Double Victory at Donington for EBC-Equipped Caterham Racer

“In an exciting return to the Caterham 270R Championship, Charlie Lower represented TPM in the final round at Donington Park, facing one of the largest grids of the season. After finishing as the championship runner-up last year, Charlie rejoined the series for its thrilling climax, with TPM and EBC Brakes backing him. The task wasn’t without its challenges, however, as Charlie also had to navigate a new tyre compound and shifting weather conditions at Donington.”

Thursday – Dialling in the Setup

“Charlie’s weekend kicked off with testing on Thursday; an intense day spent adapting to ever-changing conditions. With variable track temperatures and evolving weather patterns, finding the perfect setup required patience and skill. However, he felt confident with the reliability and stopping power of his EBC Brakes, which proved indispensable. Through a mix of trial, adjustment, and perseverance, Charlie found a competitive dry setup, surpassing last year’s fastest laps. This impressive performance demonstrated his adaptability and skill right from the start.”

Friday – Troubleshooting and Recovery

“Friday’s testing was unexpectedly challenging. Charlie took to the track in the morning session, but the car was plagued by performance issues, keeping him from achieving Thursday’s times. Unfortunately, this limited his time testing in the wet—a crucial setback given the forecasted conditions. However, towards the end of the day, Charlie and his team identified the source of the problem, allowing him to complete a few critical laps to test the setup in preparation for qualifying.”

Qualifying – A Gamble in the Wet Pays Off

“Despite Friday’s issues, Charlie and his mechanic took a calculated risk with the setup in Saturday’s wet qualifying session. Trusting his intuition and the proven performance of his brakes, he pushed hard and ultimately set a blistering pace, securing pole position by a margin of 0.35 seconds. This result underlined his confidence in wet conditions and trust in his car, proving that he was more than ready to take on the weekend’s races.”

Race 1 – Dominant from the Start

“In Race 1, Charlie got off to a fantastic start, pulling ahead of the pack with ease. A crash further down the grid initially halted his momentum as the field was re-gridded. But true to his form, Charlie remained calm and took control once the race restarted. Setting consistent lap times and demonstrating expert control, especially at the braking points, he cruised to victory with a 3.322-second gap, taking his first win of the weekend.”

Race 2 – Mastering the Elements

“The weather took a turn for the worse in Race 2, with the track now fully soaked. Charlie stayed composed, navigating early battles with other front-runners in challenging conditions. His smooth driving and strategic pacing allowed him to break away from the pack, ultimately securing a second victory with a 1.184-second lead. The result underscored his exceptional skill and adaptability, marking two wins out of two and setting him up for a clean sweep.”

Race 3 – High Hopes Cut Short

“Charlie entered Race 3 determined to finish the weekend on a high note and secure a hat-trick of wins. He pushed hard from the outset, engaging in fierce battles with the front-runners. However, an unfortunate incident unfolded as a driver ahead missed a gear, triggering a chain reaction. With little room to manoeuvre, Charlie took to the grass, resulting in a jarring impact that left him unable to continue the race. The hard landing affected his coccyx, causing numbness in his legs, and forcing him to retire with a DNF. Fortunately, initial assessments indicated no lasting injury, although the impact was a disappointing end to an otherwise outstanding weekend.”

Weekend Summary

“Overall, Charlie Lower’s return to the Caterham 270R Championship was an impressive display of skill and adaptability. Despite the challenges of unfamiliar tyres, shifting conditions, and limited testing time, he managed two emphatic race wins and a pole position. TPM and EBC Brakes will surely be proud of his performance and the strength he displayed, proving he’s a driver capable of adapting to any car and conditions.”

“‘After Thursday we bolted on some brand new EBC Brakes and instantly improved the pedal feel as well as the bite on the brakes. Gave me loads of confidence in all the dry heavy braking zone as well as the wet with a small tweak of the bike bias.’ – Charlie Lower”