From Team F4V Media –
| • Nathan Anthony delivers P9 best, top Masters finisher in Rd7 Heat Two • Differential issues on Donington day two hamper Team F4V performance • Next up – return to BTCC package for the trip to Knockhill in Scotland |
| Producing a ninth place finish on day one of the Legends Cars Championship race meeting at Donington Park over the weekend, 29th/30th June, proved to be the highlight of the event for Team F4V’s Nathan Anthony, with mechanical difficulties on day two hindering his performance. Round seven at the East Midlands track on Saturday began with a strong drive through the order to a top 12 result in Heat One, before the Horley racer took an improved ninth – and was also the top Masters finisher – in Heat Two. As a result of an incident in another championship, which caused significant delays to the timetable, the round seven Final didn’t take place and was cancelled. On Sunday, a binding differential on the No.29 Se-Van caused big problems with performance and pace and Nathan had to settle for 14th position in each of the round eight Heats and then a luckless 18th position in the Final – the latter resulting from a spin after contact from Oli Schlup and a scrappy Safety Car re-start where he was forced to take avoiding action. Weekend of two halves for Team F4V at Donington Drawing 20th on the grid for Saturday’s first Heat, Nathan had his work cut-out but he delivered a terrific opening race. The initial start was red-flagged following a multi-car collision at McLeans, but at the second attempt the full distance of eight laps ran untroubled. Holding 17th position after the first tour, the Se-Van was up another spot on lap two and after a settled few laps he leapt into 14th on lap six. Taking a further position on the penultimate tour, Nathan’s rise was complete on lap eight when he broke into the top 12. For Heat Two, the Team F4V driver had a better opportunity from seventh on the grid and he bagged another excellent haul of points – also ending as the top Masters Class runner. Climbing into the top six on lap one, Nathan was edged back to eighth position on the second tour and stayed there until lap seven when edged back to ninth. Overall, Nathan was very happy with the performance. Disappointed not to be able to try and continue his momentum in the Final after its cancellation, into Sunday – which was a much more overcast day – Nathan lined-up fourth on the grid for Heat One of round eight. After dropping to ninth on lap one, the issue with the differential made for a very tough race and he eventually took the flag in 14th position. Starting the flipped Heat Two grid down in 21st spot, with a lack of time between the races to try and replace the diff, all the team could do was change the oil and hope for improvements. Nathan made terrific progress on lap one to slice through into 14th place, before the race was red flagged. At the re-start he moved up a position and on lap two he broke into the top 12. Thereafter, as the race pace picked-up, the Se-Van wasn’t able to compete on a level footing and so the First 4 Vans, Towergate Insurance, Creative Funding Solutions, Blue Lizard Signs, Blue Chip Warranty, Mowermate and Moove supported racer had to settle for 14th place at the flag on lap eight. In the round eight Final, another fairly quick turnaround between races, he started 14th on the grid but the problems persisted. Nathan’s hopes were compounded by a messy race re-start, following an early Safety Car, where drivers prepared to launch but then slowed again – causing a concertina which meant he had to take avoiding action on the grass. He was also tagged by Oli Schlup in a separate incident, pitching the Se-Van into a spin, and so eventually finished in 18th. Nathan Anthony: “Donington really has been a weekend of two halves for us. Day one was pretty good, I was happy with the pace and it was a real shame the Final couldn’t take place as I think we had a great chance for some big points again and a good result to go with the P9 finish from race two. “Unfortunately, the issue with the binding diff ruined Sunday’s races to be honest. We just didn’t have the pace to compete and, in the Final, the re-start was a total mess-up and I was put into a spin as well by [Oli] Schlup. It’s a shame how the weekend has ended, but we’re looking forward to the summer break now before the big drive to Knockhill!” Team F4V now heads into a six-week break from action over the summer, with rounds nine and 10 of the Championship – which will also be the final two rounds of the Legends Cars Elite Cup – taking place over the weekend 10th/11th August at Knockhill in Scotland, supporting the BTCC. Legends Cars Championship Standings (after Rd8): 13th Nathan Anthony, 1500pts Legends Cars Championship ‘Masters Cup’ Standings (after Rd8): 2nd Nathan Anthony, 1500pts |
Photo credit: George McNeill
