Moffat in the mix at exciting Snetterton
Laser Tools Racing’s Aiden Moffat had another tough time at Snetterton, Norfolk, in the most recent rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, although as ever, he never gave up fighting.
After the traditional summer break, Aiden and the Laser Tools Racing squad regrouped ready to tackle the second half of the season. Aiden’s qualifying session was a tough start to the weekend, though, as Aiden admitted that he was driving differently and that the times weren’t coming.
Before Race One, Aiden commented: “I always race better than I qualify, so I have put a lot of effort into looking at my driving and explored different ways of approaching the way I drive. However, I think that I have gone the wrong way or confused myself because the things I tried to be faster haven’t worked so that means that I have a fight on my hands in Race One.”
As ever, Aiden proved that he is a fighter and he charged up from 26th to 16th place, all on a soaking wet circuit with grip and visibility at a premium. Aiden charged his way through the pack to be the second-best over taker of the race, but inevitably being in the pack meant that there were risks. “I got a knock from someone in the spray — I don’t know who — and that hurt the right front wheel,” explained Aiden. “That means that the car didn’t handle quite right after that but on the whole it was good start to the day and a 10-place gain is good. The car has good speed and puts us in a better position for the second race.”
Race Two was run on a damp-but-drying track and Aiden fought his way up to 12th place, running the car of softer springs for the damp conditions. As the road dried, the car lost its edge and Aiden lost one spot but was content given the initial speed that the car had demonstrated. “I got hit again which bent the steering a bit,” explained Aiden, “but as the road dried, the softer springs weren’t ideal. We knew it was a gamble and in the end it didn’t pan out for us but it was worth a try from where we were on the grid.”
For race three, Aiden lined up 23rd after a difficult second qualifying session, a second session being run for the special 60th anniversary event. Round 18 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car was a longer race with double points on offer, but Aiden was involved in an incident with fellow Scotsman Rory Butcher on the opening lap. Butcher was tagged by an errant rival and was turned sideways into Aiden.
“I limped back to the pit lane with a broken toe-link and a puncture and I was ready to jump out, but the team went to work and repaired it so I just went out to have fun.”
Aiden set the fifth fastest lap of the race but after the pit stop he wasn’t able to complete enough laps to be classified as a finisher. Even so, Aiden was delighted to have proved his pace and without the pressure of a race result, happy to enjoy himself in the Laser Tool Racing Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
“It has been a frustrating day but we have learnt a lot, so I think we will be in a stronger position when we get back on track at Rockingham.”
The next rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will be at Rockingham, Northants, on August 11th/12th and all the action will be shown live on ITV4.
