WHEN it was announced that the Formula 2 World Final was to be staged at the Cowdenbeath Racewall, one driver, George MacMillan Jnr was rubbing his hands, writes our Racewall reporter, Jim Turner in the latest of his driver interviews.
“I was absolutely delighted to hear when the news confirmed that it was, after all I was the winner the last time it was held there”, said George.
“Mind you a lot has changed since then.
"I have become a dad and have moved house to Stepps - just a few yards away from where I was brought up!” George said with a big smile on his face.
George told me: “It was an amazing time the last time it was held there, it was in 2014, and I certainly was on top of the World.
“What better a place to win the World Championship than at your home track?
"I remember clambering onto the roof of my car when I pulled into the victory lane and was promptly mobbed by my family after I had saluted the fans in the stand.
"The atmosphere was electric!”
However, there was a tinge of sadness to his win which he dedicated to his late father, George, who had been a British and Scottish Champion: “My dad was my inspiration and mentor, guiding me through my years in the Ministox and then the Formula 2s, I then 'lived my dream'.
“Over the rest of that season and the next. I had a great time and I raced as often as I could, showing off the gold roof.
"I did lose my title to Kelvyn Marshall, at Hednesford, the following season but went on to win the silver roof, the National Points title, which at that time was probably the next best thing to the World.”
He went on: “This year I hoped that lightening might strike twice! I had a good set of qualifying rounds and I had a good grid position for the Taunton World Championship semi-finals.
“However, my wife, Amy, was pregnant at the time and the due date was when the semis were to be run.
"My son, George, arrived just two days before the semi-finals”.
“It was a nervy time for me,” recalls George, “I didn’t know whether I would be racing or not.
"It was a relief when George arrived and it allowed me time to catch up with my mechanics who had been working hard to make sure that my car was ready.”
He then recalled ruefully: “Taunton ended up a big disappointment!
"It was all going so well too!
“In practice my car was flying but still we made a couple of wee adjustment and it was even better.
"I was starting from the outside of the front row, which is not the best place to start from, but I got the break that I needed and slotted in between Gordon Moodie and Chris Burgoyne.
“We were catching the back markers who we hoped would realise that we were coming to lap them and would allow us through”.
Gordon got ahead of one of the cars who then had a niggle at him: “When he overtook, he did a better job on me, resulting in my car hitting the wall and suffering a puncture.
“I managed to limp home on three wheels but I was twelfth – and bitterly disappointed!
“We soon had the car repaired and ready for the World Final weekend, the consolation heat, which is open to all the drivers who raced at the semis but didn’t finish in the results, was to take place on the Friday evening.
“I took advantage of the practice session in the afternoon and was delighted with how the car was running, literally doing all that I wanted it to.
“I was on pole for the consolation heat and was a bit tentative about the race knowing that I had been made favourite to win.
"There was a couple of early race stoppages but once things settled down, I was able to ease away from the pack.
“I had the advantage of racing on my home track and in the end, I had a comfortable win which meant I was to start the World Final, but as the 31st car on row 16 out of 19!
"If things had gone right at Taunton, I could have been on row two - such is stock car racing!”
George commented: “It was warm and sunny on the Saturday for the World Final.
"The cars were scrutineered and then I only did one practice run as I knew that my car was good.
“After the practice session we then lined up on the track for the grid walk where the fans get autographs and photographs with us.
"The cars then went into pack ferme where no one could do any changes to the cars.
“When it came to World Final time all the drivers were in the football tunnel and then one by one, we were introduced to the fans.
"We were given our countries' flags then presented with a memento from the sponsor John Sibbald.
“Once we had all been introduced to the fans, we were paraded around the track with each driver proudly waving the flag of their country.
"It was quite an occasion and I certainly enjoyed it!
“It was only when I was being strapped into my car that the nerves stepped in.
"Once we were all ready, we got the command to 'start your engines' – the noise and atmosphere was something else.
"We had warm-up laps led initially by a NASCAR and two Micro F2 cars. When they drew off, we completed a lap under the pace car and when it pulled off the green flag dropped and we were off.
“There was a shunt ahead of me on the opening lap and I latched onto the back bumper of the car ahead and kept my foot down, pushing him so we got through the carnage.
"The grid reformed but there were another couple of stoppages, which luckily, I missed.
“Once the race did get going it was a case of settling down and surviving.
"I lost a place to Lewis Burgoyne but was running on his tail as we worked our way through the field.
“I was really happy with how the car was running and I was soon running in the top ten.
"Then disaster - I overtook one of the cars only to be promptly dumped into the wall and out of the race. I was bitterly disappointed as I reckon at least a top five finish could have been on the cards, which from 31st would have been a good result”.
George went on: “On the Sunday we were racing for the Mac 100 Trophy – my dad’s trophy.
"We had the car repaired, although there was a slight bend to my rear axle.
“There had been rain showers but despite that my car was going well.
"It began to dry a bit when the final was run and towards the end of the race I was in third place.
"However, on the last lap Steven Burgoyne sent me wide and just beat me to the finish line.
"Still fourth place has been my best result to date.”
George reflected: “Since then we have moved back from Glasgow to Stepps and ironically it is on the site where the Stepps stock car track was and close to where I was born.
“I have a good team backing me up.
"David Polley is not only my brother-in-law but also my car builder and crew chief and the car that I am racing is the 100th that he had built with 100 being my racing number!
“I can even phone him in between races if I am not happy with the car’s performance, he gives me advice on what changes to make.
“I also get a lot of help from Ritchie, Big Gordon, Sean and Rory, Craig, John, Stuart and Bryan, whilst Amy and my sister Liz keeps us in check or try to!”
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