BLANCHARD CONSOLIDATES SECOND IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP
28 April 2008
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Battling through an opening practice session incident, Blanchard came away from Croft with another healthy bag of points, impressively fighting back to comfortably hold on to second place in the Championship.
Blanchard qualified to start fourth on the grid for the opening race and found himself in second position before the end of the opening lap, trailing Championship leader Wayne Boyd in what looks to be a battle for the UK Formula Ford crown at the early stage of the series.
AMSF International Rising Star Blanchard couldn't reel in Boyd, and finished second, a result that he was pleased with after an incident in practice placed him and the team under some pressure to be ready for qualifying.
"Practice wasn't the ideal start for the weekend; I had probably the biggest crash of my career and there was a fair bit of damage to the left side of the Jaylec Mygale," explained Blanchard.
"I was satisfied with my qualifying effort after that, obviously I would have liked to have been on the front row, but to finish second in the opening race was a good fight back.
Blanchard displayed true grit and determination to regain his composure after a 180km/h collision with a tyre wall during practice at a right hand sweeper at Croft, able to re-focus and build a solid qualifying and race one result.
Race Two was a carbon copy, when again starting from fourth on the grid Blanchard was chasing Boyd from second position before the opening lap had been completed.
"Boyd has showed great pace all season so far, so I found myself trying to chase him down again in the second race, the only difference was it was raining in race two so I kept my head down and ensured a good result.
Race three saw the Jamun Racing team mates and series leaders Blanchard and Boyd going at it at the front of the field; only this time Blanchard decided he wasn't going to die wondering.
"I wanted to try and break Boyd's winning streak so I was pushing really hard and I kept with him prior to the safety car.
"I think I lost a bit of rhythm during the two lap safety car period and then during the eighth lap I clipped a tyre wall after misjudging the chicane and it ended my race which was disappointing."
"I know I have the capability of keeping with him so I will keep plugging away and trying to win races, however I'm still second in the Championship leading into Brands Hatch next week."
Blanchard has had a successful start to his UK Formula Ford title aspirations, and is looking forward to racing at one of the world's most famous tracks next weekend.
"Brands Hatch will be a great experience, it's a track that has it all and we have tested there a bit this year so I am really looking forward to the challenge next weekend."
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Overall 1 Boyd 269 points; 2 Blanchard 211; 3 Stuteley 178; 4 Correa 156; 5 Barber 141
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