Rounds 7 and 8, which have in the past had set which way the Championship would go after this meeting was completed, with 4 rounds still to go back in the UK.

I normally go well here, and couldn't see why this would be any different. Still, an important meeting for me. I had to score good points as Stuart and Ross had scored in all the races so far. 2nd in the Championship already looked optimistic and even 3rd…. Maybe difficult with any more non-finishes!

We had the customary Zolder paddock problem when we arrived and unloaded late on the Thursday evening. It turned out that with building work going on, there wasn't actually enough room for all the Teams in the paddock. So, after being moved twice, around midnight we were told we would have to vacate the paddock and go and park somewhere else for the night - outside the paddock to pit up in the morning. That was enough for me! I told them I was not parking outside, and to basically - Get lost! With that I went to bed! I had also told the other National Brits, who were looking to me as their leader, to stay put as well. We'd sort it out in the morning….

Early - Friday morning, we pitted up down in the bottom corner of the paddock, squashing as many Brits as we could into a very small area, hoping that no officials would come and stop us and tell us to go and park somewhere else with no water or electricity. All the time we watched the big budget European Teams roll in, and take loads of room up each, in the confined paddock space.

Sometimes, I wonder, after going to Zolder for 17 years, and having to put up with this sort of thing every year, if they deserve us 'grass roots' racers at their race meeting.

The mechanics from the Team I'd purchased the new engine from came over, talked to Ben, in sign language, and checked over how we had fitted their old unit. I gave them each a beer, and told them I wanted more power -urgently, and by the afternoon - if they could -please! Well they must have understood me, because a man came over about lunchtime, plugged in his hand-held machine into our electric's, pressed a few buttons and - as if by magic - I had more power?????

In the 2nd qualifying session - after my upgrade - I improved my times by 5 seconds a lap! YES - 5 seconds a lap! Just like THAT! When I came back in from that session for the first time that Season I had a big grin on my face!! I had felt the potential of my new engine for the first time, and I liked what I felt.

I did think it was prudent though to warn Ben that tomorrow - Saturday - Would test the braking modifications to the full. We both had been checking the brake shoe wear rate during Friday, but were anxious to get the front and rear wheels off on Friday night to check our new invention. All looked as if it was working as designed. The lining material had worn down to the rivets and there were no cracks in the drum, with the cutting edge on the grooves still sharp., trying not to let anyone who came round spying, to see our invention.

So - It had been a success! Well done Ben!

Saturday's Points Race started well, and my word was that engine ever powerful. No one could touch me on the straight, but from starting a lowly 12th on the grid all I could see in front of me was Trucks and more Trucks. Somewhere - up there - with the leaders was Stuart and close behind him - Ross. That was where I was hoping to get - in a hurry!, passing one, and sometimes two Trucks per lap. About lap 4 the brakes were slowly starting to fade and I knew it was only a matter of time before they would go off completely unless our new invention was working. Then I heard a high pitched whistle coming from the turbo, which was getting louder and louder, with the turbo boost dropping off at the same time! Two corners later the turbo to intercooler pipe sheared off, and that was my Race over - into the pits with no points, again. It turned out that on an earlier lap the Truck in front of me (Bruno) had brushed a bundle of tyres at the chicane and turned them onto the Track in front of me. I just caught them a glancing blow with the offside of my bonnet and shot them off the tarmac. But in doing so, the air filter bracket behind the bonnet hit the pipe which, I think must have sheared the bolts that hold the pipe in the turbo - but we'll never really know…

Also for the first time this Season, Stuart did not win! He had mechanical brake problems and only just finished, back down the field. But still scored 7 points. Leaving Ross to take his 1st, and one and only win of the year. This Race would have been my best chance of catching up by a few points, but it was not to be….

The 2nd Championship Race on Sunday saw me with a better grid starting position after my upgrade in qualifying on Friday. I had all new brakes under my feet, and I was going to try and do a complete Race this time, from start to finish. And, get some very needed points, as I'd now dropped into 4th position in the Championship overnight, with at least two other Brits within 2 points behind me in the table!

I took it steady, kept out of trouble and came home 3rd. The first chequered flag and points I'd seen since June. And they were gratefully accepted - I can tell you!!

There were two other European Races that afternoon which I took part in. At last I was free to race, not having to worry about points for the British Championship. I had some good battles with competitors from all over Europe, oh, and of course, not forgetting my friend in the Black Phoenix, who I kept a close eye out for, in case I could pay him back for Germany!! But I was flying, and he couldn't keep up!!

In the last Cup Race of the day - as seen on Sky TV - Jochen Hahn rolled his Mercedes Racer and was hit by at least four passing Trucks into the first corner. As it rolled onto its side, roof and then other side, it ended up the right way up 3ft from me in the gravel! How I didn't collect him or he didn't hit me I still don't know - but someone or something kept me safe that afternoon…Jochen did not re-start the race, but I did! And guess who was by the side of me on the grid on the re-start - My mate in the Black Phoenix!!!! I had the inside line down to the first corner and it gave me great pleasure to drift wide and run him off into the gravel! I never saw him again, but when I got back round, he'd got out of the gravel and must have finished somewhere behind me.

My new shockers were an improvement, both in speed of adjustment and performance. The time before brake fade came on, was extended and instead of finishing with no brakes, I had a bit of a pedal left at the end of the Race! So that was an improvement as well! Getting somewhere at last and the turn round of my Season, after dropping on the Championship place battle.

But I did drive her hard, with all four brakes on fire, and the turbo had run itself off the manifold, breaking more studs. With flame shooting out under the hood, which burnt the paint on her bonnet by the end of the race. She'd served me well in those last two races and I felt I had had a good day at the office, as, just as the year before, I'd ended up being the highest placed British Independent non-sponsored Team in Europe. Something I personally hold in high regard.

The next Points Race would be in Donnington Park in the UK in November. Before that however, we go to Le Mans in France.