Nationwide In Donington Podium Charge

Monday, May 1, 2017 - 11:45
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Nationwide in Donington podium charge

Success at the Derbyshire circuit has proven to be illusive for Nationwide, having previously taken five podium places courtesy of Tim Harvey, but never taken a win. This trip was to prove no exception as the vibrant orange, blue and white car went into the race weekend with high hopes of breaking Nationwide’s duck at Donington Park.

Support was on hand from the Nationwide Motorglass team who volunteered to help and look after the guests of Nationwide and visitors at the RaceHub, located in the paddock very close to Dan’s race car. Dan made numerous visits to the RaceHub over the course of Sunday and, resplendent in his brand-new race suit, set the benchmark time on the simulator for members of the public to try and beat. The prominent location generated a constant stream of interested fans and continued to raise funds for the Air Ambulance Association.

On track, Dan’s qualifying session certainly didn’t go to plan when he was tripped up by a slower car and the two collided. The damage sustained meant Dan was unable to take part in the rest of the session and, as a consequence, lined up 10th and 20th on the grid for the two races. This set up two fantastic races however as the double champion went about catching his rivals and salvaging as many championship points as he could.

What would follow was a masterful display with Dan scything through the field in race one to go from 10th up to second place and a podium finish. Race two would prove to be as dramatic with Dan starting on the second to last row. By the end of lap one he has made his way past six cars and was in the top ten by the end of the second lap, from where he maintained a relentless pursuit of the leaders. Over the remainder of the race Dan made up six more places to find himself on the gearbox of Dino Zamparelli in third who defended well and, with time running out Dan was denied a second podium finish of the weekend.

“It was good,” said Dan. “To come away with second and fourth is a huge result. I almost wrote the weekend off when I was stood at the side of the track in qualifying. As a damage limitation exercise it’s not bad at all. I’m going away on a high, we lost a few points to Charlie Eastwood and he’s had a great day but I’ll be back at Oulton.”

In a fantastic display of determination, teamwork and brilliant execution Dan was able to rescue the weekend and is now second in the championship, only four points behind team mate Charlie Eastwood.

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