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…Ginetta
Junior racer scores a brilliant 4th before rolling out of second
race
If
his car had one, chances are that Ashley Craig wouldn’t have Oasis’ ‘Roll with it’ on the stereo.
Especially
after his spectacular crash at Donington
Park, Leicestershire last
Sunday (4 May).
Prior
to this, the Dorset teenager’s weekend had
started with a superb performance on Saturday (3 May). After qualifying in 12th
place, Ashley delivered a drive that drew praise as he picked his way through
the field to take the chequered flag in 4th place, his best
finishing position this season.
He
explains: “During qualifying, I couldn’t
pick up a tow and that can cost you up to a second around Donington. In the
race, I’d got up to 4th and was closing in on Josh (Hill), but he
hit a plastic-covered foam bale which scattered debris all over the track. I
took avoiding action, lost time and decided to settle for 4th
thinking that, if I could climb from 12th to 4th in one
race, I could go even better in the second. Wrong!”
As
part of the support programme for the British Touring Car Championship, the
Ginetta Junior Championship has been welcomed by the spectators for its close,
exciting racing. However, things got a little too thrilling for Ashley in
Sunday’s race.
As
he launched his car off the line, Ashley went for the inside line as the pack
headed into the tricky first corner, Redgate. He takes up the story: “I was inside George Richardson but two cars
collided just ahead of us. George dived right to avoid t-boning the car ahead,
clipped me and pitched me into a roll. I went across the track on my roof.”
After
taking a moment to collect himself, Ashley realized that he was hanging upside
down in the car. Suspended by his seat-belts, but resisting the temptation to
get out of the car immediately, he said: “I
was hanging there and thought I’d better keep my belts done up just in case
another car collected me. Suddenly the marshals were by the car asking if I was
okay. I told them that I was and they said, ‘We’re going to release your
belts’. The funny thing was I was fine, until I tried to get out of the car and
whacked my elbow. As I clambered out of the car, the crowd cheered and I waved
to them to signal that I was okay. I looked at where the car had skidded across
the circuit and saw that I’d left blue and white stripes across the tarmac.”
Describing
the experience as being similar to a rollercoaster ride, Ashley also revealed
that he had ground part of his car’s roll-cage down and got a mouthful of grit
and fibreglass for his pains. He suffered nothing worse than a headache the day
after - although his dad, Barry joked that his wallet hurt even more.
“It’s testimony to
the car’s strength that I’m unhurt” Ashley said. “I’m looking forward to the next round at
Thruxton), as technically it’s my
local circuit and now that I’ve shown that I can challenge for podiums, I’m
confident that the second half of the season will be even better.”
Ironically,
Ashley will sit a GCSE exam prior to his next race: “It’s for my Design and Technology course, it’s on resistance
materials. After my practical at Donington, I expect to pass with flying
colours!”
You
can also follow Ashley’s fortunes throughout the season by visiting www.ashley-craig.com.
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