Oulton Park and Nurburgring Preview
It seems weird to be sitting here in the 3rd weekend of September with the UK season all finished. Oulton Park was a fitting venue to close the Championship although I just couldn’t find the Silverstone pace over the weekend and was disappointed to finish in 9th. Even so I think I’ve done enough to finish 8th in the Championship and I am certainly the highest placed new driver to the series in 2006, so I am delighted with that as a first year result.
Next year I will be looking for wins and the overall Championship, and I am confident of achieving at least one of these.
In the meantime I have the Nurburgring to look forward to which promises to be an excellent weekend. I have always gone well on the wider Grand Prix circuits (Donington, Silverstone) so I’m hoping for more of the same at the Nurburgring. I also think the experience of racing abroad will do a great deal for my development as a driver. Having only experienced club racing on the UK circuits, a large meeting on one of the world’s greatest tracks will be an excellent opportinity. Furthermore I am looking forward to both the Nordschlife and the beer.
Looking forward beyond that next year promises to be be interesting. I was slightly concerned to read in the 750MC bulletin that Vee may be returning to Lydden Hill next year. As the series expands and attracts new drivers, tracks like Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Donington and Thruxton should be a must, whereas Pembrey and Lydden surely do not really have a place on the calendar. I am reliant on sponsor support to race, and quite frankly it is tough sell in any case, especially when you have to explain why you are going to Lydden Hill or Pembrey over circuits people have heard of.
Likewise I hope that the series remains over 10 meetings. Whilst double headers are financially advantageous they, if you have a mechanical problem or dislike the circuit it can ruin your championship. For what it’s worth I would like the calendar for next year to include the same circuits as this (except swapping Pembrey for a second Brands or Donington round), but to be spread more evenly from March to October.
