Leason thanks Silverstone fans

Nick Leason says the fans’ support at Silverstone’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship meeting last Sunday more than made up for the disappointment of not being able to contest the final round after his car lost a wheel on the way to the grid.

Leason and his Daniels Motorsport team were cheered by thousands of spectators as they tried to fix his broken Vauxhall Astra on the track after wheel hub failure caused it stop just yards from the grid.

“I could here it clonking all round the out lap from the pit lane and when I came through Luffield I saw a wheel fly past me!” Leason told BTCC.net. “That was the left rear wheel and the right front had also collapsed.

”I was sitting there, staring at the back of the back of the grid just ahead of me, but it was impossible to make it – the car simply had no drive left. I was frustrated to put it politely, but it was just one of those really unfortunate things that can happen. The marshals, though, were really good with the car and in dealing with the situation.”

But Leason says the reaction he and his crew received from the 33,000 crowd for trying to make it onto the grid gave them some comfort. He’d radioed his mechanics to run back down the track to try to fit a spare wheel to his stricken car.

“There was a massive cheer when I got out of the car and I felt compelled to take a bow,” he added. “At least it got me a bit of extra television coverage, albeit for the wrong reasons.

“The crowds were just amazing on Sunday and although we’ve only done the final two meetings my sponsors have been overwhelmed about what the BTCC is about. The autograph session with all the public, for example, was absolutely manic but great fun.

“I’m planning to use the winter break wisely and really get to know the car inside out. But doing the final two meetings of the year was definitely the right way to go. It’s enabled all my sponsors to see the BTCC at its very best. They love being a part of the BTCC scene, whether it’s the crowds, the racing or the hospitality, and are all up for continuing into 2007. I can’t wait for next season to come around…”

Source: www.btcc.net