EBC-Equipped Fiesta Racers Dominate at Debutant Trackday Championship Round

“With the weather cool but sunny, we couldn’t really ask for more suitable conditions to kick off our 2024 campaign. Donington Park traditionally being the hardest circuit in the UK on braking components meant we had set about our preparation with a fresh set of pads of discs and pads all round. Of course opting for the tried-and-tested combo of EBC RP-X™ pads up front mated to USR discs, and EBC Yellowstuff pads in the rear on plain discs. We tend to switch between Bluestuff and Yellowstuff in the rear depending on track smoothness and gradient to avoid unloaded wheels locking etc. Needless to say, having that option is an advantage!

“With qualifying underway, Henry set about getting a few banker laps in and making sure everything was dialled on with the car after some intrusive heavy maintenance which hadn’t been tested. Thankfully all was ok, and we soon saw ourselves heading up the class timing tables. Just before the planned driver switch, there was a huge oil slick placed on the racing line going through the infamous Craner Curves by an expiring Renault Clio. Kev jumped in the car having not driven it since getting out of it at Brands Hatch last year, and immediately was up to pace. Then, in the dying minutes of the session, pulled out an astonishing lap despite the oil down, putting us firmly at the top of the class timing sheets, and in the mix with a lot more powerful machinery – some 1.3 seconds clear of the next class contender.”  

“With a quick bleed of the brakes all round for good measure, we readied the car for the race. With Henry starting the race and the red light dropping, it was important to be hyper aware to get a nice clean few laps in. It’s a long season and the last thing you need is contact or issues this early on.

“With the class lead re-secured after a nice straightforward move into the chicane up the inside on a fellow Class D MX-5 who had snuck past whilst Henry was baulked on lap 1, he set about securing a solid few seconds’ gap. A stranded car in the gravel at the chicane prompted a safety car at the halfway point, with the majority of the field opting to dive straight into the pits. Henry set about completing an extra lap instead of pitting as the safety car was at the later point of the lap in hand so made sense to have another fast lap. After pitting and Kev jumping in and catching back up to the safety car, we had catapulted ourselves up to 5^th position overall! A lap ahead of our nearest class rival!

“Kev consciously made the decision to manage the race like a true professional and bring the car home without any hassle, navigating any backmarkers and setting the fastest lap in the class for that all-important point. Crossing the line in a staggering 5^th position overall, beating ALL the Class C cars in the process!

“A dream start to the season, and testament to the quality of the products we use and believe in.”