Multiple kart champion Abbi Pulling made her car racing debut last weekend as she headed to Brands Hatch for the first rounds of the Ginetta Junior championship, a support race for the BTCC.
After her very successful Kart racing season in 2017, Pulling was hopeful of a strong start in car racing. She proved her speed had transferred to car racing straight away with fifth place in the first of the Friday practice sessions. The second session saw Pulling running into some issues and this left her in fifteenth, still actually a good position for a newcomer but Pulling’s natural competitiveness made her want to be back towards the front of the field.
Saturday saw a further practice session followed by qualifying. Practice saw her up in tenth but Pulling hoped for more from qualifying.
She certainly got more taking a very strong eighth on the grid, outstanding for someone in their first ever car racing qualifying. Unfortunately, a track limits infringement meant her best second fastest lap was lost so race two’s grid position was tenth, still a great result and she’d learnt you have to be very careful of track limits in Ginetta Juniors!
Her first race was last thing on Saturday and it would be her first ever start in a car using a clutch in what is one of the most competitive junior championships in the country, there was a lot of pressure on her!
She got a great start off the line and tried passing the pack in front of her around the outside but unfortunately the gap closed forcing her to back off and she list several places. Over the next few laps she fought back strongly and by the flag she was ninth overall and fourth of the rookie’s just 0.7 seconds off a Rookie Podium. Although Pulling was pleased with this, her competitive nature meant she wanted even more.
The next race was on Sunday and was in wet conditions so an even bigger challenge for the start! She made a good start again despite the tricky conditions but once again got crowded out. This was her first racing experience in the wet so she concentrated on keeping the car facing the right way and getting a finish to maximise her track experience. Unlike several rivals who spun off out of the race!
Pulling eventually took thirteenth. She was a little disappointed but pleased she had finished the race once again. She spoke about Sunday’s race and her experience of her first weekend;
“I got a good launch again but once again mugged in the first corner, it was difficult to keep the car facing the right way but anyway, apart from a ‘moment’ on the last lap, it was a fairly uneventful race, finishing 13th, with the car intact, it was disappointing but satisfying at the same time.”
“The experience gained at Brands will only make me stronger and more determined for the next race at Donington Park. Mega thanks to the team, Total Control Racing Ltd, what a great bunch, Lee and Jack Brookes, Kenny and Zack for getting the car as good as it was, not forgetting mentor, coach and data guru, Dave Wooder as well all the other lads. I can’t actually wait until Donington!” By Marc Waller
