DW Racing’s John Davis scaled the Zeo Prototype Series podium on his return to the category at Snetterton in the wilds of Norfolk (21-22 September).
Davis initially stepped from his Radical SR3 RSX into a more contemporary SR3 XXR and had ample time to acclimatise to the upgraded machinery’s higher downforce and power output during a full day of testing on Friday (20 September).
He gained seconds in lap time with the XXR but the day was cut short and the older RSX reintroduced following a crash at the exit of the Wilson hairpin, and Davis had a very limited window in which to reset and re-adjust his approach in Saturday’s (21 September) sole 20-minute free practice session.
The Welwyn Garden City driver qualified fifth and entered Sunday’s races with confidence, having worked hard to up his pace and refine some of his driving techniques.
Unfortunately, the Great British weather added a new variable into the mix; the skies darkened and light rain dampened the track surface minutes before the first Zeo contest, so wet weather Hankook tyres were fitted to the #9 SR3 RSX in a lastminute change.
From P5 at the rolling start, Davis skated wide at Turn 1, Riches, but inherited a spot on the podium when the #35 Jenvey Gunn TS6 and #15 CTR Developments CTR01a prototypes came to grief.
The trip across the Norfolk scenery left Davis detached from the leading #48 Juno CN2012 and #445 Praga R1, and with slicks the optimal tyre on the damp but drying Snetterton circuit, he came home in a distant third place.
In race two, Davis was immediately pipped for fourth by the #35 Jenvey off the line and, wanting to hit DW Racing’s target lap times, improved his pace by more than a second with each tour of the 2.99-mile Snetterton circuit, on his way to a P5 result.
“There were a series of highs and low over the course of the Zeo Prototypes weekend at Snetterton,” said Davis. “Friday testing in the Radical SR3 XXR was brilliant because I achieved personal best lap times and gained a lot of confidence, but the crash meant I had to get back into the SR3 RSX and I noticed a huge difference in the way the cars perform.
“I had to focus on getting back into a rhythm with the older machinery in time for Sunday’s races. The first Zeo race was successful because I managed to come away with a trophy. I tried to get some PBs on the board again in the last race. I wasn’t quite where I wanted to be at the chequered flag, but my times were dropping with every lap.”
