1st race of the season- I didn?t know anyone in the paddock apart from my team mates James Blyth and Charlie Butler-Henderson. Prior to Oulton Park we had 1 test day at Snetterton, which was wet.? We had 2 days testing at Oulton prior to the race which were both wet again but had a good wet pace so I was sort of hoping for a wet weekend!? It didn?t happen!!? Saturday morning qualifying I was given 4 slick tyres and told to go and do what I could!? The best I could manage was 8th on the grid.? I was assured it was good for a first time out on slicks but like any other racing drivers I wanted to be further up the pack.
Race 1 ? It was a bit of a manic start and I didn?t get the best drive away off the line.? Tony Dron, a 1970s racing driver turned author and journalist, in the Tech 9 car joined us for this race weekend.? He kept it on the track proving he?s still got it! ?Benny Simonsen had a major spin which I managed to avoid.? I lost a few places but managed to find some more pace and progressed back up through the field also gaining a position to Ben Winrow who unfortunately was forced to retire due to breaking his rear suspension after hitting the arnco going into Shell.? By the end of the race I managed to finish 5th without any problems.
Race 2- I started 5th but yet again not a very good start.? Again lost a few places.? I spent most of the race battling against Jason Greatrex and made contact at Old Hall at the end of the straight.? After making a pass on Greatrex I started to pull away from him, but as a novice racing on slicks and pushing very hard I had a bit of a moment going into Lodge and found myself facing the arnco and managed to miss it .? While I was gathering myself and getting back on the track Greatrex passed me and so I had to battle hard again.? I finished in 6th, just 2/10s off Greatrex! ?It was a great weekend which finished off exceptionally well when I passed my driving test the following morning.? It wasn?t quite a podium but it has made life a lot easier for me! ??The examiner kept asking me what I had done over the weekend and I couldn?t tell him until I had that pass certificate in my hands!
