With angle-grinding sparks flashing through the misty gloom last night the pits was a hive of mud-covered activity as most of the field were in need of serious repairs. Some, like France's Nicolas Montador were beyond repair… as he didn't have a replacement gearbox with him. He wasn't alone in being towed out of the forest though as only 4 of the 21 starters in the Ultra4 class managed the full 8 laps yesterday. Jim Marsden was in contention all day yesterday until he broke the chassis on the last lap but working through the night his amazing mechanics managed to get the car back out and ready for more of the same today… and seeing as the persistent drizzle hadn't stopped all night it was going to be another brutal day…
Off the line Jelle Janssens almost managed to out-drag Rob Butler but that didn't last long and by the time they were out of the Maxxis Arena Rob already had a 10 second lead. Malta's Neville Ciantar was 3rd to go and was hoping to keep the place… but would have a long, long way to go. And if Marsden had anything to say about it, he'd be getting his lost lap back as soon as he could!
But at the end of Lap 1 Butler was only a few seconds ahead of Janssens. Absolutely not disrespect to the 21 year of Belgian but if Rob is only that close in front it means he has a problem and he duly pulled off into the pits. It was an issue with the brakes, one that pitched him a hundred metres up an escape road. It couldn't be fixed so they clamped the line shut and he set off again with about 5% of the front brakes and quickly taught himself how to engine brake.
But the man to watch was Marsden and Jim on a mission is something special to behold. His car holding together, where others were winching up he was in 2nd gear and airborne, the sounds of his angry V8 echoing off the dripping trees and spectators running for cover from the flying rocks.
Even with no brakes though no one could get anywhere near Butler, After years of building other people's winning cars now he has one for himself. Adding to his Italy 2015 win he now claims what many say is the hardest Ultra4 race of them all. Behind, Janssens goes one step higher that his 3rd place finishes to take the runner's up spot, and today he even had some energy left over so was able able to speak.
Marsden seemed to have done enough to unlap himself and take 3rd but Nusu driver Cianter never gives up, even if his co-driver does need some vocal encouragement every now and then. A dodgy locker and some winch issues meant that he wasn't quite as fast as he wanted to be, but Marsden was slowed himself with slipping belts, so unbelievably, once again it was the Maltese crew in their underfunded Goat with yet another 3rd.
Full results aren't out yet, but will be on www.ultra4europe.com soon.
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