PK Sport At Sebring – Thursday Qualifying Report
Trying For A Time Is Quite Trying At Times

As the week draws on the pressure for progress grows.

No surprises here for the seasoned PK Sport squad. That progress however comes in small steps and with track time limited, every opportunity is taken to try something that might shave an invaluable tenth or two.

Morning practice and it was time for Piers Masarati and Robin Liddell to try out a softer compound Pirelli tyre, one that the team hoped would consolidate their top six position.

Piers Masarati, ever keen to get in amongst the action, found that the car was vastly improved from his race here in 2002. “I’m working on finding the best race pace possible and the Pirellis are making a big difference. This tyre has been really consistent and the grip wasn’t really going away at all throughout the stint.” That's Robin's bottom about to occupy the driving seat, as Piers peels off his race suit.

One hiccup however interrupted the session’s smooth flow for Masarati: “I was lapping quickly and came across one of the Prodrive Ferrari 550s across the road. I had to run across the grass to avoid it.”

No harm done and after a quick stop for a check on the tyres, it was back to the circuit.

Over in the Ecurie Ecosse / Sebah crewed #61 car, the quest for progress was much the same. Bart Hayden explained: “We lost time on our first day here with an engine change but are getting up to speed fast. It helps to have three drivers that are racing at a broadly similar pace.”

Gregor Fisken was equally straightforward: “This is the first time here since 1958 for the Ecurie Ecosse and the first airing in sportscars since the Hugh McCaig backed Ecosse C2 programme of the mid 1980s. It marks the start - we hope - of a return to front-line international sportscar racing for one of the most historic names of all. We’re completely realistic and aren’t going to run before we can walk. This is a fantastic event to be a part of, we’ve been welcomed with open arms by the organisers and other teams, and we’re hugely encouraged.”

Ian Donaldson was the quickest of the #61’s trio of drivers and would make the qualifying runs in the afternoon session.

“The traffic can be intimidating at first but I got dialled in really quite quickly. The track though is technically quite difficult, turns 1 and 16 are a real challenge, it’s like being on top of a wild horse, slippery and bumpy, a real balancing act.”

Qualifying

Motorsport can be frustrating at times, with small problems making a big, big difference. That was the story of qualifying, which left the #60 car a little lower down from the slot in the GT class it has occupied throughout the week so far.

What certainly didn’t help matters was a close encounter of the Chevrolet Corvette kind on Robin Liddell’s second flying lap: as the PK Sport car rounded the fearsomely quick first turn it found a slowly circulating factory Corvette drifting into its path.

“The closing speed was upwards of 80 mph and I only had a fraction of a second to react,” said Liddell afterwards.

Team mates Masarati and Warnock, watching progress at the same corner, had the fright of their lives. “I was just about to pack my bag for home,” said David Warnock. “I couldn’t see any way Robin would avoid an almighty collision, but he did!”

It had ruined the lap when the tyres were at the optimum, and it was a struggle thereafter. A time of 2:09.854 was good enough for tenth place in the GT class, in a grid of this quality certainly no disgrace, but PK Sport are accustomed to better. It was long faces all round after the session. These guys are perfectionists.

The crew of #61 were happier with their progress, a 2:13.957 showing reward for their efforts – and 51st place on the grid. That would become 47th though, as four cars had their times disallowed, while #60 moves up to ninth in class

With such a packed, high quality field it will be a busy opening stint for both cars – an exciting race awaits. Night practice will be covered tomorrow.