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!!

2011 Calendar

The 2011 Roadsport B Calendar has been announced (UPDATED 1st March 2011) and the dates are as follows - EVERYONE Welcome

March 27th (UPDATED)
Silverstone Arena GP Circuit

April 24th 25th (UPDATED)
Snetterton 300 Circuit

June 11th and 12th
Brands Hatch Indy

July 9th and 10th
Zandvoort Euro Festival

August 6th and 7th
Donnington GP Circuit

September 3rd
Oulton Park International

October 22nd (UPDATED)
Silverstone International South

Race Car Live 2010

Sunday 21st November I will be visiting Race Car Live at Brands Hatch with my Car. I will be involved in a demonstration in the afternoon where I will be driving with other Championship winners from this years R300, Supersports and Roadsports B Classes.

I will be set off from the Pit Lane ahead of the other cars within the 7 minute demonstration session. As faster cars, they will catch me up near to the end of the session at the chequered flag.

This demonstration will take place in front of hundreds of visitors who will get to see the different speeds that the cars run at.

See you there!

http://www.racecarlive.com/

Croft Winter Race

On 9th/10th October I competed in a non championship round at the fantastic Croft race circuit in North Yorkshire. Whilst it was a non-championship round, the only entrants permitted were the drivers from either of the two Caterham Academy groups. This meant that it was the first time that I would have the opportunity to race against those in the other group.

The weekend included a 20-minute qualifying session and 20-minute race on Saturday, and a further 20 minute race on Sunday.

Having never visited the circuit before, I only had the qualifying session to learn the circuit. I went out late in the qualifying session to get a free track and slowly my confidence grew. The car felt good and I finished on Pole, over 1.5seconds faster than my nearest competitor.

Race 1 was dry and the first lap was full of activity early on with cars tripping over each other to get the advantage. Behind me Chris Bingham and Joel Wymer were victims of their own late braking which helped me break free from the chasing pack. This enabled me to finish 1st, Mike Hart 2nd and Kurt Brady a very close 3rd.

Race 2 was a real fight, I started on Pole having won race 1 but, as always, I was suffering from very bad brakes, so much so that I even warned Mike Hart before the race who was starting in second, just in case I found it difficult to stop at the hairpin before the start finish straight.

I got a very good start and was followed very closely by Mike and Kurt for the first 5 laps. At the mid way point Kurt overtook me for 1st place, but then I pulled it back soon after. With the brakes still not improving I continued to suffer where Mike pushed me down to 3rd with one of his trademark lunges from nowhere, only for me to get it back again before the end of the lap. With one lap to go, Kurt had pulled out a secure lead where he finished 1st, me 2nd and Mike 3rd.

It was an excellent weekend with some very close racing. With about half of the competitors from this year expecting to stop racing based on previous years, there is likely to be only one grid in 2011. Those who have been at the sharp end are going to continue, so it looks like another great year of racing when we progress to Roadsport B.