A BITTER SWEET THRUXTON

After a long summer break, Mini Challenge UK finally kicked back into action at Thruxton last weekend. The last time we visited the circuit earlier in the year I felt we showed some really strong pace, so I couldn’t wait to return and see if I could turn potential into success.

The weekend started with Free Practice on Friday, a luxury that we didn’t get the last time we visited Thruxton. Straight off the bat I felt the car was good but some tweaks throughout the day made the car a dream to drive and I was very relaxed behind the wheel.

Qualifying would be the start of competitive action on Saturday and with the dry conditions the slipstream would be all that more important for a lap time. With other teams running 3 or 4 cars they could utilise the slipstream even more. My plan was to try stick to the back of the lead group but a car in front slowed leaving the pitlane, meaning I was stranded without a tow. I extracted everything I could without a tow and finished quali in P8. I was fairly happy with 8th as I knew our race pace was strong and we could work up through the grid from here.

Race one was next up on Saturday and it was definitely one to remember. From 8th I made a decent start and straight away got to work, with the aim of getting into the top 5 to set me up nicely for race 2. After the first two laps I had climbed 3 places to 5th and it became really apparent just how strong our race pace was. I decided to make hay while the sun was shining and battled my way up a further 2 places to 3rd. A safety car came out late in the race but we resumed racing one lap before the finish and I made the Mini as wide as possible to secure 3rd place overall! What a feeling. I had aimed to be on the podium before the end of the season but to do it less than half way through my first season was better than I ever could have expected.

Sunday started with race 2 but after a massive accident in Ginetta’s, the time table was very tight. We had been advised before the race that if there was a red flag in Mini’s it would be cancelled and restarted later instead of race 3. I made a mega get away off the line and I was well in the mix for another podium but unfortunately, less than a lap after the start there was a crash coming into church and the race was red flagged. With a restart not an option due to the time constraints we would have to wait until later to see what we could do.

Race 2, take 2 got underway at a much delayed time of 6:15 and as the lights went out I made another decent start. I was running in 4th until the second lap. Two cars sling shotted past me on the back straight and I went to made a move around the outside of the chicane to regain some positions. It was looking good as I sailed past the pack on the brakes, was getting slowed up for the chicane but contact from another car sent me slightly sideways. I had to cut the chicane and when I emerged on the far side I was back in 8th, and carrying some suspension damage on the front. I tried my best to regain some of the lost time but I didn’t have enough pace with the mechanical damage to re-catch the front pack. 8th place it was in the end for me, which is still a solid result and some more valuable championship points on the board.

So far this year our progress as a team has far surpassed our expectations. I have consistently moved further up the grid every weekend. With a podium in the bag this early on in the season, my aim will definitely be to back it up with another but I am now hungrier than ever for a win. If I can continue to improve at this rate then I don’t see any reason why I cant stand on the top step of the podium in the right circumstances.

Everything that we have achieved so far this season is made possible with the support of my partners, who are keeping me at the sharp end of the grid. I want to say a massive thank you to them and also everyone in the team who make sure the car is in top condition and keep me motivated to perform.

We are back out in two week’s time where we have another 3 races in Snetterton Circuit. This is another new track to me but from what I’ve seen from it so far I think it will really suit me.

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"Mura gcuirfidh tú san Earrach ní bhainfidh tú sa bhFómhar."

"If you don't sow in Spring you won't reap in Autumn"