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The first race meeting of the season for the V8 Trophy
cars was held at Rockingham on the 28th/29th April 2007.
Team Networking had had a difficult winter
trying to raise the budget for the 31 car to compete in the
10 race series but with the backing
of Filray Web Design Ltd, together with locally
based Triad Planning & Design Ltd and www.gig-guide.co.uk a
locally owned top listed music web site together with
a small number of other companies around the UK including
MAD Photography from Kettering, they were committed
to getting the car on the grid in time for the season opening.
At the last minute a major sponsor was signed, Pinehall
Communications Ltd based in Doncaster, which means
the car can now run the full season.
Press
Release from Pinehall Communications Ltd (PDF
Document 245KB)
Qualifying took place on Saturday and whilst Duncan
finished a credible 6th he felt he could have been in the
top 3 as he had been held up on his best lap by a slower
car. Grays team mate Lee O'Keefe in the 95 car qualified
one place ahead of him in 5th.
In the first of the two races the field split into 2 groups
with the top 7 cars breaking away. The side by side racing provided
a thrilling spectacle to the grandstand crowds with
speeds of up 175 mph from these hugely popular V8 muscle
cars.
On lap 25 Shane Brereton in the Tor Trucks backed 48
car spun into the wall at turn 4 bringing out the yellow
flags. Brereton managed to limp his way back to the pits
for his team to start repairs in readiness for race 2 later
in the afternoon.
As the laps ran down there were two major battles being
contested. The Championship favourite Colin White was fending
off his teammate Hunter Abbott whilst slightly further back,
Revolution Racing's Tony Hurdle was being harried by Gray.
Approaching the final lap, Gray went purposefully wide
into turn 1 and dived down the inside of the 98 car completing
a great manouvre before entering turn 2. This last lap
move took Duncan Gray to 3rd place for his first appearance
on the podium.
The second race of the day saw Gray start from 3rd position.
Again the cars jockeyed for position in the early laps with
the lead swopping numerous times and Gray lead them across
the line at one stage. However as the race wore on, the handling
of the car became more difficult and he started to drop back
into the pack. He decided to pit to check his tyres
on lap 26. After a lengthy stop he rejoined to bring the
car home in one piece in 11th place but still scoring good
points.
After the races, Duncan was delighted with the result of
race 1 and was philosophical about race 2 but still went
home happy. Sally and Ray Danks couldn't believe that all
their efforts had been rewarded so early in the season. The
31 Car will return for the next meeting at Rockingham on
Sunday June 24th.
Ray Danks said" We would be delighted to hear from anyone
who would like to join us at future meetings or even become
a sponsor. Rockingham Motor Speedway is a fantastic venue
where you can see all the action around all the track and
race meeting include various formulas throughout the weekend.
The facilities are second to none with corporate hospitality
available. Come down to the pits, have you photograph taken
with our car and Duncan as a memento of your day out
- YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!"
OUR THANKS - to all sponsors and to Duane
and the team at Revolution Racing and especially to our race
engineers Quorky, Tractor Boy and Roger and Duncan's spotter
"Big" John for guiding him home in one piece and to his fastest
ever lap around Rockingham.
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