Charlie Lower’s Resilient Performance at Oulton Park in the 420R Caterham Championship

Friday: A Challenging Start

“Following his impressive showing at Donington GP, Charlie Lower headed to Oulton Park for the next round of the 420R Caterham Championship, joining the iconic British Touring Car weekend. The competition was fierce, featuring one of the toughest grids in the championship. With a new engine that tightens when hot, causing a loss of top speed, Charlie knew he would have to rely heavily on his race craft to maintain his positions.

“Friday’s practice sessions presented a steep learning curve with a new track layout. In the first 45-minute session, Charlie began cautiously, gradually increasing his pace. Unfortunately, while pushing around the fastest part of the track, he lost control and ended up on the grass, hitting a massive bump that sent him into the wall. It was a tough moment, but the team at LFP and Dan from Hardline quickly assessed the damage. Luckily, only the radiator and a steering arm were broken, allowing them to get the car ready for the next session.

“However, Charlie’s luck did not improve in the second session. Despite getting back up to speed, a mechanical failure with the clutch curtailed his track time, leaving him with just 20 laps of experience going into the race weekend.”

Saturday: Battling Through Adversity

“With minimal testing, Charlie headed straight into Saturday’s qualifying session, hoping the setup was right and driving on brand new slicks for the first time at Oulton Park. Despite being impeded by other drivers on his best lap, he managed to qualify 14th out of 21 overall and 8th in the Pro-AM class – a commendable result given the circumstances.”

Race 1: Holding Steady

“In Race 1, Charlie had a great start, gaining several positions off the line. He expertly navigated through the chaos as four drivers were involved in DNFs around him. As the race progressed, his car started to overheat, affecting his pace. Despite this, Charlie showcased his defensive skills, managing to hold his position and finishing P13 overall and P8 in class.”

Race 2: Fighting with Bravery

“Race 2 saw Charlie struggling with the car’s pace, but he compensated by making decisive overtakes under braking, a component of the car he felt confident in. This strategy allowed him to gain several positions, finishing P11 overall and P7 in class. Mid-race, Charlie had contact with another driver who lost control, causing Charlie to ride over his wheel and land hard. Despite this, he was able to continue and finish the race.”

Race 3: Strategic Adjustments Pay Off

“For Race 3, Charlie and the team took a risk by adjusting the car’s setup, lowering the rear end to improve drive out of corners, compensating for the lack of top speed. This decision paid off, as Charlie had a strong race, engaging in competitive battles and finishing P9 overall and P5 in class – a remarkable achievement considering the weekend’s early setbacks.”

“Charlie Lower’s performance at Oulton Park underscored his resilience, adaptability, and race craft. Despite facing numerous challenges, from mechanical issues to on-track incidents, he maintained a cool head and delivered impressive results. His ability to overcome adversity and perform at a high level against seasoned competitors is a testament to his talent and determination. The team is extremely proud of Charlie’s achievements in these two guest rounds and looks forward to seeing him in more races in the future.”