As the EuroCup Tour came to an end in Zandvoort over the weekend so did Dan’s hopes of a EuroCup podium. Torrential weather and handling issues were the underlying cause of the weekend’s progress.
Qualifying on Friday at Zandvoort was wet, Dan was running well in the early stages, lying in 6th place right up until the last lap before being piped by the local Dutch runners in the closing stages of the session. Final results were P9 for race 1, P7 for Races 2 and 3.
Race 1 was in difficult damp track conditions early on Saturday morning problems with the rear brakes locking up caused Dan to spin off at Tarzan he rejoined the race but only for it to happen again on the final lap putting him out of the running altogether.
Weather conditions deteriorated for Race 2 Saturday PM, which brought out the Safety car on lap 3 to enable track marshals to collect various beached cars from around the circuit. Dan meanwhile had made his way up to 6th position dropping back to 7th after the restart when Parry got through. A last lap dive from Slaghekke saw him try to outbrake McBride round the outside, leaving Slaghekke in the gravel at Tarzan, moving Dan up to finish in 6th position overall.
Overnight rain soaked the track for Race 3 on the Sunday morning, with everyone starting on wets, the local Dutch runners selected older used wets in the hope the track would dry and they were right as by lap 5 the Dutch appeared to have an edge leaving the British contingent struggling on overheated wets. Dan had a great start battling with Cook and Slaghekke in the early stages before handling issues dropped him back to finish in the early teens overall but 7th amongst the British runners. Dan’s comments “We started on the back foot this weekend having not tested here, but that said we saw lots of progression throughout the weekend despite the changeable conditions”
With the EuroCup rounds now all over, Dan reflected “The EuroCup has been a great opportunity to race on circuits which may be of use in the future, but without there being a single unified ‘EuroCup’ we have kept our focus on the UK rounds.” - Its back to concentrating on the British Formula Ford title in which Dan currently lies in 6th place overall, the next round is at Brands Hatch on the 3rd and 4th September , Dan Said “I am very excited about the return the UK, particularly Brands, a circuit that I know very well. I still need to get to grips with it in the different car but should be able to return to where we belong, at the front!” but before then Dan is at Brands back out in the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge with Karsten le Blanc in the Nicholas Mee Racing car on August 27th.