flag before the start of the race to recover a stricken car, which held up
proceedings. Once underway James made serene progress on the opening lap to
make up 7 positions and to climbed to 11th place. This progress continued until lap
5 when the red flags stopped the race for a serious incident involving the
#51 car of Paul Simmons, who barrel-rolled at Surtees. Restarting the
shortened race from 7th, James quickly made his way up to 4th challenging the leaders,
however with 3 laps to go, a misfire developed and he had to be content to settle for
an excellent 4th place.
Race 2
Starting race 2 from pole position, James shared the front row with Elliot Bunn
in the #41 car. James converted the pole into an early lead, with John Mickel in
the #4 car 2nd and Bunn in close attendance. These three were joined by the #2
car of Lawrence Davey, and these four drivers put on an excellent display for the
crowd, swapping positions every lap. James made an audacious move around the
outside of all 3 drivers on the last lap into Druids, but couldn’t quite make the
move stick having to settle once again for 4th just 0.511 sec behind the winner.
Final
With the points added up from heats 1 and 2, and the grid reversed, James started
in 16th position on the grid. After initially making a fantastic getaway an incident
at Druids on the opening meant that at the end of lap 1 the JRA Motorsport driver
only made it up to 13th. James had to do it the hard way, making several superb
overtakes, coming through the field into 3rd place. James held onto the position at
the line from Ben Power in the #55 car by 0.054 sec, demonstrating the closeness of
Legends racing. The overall results are a collation of all three races positions and
James and the JRA Motorsport team secured an excellent 2nd place to begin 2012 in fine style.
Round 2 - Sunday 22nd April
Race 1
The grandstands were packed in anticipation of an exciting days racing, James started race one
from 12th on the grid, and this race saw some of the weekend's best action with lots of wheel to
wheel combat throughout the field. A fantastic battle over the last two laps took place with Dean
Brace in the #7 car. The two cars completed the final laps almost side by side all the way around,
with James getting the crucial drive off Clearways and just pipping Dean to yet another
4th position by 0.055 sec at the line.
Race 2
Starting from 7th on the grid, James quickly moved up to 4th position. A five way scrap
for the lead ensued, with the race pace being absolutely ferocious, lapping close to record
speeds. A personal best lap time of Brands Hatch was set by James in this race, at
56.06 sec, just 0.1 of a second off the fastest lap of the weekend. Again the racing was superb
with positions being swapped on almost every lap, James had to settle for what was becoming
a familiar 4th place this weekend, with Richard Pocklington in the #16 car taking the flag.
Final
Shortly after the cars came off the track from race 2, the heavens opened and the rain set
in for the final. In his karting years James had always excelled in wet and slippery conditions.
However he had only raced once in his Legend in the wet. The name of the game here was to
build up experience and gain valuable information for the team as there was no real set-up data
to fall back on. James drove an excellent and consistent race, starting from 18th each lap saw an improvement in his times enabling him to close on the front runners. By the chequered flag he was in 6th place, an excellent result in the circumstances. James remarked afterwards he needed the race to be twice as long as he was learning so much about the grip and the characteristics
of the car in wet conditions, but is hopeful for a better result next time it is wet!
Points-wise it was an excellent day for the JRA Motorsport team, with another podium spot for 3rd place overall in round 2.
James and the JRA Motorsport team lie 2nd in the championship after the opening round
and head to Silverstone on 5/6 May in high spirits looking to grab their first overall victory
as they continue their quest to win the 2012 Legends Championship.
Championship Standings
1. #2 Lawrence Davey 1140
2. #83 James Holman 950
3. #41 Elliot Bunn 870
4. #16 Richard Pocklington 815
5. #55 Ben Power 810
6. #28 Guy Fastres 740
7. #66 Steve Whitelegg 730
8. #7 Dean Brace 710
