Team USA Scholarships

Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy Review
Blog Entry 3



Down Time Between Race Weekends

November 1, 2007 - Norwich, UK - Patrick Barrett

Following the exciting events of the opening rounds of the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy at Brands Hatch, Joel and I were able to get some rest, check e-mail, do laundry and check out a couple of racing factories before our next outing the following weekend. Our first order of business was doing our laundry and touring the Lola factory on Tuesday.

Despite the fact I received a head cold from standing out in the rain at Brands Hatch in race two, I was able to stay well alert through out the tour. One section of the tour I enjoyed the most was seeing a room full of the new FJR/50 F3 Chassis and Sports Racers that will be delivered to the Jim Russell Racing School for 2008. Being a graduate of the school I was really excited about seeing the new machines that many new young up coming drivers will be able to drive in the near future

After the tour we headed back to pick up our laundry from a friend's house and went back to the B&B in Bedford to get some much needed sleep. We spent the following day (Wednesday) mostly at the Bedford Autodrome answering e-mails and getting our stuff organized for the final FPA race weekend at the Snetterton Race Circuit.

On Wednesday Joel and I decided to go on our own little adventures. He went into London to have lunch and meet with a friend while I went to the RML team shop in Wellingborough. Ray Mallock, founder and Managing Director of RML Group, has a rich history in motor racing. His current main focus is in the World Touring Car Championship where he runs a three car Chevrolet World Touring Car programme for Chevrolet Europe. I also got a special sneak peak of the new Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR 722 GT, which will feature 20 of the highly sophisticated and expensive machines compete in a spec series in 2008.

On Thursday Joel and I got the chance to drive around Snetterton in a Vauxhall VX220. We each got 15 minutes of track time and were able to learn the line and get a feel for the speed of the track. Aside from spinning the car at the end longest straight, it was an awesome experience.

The weather calls for a rain free weekend, but the cold and wind is expected to be strong. The competition is also going to be tougher with the addition of five more drivers gunning for the sixth and final position in the BRDC McLaren Autosport Award.

Patrick Barrett at Brands Hatch
Photo: James Bearne