ROUND ONE, RACE TWO

The second race today was a different story. It was scheduled to be at the end of the day, and the track was completely dry. Slick tyres all round, and the last of the new tyres kept over from qualifying used on the front left, as at Brands Hatch most the corners are right handers and the front left does most of the work. 

I was determined to get a better start this time around , so I left it until the last minute to activate the launch control to prevent the clutches from overheating. Doing this means that when the gear is selected the clutch doesn't slip and better drive is given by the gearbox.

I managed to make up two places on the way to the first corner, and during the next lap I gained another place. 20 more laps, so plenty of time to make a few more places.

Unfortunately lack of experience in a front wheel drive car and a little too much exuberance meant that by half way through the race the front tyres had overheated thereby reducing the grip level enough to generate under steer. Due to this, for the rest of the race I had to defend my position from the cars behind.

The net result at the end of the race was 11th position and a valuable lesson learned about how to get the most out of the car without causing too much tyre degradation.

Roll on the next race meeting and a new track

ROUND ONE, RACE ONE BRANDS HATCH

The first race of the year was to be a bit mixed, well as far as tyre choice and weather conditions were concerned. I was started form seventh on the grid after a difficult qualifying session in dry conditions yesterday. I had practiced the start procedure over and over again in testing, but when you are sat on the grid staring up at the red lights waiting for them to go out it all seems rather different.

The gearbox on the cars allow for a launch control system to be incorporated in the software, as there is no manual clutch that the driver can operate. By selecting first gear with your foot on the brake it keeps the clutch disengaged until you release the brake. Then it selects first gear and way you go. It does keep a limit on the revs of the engine though.

I started on the right hand side of he grid, nearest the pit lane, this was also the wettest side of the grid. I had taken the gamble to run on slick tyres, hoping that the weather wasn't going to get any worse and the track was only going to get dryer.

I made a fairly good start considering the conditions, but the other cars on wets did make a better get away. Its easy at this time of the race to lose it all in the first corner, cold tyres and brakes on a wet track can be a recipe for disaster.

It only took a couple of laps to start to come together, and before too long I had overtaken the cars on wets and set off after the leaders on slick tyres.

For someone who had not race a car for eleven years until this point, it all seemed to come flooding back. Trying to maintain the performance of the tyres whilst doing my best to catch up with the cars in front. 

I got up to fourth place and also had the fastest lap of the race for a while, before it was eclipsed in the dying laps.

So that's how it ended up. My first race under my belt. A fourth position and some well deserved championship points to boot. 

So far a great comeback.

QUALIFYING BRANDS HATCH INDY 29TH MARCH

Second Qualifying.

Again true to form it was a last minute switch with the weather, from a nice dry track to a slippery cold wet track. That also meant a last minute call on the tyres and some very slight changes to the setup of the car. Unfortunately it wasn't possible to go straight to the wet setup, which meant those that had would be faster.

The first few minutes when the track was still marginally dry, was the moment that the fastest laps were achieved. That is the exact time that the team mechanics were still applying setup changes. Its a valuable lesson to learn. 

Not only that , but the data logging computer fitted to the car also decided that it didn't want to work, which meant I was unable to see lap times and more importantly crucial information about the engine. It also meant that after qualifying there was no data for me to analyse to find where I need to be faster, or smoother. Typical.

The net result was 10th on the grid for the second race, which was a huge disappointment I have to say.

QUALIFYING BRANDS HATCH INDY 29TH MARCH

First Qualifying.

It turned out that all of the wet weather testing that had been done the day before was of no use, as the track was drying, and slick tyres were the order of the day. The rear wing had been changed but it was a bit of a rush to get the car back to a dry weather setup. Stiffening the front and rear rollbar and adjusting the tyre pressures to suit a damp and cold track.

In a 20 minute session there is just about enough time to complete two, maybe three runs on the new tyres. A couple of warm up laps to heat up tyres and brakes, then a couple of hot laps. A swap of the front tyres to the rear in between the runs  so that they are all worn evenly.

The result of the first session left me 7th on the grid for the first race. A little way off from  pole position, but the gap to the others in front was only a couple of tenths of a second.

OFFICIAL TEST BRANDS HATCH INDY 28TH MARCH

The first test was always going to be a tough day. So much to do including get the sponsors names onto the car in the correct places, and only a couple of 45 minute sessions to get the car suitably set up for qualifying on the Saturday and racing on the Sunday. I still needed to understand more about the car, and not only that there is a certain way to drive this type of car to obtain its optimum performance.

I arrived at the circuit early, as I had to sign in and receive safety briefings, along with the other drivers in the championship, from the championship coordinators, and clerks of the course. 

The weather was pretty terrible, torrential rain was forecast and for once, unfortunately, the Met Office had got it right. That meant that the testing was again going to be in full wet weather conditions, meaning a full wet weather setup on the car too.

Through both sessions the car performed very well, but did seem to have a distinct lack of rear grip. My team mates were experiencing different problems, in fact the complete opposite, with lack of front end grip, making turn-in at the corners less  precise.

It wasn't until further inspection of the setup of the car that revealed a difference in the angle of the rear wing. My car having considerably less than the other cars, thus allowing the car to oversteer through the faster corners.

MORE LAST MINUTE DEALS

One of the many things that has needed to be done before the first race is to acquire all of the correct equipment. What I basically mean is that the regulations for the safety clothing change from time to time, and that means new fireproof clothing, including race boots, gloves, balaclava, and underwear, not to mention a new fireproof race suit for testing.

Therefore in the best situation I would be able to do small deals to save a little money, as these items can be quite expensive.

The first Thing to get was a new crash helmet. The regulations also require me to wear a HANS device, which is designed to reduce the likely hood of head and neck injury in the event of a accident. On the recommendation of my team mate Carl Breeze, I decided to give STAND 21 a call to see if there was a possibility of them doing a deal on these items in return for some advertising on the millionpixeldriver website. They duly agreed, and so I went to have a fitting for a made to measure Double Duty F21 crash helmet and a Carbon fibre HANS Device.

The boots and gloves I decided on were a different make, but that is due to my own personal preference on comfort when in the car. I chose Alpinestars for these items and a quick phone call to Demon Tweeks and Grandprix Racewear soon had them in the post and on their way to me. 

So in less than a day I had all my equipment sorted and fully prepared for the first race at Brands Hatch.

BRANDS HATCH FIRST TEST

It has been a crazy few days, and today was no different. Lots to do, not enough time to get things done, but today was the first outing in the new car at Brands Hatch. It's been about 5 years since I have even driven a road car around the circuit, and I must say that I was filled with apprehension as I was bound to a little rusty. I was banking on the fact that the knowledge I had built up over the years as an instructor at the race school would finally be of some use. 

The weather was due to dry but a little overcast, but as per usual the met office were slightly wrong again, possible not for the first time, nor the last. It was dry in the morning allowing for a couple of dry runs and wet in the afternoon. Usually this would be a bad thing, but as time is limited for me in the car it is important that I get a chance to experience all conditions  before the first race. 

The first two sessions were dry and it gave me a chance to become familiar with the feel of the car, the brakes, gear change etc. I was encouraged that it didn't take too long for the lap times to start looking quite respectable considering I've not raced a car for 11 years or so. When i say respectable that less than half a second off the pace for the day. 

In the afternoon the rain fell, and so time to get used to how much grip the car has and the limits to it. To my surprise the grip generated by the car was good and so it didn't take too long to become comfortable with how the car moved underneath me. Lap times were good too, setting a good pace that only cars on new tyres could eclipse. Now that was encouraging. 

At the end of the day it was interesting to have a good look at the information provided by the data logging hardware fitted to the car, which revealed that I need to be a little braver on the brakes, and try not to carry too much speed into the apex of the faster bends. Personally I think that with a little more time in the car these things will come to me.

COLLECTING THE NEW CAR FROM SEAT SPORT UK

Today has been very exciting, especially after a very fraught weekend trying to organise how and when the car is free for me to collect, not to mention where it's going to go to be made race ready.

So at roughly 10am today I had a call from Jeremy Doncaster, the championship coordinator, to let me know that funds have been cleared and the car was ready for collection. Prior to all of this I had been in talks with a team to prepare the car during the year and so I was due to meet them at the same time.

It just happened to be the windiest and wettest day of the year, which meant that photographs were kept to a minimum.

The Team due to take delivery of the car for preparation was WELCH MOTOR SPORT, and I am delighted to say that I will be running with them throughout the 2008 season 

LAST MINUTE DEAL

Wow what a day.

After numerous meetings and telephone conversations, I have completed what can only be described as every racing drivers nightmare. (The last minute deal.)

Up and coming interior design company, 'CORONET DESIGNS' have signed the deal to get things moving in the right direction for the season. It comes with very little time to spare to acquire a race car and get totally prepared together with a team, set to start the season at the end of the month.

INTRODUCTION

Hi there,

Well I should really introduce myself. I have been involved in Motor Sport since the age of eight. I raced in the lower formulas of karting up until the age of sixteen, when I graduated into single seaters. During that eight year period I achieved many club championships across the country and a seeded driver in all categories.

In 1995, whilst still at school studying for my A-levels, I entered and won a scholarship with SP MOTOR SPORT to compete in Formula Vauxhall Junior for one season, alongside the TOCA package. My first taste of the 'Raz-Mataz' of professional motor racing. With some memorable results including a podium on only my sixth race things started to move in the right direction and the following year I continued to race in the series, again, with many good results. Due to a lack of funds the season ended a little premature, but I had caught the attentions of some Formula 3 Teams.

In 1997 I made several outings in a class B Formula 3 car with a second place in class at the British Grand Prix support race meeting. That same year I continued to race in karts winning the British Open endurance championship.

In 1998 I returned to karting and won the British Endurance title with 'BARON RACING'.

In 1999 a new team and another British Championship, plus wins in Europe.

In 2003 I joined PASSION RACING to compete in both British and World Championship events, achieving many wins and a top five ranking in the UK.

I continued to race in the endurance events, which meant a perfect blend of sprint and stamina racing, and have done up until this moment.

This year I shall be taking part in the SEAT CUPRA CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 with WELCH MOTOR SPORT, and joining a very strong line up of drivers with a great deal of experience for me to tap into. It should be a good year, and worth doing as there are some very talented drivers taking part.