Podiums For Team Associated TC5 At Cotswold National
Last weekend’s 1:10 touring car national at the Cotswold track proved to be a real mixed bag for Team Associated.
Held in sunny but breezy conditions the pro stock boys were looking to build on their excellent start to the season at Mendip, while the Super Touring drivers were looking to put the Mendip national well behind them.
After an excellent showing at Mendip the pro stock drivers Zak Smith, Chris Slater and Steve Lander headed to Cotswold on a real high, but early on in qualifying it was clear that it was going to be a tougher weekend than at round one. Chris took time to get on the pace but was soon looking good for a top qualifying spot, while Zak struggled to get a good set up and some consistent performance from his TC5.
In Super Touring it was a much better start for Olly Jefferies and Alan Bickerstaff. Olly was second in round one of qualifying while Alan was also right on the pace with a top ten time.
Throughout Saturday the team continued to work on the cars and eventually were rewarded with a competitive set up, Chris was now looking comfortable for a top A final grid spot place, as was Olly. Zak, Steve and Alan still had some work to do at this point.
The Associated gazebo is always a popular place at lunchtime and there was a real party atmosphere on both days as drivers and invited guests tucked in to the excellent buffet. Atsushi Hara called in to sample some Associated hospitality, as did CML team manager Dave Duggan.
As always the Associated tent is the pace to be! Even RC legend Atsushi Hara can’t keep away!
At the end of Qualifying Chris Slater was top Pro Stock runner lining up fourth in the A, it was a similar qualifying position for Olly in Super Touring. For Zak and Alan it was a slight disappointment and a B final slot.
After some tough racing in both classes both Chris and Olly made the podium both in third place in their respective classes. The result for Chris keeps him right in the hunt for the Pro Stock national title and for Olly a chance to hopefully drop his Mendip score. Some small comfort for Zak was a win in the B final and for Alan fifth in the B.
In the Super Touring C final it was a win for Tom Jefferies who is putting some good results together of late, the same could be said for Kyle Gardner who was fourth in the Pro Stock F final.
Olly sums up the weekend “Cotswold was a tough meeting for the whole team, but I think we all felt we got the best out of what we had, we have some new stuff waiting in the wings and this will make us more of a contender at the next round, after Mendip it was a real wake up call for Zak but he knows how tough Pro Stock is and he will bounce back with a better showing at Aldershot, for me I need more power, I am having to drive the car right on the edge to be competitive, but I am confident that the package and changes we have on the way will turn things around a bit in our favourâ€
For Olly and Alan its worlds next, Olly will contest both 1:12 scale and will then be joined by Alan for the touring car meeting a few days afterwards, best of luck to both drivers.
Source: CML Distribution
