Chris’ Race Report from Round 1,2 & 3 at Silverstone National 

Well where do I start… my first ever race weekend was with @minichallengeclubsport championship and it sure was a dream come true to be able to build, race and maintain a racecar.

The weeks leading up to the race weekend were some of the best and worst times. The ups and downs of preparing a car with little to no experience and extensively researching how to do things were stressful for all around me, and I would like to say sorry and thank you at the same time for the support I have been give.

Heading out for the first time on to the Silverstone National Circuit for free practice, there was alot of emotions including pride, nerves and excitement, despite cleaning up a self inflicted oil leak and doing an oil change the night before. 🙈🙈

Qualifying – again full of emotion heading out on circuit, time to learn the track and start to push. Knowing I needed to get three laps under my belt, I took it steady and then started push coming onto my second push lap, when unfortunately the window blew out on the seal so had to back out of the lap, but managed to do a 1:12:464 putting me 10th and 5th in my class.

Race 1 – Here we go, the time has come to start the racing dream, 15 cars on the grid for my first ever race start! I got a lot of wheelspin, following a review of the video post weekend which revealed I was holding the revs too high, but we live and learn for the next race weekend! With a few lockups here and there I crossed the line in 10th, 5th in class but 24 second gap from the car in front in 9th place. Fastest lap was 1:12:431.

Race 2 – With a few changes overnight to the car and some well earned rest I headed to the start line for race 2, and as in race 1, got a bit of wheelspin off the line. I held on to the back of the car in front for a lot longer, whilst still learning the track and the different lines. I got to the end of the race in one piece, crossing the line in 9th due to a DNF with car 29 but this time I was only 12 seconds back from the car in front, a great improvement from race 1. Fastest lap was 1:11:477.

Race 3 – Sunday afternoon rolls round and race 3 is upon me. Feeling great from the achievement in race 2 I lined up in 9th, but lost that place by turn 1 due to inexperience with more wheelspin 🙈, but kept onto the back of 9th only dropping 4 seconds in the first part of the race. A little coming together between two cars in front gave me the opportunity to close the gap and get a tow, but then being caught out with a back marker and a lockup on the next corner put me out of the tow from car 89 and ending the race 6 seconds back. However I again reduced the deficit from race 1 and race 2 from 24 to 12 to 6 seconds! I ended the race in 9th with car 53 DNF and fastest lap was 1:11:053.

7 weeks to check the car over, make any changes and do some sim training. See you all at the next race weekend at Thruxton alongside British Truck Racing Championship (BTRC).