Hi everyone,
Last time I blogged I talked about general plans for 2010, but some of you may have noticed that it contained little detail on what I am to be driving this year. At the moment that is a bit of an unknown as I have decided to concentrate on the business side of racing with regard to my preparation work, and offer my available Locosts for hire. This leaves me without a permanent drive at the moment, but a while ago I entered a competition that could potentially change that!
Some of you maybe aware that in 2009 I was fortunate enough to be offered a prize drive in the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup courtesy of the Dunlop Race Academy. This was an excellent initiative, and ever since I have been on the lookout for similar opportunities. One such opportunity is the Racing Perfection Ginetta Scholarship, which offers the winner a full season in the Ginetta Challenge (formerly known as the Ginetta G20 Championship).
This excellent championship supports the Formula 3 and British GT package, and is well known for the professional standard of teams and drivers alike.
Racing Perfection Ltd have run cars in this championship in the past, and launched the initiative to find a deserving driver to support for 2010,?which resulted in myself and about 25 other hopefuls turning up at Teesside Autodrome last week for an initial assessment day. The format was to be fitness tests, media style interviews and the all important track assessment with top british driver coaches?and ARDS instructors. Sadly the North East weather did its best to interrupt proceedings and left us with a water-logged track, meaning no running was possible on the day. Disappointing, but the safety of all concerned is paramount and the decision to abort was understandable. Despite this, we were all still able to complete the other aspects, including an interview in front of?a camera and a fitness test, thankfully conducted inside, given the weather!
With all that taken care of, we returned today (Thursday) for the postponed track action. This time we were greeted by glorious (if mildly chilly!) clear skies and dry tarmac!
Although my scheduled time on track wasn’t until 11:20, I arrived early to walk the bits of the circuit that had previously been inhabited by local goldfish, and hopefully get a look at some of the other competitors laps?in order to pick up some pointers.
Not to be.
In my urgency to be organised, I insisted on trying a car for size (it’s paramount when you’re nudging 6’5!) and as a result found myself strapped in to a brand new, gleaming?G20 at about 9:15am, with the words “Well as you’re here, you?may as well?go out and get it done!” ringing through my closed visor! Right… OK then!
The session was to be split?into two 15 minute periods, with the first for learning the car and circuit and gradually picking up speed, and the second for honing the technique and advice offered by Howard, my instructor.
Immediately on the circuit the car felt familiar and comfortable, with its rear wheel drive, front engined layout offering similar characteristics to the Locost I know so well. Through the first session Howard guided me round the circuit, offering advice and encouragement and ironing out the odd rough edge, then it was back in for a detailed chat and debrief, before straight out for session number two! To borrow an excellent cliche, it was all over far too quickly and we were back in for the final debrief. Howard offered me some final advice and answered a couple of questions before issuing me with a sincere congratulations on a marked improvement between sessions. Satisfaction all round then!
The next stage of the competition is a final, to?which 15 of the 50-or-so entrants are invited next Friday (12th) at the same location. There is another assessment day tomorrow, so we all face a wait while marks are totalled, merits are discussed and egos are ignored in order to select the finalists. Hopefully the call will come on Sunday…..!
However, if it doesn’t and the competition ends here for me, it would be another superb experience to add to the list I have experienced recently. Steve Bell and everyone at Racing Perfection deserve serious plaudits for the initiative, as do the instructors who offer the benefit of their experience, and if it isn’t me who is chosen as the overall winner, then I have no doubt that whoever it is will receive nothing but the best for their career in 2010 and beyond.
With that said….. Lets hope my next blog is about the experience of the final, and the one after that is?about looking forward to a season of Ginetta G20 competition starting in early April…..!
If you’re not aware of Racing Perfection, have a look at their website, which offers further details on the Ginetta Scholarship as well as a database of useful contacts for British motorsport: http://www.racingperfection.co.uk
Until next time,
Matt
