After a few days of frantic activity trying to sort the engine out from the head gasket failure at the end of the Silverstone race it was a relief to have everything ready for Brands. There was a very small water leak from one of the thermostat hoses that was niggling but nothing else. The car still overheats when left standing but it happens suddenly now as if it reaches a critical temperature rather than just overheating within a few minutes.
Scrutineering turned into a mad panic when it became apparent that the battery was flat (the water pump had run it down the day before while I was tracing the water leak). Tony Soper came to the rescue with a battery pack (so glad I fitted an anderson jack now). The next drama was in the assembly area as the temperature crept up again - the water pump was doing it's job though and turning the engine off cooled things sufficiently with the power left on (and the battery pack plugged in).
Qualifying was troublesome - once again the car decided to dump some water on the track and I was called into the pits for a check but as it was only a little water coming out they allowed me out again. I struggled behind one of the road saloons astras for a while before finally passing him and getting a good lap in. The water temperature again was on the rise so I then slowed and pitted to stop for the session rather than risk anything but that seems to have been my undoing - the temperature went critical half way around. I still made it to the pits but no way was the car healthy!
A quick check in the paddock confirmed the worst - the head gasket had blown again. Exhaust gases were pumping out of the cooling system which was now boiled dry...
I had qualified 13th out of 27 starters but that would be the end of the day. With a busy evening ahead at PistonFest I took the easy option and headed home early and dropped the car off at the workshop so that they can make a quick start on it as the next race is just 3 weeks away at Cadwell Park and I really do not want a DNF there again!
I have some ideas about how to improve the cooling system now, not least of all I need to obtain an original Uno Turbo expansion tank as these do not have a pressure cap on them since the turbo vents water directly into the tank as steam and as such would blow the cap seal almost immediately.
See the results page for the current scores.