My 2002 Season - The Van Diemen Years
by David Houghton

Late January, a cold frosty day. I opened the garage doors and there she was. Even at rest, the stunningly beautiful lines of her body could not disguise the passion for speed that she obviously held.

I then told my wife, Silvana, to move over so I could see the car ……… a love affair was born.

Having agreed to buy the beast after sampling Les's Lincolnshire hospitality, Les and Nik Johnson soon had her ready to go testing before handing her over so that they could be sure everything was working OK before taking my money ( these Johnson people aren't so bad after all, I thought ). Nik and I went off to Silverstone to do a shakedown while Les sunned himself in Australia. Nik prepped the car and did several laps with everything working fine. I jumped in and managed 1 lap before throwing it off the track but without actually hitting anything, so we called it a day while the car was still in one piece with just my ego dented.

The Silverstone episode was a timely reminder that I needed to spend this year keeping the car on the black stuff and getting more and more track time in order to ultimately get quicker. The plan was in place, but faltered at the first hurdle as I dumped myself in the gravel at Brooklands corner in the first practice session of the year, thus rendering me outcast from the race as I had not completed the mandatory 3 x laps to qualify.

The race at the superb Spa circuit followed with a 3rd in class finish in atrocious conditions (although Spa IS fantastic in ANY weather) and then into a domestic season of finishing races, gaining confidence, lots of track time and some good dices with fellow racers. Nearly got another 3rd in class finish at Zandvoort but was pipped by Colin Feyerabend with a few laps to go having lead him for the majority of the race.

My reward for finishing all the remaining championship races, was 6th in class A, beating several far more experienced racers and championship winners in the process and being the highest placed Van Diemen behind Nik. Everything was up for grabs in the championship `till the last race and I could have finished 3rd in class had 3 x rival class A drivers failed to finish ! My confidence in the car and myself is at an all time high and next year I will be going all out to qualify and finish higher up the grid . I know the car is more than capable and if I'm not too impatient I think I am too.

Finally, well done Nik on your Championship success and thanks to you both for all the support and interest you have shown us throughout the year. You hear all sorts of horror stories about buying racing cars but Les, it was a pleasure to deal with you. Silvana and I look forward to seeing you and Nik at the awards night and racing against you next year,

Best Regards,

David Houghton