Cadwell 18th June didn't quite go to plan, glorious sunshine for the previous few days then trackday time rain and more rain. Very light rain for the sighting laps so not too bad. Jamie went out first after pit lane opened, still continuous light rain at this point. He came back in about 20 mins later big smile on his face, said the car felt good after the changes we had done and the grip levels were good apart from Hall bends, hairpin, barn area which was to be expected. So i wait 20/25 mins to go out in this time the rain had got heavier. Go out and first thing i notice is the river of water running across the track just after Barn on to the start/finish straight, which is also starting to puddle up. The dip on Park Straight also starting to hold water.
2nd lap when coming out of Barn a little quicker now, going over the river of water just twitches the car but not too bad as does hitting the ever growing puddles down the straight. On to Park Straight and hitting the water at around 80mph really took some holding the car on track. I did another couple of laps and that was enough for me , I just didn't have the confidence to think if this throws me big time i wouldn't hold it, so into the pits i came.
So Jamie said come out with him, which i did, he has a lot more confidence and we did another couple of sessions before lunch. It was still raining during these sessions and the car was certainly skittish down start/finish straight in thee puddles before Coppice. A lotus spun off in front of us on Park Straight up the hill Jamie braked back end stepped out but he saved it and on we continued.
After lunch we went back out, it had not stopped raining and the puddles were getting deeper, but we was having fun, the grip from the MRF's on the wet track were really good where there was no standing water. Start/finish straight was the worst place and we did a few laps and was definitely aquaplaning but Jamie was taking it in his stride and enjoying the conditions. Then our luck ran out, coming down the Start/finish straight just before the braking point for Coppice we hit a puddle that just spat the rear end out, probably doing around 90mph at this point. From then on we were just passengers, hit the barriers not sure if we span and ended up drivers side against the barriers.
We were both ok unfortunately the car wasn't.
But it is repairable and has already been stripped down ready to get a chassis leg straightened, new subframe, radiator , wing, front bumper and bonnet as well as some headlights ready for Anglesey 26th July.
It did drive off the trailer and into the unit and the radiator was still full of water!!
We did laugh and this is the reason we bought a track only car, no emotional involvement and its going to happen again because you push these cars harder then you would if you have to drive it home.
If you've read this far you will be hoping that there are photo's I know i would.
Well i don't like to disappoint so here they are.