SIDECAR enthusiast Andy Laidlow and passenger Patrick Farrance headed for the Continent this week to try out their new F1 machine against world stars in the Eurocup, at Oschersleben.
The Euro debut comes a fortnight after competing in the sidecar event at the Brands Hatch round of the World Superbike series.
It was a tough timetable for the Appleby-based pair with back-to-back timed practice sessions and Laidlow, who had never been to Brands Hatch, faced a fast learning curve on the difficult international circuit.
Saturday's race saw the Appleby pair knock four seconds off their qualifying time with a cracking start from near the back of the grid to pull up to fifth at one point.
When the dust settled, Laidlow and Farrance were involved in a three-outfit tussle, finishing tenth.
On Sunday, they faced a track temperature of 41 C and they did not get their usual great start, but managed to head the pack coming down to Paddock Hill bend. Again, there was a tussle for midfield places, but Laidlow kept the ninth-placed outfit in his sights and got another tenth place finish.
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