James Tucker's blog

I have never, in my 12 year racing career, got my plans, for the coming year, together as late as I have this year.
It was only at the start of February that we, me, my Dad Paul Tucker and Grandfather Nigel Bailey, decided that we would tackle the Dunlop MSA British Formula Ford Championship. However coming from Superkarts and Karts we did not know how to go about getting into cars. This is where the great help from Greg Symes and Tom Gaymor, from the MSA Academy, really pushed us forward.
In the Space of a month I have gone from having no plans to being a signed ‘works’ Van Diemen (Fluid) driver. I can now really focus on my driving.
This leaves me with a clear goal of winning races in the Dunlop MSA British Formula Ford Championship. I feel this is a very achievable goal in conjunction with Van Diemen, who have won the championship 22 times in the last 32 years, and my sponsors 1st Choice Superseal, BG Printers, MTS and Sue-Sew.

On the 18th and 19th of January I attended the Porsche performance centre at Silverstone to work with the top fitness coaches in the sport (who train the likes of Mark Webber and Jenson Button). As part of the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) I did various different fitness tests – which was very interesting and showed exactly where I need to improve my fitness and how. David Brabham Le Mans 24 hour and American Le Mans Series champion in 2009 was there to give us young drivers an insight to what it’s like to be at the top end of the sport as a professional driver. This has given me a greater drive to achieve my goal of being a Le Mans driver.

On the 2nd of February I, was 1 of the lucky 10 from the MSA Academy, invited to attend the Skills Active event held at Lords Cricket club in London. I received great inspirational and goal setting tips from 3 former Olimpians, Sarah Winckless, Sarah Stevenson and Francesca Jus-Burke, an insight into becoming a world champion from, from former Featherweight Boxing Champion of the World, Barry McGuican MBE and great Media Training from Sky Sports News presenter, Graham Little.