Macaulay Walsh came tantalisingly close to claiming his third podium of the Protyre Formula Renault BARC season at Donington Park over the weekend, 18th/19th Augustimpressively overcoming a tough qualifying run to secure a pair of top four results from the events three races.
Marking the second of the years two triple header weekends, and also the home races for Macaulays Scorpio Motorsport team, the opening encounter on Saturday was by far the highlight as the 17-year-old sliced his way through the order from 10th on the grid into a deserved fourth place.
Disappointed to line-up on the fifth row of the grid for round 10, Macaulay immediately showed his pace was much better than qualifying had suggested by moving into eighth on the first lap and then chasing down the pack ahead.
Running 1.2 seconds behind battling MGR Motorsport team-mates Jake Dalton and David Wagner into lap four, by the start of lap six Macaulay was right with the duo and as they tussled at Redgate it gave the Scorpio ace the chance to cut through and take seventh position from Wagner
Piling on the pressure to Dalton, the latter was forced into a mistake exiting the chicane at the end of lap seven and the loss of momentum gave Macaulay all the invitation he needed to successfully challenge for sixth place into Redgate with a superb move.
Then came an unexpected gift when Seb Morris and Kieran Vernon, battling over third, came into contact at the beginning of lap nine which enabled Macaulay to move into fourth where he stayed to the finish. Posting a best lap just 0.4 seconds shy of the fastest of the race, his terrific performance also enabled him to climb into the coveted championship top three.
Round 11 on Sunday wasnt as fruitful but still delivered a good haul of points as the Bodymek Ltd, Adrian Bibby Creative Design and Piers Sexton-backed youngster finished eighth. Climbing into ninth on the first lap, he ran in a tight train of cars and moved into eighth and then seventh in quick order
However, a late move by Vernon into Redgate on lap three pushed the Scorpio racer back a position where he remained to the conclusion despite pressuring his vastly more experienced rival hard all the way to the flag.
Beginning round 12 from an improved sixth on the grid, just 0.6 seconds shy of pole position, the Northamptonshire teenager made an exceptional start to immediately take fifth off the line and as pole-starter David Wagner bottled up the lead group, Macaulay looked to challenge for more.
Taking fourth on lap two, he then moved into the podium positions a lap later with a great move on Seb Morris at the Old Hairpin. Working hard to fend off Morris quicker car, he had to succumb on lap seven but maintained fourth to the endmeaning he concludes the weekend fifth in the points. After the way qualifying went, it was always going to be a struggle, explained Macaulay, When you start mid-grid theres always going to be a scrap, no matter how good or bad the drivers around you are its so hard to try and overtake.
The last race was our best chance this weekend, the first few laps were alright but then we struggled a bit with the car. I started to over-drive a bit and then [Seb] Morris came past so we lost the podium, I just couldnt keep with him then as we were losing a little bit at each corner. We know we can be on the podium at Silverstone, weve just got to get qualifying sorted.
There are now seven weeks to wait until Macaulays home race meeting at Silverstone National Circuit, taking place over the weekend 6th/7th October as support to the high-profile Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
Provisional 2012 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship Driver Standings (after Rd12):1st Scott Malvern, 324pts; 5th Macaulay Walsh, 202pts
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