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More Podiums and Points for Chris Bassett

Another new track to learn and yet another podium and more points for Chris Bassett as he continues in his first season competing in the BARC Cannons Tin Tops Championship.
The popular Norfolk circuit’s ‘200’ layout is one of the quickest on the Tin Tops Championship racing calendar, and as the qualifying session progressed, and Chris got to know the circuit more, his times began to drop. By the end of the session he managed to better his time by nearly two seconds from he start of the session. Having qualified a respectable 6th on his first visit to the Norfolk track, and as the cars went out on their warming-up lap, yet more distributor problems caused Chris’ car to stall demoting him to last place.

As the cars came round to start the race, Bassett was able to get his car going again with the help of a ‘bump start’ from nearby marshalls. Chris then began his battle through the field and up to fourth. Next up for Chris to pass was Russell Turner in his Ford Escort MK1, which proved to be alot harder than the previous opposition. Turner, who was in turn chasing Vic Hope in a Honda Civic Type R and Cliff Pelin in a Ford Fiesta ST, was able to hold off Chris up until he hit a kerb too hard which forced his gear linkage to come unconnected with the gearbox.
After a quick pit stop to get the gear linkage fixed, Chris came out directly behind Turner but this time one lap behind and in last place, which is wear he finished.
Having learnt the new track by the time that the cars turned out for the second race, Chris was feeling confident of another strong showing as long as the reliability that had so far this season deserted him held out.
Starting from last position, Chris made his way through the field – lap by lap another car being passed and another fastest lap being set, until he was able to close on Turner for yet another battle, but this time Bassett got the better of him and began his pursuit of Hope, who was by this time ten seconds ahead. When leader Barnaby Davies in his turbo charged Toyota Starlet crashed into the barrier Chris moved up to third.
By the time that the cars crossed the finish line; Chris had managed to close the gap to just one second – another one lap and surely he would have passed Hope to finish in second place, but it was not meant to be.
“After yet more disappointing mechanical failures and having made a mistake which might of cost me another podium, we had a great second race,” said Chris. “It certainly makes for a great race having to start at the back, but it’s now becoming frustrating; as when the car is running as it should, it’s competitive.
“I’m getting more time in the car so I’m getting used to it more and more race by race and by the time we get to the next round at Brands Hatch on the famous Grand Prix circuit we will hopefully have yet more developments on the car in an aid to improve our reliability.”
For more information on Chris Bassett’s racing activities, please visit the official www.chrisbassett.co.uk website, ‘like’ his Facebook page or follow @Chris_Bassett on Twitter.

Bitter Sweet for Bassett at Lydden Hill

Chris Bassett propelled himself back up to sixth in the overall BARC Cannons Tin Tops Championship standings with two strong showings in the previous round at Brands Hatch before heading to Lydden Hill, near Dover for the very first time.
After getting to know the circuit in qualifying, which saw him getting quicker and quicker as the session developed, Chris started race one from 8th.

After a quick truck festival demonstration the Tin Top drivers were unleashed into a plume of cement dust and on lap three, the rapidly quickening track surface came into Bassett’s favour.
A storming drive from Chris saw him finish fourth in in first ever race at the track with the feeling that finally the car had the reliability and pace that the early season promised. With further developments on the car promised after this round, hopes were high that both Chris and the car would soon be challenging at the front of the grid on a regular basis.
From a partial reverse grid for race two Chris started 6th, but by the time that the cars exited the first bend, he was leading and enjoying leading from the front for the first time in 2014. However his enjoyment didn’t last for long when a broken distributor forced his retirement and yet more disappointment.
“It had been a fantastic weekend at Lydden at a new track up until our retirement,” said Chris. “We are optimistic that we are heading in the right way with the development of the car – which was seen when we were leading the race. It was a shame that we had yet more reliability issues but I’m already looking forward to another new track when we visit Snetterton next month.”
For more information on Chris Bassett’s racing activities, please visit the official www.chrisbassett.co.uk website, ‘like’ his Facebook page or follow @Chris_Bassett on Twitter.

Excitement at Season Opener as Chris Takes Driver of Day

The 2014 season opening at the famous Brands Hatch Indy circuit in Kent on 12/13 April brought mixed fortunes for Chris with a DNF in race one before a great comeback drive in race two.

An 18-car Tin Tops entry fully justified their exclusive race in the first half of the weekend programme which saw Chris qualify a respectable 6th on his first comeback race.

The race itself broke into two groups, with the faster turbo charged cars ahead of the next group which included Chris – with the cars changing places on pretty much every lap.

Half way through the race the BMW of Colley spun out on his own oil, which also caught out Chris who couldn’t restart because of a loose wire on the alternator.

That said, Chris had much to be encouraged about following an impressive performance by the Peugeot in his first competitive race in over ten years in the first round of the 2014 season.
Race two saw Chris start from the back of the grid having not finished the first race and after a great first lap he was up to 6th overall. Over the rest of the race he battled up to third before a back-marker caught him out; allowing his step-father and team mate through to finish on the podium on the last lap.
Overall, the car showed signs of pace while also battling new-car teething troubles and saw Chris clinch the very first Mark Fish driver of the day award.
Chris said: “I think underneath all the problems we may just have a decent car here. The balance and power seems strong and we appear to be capable of mixing it with the front-running MG and Honda’s when the car is running so, with some development and reliability, we should achieve some good results. One thing is certain – the team and I will be going flat out to do the best job we can and I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel to continue the good work we have done so far.”
For more information on Chris Bassett’s racing activities, please visit the official www.chrisbassett.co.uk website, ‘like’ his Facebook page or follow @Chris_Bassett on Twitter.

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