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August 3/6 SPA 24 HOUR (Page 5)

Kevin drove a long for a long spell, three hours and twenty minutes. He pitted for the first time at midday with the car eighteenth overall and eleventh in class. The Civic needed another drive shaft change as a result of the demanding Spa circuit. This took another twelve minutes and dropped the team back to twenty-first and thirteenth in class. On returning to the track, the safety car was out for two laps until they were racing once again. Kevin pitted for his final time at just after two o'clock to hand over to Dave to try to see through the last two hours of the race. The Civic was eighteenth overall and tenth in class.

Considerable interest had started to be taken in the Civic. It was apparent that they were in the running for the Coupe du Roi. Each participating manufacturer nominated teams. Those teams had to finish and be as close as possible to each other. Although the Synchro team were a little ahead of the other two teams, Honda were definitely in the running. Fortune, though, played a part in securing this prestigious trophy for Honda.

When Kevin pitted, the changeover took nine minutes as wheel nuts on the rear right wheel had locked on. These were eventually freed but two laps later, Dave was back into the pits for another drive shaft change. It took only ten minutes to change it and amidst applause from the watching spectators, Dave set out once again.

One lap later, though, he was back in the pits. A wheel bearing had gone and needed changing. This took another eight minutes to change. By the time he had returned to the track, the Civic was now twenty-first overall and eleventh in class. For the final ninety minutes of the race Dave nursed the car home, retaining the placings.

It was a fine result for the Synchro team and was just rewards for all their efforts this season. Ironically the delays during the final session secured the King's Cup to put the icing on the cake for the team. It was their finest achievement to date and happened, at what may well be, exactly the right time.