SPEAKER_00 0:00

Well Lydia that's uh the first qualifying session for the season here. Quite a chilly Donnington Park, isn't it? Um you said to me before, track temperature's quite low and uh difficulty getting heat in the tyres.

SPEAKER_01 0:13

A little bit, yes. I mean obviously we had two bites of the cherry with two sets of tyres, but to be fair, it I have to say it's probably almost my first proper test session in the car, really, because I had Media Day and we had a few niggles with the car then. Um and then Thursday test day was was also plagued with a couple of issues. So uh to be honest, I'm thrilled to be here. It's uh it's no secret that I've really struggled for budget this year, and the team Clean Racing and the Carl Henny family and all of my partners have really pulled together last minute. So, to be completely honest, just to be driving around Donington Park in a beautiful clean racing liveried Porsche is just a dream come true, really.

SPEAKER_00 0:47

We'll talk about the the importance of sponsorship uh in a moment because it is a critical factor to go racing, isn't it? But uh, in that session, you finished overall P13 but P8 in class, which given you've had so little testing, I mean that was your test session, really, wasn't it? That's that's pretty good. You should be proud of that.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

I am to be fair. I didn't really know what to expect, obviously, with with Thursday not going quite to plan. Uh I didn't really know what to expect, and it was my first kind of proper proper go at it, I think. So, in all fairness, I was pleased just to be out there. I my lap times were improving with every lap, and I think that's all that you can really ask for at this stage. We're so last minute to the party uh that you can't really expect too much, and it's nice because the pressure's almost off, and I've just got some time to gel with the car a little bit because I haven't obviously had much time in the car, and yeah, I th I was hoping for a top ten, I have to be honest, but at the end of the day, you know, I've done no mileage in this car, so I you know I've got to be happy with that.

SPEAKER_00 1:38

But a top ten place only means, and I say only with respect, like a tenth or a couple of tenths, which track temperature gets a bit warmer, you get a bit more used to the car. That's very, very doable.

SPEAKER_01 1:50

I think so. Yeah, I think with just more experience, is it's natural that I'll I'll keep going quicker even on an older tire, I think. So I think I just need a bit of mileage in the car, and to be fair, I think I did full foul to some track limits as well. But um, I think that's just me trying to figure out kind of standard at Donnington, isn't it? Yeah, sensors everywhere, but obviously that means it's it's nice fair racing, which is obviously important as well. But uh yeah, I'm really pleased to be fair. I'm very proud of my team. My team had a very, very late light night last night of worked wonders, in all fairness, to get this car to the stage that it is now. So big thanks to them, big thanks to my partners, and yeah, I feel so privileged to be here. Three weeks ago it wasn't happening, so I feel very, very lucky.

SPEAKER_00 2:26

And that's a stressful journey in itself, isn't it? I mean you you're you're very good on social media, and your search for sponsors and supporters has been endless, hasn't it? And it's a very late uh entry because of the support that you've got.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

It it was, yes. I've got some fantastic partners that have come with me from last year and some new ones as well, which I'm really grateful for. But obviously, with the jumping class from last year from the Club Sport to the RS now, it just pushes the cost up, so it's a bigger budget to find which makes it harder every year. But you know, we we try to give back as much as possible, and I'm I'm really fortunate to have all of the partners that are on board are amazing people and that they're fantastic people behind the businesses. And uh, yeah, I feel really fortunate to carry their banding around the circuits across the UK on the soca package. So, yeah, it has been hard, no doubt about it, and it has been very last minute, much more last minute than you would have obviously liked. But to be here is is a win in itself, really.

SPEAKER_00 3:16

I think it's worth name-checking some of those people who've uh and organisations that have helped you get on the grid this year.

SPEAKER_01 3:22

Absolutely. I mean I had a lot from last year that have continued the journey. They obviously thought it was worthwhile being on board, which is lovely. I've got a lot of local companies, so I'm based in Suffolk, got a lot of local companies. We've also got a few new ones for this for this round, so Fenix Sprite have come on board, which has been fantastic. I've also got Kirkadium, which are which are new company, and then all of my ones from last year. Um, so Higher Safe Solutions, SimpleClick, B4 Secure, Planner, UPAC. I mean that there are so many to list. I'm so fortunate to have such a long list of partners that are supporting me. So yeah, it's been fantastic, and I I feel I can't express how lucky I feel.

SPEAKER_00 3:56

Well it's really good to see you back on the the grid, Lydia. And as we're talking, the sun has come out. So it's obviously come out for you for this weekend. Have a great weekend.

SPEAKER_01 4:05

Thanks so much, and you.