Well my brand new Ray GR10 car has been collected by Cliff (Dempsey) from the Ray workshop and is now having the final components added to it as we speak. The plan was to begin our test programme with a shake down this week and then move onto the official MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain launch day and timed test at Oulton Park the following week. We would then fit in another test or two prior to the opening rounds back at Oulton Park over the Easter weekend. So much for best laid plans!

Slight snag in our plan is that I am not able to drive the car at the moment. Not only am I not able to drive my race or any other car right now; in fact I would struggle to drive my Play Station simulator! I have been struck down by a form of blood poisoning which has caused a severe and painful swelling on my hand and until it clears up I cannot do very much. The worrying thing is that my younger brother had near enough an identical condition two years ago and ended up having to be hospitalised for five days as prescription drugs were not strong enough to fight it. Obviously I?m hoping that the same thing will not happen to me and I will be well enough in a few days to begin driving again.

However on a positive note I can say that my 2010 team mate has done a few days testing in the sister car and it went extremely well so we are all very encouraged by this. I am not being deliberately mysterious by not revealing their name as I don?t want to jump the gun on a press release regarding this which will be available soon revealing his or her identity!

So one way another it?s been a slightly strange week. It started well last weekend with a brilliant night at the BRSCC awards where it was great to catch up with lots of other drivers and faces from the industry on a social occasion. I am very pleased with the two championship trophies that I collected. A few days later it was my birthday but unfortunately by then I was already suffering from this infection so that was quite a subdued affair. Now I?m just itching to get into the car and get on with the job so this is a very frustrating situation but I suppose the saving grace is it would be worse if it had occurred during the height of the season.

Anyway I?m not quite an invalid yet. My brother Jon is playing taxi driver for me this weekend and has driven me to Bayford Meadow kart circuit where I am still able to help the Project One Team during their race weekend with driver coaching and data analysis and it?s good to have something to do and to feel useful! I?m just hoping it?s not too long before I am able to get back out on the track myself. I will keep you all posted.

It’s been a little while since I last blogged on here and one could be forgiven for thinking this is because nothing is going on, but this could’nt be further from the truth. As I write I am over in Northern Ireland helping and advising some new customers of Project One Racing’s highly successful Honda Cadet kart. We were at the Kirkistown circuit for a race meeting over the weekend (where I also saw my friend and current F3 star Wayne Boyd) and now we have two days of testing at Nutts Corner. I then go straight from here to Rowrah in Cumbria where I’ll be helping Project One Racing during their testing in preparation for the forthcoming Super One meeting in the Rotax classes there. I won’t be home until the end of the week, after a week away, and its a quick turn around and back up to Stratford Upon Avon for the British Racing & Sports Car Club Awards Dinner. I’m delighted to have two championship trophies to collect from our brilliant debut season of car racing and it will give us one opportunity to celebrate our triumphs of last year which I think is very important for the team, the sponsors and everyone else who helped in any capacity during our 2009 campaign. It’s also my birthday a few days later so I will allow myself a little time to celebrate as I will be busy on the day itself.

In fact 2010, as we are now very much in, seems to be flying by rapidly! The only competitive driving I’ve managed to do so far is at the Annual Autosport Show, at the NEC in Birmingham last month, in the charity karting event. I have to say it was more of a demolition derby this year which just goes to show that you can put some of the most famous and talented racing drivers together in a so called non serious event and their natural competitive instinct takes over and they all just want to beat each other at all costs!! Such was the high volume and frequency of the red flags that I only managed a couple of racing laps but never the less I enjoyed myself and more importantly a good amount was raised for the very worthy cause of Malaria No More. David Brabham, who I have got to know quite well these past few months, should be appluaded for continuing to work tirelously to make this annual event a success.

So although very busy I’m yet to get behind the wheel of a race car yet in 2010 and I know some of my peers have been able to go abroad and test but neither time nor budget will unfortunately afford me this luxury at present but I still believe we can be well prepared for the first round of the MSA British Formula Ford Championship at Oulton Park over the Easter weekend. We will be at the official championship launch and test day at the same venue on 10th March with a shiny brand new Ray chassis and hope to schedule some additional testing between now and the opening event. I have every confidence in the Cliff Dempsey Team and their preparartion and in Ray Race Cars ability to put a good car under me and I am very much looking forward to what will be hard but plesurable challenge ahead!