RACING EXPOSURE :: Club level motorsport e-magazine

The hugely successful Porsche Carrera Cup GB Scholarship Programme will be run for the fourth time in 2012 and will provide an ambitious young driver with £80,000 towards their racing budget for the Carrera Cup GB.

Created and run by Porsche Cars GB, the Carrera Cup GB Scholarship Programme will select the most promising driver to receive this major cash injection, which is designed to be a significant element of their budget for the 2012 Carrera Cup GB season.

To enter the scholarship, drivers must be aged between 17 and 22 at 1 January 2012, already have a National A race licence and have not previously raced in the Carrera Cup GB. They must also be able to demonstrate that they can secure the balance of the required budget for a full season of racing. There is no charge for drivers entering the scholarship.

The aim of the scholarship is to assist another talented young driver to make the step up to the Carrera Cup GB and have the opportunity to follow in the wheeltracks of former Carrera Cup racers like Richard Westbrook, Damien Faulkner, Danny Watts and Tim Bridgman.

In 2010, the Scholarship winners were Euan Hankey and Michael Meadows, who were selected from more than 50 applicants. This season, both drivers have built superbly on their Carrera Cup Scholarship season to win races and challenge for the title. Meanwhile, 2011 Scholarship winner Ben Hetherington is having an excellent season and is now chasing his first podium finish.

“The transition of Euan and Michael into race winners and title contenders in their second season proves the value of the Scholarship,” said championship manager Marion Barnaby. “This year, Ben is proving to be another strong young driver and we’re now starting the search to find the Scholarship driver for 2012.”

Applications have now opened for the 2012 Carrera Cup GB Scholarship Programme and will close on 30 September. Four finalists will be selected for assessment at the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone, including driving the latest 911GT3 Cup car. The winner, to be selected by an expert judging panel, will be the driver who shows the best mix of natural talent, potential, presentation and people skills and overall drive and commitment.

Any driver wishing to apply for the Carrera Cup GB Scholarship Programme should send a C.V. to carreracupgb@porsche.co.uk, along with the reasons why they think they should be selected. Applications close on 30 September 2011 and the four finalists will be evaluated at Silverstone during October. The 2012 Carrera Cup GB Scholar will be announced in early November.

The GoMobileUK.com with Tech-Speed team will hope for a quick return to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship podium this weekend when the series heads to Knockhill for the seventh round of the season (3/4 September).

The Leamington Spa-based team makes the trip to Scotland buoyed by a fine second place finish for Widnes-racer Paul O’Neill in the final race of the weekend at Snetterton last time out, which marked his second podium finish of the season in his normally-aspirated Chevrolet Cruze.

Paul currently sits tenth in the overall championship standings and sixth amongst the Independents’ going into the Scottish weekend and will hope to at least repeat his Snetterton podium when racing gets underway at the picturesque circuit overlooking the Firth of Forth.

“Whereas in the past I’ve said the aim is to be inside the top ten, I’m going to Knockhill aiming to be in the top six all weekend and I hope to come away from race day with at least a podium finish to my name,” he said. “It’ll be a big ask, but we showed as a team at Snetterton that we are more than capable of fighting at the front.

“Before the season started, we didn’t do much testing which meant we were on the back foot a bit through the first half of the year, but we have worked hard on the set-up of the Chevrolet to get it better suited to my driving style. That played a part in our results at Snetterton and on paper, Knockhill is a circuit that should suit the Cruze. The first goal is to qualify well and that will hopefully set us up for three strong races.”

Guernsey-based team-mate John George enjoyed one of his best weekends in the BTCC last season at Knockhill, where he ran strongly throughout at the wheel of his older BTC-spec Honda Integra.

Having shown encouraging pace at Snetterton last time out, albeit without securing the desired results, John makes the long trip to Scotland eager to break into the top ten for the first time this season – with his chances having been boosted by his recovery from a hand injury sustained in an accident at Croft back in June.

“I had a really good weekend at Knockhill in the Honda last year,” he said. “Battling with Gordon Shedden was a real highlight and showed it’s a circuit that suits me. We went well on the Indy layout at Brands Hatch earlier in the season, which is another short and twisty circuit, and I’m confident of a good weekend in Scotland.

“Even though I didn’t get the results at Snetterton last time out, I was a lot happier in terms of the pace we showed, as I was able to compete against the turbo cars. Heading to Knockhill, I really feel this is the weekend where I can break my duck for the season and get into the points.

“If I was a betting man, I’d say Knockhill is my best chance yet of a top ten finish and I hope I’m proved right at the end of it.”

Pics: SpeedSnaps.co.uk

Triple Eight Race Engineering with Collins Contractors is pleased to announce that Dublin-based Aron Smith will drive for the team in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Knockhill, near Dunfermline this coming weekend. He joins regular driver James Nash in our two-car turbocharged Vauxhall line-up.

Smith, 21 is the younger brother of former BTCC driver Gavin Smith who drove for our VX Racing team in 2005 and 2006. He is a structural engineering student and has alongside his studies been competing in the Renault Clio Cup for the past two seasons. Last year he raced in Italy where he finished fourth in the Championship and has this year competed in the UK series. He has won three times already this season, including last time out at Snetterton and is currently second in the Championship standings and its leading graduate.

Aron Smith: “I’m over the moon to be making my BTCC debut with a team with such experience as Triple Eight. I’m certain that they have a very competitive package and I’m equally sure we will work very well together. To get to make my debut at Knockhill makes it even better. The track itself should suit my driving style and now I’m just dying to get out in the car! I know it’ll be a steep learning curve but with the help I’ll be getting from the team I’m sure we can get some good results.”

Ian Harrison, Chairman Triple Eight: “Aron is an impressive young driver and we are delighted to have signed him to drive one of our cars at Knockhill. Making a BTCC debut at Knockhill won’t be easy for him, but the Vauxhall chassis is well sorted and should be good around there. I’m sure that once he has settled in to the car he will give a good account of himself.”

United Autosports Look To Maintain Championship Lead As BGT Resumes After Summer Break

The Avon Tyres British GT Championship roars back into action after an eight-week summer lay-off with United Autosports’ series leading duo Matt Bell (GB) and Mike Guasch (USA) hungry to add to their already impressive points haul.

Bell & Guasch enjoy a slender two-point lead with four races remaining – which includes the two, one-hour races at Rockingham.

The event marks the first time United Autosports and the Audi R8 LMS have ever raced on the 1.94-mile track near Corby, Northamptonshire, but Bell and Guasch are eager to add to their impressive results tally; victory (Snetterton), second (Oulton Park), third (Oulton Park), fourth and sixth placings (both Spa).

Meanwhile racing returnees John Bintcliffe and Jay Palmer are aiming to improve on their best placing of fifth place (Snetterton) to haul themselves inside the championship top-10 in what is the Anglo-American team’s maiden BGT season.

A field in excess of 22 cars is expected at Rockingham with 16 of them contesting the top-level GT3 category. Rockingham’s twin races are the last one-hour events on the British GT calendar: in late September the crews face their toughest test of the year, a three-hour classic at Donington Park, which will be followed by a two-hour curtain closer at Silverstone in October.

Avon Tyres British GT Championship (after six rounds):

1 Matt Bell & Mike Guasch, 90.5-points

2 Geddie/Geddie, 88.5pts

3 Griffin/Cameron, 76pts

12 John Bintcliffe & Jay Palmer, 23pts

Provisional Timetable:

Saturday September 3 – 0900-1000 Practice 1; 1145-1245 Practice; 1620-1655 Qualifying

Sunday September 4 – 1000-1010 Warm-up; 1250-1350 Race 1; 1625-1725 Race 2

* All times are UK “local”

#23 Molecule – Audi R8 LMS

Matt Bell (GB). Age: 21. Born: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, T&W. Lives: Barningham, N. Yorks, England:

“I’ve had two rounds of the FIA GT3 series plus the Spa 24 Hours to keep me busy since the last BGT race. I raced at Rockingham in last season’s Ginetta G50 Championship but tested the Audi pre-season there this year. The title race is very close so Mike and I must avoid any non-scores. That said, we’ll focus on winning rather than settling for points. We have some very experienced and quick competitors chasing us, so if we take our foot off the gas it will give them the upper hand heading into the final races. I would prefer to be at the top heading into the last round than chasing the leaders!”

Michael Guasch (USA). Age: 53. Born: Palo Alto, California. Lives: Walnut Creek, California, USA:

“I have twice tested at Rockingham, neither occasion in the R8 LMS, and found the track fun to drive. It has a little bit of everything – tight and technical turns plus high-speed ones and I believe the Audi will work well there. Since Spa, I’ve been testing my Pro Formula Mazda back home in California to stay in shape and will also take in a Formula Car Challenge Race at Infineon Raceway in California this coming weekend. The BGT Championship appears to get more competitive with every race. We must push hard, especially in qualifying.”

#24 Teknavo – Audi R8 LMS

John Bintcliffe (GB). Age: 45. Born: Bridlington, E. Yorks. Lives: Harrogate, N. Yorkshire, England & Jay Palmer (GB). Age: 38. Born: Harrogate. Lives: Harrogate & London, England / Barbados.

Richard Dean (GB), Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

“Our team has been busy since Spa BGT, taking in two FIA races at Paul Ricard, the Spa 24 Hours, and then another two FIA races in Slovakia. We also competed in a GRAND-AM race at Watkins Glen, so have been busy both sides of the Atlantic. This event will mark United Autosports’ first races at Rockingham and happens to be the only track in the UK that I haven’t personally raced at. We tested there earlier in the year but unfortunately our running was restricted by fog! We have led the British series since May but haven’t won since May so I think that confirms points mean prizes. We must be mindful of strong finishes are preferable to going for individual glory. I believe our pace is getting better and the Balance of Performance is getting more even as the season progresses. Rockingham should suit the Audi so I think two podiums are within our reach.”

The AmD Milltek Racing.com team is targeting a return to the points scoring positions as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship gears up for its annual trip to Scotland for the seventh round of the season next weekend (3/4 September).

The West Thurrock-based team will make the long trip to the picturesque Knockhill circuit – overlooking the Firth of Forth – buoyed by a solid start to the second half of the season at Snetterton earlier this month, when new driver Martin Byford acquitted himself well to the rough and tumble of touring car competition on his BTCC debut.

Despite only having a day behind the wheel of the AmD Milltek Racing.com Volkswagen Golf prior to his first weekend with the team, Colchester-based racer Martin – a former champion in the BTCC supporting Renault Clio Cup – was quickly up to speed and made good progress throughout the weekend, where he secured a best finish of 14th.

Martin now heads to Knockhill looking to build on the early promise shown at Snetterton as he seeks to become a BTCC points scorer for the first time at a circuit where he has enjoyed success in a range of formulae earlier in his career.

“Looking back at Snetterton now I’ve had time to really reflect on it, I think it went well as a whole,” he said. “I know I pushed a bit too hard in qualifying and its shame we were forced to retire in race two with a gear linkage issue, but we made good progress throughout the weekend and I couldn’t have asked for much more – apart from a point!

“I’ve now had a weekend to get used to the car and to get to know the team a bit more and I’m going to Knockhill trying to unlock more of the potential that I know is in the Golf. I’ve raced there quite a lot in the past and it’s a circuit I enjoy, and it’s also one where I think the Golf will be strong. The car carries speed through the corners well, which is something you need at Knockhill, but you can’t afford a mistake as the lap is so short that the smallest of mistakes is going to cost you positions.

“I’m looking forward to my second weekend in the BTCC and hopefully I can continue the progress we made at Snetterton and push towards the top ten.”

Team principal Shaun Hollamby said he was hopeful that the long trip north would see the team rewarded with its fourth top ten finish of the season after missing out at Snetterton.

“We had a few small problems at Snetterton that meant we didn’t score points when we probably should have done, but at the same time, there were some things that we discovered that we will now benefit from,” he said. “I was pleased with how Martin performed in his first weekend and how well he fitted in with the team, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he does at Knockhill, It’s a real drivers circuit and he is a good driver.

“The gearbox issue in the second race at Snetterton probably cost us points but hopefully we’ll put that right next weekend. The Golf is now performing well on all kinds of circuits and we went well at Knockhill last year, so we’re aiming to break back into the top ten again.”

Triple Eight Race Engineering with Collins Contractors announce that with immediate effect Tony Gilham will no longer be driving for the team in this year’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). The change has been forced on the team due to commercial reasons.

Ian Harrison, Chairman Triple Eight: “I’m sorry that the relationship with Tony hasn’t worked out as both parties had hoped. He has driven well in what was always going to be a difficult first season for him in the BTCC. On behalf of Triple Eight I’d like to thank him for his contribution to the team and wish him well”.

“Obviously we are now looking to fill the seat for the remainder of the season and will announce our plans in due course.”

Pic: Norwich Photo

Formula Renault is considering whether to introduce a class B and to re-introduce the older Tatuus designed cars, possibly designated Formula Renault Junior.

The Tatuus FR2000 was produced for 10 years (2000-2010) with minor updates to engine, electronics and bodywork and is the most successful modern era single seater with almost 1000 examples produced and run in many championships around the world.    It is comparatively easy to update an older car to a later specification and spare parts are readily available.

For the 2010 season, Renault switched suppliers and the new car was designed by Barazi-Epsilon.   Whilst the 2010 car was more advanced, the move has not been entirely popular, with complaints over the large increases in spare parts prices and shortages of vital components.   Grid numbers have dropped in the UK with typically 14 cars entering.

Introducing a Class B category would allow graduates from the Formula Renault BARC championship to enter the senior series without having to invest in a brand new car and the learning period which follows.   Formula Renault BARC uses the Tatuus cars but BARC racers are restricted to three sets of gear ratios – short, medium and long and their cars are fitted with a mandatory air restrictor which reduces power.

Whilst some commentators are thinking this could be the death knell for the BARC series, I don’t think that it would, and it would certainly give the TOCA series a much needed boost.  Currently BARC rules which also limit testing prior to the event would mean that someone couldn’t contest both series, unless the BARC championship visited a particular circuit first.

Pic: Norwich Photo

One of the most popular aspects of the BTCC format is the public pit lane walkabout and also the grid access that lucky VIP’s get.    The grid girls are a popular attraction, taking time out to pose with spectators for photos.

Here are some from Snetterton.

Scotty from Star Trek often said ‘ye canna change the laws of physics’ and at Snetterton there is often a firm breeze which tests to the limit the holding capabilities of hairspray!

Photos: Norwich Photo

To say that Jordan King took a giant leap forward at Snetterton in the sixth round of the 2011 Formula Renault UK Championship would be something of an understatement, and despite being cruelly denied the breakthrough triumph he so palpably deserved, the talented young Warwickshire star proved that he is indubitably ‘ready to win now’.

Whilst Snetterton revived Formula Renault UK from its summer slumber, Jordan had kept himself race-sharp and fighting-fit over the long seven-week hiatus with appearances in the FIA Formula Two Championship – stunning with a top five finish as the youngest driver ever to compete in the series’ modern era – and the Formula Renault Northern European Cup.

Although he might have benefitted from less testing than his rivals around Snetterton’s super-fast new 300 layout due to a ‘hare-raising’ incident there several weeks earlier – one that did for the hapless hare, and did Jordan’s Manor Competition single-seater few favours, either – the highly-rated Stoneleigh-based speed demon arrived in optimistic mood, and promptly lapped sixth and second-fastest during Friday’s two practice sessions.

“It was good to keep my eye in during the break, and the Northern European Cup in particular had helped me to get my mind back into driving and understanding a Formula Renault again,” he reflected. “Snetterton is a lot longer now, and more of a challenge because of that. I enjoyed the 300 layout; there’s a lot more to it than there used to be, and that makes the lap time harder to come by. The goal was definitely to come away with two podium finishes, and I felt confident we could do that.”

That extra challenge evidently posed few problems for Jordan during qualifying for race one, and with his car on-form, so too, clearly, was he. Outwardly targeting a top five starting spot but secretly eyeing the top three, the BRDC Rising Star exceeded his expectations with second place – and then when the pole-sitter found himself demoted to the rear of the field after his car transpired to be underweight, P2 became P1.

“I was already pretty pleased with second,” he confessed. “There was still more time to be found, so we knew the speed was certainly there – but to be promoted to pole position was a real psychological boost. With it being so difficult to overtake in Formula Renault, starting from pole is a massive advantage – you can control the race so much more easily.

“I wasn’t really thinking about anything whilst I was sitting on the grid; I was concentrating on getting a good start and doing a good job, so I just blocked everything else out and remained focussed on what I needed to do. I got a good start when the lights went out, and after that, I was able to manage the gap throughout the race.

“There were a few times when Alex Lynn behind got close enough to perhaps have a think about doing something, but I always felt in control; he definitely put me under pressure, but I was comfortable in what I was doing and towards the end, I actually began to edge away a little bit – without even having to push 100 per cent.

“I was thinking, ‘we can really do this’, and I was just concentrating on hitting all my braking-points and doing everything right – but then I think Lynn’s exhaust broke, which gave him more power and therefore more performance and he was able to get back onto me again.

“He was more than 3mph faster down the straights and towed up behind me, and on the penultimate lap, he decided to go for a bit of a lunge. Just as I was about to turn in at the end of Bentley Straight, I had a quick glance in my mirror and saw him diving up my inside. He was partly on the grass, so I delayed turning to give him a little bit of room to back out of it, but he didn’t and his front wheel hit my back wheel and spun me round.

“I was really surprised that he had tried to pass me into that corner, particularly with such a half-hearted attempt. Given he has such a big lead in the championship, he could have settled for a safe second place and still gained points on the two drivers chasing him.

“I was so disappointed that we didn’t get the result we should have done. We were the quickest on the track, and we should have won. The only consolation was a new lap record, which was certainly an achievement and at least proved we had the pace and are making real progress.”

That much is indisputable, and whilst stewards agreed with Jordan – fining Lynn for his indiscretion and putting points on his licence – that did not give the Princethorpe College AS-level student back what had so cruelly been snatched away from him as it was right within his grasp.

On the positive side, the manner in which the 17-year-old car racing rookie had led throughout like a seasoned veteran, maturely soaking up relentless race-long pressure – with Lynn never more than a second behind and on occasion breathing right down his neck – was encouraging indeed, as Jordan betrayed no nerves in the slightest, controlling proceedings beautifully and never looking in any danger of cracking. Unfortunately, the weekend’s second encounter would similarly end in disappointment – and again, through no fault of his own.

“I made a decent start and held position in sixth,” he recounted, with incorrect tyre pressures for the lower track temperatures in the second qualifying session having left him down on the third row of the grid, “but then on lap two, Olly Rowland came up the inside of me from a long way back. He didn’t make the corner and went straight on – and he took me with him.

“I lost four places through that, and because I had gone off the track, I had lots of dirt on my tyres, too, so I ended up in a fight and dropped to 12^th. I managed to battle my way back through to eighth, but the general driving standards over the weekend were pretty appalling, to be honest – there were some crazy overtaking moves being pulled out there.”

A better fastest lap time than race-winner Lynn once more went to underline what might have been, and Jordan’s final tally bore no reflection on his pace. Had he won race one, the Hugo Boss brand ambassador would be up to sixth in the championship; as it is, he is eighth, but he will carry his confidence through to the remainder of the campaign.

After offering a glimpse of what he is capable of by running second at Thruxton and subsequently claiming his maiden podium finish at Croft, Snetterton has now has concretised that promise. Jordan King is unquestionably a Formula Renault UK race-winner in-waiting.

“The potential is there,” he concluded. “We just need the cookie to crumble slightly more our way next time – but we’re definitely ready to win.”

Photos: Jakob Ebrey

The GoMobileUK.com with Tech-Speed Motorsport team made a welcome return to the podium as the second half of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship kicked off at the new look Snetterton circuit.

The Leamington Spa-based team went into the weekend eager to get its campaign back on track after a difficult start to the 2011 season, with Widnes-racer Paul O’Neill and Guernsey-based team-mate John George eager to impress in the latest three rounds of the year.

Despite losing time in free practice with an oil leak, Paul qualified ninth on the grid at the wheel of his normally-aspirated Chevrolet Cruze but made up places when the lights went out for race one to sit seventh. A small mistake at Riches allowed Mat Jackson to get ahead with Paul then spending the remainder of the race battling with the turbo-powered Airwaves Ford ahead. Although the pair got ahead of Tom Chilton as the race wore on, Paul was unable to find a way ahead of Jackson and had to settle for seventh place at the finish.

From the same position on the grid for race two, Paul slipped back to ninth during a chaotic opening lap around the newly extended circuit before starting to make up places when he got ahead of Tom Onslow-Cole into eighth. Problems for Matt Neal and Frank Wrathall allowed Paul to make up two additional places and he then battled past the SEAT of Dave Newsham to take fifth place and a slot on the second row of the grid for the final race thanks to the reverse grid draw.

Holding position at the start of the final race, Paul then found himself stuck behind Newsham’s SEAT as he attempted to secure his best result of the season, with the Clio Cup champion forced to take a defensive approach to keep Paul’s Chevrolet at bay. Having finally got ahead at the Montreal hairpin on lap six, Paul was able to pull away from the SEAT man but was unable to challenge race leader Jackson, who had been able to build an advantage while Paul fought for second.

However, the second place finish marked Paul’s best result of the season so far and has allowed him to consolidate his top ten championship position.

“It’s been a good weekend,” he said. “I spoke to the team before we came here and we agreed that we had a chance to run towards the front if we got things right here because the chassis of the Chevrolet is so strong, and we got a good result in the first race which we were then able to build on in the two that followed.

“The car was exceptional this weekend and I have to give credit to Vic my engineer and to Marvin for that. This is the first weekend where I can say that we’ve really been able to race against the turbo cars and I was actually able to overtake a car with a turbo engine in it. It’s not easy by any means as I think I was having to drive to new limits in the same way Jason [Plato] has had to. He came up to me after the final race and said he’d been able to learn a few things when he was behind me, which shows what a good job we’ve done.

“On the grid before the first race, Marvin came on the radio and said ‘Go out there and enjoy it’. That’s exactly what I did and I made sure I never lost my focus behind the wheel and we’ve reaped the benefits. As I said before the weekend, our season starts now.”

Team-mate John qualified 21st on the grid at the wheel of the sister car and a solid and consistent drive in the opening race of the weekend saw him come home to the finish in 19th place.

With further progress up the order the aim for race two, John was quickly up to speed as he lapped a second quicker than he had done in race one on only his second lap. However, having moved up to 17th place, John was forced to retire on the eighth lap after being shown a black and orange flag by officials after contact with Andy Neate’s Ford saw him lose his rear wing.

Unfortunately, John’s weekend would end in disappointment when he was forced to retire from the final race after clashing with the Vauxhall of Jeff Smith while making a move for position at Agostini on the fifth lap.

The results of the Snetterton weekend have enabled GoMobileUK.com with Tech-Speed to close the gap to the teams ahead in both the HiQ Teams’ Championship and the Independents’ Team Trophy ahead of the next round of the season at Knockhill, with team manager Marvin Humphries pleased with the outcome of the weekend.

“That is what we came here to do,” he said. “We know that we’ve made some mistakes in recent races and that things haven’t always gone our way, but we’ve worked hard this weekend and we got the result in race one that we could build on. We made progress every time we went on track and Paul drove bloody brilliantly to get onto the podium in race three; even Jason Plato admitted he couldn’t match him.

“I think they now have it about right when it comes to parity between the normally-aspirated cars and the turbo cars and we are in the position we should have been in earlier in the season. It’s not easy, although it isn’t meant to be, but we’ve been able to fight against them this weekend and have come away with the results.”

Pics: Norwich Photo

Grantham-based Richardson Racing enjoyed its best weekend of the 2011 season to date at Snetterton, with two wins amongst a total of three podium finishes in the latest rounds of the Michelin Ginetta GT Superup.

Brother and sister pair Andrew and Louise Richardson were on the pace throughout the weekend, with Andrew securing a brace of race victories and Louise taking her third podium finish of the season.

Andrew secured place third in class and twelfth overall on the grid for the opening race following a tightly-fought qualifying session and his usual strong start saw him climb into second in class through the opening corners.

However, on the run towards Brundle, the G55 of Colin White suddenly dropped oil all over the circuit, causing Andrew to slide off track and drop to the rear of the field. With the opening race running over just seven laps, Andrew faced a challenge to try and make up the time lost but battled his way through to fourth in class and eleventh overall at the chequered flag.

From the same position on the grid for race two, Andrew jumped up to second in class behind Jake Hill on the opening lap and then took the lead on lap two when Hill, under pressure from Andrew, was forced to pit with damage to his car after making a mistake and clipping a tyre stack. A dominant performance for the remainder of the race saw Andrew take the G50 class win by nearly 19 seconds and a fine seventh overall – ahead of a number of the quicker G55 cars.

After a lightning start to the final race, Andrew was delayed at turn one by two spinning cars ahead and dropped to second in class behind Jody Fannin. A further clash between G55s ahead allowed Andrew to move up to seventh overall and he kept the pressure on Fannin before a fine move at Riches on lap seven allowed him through into the class lead and sixth overall.

Although he dropped behind two of the G55s before the finish, Andrew took the chequered flag in eighth place overall for his second G50 class victory of the weekend and fourth of the 2011 season.

“I really didn’t expect to come away from the weekend with two wins, and if it hadn’t been for the incident on the first lap of race one, I might even have had a hat-trick,” he said. “However, a double win is fantastic and rewards the team as they did a great job.

“In the second race I kept pushing despite the fact I had such a big lead and when I got away from the line well in race three, I thought I could do the same. When the cars clashed in front I had to jump on the brakes and it allowed Jody to get past and then I was all over him as I was much quicker than him on the fast parts of the circuit. When I was half a car length behind him into Riches, I thought ‘I’m going for it’ and went up the inside and managed to make the move stick.

“Our problems earlier in the season mean that its now all about going for podiums and race wins, so this weekend it’s mission accomplished.”

Younger sister Louise was returning to action after missing two rounds as a result of damage sustained in a start-line accident at Thruxton back in May. Having qualified seventh in class and 16th overall, Louise ran as high as twelfth in the opening race as she eased herself back into racing action before taking the flag sixth in class and 14th overall.

A fine start to race two saw Louise climb up to tenth overall and third in class on the opening lap before Hill’s retirement saw her slot into second behind Andrew to put the Richardson Racing team on course for a 1-2 finish. Although a number of G55s knocked her back down the order, Louise ran second in class for much of the race despite the close attentions of Jody Fannin. A forceful move from Fannin at Hamilton on lap eight saw Louise pushed off the circuit, dropping her back to third place where she remained until the finish despite late pressure from Connaire Finn – giving the team a double podium.

Louise’s hopes of matching that result were hit on the opening lap of race three when she was forced wide twice on the opening lap and then had to back off when other drivers clashed in front of her on track. Having worked her way back up to fifth in class, Louise lost position to former touring car racer Michael Doyle in the closing laps as a problem on her car started to affect the handling and she took the chequered flag sixth in class and 14th overall.

“It’s been a bit of a mixed weekend really,” she said. “Getting a podium in the race two was a good result although it should have been second place as I was keeping Jody behind until he pushed me off.

“For the final race we changed a few things on the set-up and the car wasn’t quite right. I’d already lost time at the start as I was forced onto the grass a few times and then had to back off to avoid people spinning in front of me, and then I was getting understeer and had to wait to get the power down out of the corners.

“Overall though, I came to Snetterton knowing I had a good car and its good to have come away from the weekend with another podium after so long on the sidelines.”

Photos: Jakob Ebrey

Joy and despair for STR at Snetterton

It was three impressive top-ten finishes in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship races at the new Snetterton 300 circuit for Dave Newsham, but it was to be a luckless day for team-mate Tom Boardman as engine issues marred a promising start to the weekend.

Having qualified in eighth, his highest starting position of the season, a slow get-away allowed the chasing pack to get the jump on Dave off the line. But he soon had the hammer down and by lap three had moved back up to ninth. Matching the times of the drivers’ ahead, he began to make headway before damage to the suspension arm cost him a place to Onslow-Cole as he ran wide at the Montreal hairpin. Doing a great job to keep the car on the road, he held the Vectra of Jeff Smith at bay to round out the top ten and claim another Championship point.

“I had a woeful start but once I got going I had the pace, I just couldn’t find that little bit extra. Then something broke on the left front and I was just hanging in then, struggling to go round the right handers. It felt awful! But I’m pleased to get another point to add to the tally,” said Dave.

Meanwhile, team-mate Tom, having failed to set a competitive time in qualifying due to engine failure, started the race from last on the grid. With the pressure off he ploughed through the field climbing to 14th by the end of the first lap and into an incredible tenth place by the end of lap three. On course for a points finish, his race was cruelly cut short just two laps later when the same engine problems that had plagued him in qualifying once again ended his day early. It was a huge blow for Tom as the damage forced him to withdraw from the remainder of the races.

“I was really buzzing, having got up to tenth, when the oil light came on and the engine cut out. That was our second engine, so it’s a short weekend for me! We’d made huge strides with our developments during the break, so I’m gutted this has happened again,” Tom said after the race.

Starting from tenth for race two, this time Dave got a cracking start claiming four places over the first lap. A brilliant move out of Palmer’s put him behind the Cruze of Alex MacDowall who had to do everything he could to keep Dave behind as he piled on the pressure. Out-braked into the Montreal hairpin on lap five, Dave lost sixth to Matt Neal. Not to be out-done though he fought back hassling Neal and taking back the place as the Honda headed to the pits with a suspected puncture. Dave then had to fend off Paul O’Neill in a great battle that was to continue for the next five laps. With Frank Wrathall’s Avenisis slowing with a mechanical issue, Dave gained a further place, but with deteriorating tyres, O’Neill and Mat Jackson were able to pass over the two remaining laps. He went on to finish in a great seventh place.

The seventh place finish played into his hands as the top seven finishers from race two were reversed to form the grid for the final race of the day, handing Dave pole position.

He led away from the line brilliantly with Jackson and O’Neill behind. But Jackson had the pace on Dave and was ahead inside two laps. Dave’s attention then turned to defending from O’Neill. The duel started in race two picked up again and the pair diced for position over the next four laps. Capitalising on Dave running slightly wide at the Montreal hairpin, O’Neill took second, putting Dave into the clutches of a charging Jason Plato. For the next five laps Dave deftly maintained his place, but on the penultimate lap Plato struck into Bombhole, followed by Matt Neal a lap later at the same spot. Then going through Murray’s, contact from MacDowall pushed Dave onto the grass and he lost three places to finish eighth in what had otherwise been a very impressive drive by the Inverness driver.

Speaking after the race, Dave said: “I got a great start, but I think the rears must have been a bit cold at the beginning of the second lap and I just lost the back end. I was pleased with the car’s pace and held off the Chevvy’s for a long while but I struggled on that hairpin today and they took loads of time from me there. Then about 5 laps from the end, something appeared to break at the rear, and the car was close to undriveable. I hung on again, but it was a bit of a downer to finish like that. It’s been a great day though and we’ve been really competitive and put points in the bag in all three races, so I’m really pleased about that. We can go to Knockhill positive that we’ve got a great car!”

The next race is at Knockhill, Dave’s local circuit, on 3 and 4 September.

Photos: Norwich Photo

Solid Snetterton showing for AmD Milltek Racing.com

AmD Milltek Racing.com enjoyed a solid weekend of racing in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship as the 2011 season resumed following its summer break at Snetterton (6/7 August).

The weekend marked the first appearance for Colchester-racer Martin Byford at the wheel of the West Thurrock-based team’s Volkswagen Golf as he made his long awaited debut in the BTCC having previously enjoyed success in a number of the support series.

Despite only having a single day at the wheel of the turbo-powered VW prior to the race weekend, Martin was on the pace from the outset as he lapped inside the top twelve in both free practice sessions around the new Snetterton 300 circuit.

Having taken 19th on the grid after his first BTCC qualifying session, Martin finished the opening race of the weekend in 14th place but was then unable to build on the result in race two when a broken gear linkage forced him to retire early on.

Forced to start near the back of the field for race three as a result, Martin showed his ability to race with the pack as he worked his way up to 16th place by the chequered flag, meaning he was able to score Independents’ Team Trophy points for the AmD Milltek Racing.com team in two of the three races.

Martin will now head to Knockhill next month for the seventh round of the season eager to challenge for an overall points finish, with valuable time at the wheel of the Golf now under his belt.

“It was very hot and hectic!” he said, “and I can’t believe how quickly it’s gone by. After a solid start to race day, it was a real shame that we had to retire from the second race because a finish around twelfth there would have put us in a good position on the grid for race three. However, motorsport is full of ‘ifs and buts’.

“Overall I feel we’ve made progress throughout the weekend and the car was more and more consistent as the weekend went on. We’re getting the car more to my liking and I’ve been able to build my relationship with the team. Not scoring is the only downside to the weekend but people have noticed us and seen that I can do a job on the BTCC grid and compete with the pack. I’ll learn more and get quicker at Knockhill, but it’s going to seem like a long month until we go there!”

Team boss Shaun Hollamby was pleased with the performance of his debutant driver, with the focus of the AmD Milltek Racing.com team now firmly on returning to the top ten next time out in Scotland.

“We’ve shown lots of potential this weekend and to be honest, we should have come away from the weekend with some points,” he said. “We didn’t manage that, so we know there is work to do and that there are small tweaks that we can make to improve the car for Knockhill.

“Martin will also have more time in the car to get comfortable with his new surroundings but he’s made a good start this weekend and shown people that he deserves his place on the BTCC grid.”

Snetterton struggle for Jordan and Pirtek Racing

It was a tough weekend for Andrew Jordan and Pirtek Racing when the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season resumed at Snetterton over the weekend (6/7 August). Andrew’s Vauxhall Vectra struggled for pace all weekend and he came away with only a single top ten finish to show for his efforts.

The high-speed East Anglian track hosted rounds 16, 17 and 18 of the 2011 schedule and it proved to be Andrew’s toughest weekend of the year so far as the team battled to find the usual front-running pace for the Vectra. A single ninth place was much less than Andrew has come to expect this year, while team mate Jeff Smith in the other Pirtek Racing Vauxhall Vectra topped his day with 11th place in the opening race.

Andrew knew that he would struggle for speed as soon as the first free practice session started. “We normally roll the car out for free practice and it is good from the start,” he said. “But this weekend the car just felt completely different. In qualifying I was driving the wheels off it.” However, instead of his regular top five qualifying result, he ended Saturday down in 11th place, with Jeff four places further back on the 26-car grid.

Into race day on Sunday, things were only a little better. “We changed the dampers overnight and found a little bit and the car was better, but we were still a chunk off the pace,” said Andrew. His aim to make up places early in the opening race was thwarted when Jason Plato and Matt Neal made contact and caused chaos as Neal spun across the front of the pack. “It all kicked off at Turn 2 on the first lap and I couldn’t make much progress,” said Andrew after finishing 11th.

“In the second race I finished ninth, but it was a struggle to pass people I normally go by without too much of a problem,” he reported. Then, on the first lap of the third and final race he was turned into a spin after a clash with the BMW of Rob Collard. “It was one of those things, really,” he said. “From lap four to eight we were in the top four lap times, which was some encouragement. But we were really struggling against the Fords in a straight line and it was frustrating being caught behind Chilton.”

Now, the team will work to identify the problem with the car before the next three races at Knockhill (Scotland) over the weekend of September 3/4.

Jelley does Carrera Cup GB double at Snetterton

Stephen Jelley made it a perfect weekend in East Anglia when he won round 11 of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Snetterton today (Sunday, 7 August) to make it a double victory in a very important weekend for his title bid.

Michael Meadows again chased Jelley home as they both moved ahead of erstwhile championship leader James Sutton, and Jelley now has an 11-point lead in the table. Jonas Gelzinis doubled up in Pro-Am1, while Pro-Am2 was only decided at the final corner when Keith Webster dived ahead of Yucel Ozbek.

Jelley (Parker with Juta) jumped ahead from pole position and controlled the race from the front while under pressure from Meadows (SAS/Redline). After an early safety car period Meadows mounted a concerted attack, but Jelley was able to match his rival and then edge clear over the second half of the race. “We seemed to have the leg after the first quarter of the race,” said Jelley. “To outscore Michael Meadows and James Sutton is what we wanted.” Meadows chased Jelley to the flag but was fortunate to make the finish in second as a slow rear puncture struck with four laps to run.

Into a first Carrera Cup podium finish came Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing) after spending the entire race containing the challenge of Sutton (SAS/Redline). It was 15 laps of pressure for Plant, but he was equal to the task and was delighted with his best Carrera Cup result to date. “To be at the front with the big guys was great, but that was hard work,” said Plant. For Sutton it was a case of damage limitation during a trying weekend when he did not quite have the pace to challenge for victory.

Right behind Plant and Sutton were Ben Barker (Parr Motorsport) and Euan Hankey (Parker with Juta) in a fast-moving train of cars that also included Gelzinis (Juta Racing), Ben Hetherington (Oman Air/Redline) and Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing). Barker’s excellent pace helped earn the ‘team of the weekend’ award for Parr Motorsport.

Gelzinis extended his Pro-Am1 advantage with his second category win of the weekend. “I tried to fight with Euan and that stressed the tyres a little bit,” said Gelzinis. “It was very hard to control the car later in the race.” Over the first half of the race, a tremendous battle raged over second place in Pro-Am1 as Derek Pierce (Dextra/JD Pierce by Parker) headed Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed), Ahmad Al Harthy (Oman Air/Redline), Alex Martin (Dextra/JD Pierce by Parker) and Freddy Nordstrom (GT Marques). Pierce defended resolutely for several laps before Butcher edged ahead at Agostini’s hairpin. Once ahead, Butcher pulled quickly away for a secure second in Pro-Am1. “It was another really hard fight with Derek,” said Butcher. Despite constant pressure from Martin, Pierce completed the Pro-Am1 podium. “It’s been a hard day,” said Pierce.

The Pro-Am2 contest ran right to the very last corner of the race as Webster mounted a relentless chase of his Redline Racing team mate Ozbek. Then, as they braked for Murray’s for the last time, Webster scythed ahead in a spectacular move to take victory and help earn the ‘driver of the weekend’ award. “The Bomb Hole was the one place I was quicker and that set up the move,” said Webster. “That’s the best I’ve driven all weekend,” he added. Ozbek salvaged second place while Steve Parish (Motorbase Performance) recovered to take third after George Brewster (Celtic Speed) hit alternator problems early in the race.

Jelley wins Carrera Cup GB round 10 at Snetterton

Stephen Jelley scored a hugely important victory in a superb round 10 of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Snetterton today (Sunday, 7 August). After 14 laps of the Snetterton 300 circuit, little more than two seconds split the top five cars and victory for Jelley put him to the head of the title race.

Michael Meadows and impressive championship newcomer Ben Barker completed the overall podium, while the action continued all the way down the 25-car field. Jonas Gelzinis took Pro-Am1 as a fierce battle raged over second place, while Keith Webster beat George Brewster by less than half a second in Pro-Am2 after both had spins.

The 25-car field of 450bhp 911 GT3 Cup cars made a fabulous sight on the Snetterton grid and it was Meadows (SAS/Redline) who led the pack away from pole. However, into Agostini’s on the opening lap, Jelley (Parker with Juta) spotted a gap and dived ahead. “He left the door open and I went for it,” said Jelley. “I was a bit hesitant on the brakes,” said Meadows. Ben Hetherington (Oman Air/Redline) burst through to third place off the grid, but was adjudged to have jumped the start and had to take a drive through penalty.

As Jelley and Meadows settled into a rhythm at the head of the field, it was Barker (Parr Motorsport) who was on the move and, from sixth on the opening lap, he passed Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing) and Euan Hankey (Parker with Juta) to take third as Hetherington took his penalty. Once clear in third, Barker set about closing the gap to the leaders and set the fastest lap of the race as he reeled in Jelley and Meadows. With five laps to run, Barker made it a three-car contest for the lead and his arrival on Meadows’ tail gave Jelley a slight breathing space.

Then, into the closing laps, Plant and Hankey closed in as well to make a five-car train at the head of the race. Despite race-long pressure from Meadows, Jelley drove a superbly controlled race to take his third win of the season as well as the championship lead. “It was never comfortable and I thought that Ben Barker coming up might be a good thing for me,” said Jelley. “This could be an important weekend for the championship.”

Meadows held firm in second, while Barker starred with his drive to third place in such a competitive field. “I didn’t want to take any big risks,” said Barker. “The podium was good for me and I had a great car from Parr.” Plant had a fine run to fourth to match his best result of the season, while Hankey was right on his tail in fifth. Pro-Am1 winner Gelzinis (Juta Racing) was sixth overall ahead of former championship leader James Sutton (SAS/Redline) who just didn’t have the pace to make up any places.

Gelzinis was away and clear in Pro-Am1 and had to fend off Sutton in the early laps. “It was a bit difficult when Sutton was behind me but I managed to pull away,” said the Lithuanian racer. The battle for second and third in Pro-Am1 was far less settled, however, and a fierce contest raged between Derek Pierce (Dextra/JD Pierce by Parker), Ahmad Al Harthy (Oman Air/Redline), Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) and Freddy Nordstrom (GT Marques). Eventually, Al Harthy spun at Riches after contact with Martin and Pierce spun on the infield after a clash with Butcher and it was Martin who took second from Butcher as Daniele Perfetti (Motorbase Performance) took fourth from the recovering Pierce.

Pro-Am2 also delivered some drama as Yucel Ozbek (Redline Racing) Webster (Redline Racing) and Brewster (Celtic Speed) all had turns in the lead and all had spins. Eventually, Webster got ahead but it was close as Brewster fought back for second after a spin at Agostini’s and with Ozbek also spinning down the order it was Richard Denny (Parr Motorsport) who took the final podium place. “Ozbek pulled off a brilliant move on me and then threw it off at the next corner,” said Webster. “The whole thing hinged on two mistakes; one by Keith and one by me,” said Brewster. “It was fantastic racing!”

Photography: Norwich Photo

Solid day for Triple Eight

It was another solid day’s racing for the Triple Eight with Collins Contractors Vauxhall turbo team at Snetterton, near Thetford in Norfolk yesterday, venue for rounds 16, 17 and 18 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).

Rising star James Nash had top six finishes in each of the three races, including an Independent win and second place overall in the second race. It was the fourth time this season alone that James has finished runner-up in a BTCC race and consolidates his Championship challenge.

Tony Gilham in the team’s other car bounced back from disaster in the opening race when he was pushed aside by the Ford of Andy Neate in the run-up to the first corner breaking his car’s suspension. Gilham’s personal highlight was the second race when he finished 13th from a P25 starting grid.

James Nash ♯14: “I have to be reasonably happy with another second place and a couple of trophies, but we need to find a bit more straightline speed from the engine somehow when it goes back to (engine company) Swindon. We’ve definitely lost something these past two meetings.”

“My opening race wasn’t a great one. I’d started fifth and finished there but along the way I’d had to cede position to Frank Wrathall’s new generation touring car (NGTC). The second race was really good and the final one reasonable given our set-up.”

“It was certainly interesting now finding ourselves fighting for position with one of the NGTC cars. In fact their speed here was astonishing. Whatever those cars have found, I’d like some too!”

Tony Gilham ♯34: “Race one wasn’t brilliant was it? 200 yards is all it lasted and not even past the first corner. Race 2 was better, much better and great fun. I think I made up 10 places to finish 13th.” (it was actually 12).

“We may though have gone a bit too far on set-up in race 3 because while it was good at the start and we actually got up to 9th at one point, the car’s performance soon started ‘falling away’ and there wasn’t much I could do to stop the cars behind me getting past.”

Ian Harrison, Chairman Triple Eight: “A solid day for James. We probably went a bit too conservative on set-up but two good results for him. I also have to say that the first 7 laps of race two when he’d climbed from P5 on the grid and then had Frank Wrathall breathing down his neck were I think the best 7 laps he’s driven for us since joining Triple Eight.”

“Tony unfortunately broke his car in race one when he was hit by Andy Neate, again. He then drove really well in the second race, but after his practice was interrupted with an issue on the car that clearly wasn’t his fault he was always on the back foot this weekend. His race two should have been his race one. He started very very quick in the final race but unfortunately the set up was too aggressive. His tyres started to go off and he was literally being pushed into the corners which made things worse. All he could do then was to keep going which he did and get lots of laps under his belt.”

“ It was a shame he’d had to contend with issues beyond his control, but as I’ve already said Tony drove really well when he could, and in race two particularly he drove a solid race even if the end result doesn’t suggest it.”

Result Race 1 11 laps @ 24m 12.064s

1st Jason Plato Silverline Chevrolet Chevrolet

2nd Alex MacDowall Silverline Chevrolet Chevrolet

3rd Gordon Shedden Honda Honda

5th James Nash Triple Eight Race Engineering with Collins Contractors Vauxhall

dnf Tony Gilham Triple Eight Race Engineering with Collins Contractors Vauxhall

Result Race 2 12 laps @ 24m 16.138s

1st Gordon Shedden Honda Honda

2nd James Nash Triple Eight Race Engineering with Collins Contractors Vauxhall

3rd Jason Plato Silverline Chevrolet Chevrolet

2nd James Nash Triple Eight Race Engineering with Collins Contractors Vauxhall

13th Tony Gilham Triple Eight Race Engineering with Collins Contractors Vauxhall

Result Race 3 12 laps @ 24m 16.307s

1st Mat Jackson Airwaves Racing Ford

2nd Paul O’Neill Tech-speed Chevrolet

3rd Jason Plato Silverline Chevrolet Chevrolet

6th James Nash Triple Eight Race Engineering with Collins Contractors Vauxhall

15th Tony Gilham Triple Eight Race Engineering with Collins Contractors Vauxhall

Championship standings after round 18 (of 30) Points

Drivers overall

1st Mat Jackson Airwaves Racing 158

2nd Gordon Shedden Honda 150

3rd Matt Neal Honda 148

Manufacturer’s

1st Honda Honda 367

2nd Chevrolet RML 323

3rd Ford Arena Motorsport 248

Independent – Drivers

1st Mat Jackson Airwaves Racing 195

2nd James Nash Triple Eight Race Engineering with Collins Contractors 176

3rd Andrew Jordan Pirtek Racing 153

Independent – Teams

1st Airwaves Racing 199

2nd Triple Eight Race Engineering with Collins Contractors 185

3rd Pirtek Racing 168

Qualifying:

Session / James Nash ♯14 / Tony Gilham ♯34

Free Practice 1 1m 59.954 3rd / 2m 02.586 19th

Free Practice 2 1m 59.336 3rd / 2m 01.304 18th

Qualifying 1m 59.067 5th / 2m 00.303 17th

Triple Eight Race Engineering with Collins Contractors two turbo Vauxhall’s will start from 5th and from 17th on the grid for tomorrows 16th round of the 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Snetterton, near Thetford in Norfolk.

James Nash after setting the 3rd fastest time in both of the opening free practice sessions was slightly disappointed to qualify ‘only’ fifth. He was though bettered by only by the works Chevrolets and Hondas and so could be satisfied with his efforts. Tony Gilham in the second car meanwhile unfortunately had a disappointing day and will line up 17th after struggling to make up for time lost due to a mechanical issue.

After qualifying was over the team was again pleased to welcome ITV 4 television BTCC commentator to sample both James Nash’s car and to view the new Snetterton 300 circuit from the driver’s seat. ITV 4 will be airing a feature on Ben’s time in the car tomorrow morning, Sunday before race one (from 1130).

James Nash ♯14: “Fairly happy with 5th though, of course I’d liked to have been on pole but we’ll end up there one day. Unfortunately the Chevrolet’s have been engineered too well and the Hondas are the quickest cars out there so to be first independent runner is pleasing.”

“My aim in race one will be to consolidate what we’ve achieved today and then hopefully pick up a few places as the day progresses.”

Tony Gilham ♯34 “I’m massively disappointed with the overall position but the times were coming down. We lost the first practice session this morning with a problem on the car and it’s been a bit of a catch-up since. That said each time we went out we found a half second and if only we’d had more running time with the car, another half second gain would have put us up 5 or 6 places.”

It is frustrating, but we’ll all be racing on a new track tomorrow so who knows where we might end up if things go our way?”

Ian Harrison. Chairman Triple Eight “ James has been quick all day. We we’re hoping to be a little higher up the time sheets but we’ve only got factory cars in front of us so very good.”

“Tony lost a bit of time this morning with a brake problem which put him on the back foot a bit. The new Snetterton is a difficult track to learn. It’s very technical and you have to be able to string the sectors together to set a good time. That said, each time he did go out he went a little quicker so I’m sure tomorrow we’ll see further improvement from him.”

Ben Edwards. ITV4 Commentator “ It was really good fun and I have to express my thanks to Triple Eight for trusting me with their precious racing car.”

“ The new track looks great. I know we’ve yet to see how it races but the signs are good. Its actually quite technical now, you’ve got to think about your braking and your entry speed into corners like never before. It’s a track where a driver will really have to engage his or her brain to get the most from it.”

Photography: NORWICH PHOTO