The Replacement Engine Roars, But Cooling and Suspension Keep Us Honest

Croft, home of commitment corners, wild battles, and this time... a car that finally had all four cylinders firing properly!

After a frustrating start to the season hampered by engine issues, we rolled into Croft with a replacement engine finally fitted and ready to show what it could do. And right out of the gate, it was clear the new heart of the car was delivering. But as is the way with motorsport, solving one problem often reveals another. Or two.

Coolant temps and suspension gremlins became the weekend’s uninvited guests, stubbornly hanging around all three races. Still, we got stuck in because that’s what we do.

Qualifying:

P5 On The Grid A Solid Start

Croft is not a track where you can hide a problem, and with our chassis still giving us grief over bumps and under braking, we knew we had work to do.

Despite this, the engine felt punchy, and we pieced together a lap good enough for P5. A tight field meant every corner had to be hooked up, and while the car wasn’t perfect, we were right in the mix.

Race 1:

P3 Finish Just 0.4s Off P2 After a Race Long Scrap

This one was a proper battle from lights to flag. After a clean start, we found ourselves locked into a dogfight with the front pack. The engine gave us the legs we’d been missing all season, but we were still fighting the car in the twisty stuff and managing coolant temps that didn’t want to behave.

Despite that, we held our nerve, defended when needed, attacked when the door opened, and crossed the line P3, just 0.4s off P2. That champagne tasted extra sweet.

Race 2:

Reverse Grid, Grass Tracking, and a Hard Fought P4

Starting mid pack thanks to the top 10 reverse grid, we knew this would be a scrappy one and it didn’t disappoint. We made moves early but also had to take to the grass (and beyond...) more than once thanks to some, let’s say, ambitious defending from others.

It was elbows out racing all the way, and with a car still on the edge under heavy load, it took everything to keep it clean. Still, we brought it home in P4, adding more solid points to the bank.

Race 3:

Back on the Podium P2 to Round Out the Weekend

With a better grid slot and the taste of silverware still fresh, we went hunting in Race 3.

The battles were fierce but clean (mostly), and after picking our way through the field and making the most of every scrap of grip, we clinched P2 to end the weekend on a high.

Three races, three strong results, and one clear message we’re getting faster, sharper, and hungrier every time we come back.

Post race Reflection:

The Engine’s In Now Let’s Fix the Rest

The new engine is doing the business. No doubt. But we’ve still got coolant temps creeping higher than we’d like, and the suspension setup isn’t letting us fully exploit the car on corner entry and over kerbs.

The good news? We’ve already got ideas brewing. Expect changes before the next round.

What’s Next?

Oulton Park is on the horizon, and with lessons learned (and more tweaks incoming), we’re targeting another strong weekend. The aim? Keep climbing and keep troubling the podium.

Massive Thanks To:

• Mill Street Motors

• Europa Crash Centre

• Motordrive Seats

• Demon Tweeks Motorsport

• Onamission

• Jautos

• Fusion Wraps Ltd

And of course, shout out to the friends, family, and paddock heroes who make weekends like this possible especially Ashley for keeping the spanners spinning, and Area Motorsport for their support.

Croft was a blast. Let’s make Oulton even better.