It has been a fantastic start to the season ?I managed to secure pole postion for Round 4 of the Formula Renault BARC Championship at Silverstone and win the race by 7.4 seconds. This means that I became the first female to win a Formula Renault race. The win is a credit for all the hard work put in by my team, Hillspeed and engineer Sarah Shaw from Manor Competition. I am looking forward to the next outing, and of course will push extremely hard to produce more podiums!
Last weekend (May 16th/17th), was Round 3 of the Formula Renault UK Championship. I have always enjoyed racing at Donington, so I was looking forward to it. The practise day, instead of being on the Friday, was on the Thursday. This, however, was a real pain for me, as I had a GCSE exam on that morning. This meant that I had to miss the morning session, which was, a 50 minute session, to do my exam. So, I had to travel up, after my exam, for the afternoon session, which was a 55 minute session. However, I only managed to do 1 lap, before the car broke down, due to an electrical fault! This meant, that I had no testing at Donington, in a Formula Renault, and my first time on the track would be qualifying! But, I wasn?t going to let this get to me.
The first qualifying was dry, and I had studied the data long and hard, to get an idea of how to drive and brake on the track. I did the full 20 minute session and at the flag, arrived back to the pits, to see my team with smiling face. I had qualified 13th on the grid, and the 4th top graduate! The team and I, were very pleased.
Qualifying two, however, didn?t go to plan. It had rained just before we went out, so the track was wet. I had missed the pit board for 5 laps, which resulted in my tyres getting too hot and me loosing my pace. So, I slipped from being 14th, down to the very end of the field!
Race One, I got a fantastic start, overtaking 3 cars at the first corner. I managed to hold my own, for the rest of the race, to bring my car home in 10th place. My best result yet! I was then promoted to 9th place, due to Harry Tincknell being excluded. This also gave me the Graduate Cup win! To add that, I was awarded the ELF/Atol Driver of the Day, for my performance.
Race Two was wet, but that did not put me off! I managed to get another good start, (even though I could not see the lights, due to where I was starting). I gained 5 places, but as I went to overtake the car infront, I realised there was no room, backed out of the move but then aquaplaned, which sent me into a spin into the gravel. The marshalls pushed me back onto the track, but some gravel had go into the engine, resulting in me having to retire.
So, it was a disappointing end to the weekend, but there are many highs that I can take from it.
I would like to thank my Team (Manor Competition), for the help they gave my this weekend, and for preparing the car, aswell as my sponsor Silverstone-hotels.co.uk for making it possible for me to race.
Next time out, is at Oulton Park on the 30/31st of May.
Hi Everyone,
On the 5th of April, was the first round of the Formula Renault UK Championship for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I?m the only girl and the youngest!! It was a completely different experience that I have been used to in Ginettas. The style of the race is different, as the races are longer and there is less overtaking. However, I managed to get pleasing results for myself and the team (Manor Competition).
Qualifying was difficult, as you have to get the best out of the tyres, and the window for that is only 4 laps! Over the winter, I did not have as many new sets that I need, due to costs. However I managed to quailify 16th for both races out of a field of 26.
The starts were fantastic. The speed off the line is brilliant and, for my first start, I only lost one place. However, I managed to catch the group back up and pass two drivers to finished 15th and 4th Graduate. I was pleased with that, as my aim was to finish in the top 15.
Race two saw me gain a place off the line, stay with the pack, and gain another place during the race to finish 13th and finish 5th Graduate. I was very pleased with this result, as it was a good achievement for my second ever race.
After last weekend, I am 15th in the main Championship and 5th in the Graduate Championship.
Next stop is Thruxton. That is an extremely fast circuit, but I am definalty looking forward to it.
Hi everyone.
This week is the last week of unofficial testing for Formula Renault UK. So, because of this, I have a packed week ahead of me.
Many of the Formula Renault teams are having to cram a lot of testing into this last week, due to the bad weather we have had.
I?ve done all my half term school work over this weekend, as I know I won?t have enough time to do it this week. On Monday and Tuesday, my team mates and I will be out testing at Pembrey. Even though we won?t be racing there, it is still a good test track. This test, like many of the tests I do, will be for me to carry on bonding with the car. Also I have only been on new tyres once, so I will be out practising on those too.
On Wednesday, I will be working with the mecahnics at Manor?s workshop. This is mainly for me to learn about the cars in a little bit more depth. On Thursday, I will be testing at Silverstone. I am really looking forward to this test, as I?m on the GP circuit, learning it for when I visit it there on the 4th/5th July. On Friday, the team and I will be at Thruxton. This track is very fast, so I know it is going to be an exciting test.
By the end of this week, I have a feeling I will be very tired! However, I am still looking forward to it!
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Hi everyone,
Well a new year and a new season. I?m looking forward to this season even though it is going to be a difficult one!
I have already done one kart race this year, which was in the Winter 100 in the KZ2 gearbox class. That took place at Shenington Kart Track. I had a reasonable weekend there finishing 2nd, taking fastest lap in two of the heats.
Onto the Formula Renault side of things, I was out testing yesterday at Brands Hatch. That was again a good and progressive day, learning a lot from the team (Manor Competition). The testing ban is not far away now (end of February), so I will be getting more testing in before then.
Alice
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