SPEAKER_00 0:00

Lydia, congratulations. The weather's a bit different now to when we spoke this morning. The sun is shining, I'm really pleased to say, but congratulations, what an incredible drive there to finish eighth overall, fifth in class. Brilliant.

SPEAKER_01 0:12

Thank you. Yeah, I can't believe it to be honest. First race in this category. But we didn't really know what to expect. But yeah, to be honest, I think that is the most fun I've had in years. You know, some people will say, oh, it's only eighth, but I think for a first race of the season, first race in this car, um, and yeah, to move forward as well is incredible.

SPEAKER_00 0:32

You've been on a learning curve this weekend in the two occasions that you've climbed in the car, haven't you?

SPEAKER_01 0:37

I have. To be fair, every lap. I'm just understanding more and more about the car and the setup, and obviously the team have done a fantastic job getting the car turned around so quickly. But yeah, I th I do know what I just need laps, and the more laps uh you know I'm getting the more I'm understanding it. And you can see from the delta, you know, I'm I'm on an old tyre now, and even then, you know, we're getting quicker and quicker. So it just goes to show obviously if we had a new tyre what what more could be achieved.

SPEAKER_00 1:00

As so often with these races, the position that you finish doesn't necessarily represent that the speed you have through the race because looking at your lap times, you were getting closer and closer, under half a second at one point from uh from the person who finished at the front.

SPEAKER_01 1:14

Oh, really? I didn't know that. That's even more of a win, then, isn't it? Yeah. To be fair, I just need experience in this car, and I think that's what we've just done. I've learnt an awful lot. Even being in and amongst other drivers, you know, when you're qualifying and testing, you don't really want to be around anyone, but being in that environment door to door with other drivers, you you get to learn and pick up things. So yeah, I'd I thoroughly enjoyed that. It just makes all the hard work worth it.

SPEAKER_00 1:35

Putting in this context how little time you've had in the car, was there any more you could have got out of it, or was discretion playing the better part of valor in those last couple of laps?

SPEAKER_01 1:44

Um my my favourite track limit warrior came back, so I didn't really want to push too hard at the latter stages of the race because I didn't want to afford um a track limit penalty. But yeah, do you know what? I you know you can always push harder, but at the moment, I you know you don't earn any or learn anything in the gravel trap. I wanted to keep it on the track, learn as much as possible, get as many laps under my belt as I can, and hopefully that would take us in further into the year then.

SPEAKER_00 2:05

You must also feel really good about the fact that it's repaid the faith that your sponsors and supporters have had in you to have had a great opener here at uh Donington Park, and I'm I'm sure you want to mention them.

SPEAKER_01 2:16

Yeah, I hope so. I mean, obviously my partners have ultimately got me here today into the grid this year. Without them, it wouldn't be possible. So, yeah, it's a massive thank you to them. Without them, you know, the journey would have stopped at the end of last year or even you know years before then. So, yeah, hopefully, hopefully we did them proud. Obviously, there's still more work to do, and they totally understand that as well. But they're on the journey with me, and even my team, you know, they were up really late last night getting the car ready, so a massive thank you to them. Hopefully, hopefully we keep progressing, and um, fingers crossed we'll be where we want to be soon.

SPEAKER_00 2:44

I'm sure they'll want to hear themselves as well. Just give them a quick name check, those people who've supported you.

SPEAKER_01 2:48

There's so many on the car which I'm really fortunate about. But a new one for me, Phoenix Freight, this this weekend. We've got Higher Safe Solutions, Simple Click, Great Oak Tree Land Services, Planner, UPAC, a lot of them have come from last year. A couple of new ones, Circadian, um, B4 Secure. We've we've got so many, and I'm so fortunate. UKFR, RDP accountants, you know, they're a fantastic bunch of people, all with really successful businesses, but some amazing people behind the scenes that are actually making it happen for me on the track. So, yeah, huge thanks to them.

SPEAKER_00 3:18

Fantastic start to the season, and we've still got Sunday to go.

SPEAKER_01 3:21

I I know, I'm exhausted. I think time to have a little lay down and a cup of tea and hopefully go again tomorrow. Really well done, congratulations. Thanks so much, thank you.