Last weekend saw Lydia Walmsley and her small family team head to Silverstone for the third meeting of the year of the Mini Challenge. Lydia has been adjusting to the new championship after previously racing in the JSCC and has been making big steps forward each weekend.
This weekend she hoped to move up to racing with the leading cars. This race meeting was round the short Silverstone national circuit used by the BTCC and one that Lydia has raced on before in the JSCC.
After some testing before the weekend it was into qualifying. It was found the car had an ABS issue during the session meaning Lydia had to brake softly to avoid lock ups, something which she was well used to in her JSCC Saxo days. This left her to qualify in ninth but just four tenths of a second off the top four. It should be some close races during the rest of the day. Before that, her small team worked to find and fix the ABS issue. Fortunately, it was found and it was something which could be fixed before the race so Lydia would have a fully working car to fight for positions with.
She made a good start as the lights went out and found herself in the battle for sixth place with James Goodall and Andy Jordan (No not the BTCC one!) The three of them constantly swapped places all through the race with Lydia eventually ending up eighth but right on the tail of the other two.
This gave her an eighth spot on the grid for race two. She got another great start and once again was racing with a pack only this time it included fifth place as well. She moved up to sixth during the first lap and after that places were swapped every lap, eventually leaving Lydia in eighth but only four tenths behind fourth place. She had certain met her target of running with the front runners.
Lydia spoke about her day afterwards;
“Overall, I am really happy with my progress from Snetterton to Silverstone. To only be 4 tenths away from a 4th place position is really exciting! We are now trying to find the tiny bits to get us to the front! I’d just like to thank my amazing team for all their hard work: Dad and Dave for preparing the car, Mum and Joe for his instruction! Also, thank you to my sponsors Morris Lubricants, Derek Hales New Homes in Norfolk, Whip Street Motors and A&D Motors for their continued support!”
Lydia’s next races are at the Oulton Park Mini Festival on the 21st July where she will be hoping to fight at the front once again. By Marc Waller
