A CHESTER racing driver will never forget the day he competed at one of the world’s most famous circuits – as he won his first race but experienced a terrifying crash in his second.
Alaric Gordon, 44, was racing in an American-built Carbir SC2 car at the challenging Spa-Francorchamps track, home of the Belgium Grand Prix.
It proved to be a day of mixed emotions for the Hoole resident.
“I won the first drive, which qualifies you for position in the following race, putting me at the start of the field,” said Gordon. “But the second time round, I was tapped just from behind on the first lap going into the corner.
“The bodywork came off and I was sent round, leaving me going backwards with 40 cars coming round me.
“Initially, I was hacked off, but you start to realise afterwards just how much worse it could have been.”
Gordon, who escaped the crash unharmed, began his motorsport career in the late 1980s. He retired in 2003 but was recently lured back into racing in the Sports 2,000 series, an affordable class for two-seat, open-cockpit sports cars.
The Chester driver teamed up with a former rival – Mold-based Bryan Mullarkey, 64 – and Scott Guthrie, 44, a former King’s School classmate of Gordon’s now living in Matlock.
The trio take it in turns to race and Gordon jumped at the opportunity to compete at Spa.
“It is an amazing place and I’m very lucky to have ticked that particular box,” said Gordon, who is the chief executive of a capital management firm.
But his favourite track is much closer to home.
“The full circuit at Oulton Park easily matches Spa for challenging drivers and remains my number one,” he added.
Damage to the car’s carbon fibre body is expected to be repaired in time for the next race at Donington Park in July.
