Rockingham booked

Next test day is Rockingham on Saturday 17th February.  Hopefully the weather will hold up because apparently it is a real challenge in the wet!

Brands Hatch shake down

After engaging with the Caterham community and providing tuition to individuals who care to listen over the last four years, I returned to the track this weekend in preparation for my own race season.

I will be racing in the 2017 Caterham 420R Championship this coming season, supported by the very capable LFP Team.

My main sponsors are InterFruit and I'm delighted to be working with them throughout the year.

Understandably the car requires further set up adjustments now that it has been run in at Brands Hatch.  We now move to Rockingham on 11th February for a proper outing in the car in preparation of our visit later this year.  Adjustments to the car making it more comfortable to drive will also be essential before the season starts in April.

I cannot really hope for more than a few competitive rounds with the regular drivers in the championship but it should be a good year for me, preparations continue and my hunger for some silverware deepens as the campaign gathers pace. 

2017 Preparation

So...plans for 2017 are starting to get finalised.  It will be a Caterham, just deciding on colour and options

Watch this space

Racing again - 31st August

Well after many long months, I am making a return to racing.  

This weekend I will be racing in the Classic Sports Car Club - Magnificent 7's round at Donington Park with Craggs Energy.

We have testing booked this Friday 29th August with an Open Pit lane.

I will keep the Blog updated but more importantly, more videos and pictures for the site.

It was an eventful weekend at Brands Hatch in August.

 

 

Testing on the Friday went largely without a hitch, however I was in regular discussions with both Rob and Dave within the DPR team to try and rectify a small vibration on the brake pedal during the day.  Having fitted new brake discs to the car on the week leading to the race, they found at the end of the test day that the near side front disc had a machining issue from the factory and had imperfections which led to the brakes feeling less than ideal as I drove the circuit.  The problem with this was that unfortunately, I was then unable to bed the new discs in before qualifying.  This normally leads to the brake pedal feeling dead and sometimes difficult to judge, but if I didn't bed them in correctly, they could glaze through overheating which will put me back to square one (difficult to do when you only have 15 minutes).

Qualifying

This went relatively well, I was on Pole for most of the session, and was then pipped to the post by Dave Robinson having agreed that I would try to give him the perfect tow to have him sitting on P1 to enhance his chances of winning the race.  Have both successfully achieve this, I was then knocked to 3rd place on the last lap having come into the pits early with an excellent and final lap by Andy West.

Race 1

I got off to a good start and moved up to second place when Dave Robinson missed a hat full of gears off the start from second.  I fell back to third on lap 3 and moved into second again on lap 4.  I followed Sean Bryne who moved himself to 1st for a further seven laps where I felt that my overall lap time was faster.  I tested a move a couple of time and got an excellent drive down the inside of him through Surtees where we were both heading into the corner beside one another. He turned into the corner aggressively and moved me onto the kerb where we then touched and were both knocked off the circuit. 

We both recovered back onto the circuit on last place, however I have a puncture and finished 24th as a result of needing to come into the pits to get the spare fitted.

The car mainly suffered cosmetic damage, however the steering was off to one side and the car didn't perform well when I went back onto the circuit.

 

 

 

Due to the incident, I was called to the Clerk of the Course's office to establish who was at blame.  After the Clerk reviewed both my and Sean's in car footage, he decided that it was a racing incident and no blame was made, and more importantly no penalties for race 2 (although starting at the back couldn't really get much worse)

Race 2

Good start again in Race 2, by the end of lap 1 I had moved 8 places to 16th.  By lap 7 I was 12th and then it became painfully obvious that the car wasn't handling right.  Due to the car having a new tyre on the front left (Brands being a right handed circuit where this tyre is made to do most of the work) it was leading the car to under steer badly and I about 1second slower than I was in race 1.  This slowed my progress and was not helped by the safety car coming out to recover a car stranded on the circuit.

I was able to move further up the pack through race craft, rather than sheer speed to finally finish 5th overall.  I had made up 19 places in the race and enjoyed every second, however it was also disappointing that I felt that I could have done better with the car feeling like it did in race 1.

DPR Motporsport once again made gallant efforts to make sure the car was in perfect order for the weekend and it could never have been foreseen that I would suffer the issues that I did in race 2 following the change of tyre.

The next race is at Oulton Park in Cheshire on Saturday 14th September.  I am looking forward once gain to racing with the Supersport grid where this is a very fast and technical circuit.  With only the test day beforehand I feel slightly unprepared, knowing that many of my fellow competitors having been testing there recently, however I will be sure to give it 110%

Drive confirmed this weekend

Having recevied the invite to race with team DPR this weekend at Brands Hatch, I have now entered the BRSCC Caterham weekend where we will be using the Indy Circuit.

 

Although this is not my favourtie circuit, it is local and fairly easy to get to.  I have also driven the circuit a number of times as both a racing driver and instructor, which may help my chances a little.

 

I am hoping to put on a good show by being competitive, however I realise that I am not participating in the current championship and would hope to stay out of trouble.

 

The races will take place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th August and it will be great to race once again with drivers whom I have raced against in the past.

Further updates will appear over the weekend, where Friday I will be testing.

2013 race

Plans are starting to come together for a race entry in summer of 2013.  There is plenty to organise beforehand however this is starting to look promising.

First test of 2013 Booked!

And we are off......... Oulton Park testing with Chris Bingham Friday 8th February in his race prepared Caterham Supersport car.

 

Chris will be contending the Caterham 2013 Supersport championship and has been one of the most improved drivers over the last two seasons.  He is more determined than ever to get back in his Craggs Energy http://craggsenergy.co.uk/ sponsored car and I am expecting him to come out of the blocks on fire.

 

If he is half as keen for this year to start as me we will have some great racing, full commitment and some really focussed weekends ahead.

2013 Starts

So, after a year of instructing in 2012 with Team DPR Motorsport supporting the Caterham Tracksport series, I am now hoping that this year will provide further momentum so that I can hopefully raise my profile to race in the 2014 season. I will be supporting close friends in the Supersport Caterham series this year and keeping a close eye on Kurt and James who are racing in the R300 championship

Caterham Sold

The Car has now been sold, its good to see that DPR will continue to be looking after is in the coming season.

My car FOR SALE

The STAR of this blog is now for sale. I am selling the car that has featured in this blog, starting with the build, right through to the two Championship winning seasons.

Full details can be found below

http://pistonheads.com/sales/3279701.htm

Anglesey 24th/25th September

After Caterham confirmed that Donnington was cancelled, the replacement was Anglesey. I was disappointed by this news because I had raced at Donnington in Karts.

Before the announcement, I didn’t even know where Anglesey was, in fact having looked at my journey, it would have been nearly as quick to go back to Zandvoort in Holland, rather than drive the 290miles (5 hours) to the very North Western tip of Wales.

I set off on Thursday after work having been in London and arrived at the track about 10:30pm. The pitch darkness was complimented by the sound of the waves nearby. Chris Bingham kindly let me sleep in his Winnebago where in the morning we awoke to the most picturesque views of one of the most technical circuits in the UK. The weather was also as predicted, dry but windy.

Having only seen the circuit map during the week and been unsuccessful in seeing any in car video of previous Caterham races, Chris showed me one of his laps of the circuit following some recent testing. The test day started at 9:50am and I followed Chris onto the circuit for the first time, this was essential for learning where the braking points were. Chris let me pass him on lap 4 where I then set about to improve my own lap times. By the end of the day I was enjoying the circuit where I had produced lap times 0.6seconds faster than the current lap record. This probably was due to the direction of the wind, but I took great comfort in knowing that I had learnt the circuit quickly.

Qualifying

We woke to wet conditions on Saturday morning. This was not forecast, and my heart sank when I saw it. I knew that I would have to feel my way around the circuit in the wet and this put the previous days testing almost into insignificance. The track started to dry out as we went out and I made a late decision to reduce the front anti roll bar to Red (medium strength) and put nearly new tyres on the car. This I felt would be ideal for the conditions, especially if it was going to dry out during the 20 minute session. I pushed hard early in the session and saw that the track was starting to dry out in the slower corners. I was quick to see this because I had made a mistake earlier in the year at Zandvoort where I lost out. Qualifying went without drama, where I passed a number of my Championship competitors during the session, knowing that I may be somewhere near the front of the grid.

A quick look at the time sheets confirmed that I qualified on Pole with a time of 1:49.959 which was 0.91 of a second faster than my nearest competitor, which in the conditions I felt was a great achievement. The forecast for the rest of the day was dry, therefore there was every chance that race one in the afternoon would produce similar times to the test day beforehand.

Race 1

Stunning blue skies and winds strong enough to sail across the Atlantic were evident as we started our formation lap. Pole position was on the inside of the track, which unfortunately was the dirty side of the circuit. This was also not helped by the fact that other cars were racing on the same day, which threw large balls of rubber onto the unused side of the circuit having run slicks.

The lights went out and we were off, Mike Hart got a great start into the first corner where I bogged down due to excess wheel spin. I moved across to the left hand side of the circuit to block Jon Mortimer from gaining from my poor start where I followed Mike into the tight right hand hairpin in second place. I followed Mike closely for the remaining part of lap 1, and passed him on the inside of the first corner of lap 2.

Mike passed again by gaining a tow down the back straight on lap 3 where I gained the advantage again by passing him under braking on the last corner of lap 3. This allowed me to start lap 4 in first place where I broke free of the chasing pack. I quickly settled into the race and knew I had to focus on consistency now that the chasing pack would be falling over each other to catch me. The next 5 laps were all under the previous lap record where I set my fastest lap, and the new lap record on lap 10, with a time of 1:43.554 which was nearly a second faster than the previous one set in 2009.

Not only was this a great result on the day, it also meant that I could win the Championship in race 2 if I finished in the top 10.

Race 2

Having won race 1, I started on Pole again for race 2. I got another poor start and was out dragged by Kurt Brady into the first and second corners. As I approached the hairpin, Aaron Head tried another one of his infamous lunges from afar causing me to turn away from the corner to avoid him, which in turn let him and Mike Hart through. Jon Mortimer then passed me on the back straight having got a tow

At the end of lap 1 I was in 4^th having been demoted to 5^th before Mike Hart out braked himself into Rocket, the tight left-hander. I made it back up to 3^rd by the end of the lap and followed Jon and Aaron Head into the next lap in 3^rd place. On lap 3 I passed Jon Mortimer on the inside of the first corner before reeling Aaron Head to a tow after the tight right hand hairpin. This put me close enough to get a tow down the long back straight to pass Aaron under braking into Rocket. I then broke free of the chasing pack and managed put in a number of very consistent laps, concentrating on the gap behind. Jon Mortimer broke free and chased me for the win but I managed to press on and get the fastest lap of race 2 with a time of 1:44.031. I won the race with a gap of 5.63 seconds from Jon Mortimer, followed by Kurt Brady.

My combined results meant that I was crowned the 2011 Caterham Roadsport Champion with one further round remaining and maximum points at this event. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to do it; 2 pole positions, 2 fastest laps, 2 race wins, 1 lap record and the Championship!

Oulton Park - 3rd September

Oulton Park

Testing on Friday was interesting. I was 3 seconds off the pace. I was very disappointed with this having tested at the circuit earlier in the year. As one of my favourite circuits in the country this was a real shock to me but I hadn’t been in the car since Holland, 2 months beforehand.

Chris Bingham was on the pace with this being his nearest circuit so I just needed to watch what he was up to and get some of the lines from him. Fortunately this was possible where I left the pits shortly after him and got a clear indication where I was going wrong. Almost immediately I was back on the pace and posted some if the fasted lap times of the day.

Qualifying

Chris Bingham and me went out onto the circuit with the main aim of giving each other tows around the circuit. This would help to get a good lap time, however this didn’t really work for either of us early on in the session. We both struggled to get clear laps and kept catching the slower cars in front of us. Chris had managed to put in a fast lap in the session and I was running 6^th with one lap to go. I had managed to break free of the cars in front of me and got great times in the first half of the lap. Closing in on the cars in front of me Matthew Whate moved over at a critical part of the circuit to allow me through on the racing line. The last two corners we taken without any other cars in the way where I hoped and prayed that it was enough to be close to my championship rivals at the front……it was, last lap I jumped from 6^th to Pole but better late than never! If it wasn’t for Matthew having the foresight and manners to move over at the critical stage of the lap it couldn’t have been done. Thanks Matt!

Race 1

A great start again enabled me to get to the first corner in the lead. I was then passed by Mike Hart and Kurt Brady in the following laps, with some very close and excellent car control from all competitors. Mike continued to swap positions with me for first place, where Jon Mortimer and Aaron Head fell behind from the lead pack. Mike passed me again into the fast Shell Oil hairpin, only for me to take the lead back later in the lap. Kurt then came into the frame and passes both Mike and me on the same lap. It was now me, Kurt and Mike for the lead until Kurt spun out on the penultimate lap before recovering down the field. Jon Mortimer had now caught up and was challenging Mike and me for the lead. Mike and Jon were tripping over each other on the final lap, which enabled me to block them both into the final corner. I finished 1^st in this race, but it was the hardest fought race and one of the most rewarding wins of the year. Jon finished 2^nd and Mike a very close 3^rd.

Race 2

As we waited in the assembly area for the formation lap the rain started. I was one of the last to arrive and I knew that all of us had opted for a dry set up. I got a great start and got comfortably into the lead for the first corner. I managed to pull out a small lead on the chasing pack but this was difficult to keep as the lead car. If you are following someone in the wet you can mirror their movements but with a clear track ahead, you have nothing that helps you see the levels of grip in front of you. Mike Hart quickly made ground on me by the end of the lap 1 and passed at the straight with a tow before the end of lap 2.

I kept pace with Mike as we both pulled away from the rest of the chasing pack but his pace in the wet was very good. He attacked the circuit with poise and I was unable to gain back the ground I was losing on each lap. Rather than push to the limit, I settled for a comfortable 2^nd place where Aaron Head finished 3^rd.

My results from Oulton in the tricky conditions were very hard earned. 1^st and 2^nd from this weekend was a great result for my Championship challenge.

Next Round Anglesey

Zandvoort July 9th and 10th

The whole Caterham series went to Zandvoort to race at the famous sand dune Circuit in Holland. Last used as a Formula 1 circuit in 1986, this track has always been on my wish list.

Having found a car game on my computer that allowed me to practise on the circuit beforehand, I entered the first test day with some knowledge of the very technical Circuit. My first laps confirmed that this really was a special place to go racing and would reward the brave and smoother drivers in the paddock.

Unfortunately many drivers were driving beyond their limits where a handful of competitors left before the racing started due to crashes and mechanical failures on the test days. This was a very expensive trip for them with no racing.

Qualifying

This went really well, I pushed very hard and qualified on Pole Position. This I knew would be a great advantage at the circuit but it would be almost impossible to lead from start to finish due to the long fast straights and overtaking opportunities. I would just have to drive hard and consistently to stay in contention.

Race 1

Great start again, got to the first corner still in the lead but I was in second by the end of the lap. Aaron Head was worthy of being in first position but I knew how I would take the position back. Kurt Brady also joined us in the race for first but lap after lap we managed to keep him behind us. Aaron is the great last braker but I had better drive out of the corners which enabled me to pass him on the inside of one of the fastest corner in the circuit. Two Laps before the end I got the lead and blocked him to take the chequered flag. Aaron Head finished 2^nd with Kurt Brady 3^rd.

Race 2

Pole again from the results of race 2. A very similar story to race one, however I wasn’t going to let Aaron pass me again before the end of the first Lap. Kurt followed again with John Toshak following closely in 4^th. Aaron took the lead and we passed regularly over the coming laps. On the last lap I let Aaron go around me at the last chicane, knowing that it is best to be following into the last corner. I planned to get a draft from his car and over take him from second before the line knowing that this had been possible on the previous laps through getting a tow. This was going perfectly to plan, until I missed 5^th gear and selected 3^rd instead as I was passing Aaron. This then let Kurt close the gap behind but I managed to keep 2^nd place across the line keeping Kurt in 3^rd.

Overall I was very happy with my results. My first European race and I got a 1^st and 2^nd, however I felt that my mistake gifted Aaron the win.

Next race Oulton Park – England

Donnington Cancelled (6th and 7th August)

Unfortunately the next round at Donnington has been cancelled. Donnington oversold their race weekends at the beginning of the year and have cancelled a number of events planned.

The good news however is that the round has been moved.............to Anglesey on 24th/25th September (the very north west of Wales of all places).

Brands Hatch - Round 5 and 6

Testing at Brands Hatch didn’t really go to plan. The first of four sessions I was off the pace and couldn’t get to grips with the conditions. The track was greasy and the tyres I was using were brand new. The amount of tread on them made the car the move through the corners and didn’t allow me to put the power down early enough, which is essential at Clearways, the famous long right hander that leads you up to the start finish straight.

In the second session, I changed back to my old tyres, which made a significant improvement. However on lap 4 the gearbox got stuck in 3rd. Unable to move into neutral, I drove off the circuit and straight to the Caterham tent. The diagnosis was that the gearbox would need replacing. After 4 hours it was finished, enabling me to drive the last session, unfortunately missing more than half the day. Not much testing then and not much learnt about the Roadsport B settings around the circuit.

Qualifying

Surprisingly qualifying went well, I achieved 2nd – Jon Mortimer got Pole. Due to having the Dutch Caterham drivers racing with us at this event, the grid was split into 3 groups. Each driver would take place in 2 of the 3 races. I was doing race 1 and 3, which enabled me to watch race 2.

Race 1


I started on Pole in race 1 because Jon wasn’t racing until race 2. I got a great start, taking the inside line into Paddock Hill bend and then the tight line again into Druids. I led the first lap and defended the inside line again into Paddock Hill with Mike, Kurt and James pressurising me into lap 2. At Druids this time there were caution flags and slippery surface flags where I chose to brake early and take the tight line again, this proved to be the right choice. Apparently, Roy hit one of the Ducth drivers on lap one and his radiator burst, spraying slippery coolant into the entry of the corner. I avoided this but many around me didn’t, sending them crusading across the track, only narrowly missing the gravel traps. I managed to keep the lead and created a gap of 3 seconds, however this was short lived because I kept missing 3rd gear where Mike took full advantage of my problems and caught me with 10 laps remaining. At this time we were also catching the back markers and they played a part in the final results. Kurt caught Mike with James following and we had a 4 way battle for the race win. I managed to keep in front of them for the remaining laps, winning my 4th race of the season with a Pole to chequered flag victory.


Race 2

I didn’t take part in Race 2 but it was won by Kurt, Matthew Whate second and Adam White third. It was however being led by Jon Mortimer in the early stages but he had a harsh drive through penalty due to using more extra run off at the bottom of Paddock Hill bend. Jon eventually finished eighth.

Race 3

The Heavens opened, I started second and lead after another great start into Paddock, Jon Mortimer missed 3rd gear from a pole position start. I was followed closely by Aaron Head and Mike Hart, where I was quickly passed and found myself placed 3rd at the start of lap 2. Aaron gained a substantial lead, leaving me and Mike to battle it out for runner up. I followed Mike for a number of laps and passed him on the outside or Surtees, using the grip on the outside edge of the circuit. We quickly caught up with the back markers again where I passed but with some reservations, not knowing if we would be seen through the spray of their own cars.

We eventually finished our first wet race, Aaron won, I came second and Mike third. I was very happy with this result, gaining more essential points for the Championship, however Aarons pace in the wet has been noted.

Great Racing at Snetterton 300

The new Snetterton 300 circuit layout is very impressive. Having not driven there since the summer of last year, the new configuration, which has been created over the winter, had to be learnt very quickly.

I am fortunate that I can learn a circuit in only a couple of laps. Understanding which corner comes next is easy for most, but like a handful of other Caterham Drivers, I am fairly good at knowing where I can go faster – the problem is always doing it!

Unfortunately this didn’t help my progress on the Friday test day. I just could not get the car to drive as I wanted. On a number of key corners I was suffering with immense under steer, which would be essential to correct for the long drag down the Bentley straight.

At lunchtime, my lap times were still about 2 seconds slower than those who visited the day before, this was very disappointing. As the day progressed I drove the circuit harder, with more commitment, less fear, but still without much improvement. The odd thing however was that whilst my competitors were claiming faster laps the day before; visually I was able to keep with them during the test day. The only thing I could take strength from was that there was a very strong wind blowing across the circuit which stalled the cars performance and therefore the lap times, which maybe was not there the day before.

However, Free Practice on Sunday morning I set the fastest lap having raised the rear of the car on Dave from DPR motorsport’s recommendation. Unfortunately this was not qualifying but gave me hope.

Qualifying

The qualifying session went well, I managed to get 3rd place behind Mike on Pole and Kurt 2nd. Everything considered, I was happy with this because of how badly the testing had gone. 3rd place also put me on the inside line for the first two right hand corners, which was a significant psychological advantage.

Race 1

I got a great start, and kept to the right of the circuit where I passed Kurt into the 2nd Corner under braking. I then set my sights on Mike who was leading. I got a great tow down the back straight to pass, putting me up to 1st for the start of lap 2. This was short lived, where we then spent the next couple of laps fighting over the honours before Aaron Head joined us. The three of us fought closely over first place where Aaron and I collided on the infield. He lept over the rear of my car when we touched wheels, ripping the rear offside wheel arch and light cluster off (another one to wrap, sorry Martin of TVBC).

Fortunately for me I suffered no other damage where I gained momentum again to race Mike over the final laps. I was leading 2 laps from the end and I know that Mike was a serious threat due to being able to get the tow and pass me before the chequered flag in any of the 3 straights that remained. I managed to increase my lead and kept this into the last lap following a mistake from him. I could see that Mike was planning to get a tow down the back straight but he was now too far away to do so. He closed the gap on me into the last corner and got a tow down the start finish straight but it was not enough, I passed the chequered flag first but less than 1 second before Mike. James Needham finished 3rd.

Race 2

Having finished race one 1st, I started race 2 on Pole Position. I got another excellent start. I knew that keeping the chasing pack behind me for the first couple of corners was essential. The pack behind jostled for position allowing me to break free of them and breaking any chance of a tow down the back straight from the following pack. I watched the gap behind increase as I put together a number of consistent laps where the lead at one point increased to near 9 seconds. On lap 8 I started to slow knowing that the gap could be managed between me and second place. This fell to 4 seconds as I took the chequered flag.

I was very pleased to have a double win at Snetterton, something that I know is very difficult to do in Roadsport B.

I didn’t post any fantastic lap times over the weekend, however I made very good use of the opportunities that I created during the weekend.

The next race is at Brands Hatch on 11th and 12th of June where I now lead the Championship.

Silverstone Race 1 + 2 (27th March 2011)

After a very long winter of preparation and much anticipation, the season kicked off in glorious sunshine at Silverstone. We were racing at the new Grand Prix Circuit so not only were there races to win, but the fastest lap of the weekend during the races would also earn the new track lap record for Roadsport B.

Testing on Friday went without a hitch, I posted some of the fastest times of the day but there were many drivers also doing well. On Sunday the qualifying session and two races were all crammed into the same day. The temperature had dropped from Friday and I forgot to check the tyre pressures before setting out for qualifying.

I set out at the back of the pack for qualifying in the hope that I could catch some of the slower cars whilst getting a tow down some of the very lengthy straights that will cause so many problems for the person on Pole. I posted good times in the clear laps in the early part of qualifying and hit traffic towards the end of the session. This slowed my progress at the end of the session while tripping over a number of other drivers who were also looking for the perfect tow.

Having returned to the Garage, I learned that I GOT POLE with a lap time of 2:35.429 which was the perfect start to the season! I cant imagine that any driver that has been round the circuit couldn't have felt blessed with having driven at the circuit and I still think now of all the other famous drivers who have shared in the thrill of driving at this fantastic circuit. Not many however have started from position 1(Pole!) and watched the lights go out from the best seat on the circuit - something that I will never forget!

My time was only 300ths of a second faster than last years Group 2 Champion Kurt Brady so the race was going to be very tight indeed.

Race 1 was very close, due to the drafting opportunities I felt that starting on Pole was actually going to be a disadvantage. This was confirmed when the lights went out. I got a very good start however by the first lap, I had fallen to 4th, having been drafted and making a mistake near the end of the lap. I lost count of the amount of times that the lead changed hands with 8 drivers in the lead pack. Me, Kurt Brady and Mike Hart were battling for the lead in the final laps of the race where I managed to keep in front for the chequered flag. My first win of the season was race 1 with Kurt Brady second, only 0.2seconds behind.

Race 2 I started on Pole again having won race 1! I got a better start, creating a gap that allowed me to lead for the first 2 laps but not breaking the tow from the following drivers. Once again there was a monumental battle for the lead where 8 hungrier and more aggressive drivers battled, with wheel arches and bodywork falling off at every corner I experienced my first lost wing of my Caterham racing career. This of course wont be the last time but it did knock me out of position and stifled my progress in chasing for the lead. Lap 6 I was leading again, only to fall back to 4th as the chequered flag was raised.

Whilst I was disappointed not to finish higher in race 2, however due to the drafting I just wasn’t leading at the right time. The combined results put me in second, two points behind Kurt Brady in the Championship. I also got the fastest lap in race 2 with a time of 2:36.358, which was faster than in Race 1, therefore creating the Lap record for this configuration at the GP Circuit in the Caterham Roadsport B class.

I am absolutely delighted with this, something that very few people can boast at the most prestigious circuit in the country. Next Race Snetterton on 24th and 25th April!

2011 Decals

New season and new colours for the car - Testing at Silverstone starts this Friday

Season 2 - Roadsport B begins this month!

After a very slow start to this year, we have finally heard from Caterham regarding the racing Regs and Calender. This means this seasons competitors can commit to booking test sessions and race entries.

My preparations started almost 6 months ago now with DPR Motorsport in Guildfiord being instructed to upgrade my car to the 2011 Roadsport B Specifications. Whilst I have driven the car on the road, I didn't really get a chance to test the car on the circuit in anger before the end of February.

It started at Snetterton where myself and Dave Rowe of DPR Motorsport attended a Book at Track day which upon arrival was cancelled. The following day we both set off to Silverstone where it rained after only two sessions and stayed wet for the rest of the day. The conditions were so bad that my VBox data logger got wet and broke down, resulting in a very expensive repair bill - not the best start to my season!

Last Saturday I tested at Oulton Park which........was also wet! I also had to hire a Racelogic VBox for the weekend, however Julian (MD) was very understanding of my problems and arranged for the unit to be couriered out to me overnight before I travelled early the following morning. On the Sunday, I attended the Caterham pre-season track day at Donnington, which resulted in the only dry season testing I've done since upgrading my car. Having spent so much time with David Rowe recently on and off the circuit I have learned a lot about the setup of the car and how to make adjustments with the variable conditions.

That said I do not feel that I have tested the car enough to find its full potential, however time will tell I guess.

The current numbers for the season are as high as 28 competitors and this looks like it could be a very challenging year, with some very fast and determined drivers.

My first test day, under test day conditions will be on Friday 25th March at Silverstone. I guess I will have to wait until then to see how competitive my car will be this year, fingers crossed!!