Champions!

As the dust settles on a hugely entertaining and successful season for the team, we’ve had some time to reflect on some of the successes, failures, laughs and downright farces that we’ve put ourselves through over the course of the year.

Before the season had started we set ourselves a target to mount a serious challenge for the top step, and were under no illusions that we would have to be at the top of our game to be in the mix come the end of the year.

At all started well at Silverstone. We were happily on top of the timing screens in Friday testing, and John and I locked out the front row after the Superpole session. Unfortunately that quickly unravelled, first with a ride height failure putting me to the back of the grid and then an engine issue causing John to drop back into the pack. It wasn’t disaster, and I managed to come from dead last up to third in the second race, but the journey home was muted to say the least!

Still, that’s racing I guess. The tough bit is picking yourself up and going again, and we managed to get ourselves back in the hunt over the following meetings despite a few engine and gearbox swaps along the way.

The meeting at Donington was a real high for me personally. We had a guest appearance from our old friend Paul O’Neill making a special return to circuit racing after a few years talking about it on TV. I think it’s impossible to be around Paul and not have a huge grin on your face and aching ribs from all the laughing. An absolute riot of a weekend, topped with an appearance on the top stop for Paul. His childlike grin and the proud looks on Joan and Den’s faces are what our team is all about!

Cadwell Park was an experience for wholly different reasons. An odd little weather system left us with dense fog hanging over the circuit all day, and the racing was unfortunately curtailed over safety concerns. The only reason for mention is the way it was handled by the MSVT and MSVR staff. Despite the paddock all pacing around impatiently, the MSV team kept everyone informed, and managed to get us out for one race before the fog descended again and the meeting was cancelled. Not what anyone wanted, but clearly the right thing to do.

When we eventually got to Brands we had clawed our way back to the top sharp end, and were set up for a great finish. As team, we also had Paul back as well as Carl Garnett making an appearance to complete our little reunion. The three of us have had a few bike rides around Europe raising money for the Halton Haven Hospice, and it made my weekend to have them both racing with us. I’m not sure the rest of the team enjoyed us giggling like kids all weekend, but it certainly served to lighten the mood for me!

When the chequered flag dropped on the last race, with John sealing the championship and me creeping into third, we started our party. The champagne and smiles were flowing and this continued right through the evening’s award ceremony and late into the night. Sore heads all round on Sunday morning…

Obviously helping John to the Championship, while coming in third myself, was a massive achievement for our little team of part-timers. We set out at the start of the season to mount a serious challenge and managed to keep it all together through the year despite the setbacks right at the start. Whether it’s Terry changing gearboxes in 40 minutes flat, or Jordi polishing the cars between races, it’s s testament to the effort and commitment from every one of the team that we kept coming all the way to the end. It might be my name above the door, but it’s all the other guys that really make it happen!

Lastly, I’m sure I speak for John and the whole team when I say how much fun the Miata Trophy has been this year. Stuart, Dan, Mandy, Ian and the whole MSV team have put on a championship that must rate as one of the best in the Country. It all operates with a real ‘club’ feel, with huge respect between all the drivers and teams at the heart of it. We can’t wait for next year, with the number 1 on the side!