Alongside her GT racing this season, Rebecca is also competing in the top JCW class of the MINI Challenge.
These cars are like little touring cars, very quick and with a sequential gearbox too. The weekend saw Rebecca take to the track at Brands Hatch in her first round in the MINI.
It’s a very different beast from the rear-wheel-drive GT cars Rebecca’s used to as she explains: “The JCW MINI Challenge cars are like small touring cars with their sequential gearboxes and they’re very quick. It’s been so exciting getting to grips with a front-wheel-drive car.”
The MINI Challenge is one of the most competitive championships in the country and is a stepping stone to the British Touring Car Championship, which means there are some very talented drivers on the grid and only about four seconds between them all.
After a brief test session on Friday, Rebecca took to the track for qualifying and race one on the Saturday. By the end of the race she’d managed to improve on her qualifying time by four seconds as she got to grips with it. On the Sunday she was on the pace improving her lap times by another second.
During race two Rebecca managed a few overtakes before getting carried away into Surtees, she kept the car under control but lost the places she’d made up.
Rebecca got some tips from last year’s champion Charlie Butler-Henderson who knows the car incredibly well.
All in all, it was a successful weekend with Rebecca really finding her feet in the new car. She says: “It’s a completely different car to anything I’ve ever raced before but I’m really happy considering how little time I’ve had behind the wheel so far. Now that I’m on pace I can’t wait for some great battles at the next round.
“Brands Hatch GP is an awesome circuit and the close, respectful racing in this championship is brilliant. The team has been really welcoming and friendly and I can’t wait for the next race. Thank you to MINI UK and MINI Challenge for this opportunity.”
