Brands Hatch

My apologies for the delay in updating, post Brands Hatch but I've had a new business project that we will will be launching in January and its been demanding an awful lot of my time. However I've now retired to Cape Town, South Africa for Christmas to recharge my batteries and it also allows me to catch up on outstanding items such as writing an update for the site.

Brands Hatch was frankly a large disappointment - we were uncompetitive, period. All the Hyabusa engines seemed to have a disadvantage and nothing the team or I could do with the set up or gearing of the car would make it go any quicker. In the second race the car punctured a tyre and we were out anyway, a shame really to end my Radical campaign in such a manner but there we are - Oulton Park, Spa and Thruxton were great weekends, Spa probably one of the best I can remember. Unfortunately I swapped the panel damage of Clio Cup for the maintenance and fragility of a sports prototype - so too many DNF's that caused me extraordinary frustration.

After much reflection I have decided what I would like to be racing in 2008. I have already tested the car, unfortunatley a suspension breakage put me into the wall at 100mph plus and cracked one of my ribs, yet I left the test feeling, perversely, very positive. This is going to be the biggest challenge of my racing career and so there is a substantial amount of preparation needed. Fund raising, testing, car development and driver fitness all need to be addressed and sorted by the end of March. I'm very motivated and subject to us being able to make the car competitive, we should be in for a very exciting season - more news on this soon.

When I mention the collective "we" I of course mean myself and the team. I started working with Xero Competition at the start of 2007 and they have worked very hard and diligently, often under some very trying circumstances. Led by amiable Dave Beecroft Xero is starting to get earn a very good reputation, and rightly so. I've had the pleasure of working with the team and have made some good friends - Adam is my engineer, motivator and micky taker, Andy is the thinker, John is the techno and Samson is the willing horse who does everything else, thank you boys I'm looking forward to our next challenge, sans chain drive!

My best wishes for the Christmas season and hope to see you on track in 2008.

18 Dec 07