There are many myths and sayings about the nature of New Zealand weather up and down the coast line. Forecasting coastal regions is a fickle business with many variables coming into play.
Often the best forecasters are the local farmers with many years of working in all-weathers.
The weather forecast leading up to racing at Teretonga Park over the weekend for the Speed Works summer series was never looking good. Heavy rain was expected for Saturday morning and I asked a farmer on Friday about it. He said that it’s likely it wouldn’t eventuate because it was too warm.
It turned out he was right.
While some showers hit the circuit we never had what was predicted. The winds did pick up and several gusts made harvoc of some marques late in the afternoon. It continued to blow strongly over night with predictions of heavy rain and high wind gusts increasing during Sunday.
It was on this basis that a decision was made around 10:00am (Sunday) to cancel all racing for the Toyota Racing Series (Q2, races 2 & 3). It is reported that the decision was driven by team managers and not TRS management due to safety concerns that could compromise the down force of their single seaters, and hence the safety of their drivers.
While such a decision is not necessarily incorrect, it is the timing of the decision that calls in the credibility of such a call. Again, talk to local farmers about cutting hay in Southland and they will say, ‘If the weather is no good, wait!’
The critical mistake which now opens up TRS for criticism is that the decision should have been delayed until at least lunchtime. The wind gusts died down during the morning and the second qualifying session and race 2 could have taken place. All teams and drivers could have been ready for a changing program and if the weather turned no one would have minded a delay or cancelling of the TRS program.
In the end the rain never eventuated, the wind abated and a better decision or timing of the decision would have made a difference. Paying spectators were robbed of two TRS races and a ‘show-down’ between title rivals Marcus Armstrong and Liam Lawson because of an ill-timed decision. Let’s hope that this decision doesn’t rebound on those that made it when the series returns in 12 months time.
Note: In accordance with the championship articles, the remaining races have been rescheduled. Race 2 which was due to run on Sunday morning will be run at the Hampton Downs meeting next week and Race 3 qualifying and the race will be run at Taupo Motorsport Park the following week.
jerrymaster
well done man ..