Donington Park GP, Rd.4

Donington Park GP, Rd.4

Donington Park GP, Rd.4

QUALIFYING:

James: “It was a mixed session really, the car felt good and I thought I could have gotten a bit more out of it on my fastest lap, but the tyres just started to drop away on the front. Plus there was a yellow flag out in the last sector for the final few laps, so I kept improving my time in sector one and then slowing for that. I didn’t want to risk a better time under yellows…”

RACE 1:

James: “Fair play to Nathan, he drove a great race, but I was half on the attack at him and half on the defence with Dan because he was really close. I think my front tyres suffered in the middle of the race, but then they came back to me towards the end and I was gearing up for one final attack but my gearbox missed a change out of the hairpin and that was just enough to give him the final gap. Still, it’s another podium and really good points.”

RACE 2:

James: “It’s been a decent weekend, but I wanted that last podium. I had a rubbish start and then had a massive tank-slapper up towards McLeans at one point. It’s a shame to lose the points lead, but there’s still a lot of the season left to go…

Driver Standings: https://www.minichallenge.co.uk/mc-driver-standings/

Images & Videos by kind courtesy of Mini Challenge & CSUK

Next MINI CHALLENGE UK meeting: 20/21 July – Brands Hatch Indy

Silverstone, Rd.3

Silverstone, Rd.3

Silverstone, Rd.3

QUALIFYING:
Mini Challenge JCW Championship leader James took pole position for Race 1 at Silverstone, by a margin of 0.086s, thereby securing an extra 6 points towards his championship challenge.

James: I was quite surprised at pole actually. Before Snetterton we had loads of testing in the same conditions as qualifying, so I wasn’t surprised at the pace I had there, but this was the complete opposite. Combined with the fact I’ve never driven this configuration of Silverstone, I’m pretty made up to be fastest. It wasn’t an easy session. The data shows that I had to overtake another car on my fastest lap, which cost me about quarter of a second, so there’s some more time on the table. But tomorrow is a whole new challenge because this isn’t one of those tracks where you can just drive off into the distance because the slipstream here is so strong. I have no idea what will happen tomorrow.”

RACE 1
James: “I just didn’t quite have the edge in that one. I was being a bit of a wimp on the brakes and in the high-speed stuff and that allowed both Jac and Ben on to me, and it’s so hard to shake off cars around here in the tow. But I’ll take third because it’s solid points for the championship.”

RACE 2
Following a decent start to the race, James became embroiled in  a collision through Village corner. He continued to hold second, but later ground to a halt with a broken driveshaft.

James: “I’ve got no idea if the driveshaft went because of the contact, or if it just went. It’s a gutting way to end the weekend and doesn’t exactly do me any favours in the championship.

Driver Standings: https://www.minichallenge.co.uk/mc-driver-standings/

Images & Videos by kind courtesy of Mini Challenge & CSUK

Next MINI CHALLENGE UK meeting: 22/23 June – Donington Park GP