Jonathan Tee, Brentwood's budding Formula racing champion back on British tracks after a sparkling year as a Elf La Filiere graduate, had a disappointing debut at Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.

Track spray closed down vision to less than a metre and he slammed into the rear of a braking car so ending his race mid way through the second of 14 laps.

"There are more downs than ups in motor racing," said 22 year old Jonathan when he returned to his family's Little Warley home.

"But there is always the next championship round at Donnington Park in a month. I must learn from today, keep fit and give it everything I've got."

This week the we invited Jonathan to write his account of the race...

"I was really looking forward to Brands Hatch for the eighth round of the Thrifty Formula Palmer Audi Championship on the full Grand Prix circuit.

''Although this series with 26 drivers is a tough challenge and all of us are closely matched, I had finished 11th at Mondello Park, Ireland, last month and was quietly confident that I'd hold my own.

"Testing the car on this Grand Prix circuit earlier in the week had gone reasonably well; I was 14th fastest with a time of 1:24:560, the pole sitter's time was 1:23:783 -- so I was less than 8/10ths off pole position.

"Saturday's all too short 20 minute qualifying session was a real nightmare for us. Usually I never blame the car but qualifying mortified me because I could not get to within 7/10ths of my test day times.

"Since testing, all the cars had been fitted with new tyres and the mechanics just could not set-up my car to handle reasonably. First the back end was too soft and the down force too much at the front.

"The qualifying session seemed to be over before it started and with a very heavy heart I had to accept 23rd on the grid, my poorest qualifying performance.

"However testing proved I could compete with the top 10 drivers and Sunday's race was another day and I felt I could do well.

"Race day is fantastic in the Palmer Audi paddock; six gleaming bays with four cars in each and a sponsors marquee to wine and dine and entertain over 100 driver sponsors.

''I had wonderful support from my family and friends, neighbours and potential sponsors, this is always a boost to my confidence.

"As we formed up in the assembly area a 10 minute cloud-burst caused havoc; the slicks were changed for wet-weather tyres and the race was delayed by 10 minutes.

"We were given two formation laps driving round behind the pace car. The spray was unbelievable, reducing my visibility to five metres on these warm-up laps.

"For me this added to the excitement for the race and my strategy was clear: to stay on the circuit, try no heroics and pick the drivers off one by one, lap by lap.

"A cautious start was made by all the drivers and surprisingly we all survived the first three corners safely. The next turn is called 'Surtees' which takes you out of the gaze of the main grand stands.

"Following 'Surtees' is a long straight, fairly simple, but I was flat out with vision down to less than a metre. Coming out of 'Surtees' in second gear accelerating through the gears and as I hit fifth gear the driver in front slammed on all his brakes -- I know not why!

''I could not avoid contact with some force which rearranged my front wing and gave me horrendous steering problems and frustratingly I ended up in the gravel trap for the race.

"A weekend of lessons learned and mistakes made. New knowledge to put into operation at Donnington Park in four weeks time for the next championship round.

''It is now time to keep fit in the gym, work at Silverstone as an instructor and as much testing as finance will allow."

Jonathan still needs sponsors to complete the season, and potential sponsors can contact him on 01277 220314.

A battering . . Jonathan Tee inspects the damage which turned out to be a buckled front wing which resulted in horrendous steering problems.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.