Image used with kind permission of Lance Wittenberg
Karen was cautious at the brginning of her qualifying sesion, as she was wearing in a brand new set of PFC01 front brake pads. She soon got in to a rhythm and was enjoying the power and handling improvements. Karen was surprised to see her husband Richard having to stop near a marshal post and have an underbonnet fire extinguished. After that she concentrated on her times and qualified 9th overall.

Race 1 began with Karen getting past the MX5 of Kevin Middleton and chasing the MK1 MR2 Turbo of Rob Jefferies. Karen spent the race chasing Rob whilst Lee Bennet-Neil's Integra was close behind her.

Image used with kind permission of Lance Wittenberg
On the penultimate lap, Karen was wrong footed by rob at the hairpin and Lee pounced to overtake. So instead of hoping for 5th place, Karen was demoted to finish 7th overall and 3rd in the GT300 class.

Race 2 found Karen getting a decent start and overtaking Lee's Integra and then overtaking Rob's MR2 along the Stebbe Straight. Karen was now 5th overall and under pressure from Kevin Middleton's MX5. Kevin used his skill and the agile chassis of the MX5 to overtake Karen around the outside of Gerrards! Karen was patient until the main straight where she used the superior power of her Impreza to overhaul Kevin and re-take 5th position.

Image used with kind permission of Lance Wittenberg
Karen began to pull away from Kevin, but unfortunately later as she was braking into the hairpin the ignition died and she had to coast to a halt. The car wouldn't restart and Karen was forced to retire. It was a bitter disappointment after the race was going so well and Karen was running in the highest position she'd ever achieved in the Nippon Challenge.


Back in the paddock, several efforts were made to start the car, but the source of the problem couldn't be found. It had to be pushed back onto the trailer and the plan was to take it to Powerstation to see if they could diagnose and fix the problem.