Time Attack Round 5
Oulton Park delivered redemption, records, and raw emotion as Torque GT-backed drivers Dan Buckingham and Eden Young returned to the Time Attack UK grid with fire in their bellies. Dan dominated his home circuit, overcoming early pressure and red flag chaos to take P1 and a new lap record in his Civic Type R.
Meanwhile, Eden clawed back glory in the Micra after heartbreak at Snetterton, setting a blistering lap in Super Attack to grab the class lap record and seal a powerful comeback. Two drivers, two stories, one unforgettable weekend.
Dan Buckingham Back on Top at Oulton Park
Dan is back on the top spot! Heading into Time Attack UK Round 5 at Oulton Park, Dan admitted the pressure was on with it being his “home” circuit but once the visor went down, the nerves disappeared. After a difficult previous round this is the redemption we needed...
It wasn’t the easiest of days, with almost every session hit by red flags thanks to a mix of driver errors and mechanical failures, making it tough to find rhythm. Even so, Dan came out swinging in Attack 1, smashing last year’s PB by two seconds with a 1:55.6 and taking the class lead. He was briefly knocked back in Attack 2, when rival, MMT Performance, edged him by just two tenths, despite Dan dipping into the low 1:54s.
When it came to the final, Dan wasn’t leaving anything on the table. Straight out of the pits, he carved himself some space and put down a flyer, crossing the line in 1:53.8. This sealed the P1 trophy, a new lap record, and a vital haul of championship points, bringing him right into the title fight with three rounds to go.
Eden's Oulton Park Redemption in the Mighty Micra
Just four weeks ago, Eden’s weekend at Snetterton ended in heartbreak. A driveshaft failure put him out after just four laps, right when he’d finally turned the power up to 100 percent. But at Oulton Park, Eden came back with one thing on his mind: redemption.
Despite never having run the full layout before, he learned it on the fly during warm-up. No lap timer, no radio, just instinct. Somehow, it worked. He topped the session with a 1:52.748 without even feeling like he was pushing.
In Attack One, confidence growing, Eden put in another strong lap to take P1 again with a 1:52.876. But Attack Two brought chaos. Red flags ruined the session. He was on a flyer when the flag dropped right before he crossed the line. The session restarted but the chequered flag came out immediately. A wasted run and a frustrating 4th in class.
Then came Super Attack and a shot at redemption. Another red flag, this time a serious one. With just five minutes left on the clock after the restart, Eden had one chance. He held back, created space, and sent it. The Micra was dancing on the edge, sideways through the Bus Stop, heart in mouth stuff. He crossed the line in 1:51.80… the fastest lap of the session, a new PB, and a Class Lap Record.
Two drivers, two comebacks, and one unforgettable weekend of Time Attack. With momentum on their side and Brands Hatch up next, the fight for the championship is heating up...
Pictures courtesy of @mattbeardless
