Indian driver Sailesh Bolisetti's NASCAR Whelen Euro Series weekend at the iconic Bugatti Le Mans circuit got off to a difficult start after an untimely off during qualifying left him 14th on the grid.
The venue is hosting the season finale of the 2013 season of the European Stock Car championship, and bad weather has thrown a spanner in the works for all drivers.
With no mechanical issues to hamper his progress unlike the last couple of rounds, progress was on cards in the initial sessions but the fickle weather proved challenging during the first practice session.
"We went out on dry tyres as it had just stopped raining before the session but two minutes in, it started pouring again so we had to switch to wets," said Sailesh.
"The car was still set up for semi-wet conditions so I didn't get a good feel of the limit but it was still good to have the track time and learn the circuit at least," he added.
The second practice turned out to be more of the same, but Sailesh managed to get himself up to speed although it was clear that the final outcome of qualifying and race result would be determined by the accuracy of weather forecasts.
The sun was out today but the track remained soaking wet as low ambient temperatures didn't allow it to dry out completely. Like all other drivers on the grid, Sailesh ventured out on wet tyres but it was clear from the outset that the last man across the line would be the quickest.
After doing a couple of sighting laps to adjust to the treacherous conditions, which required manhandling the 400 bhp stock car to counter the massive oversteer - Sailesh managed to set progressively quick lap times each time he crossed the line.
But on his third flyer while approaching the Le Musee hairpin, he encountered a slow moving car on the racing line at corner entry and in a bid to avoid rear-ending it, spun out and beached himself in the gravel.
He couldn't wriggle the car out of the deep, wet gravel and by the time he eventually managed to get back on the track, the chequered flag was out.
