Parfitt and Oliphant stage amazing fight back at a chaotic Silverstone 500 race.
Posted on 1st June 2015
Following on from strong testing at the Silverstone circuit, Rick Parfitt and Tom Oliphant came to the Northamptonshire track hoping to put the woes of Rockingham behind them, and all seemed well in the wet test sessions with both drivers in the top 10 in both practise sessions.
Qualifying however presented itself as a dry session and the team struggled yet again to find the time on the new tire culminting in the #44 car lining up 15th on the grid.
Race day dawned and the weather had changed yet again so the race started in the wet. Parfitt made his customary trademark charging start and within 10 laps was already in the top ten and peaked at P8 before his tyres started overheating on the drying track.
Following an altercation between the TF Sport Aston Martin of Derek Johnston and the ff Corse Ferrari of Gary Eastwood a safety car was called and team #44 took advantage of this and promptly pitted, however as the sister car of Mike Simpson and Steve Tandy had also sheduled a pit stop the #44 car was held in the pits whilst the sister car overhauled them. This put Oliphant and Parfitt last on the circuit and the ensuing fight back began.
Tom Oliphant drove an outstanding stint bringing the car back in 15th before a quick driver change and Rick continued the charge and at the end of his second stint the #44 car was back in the top ten and in the points! A fantastic come back!
Sadly the alternator issue that beleaguered the time at Rockingham returned and the team had to make an unscheduled stop to replace a battery dropping the team to 13th overall.
Rick commented:
” This was always going to be a tough race and the pit stop confusion certainly didn’t help, but Tom and I have always said that we will fight until the chequered flag and to finish 13th despite all the problems is testament to our team spirit and pace, the result we so richly deserve has to be just around the corner! As always thanks go out to all my sponsors who share our fighting spirit and without whom none of this would be possible”