18/07/2022
Irish Junior Mini Challenge
Well that was a last minute surprise😳
Thanks to a kind invitation and the support of Preptech UK, I found myself on a plane to Dublin😎
Leo Nulty Promotions offered his recently purchase Mini Cooper to drive at Mondello Park in the weekends race at the irrc
After some last minute rearranging and the support of my ever efficient travel manager (Dad🤣) flights, hire car, hotels and entry were all in place👍🏻
Never one to miss a night in Dublin, Mum decided to come as well🍷
So, about the racing
Practice was in the circuit school car on Friday morning as the Mini was still being prepared.
The Mazda gave me useful time with a manual gearbox and helped me leant the track.
I was able to get behind the wheel of the Mini in the afternoon and get some laps in but there was still more work to be done.
Leo and the guys from O’brien Motorsport worked hard into Friday evening and got a lot of things sorted for race day which got me on the grid.
After only 3 qualifying laps the clutch failed which was frustrating but maybe the ‘best’ time for that to happen 🤷🏼♂️
Having started the race well I had moved into 2nd position into turn one and enjoyed a great and clean battle with Cody for a few laps👌🏻
Sadly, the gearbox died and that ended the day for the car which was such a shame😔
Massive thanks and credit to everyone, including rival competitors, who all worked their socks off to try and get us back in the race.
Hopefully we might be able to return later in the year and get a full race weekend in this brilliant championship.
If you are 14-17 and looking at options to get you started, this is definitely a championship worth looking at👍🏻
It might not have all gone to plan but the people, the circuit, the car (when it was going) fellow competitors, even rivals, were all brilliant and helped keep us smiling all the time
Huge thanks to Preptech and Leo for giving me such an amazing opportunity and you deserved more for your efforts 💪🏻
Ireland? I’m coming back ❤️
Next up it’s back to Ginetta Juniors at Knockhill Racing Circuit for the BTCC on July 30th/31st