Alex Jones, endured a character-building start to his season in the opening two rounds of the 750 Motor Club Formula Vee Championship at Donington Park.
Adjusting to his recently-acquired 2016 GAC car in Saturday mornings' qualifying session, the 22 year-old put in consistent lap times before he missed a gear as he down-shifted into the chicane on his final run and buzzed the engine.
With limited time before Race 1 later that afternoon, the Bears Motorsport squad worked against the clock to get the engine changed in time and the DaTaMabs-backed #23 car onto the grid, albeit starting from the back.
Having to be conscious of his new power unit in the race, Jones was forced to retire in the early stages after noticing a foreign sound coming from the rear of the car, later discovered to be a loose exhaust.
On a mission to make up for his frustrating first half of the weekend, in Race 2 he made a near-perfect start off the line, taking three cars in the process, and battled his way through to challenge for 10th. However he, along with two others, fell victim to oil left on the racing line at Redgate and was sent into a spin before being touched by another car.
Fortunately able to continue, Jones quickly collected himself and, although down in P16, he managed to pick up a handful of places before the chequered flag was dropped.
Alex Jones:"It's not the best way to have started the season and it just goes to show how a small mistake can affect the rest of the weekend in motorsport.
"The guys at Bears Motorsport have done a tremendous job all weekend and they worked very efficiently to change the engine and get me out between qualifying and the first race.
"It's frustrating that our results this weekend aren't a true reflection of our pace and their efforts so I'll be doing everything I can to make up for it at Brands.
"I really like the new 2016 car. It's quite different to last years' so I'm still adapting but once I'm fully comfortable I really feel we'll be able to move up the grid and make some true progress."
WHAT'S NEXT FOR ALEX:750MC Formula Vee Championship, Brands Hatch Indy, 23-24 April
