SPEAKER_00 0:00

Well Lydia, that rounds off three interesting, challenging races here at uh Nock Hill. Talk me through that weekend.

SPEAKER_01 0:09

I can't even remember, honestly, it's been so busy. I think we've had every single weather we could have had, haven't we? We've um it's been manic to be fair, but I think characteristic of this very small circuit, everyone's quite close, so yeah, it has been manic, but in fairness, I've learnt a lot. I think the results on paper probably don't reflect actually how much I have learned this weekend. Uh we had a completely wet race this morning, which I haven't really driven this car in the wet at all. Um obviously Alton Park was a bit wet, wasn't it? But people were going out on slick, so it was a lot drier than it was this morning. So that was a huge learning experience. And then uh the race dress now, um I was super busy, and yeah, I finished 11th, but the race that I actually had was fantastic, and again learned a lot about the car and everyone around me, so yeah, it's been good.

SPEAKER_00 0:52

One of the things you must take away from this is that there's a consistency of you in the middle of that table, which means that you know you are incrementally increasing all of the time and putting the people around you under pressure.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

I think what I have to remember is how new I am to this championship. I think when you look on TSL and you see the names that are actually above me, I mean some of them are ex-Torring car drivers, some of them are racing this championship for three years now, some of them are doing winter series over in Europe. So I'm going racing six times a year and actually keeping up with them. So I feel very proud actually of that. I think I expect a lot of myself and I want to do the best that I can, but actually, if we put it into perspective and realise how little time I've had in this car in comparison to a lot of people in front of me, it's very minimal. So, yeah, I am actually really proud. I think it's uh it's easy to um to always want more, and of course we always do want more, but actually we have to take into consideration that it we're still learning a lot, and um yeah, it's still fairly new to me.

SPEAKER_00 1:42

Absolutely. No brings its own challenges, as you already mentioned. Uh, you know, we had some rain as well, which uh throws another variable into the equation. You're still learning this car. How difficult is it to handle one of these Porsches around uh a circuit like Nock Hill, but particularly in the wet?

SPEAKER_01 1:59

They're really good cars. Um, I mean they've obviously got traction control and things, but even something like that. I've had variable advice on whether to have it on or off in the wet. So I'm just learning myself really how I actually use the car and what works for me. But yeah, I mean they're fantastic cars, and obviously the tyres really good as well, but it's just almost trying to learn what the limit is in a race where you can't afford to do a track limit or you know you can't afford to go into the gravel and things like that. So the stakes are quite high. It's not like a test session. It would be nice to have a test day in the wet and really figure out actually what what I'm capable of in the car in those conditions. But when you're amongst 20 other Porsches and trying not to ping a track limit, that's uh that is quite challenging. But yeah, it's just been a fantastic learning experience. And hopefully, the next time, if we do get another wet race, hopefully I'll feel a lot more confident going into it now.

SPEAKER_00 2:42

Each round you're looking more comfortable in the car and the championship. Uh uh does it feel like that to you?

SPEAKER_01 2:49

Yeah, in fairness, I I said it earlier. I don't really remember what my club sport race car from last year felt like, so I think that is testament to the fact that I am feeling more confident in the car, and it doesn't, it's I mean obviously it's a quick car, but it's not blowing my socks off quick anymore. So I've got more time to think about other things, which just tells me that I'm feeling more at one with it. But yeah, I mean it still surprises me from time to time, it still does something strange that I don't expect, but yeah, it's uh it's a fantastic car. I feel so privileged to be here. Um, so yeah, I did I didn't think I'd even be here this year. So every race I just feel so lucky to be sat in a Porsche with um that fantastic horse on the bonnet, on that badge. It's uh it's a real privilege.

SPEAKER_00 3:25

It's a long drive back home which gives you opportunity to reflect. What is the biggest thing you'll take away from this weekend?

SPEAKER_01 3:33

I think the the wet race I learnt a lot, but in all honesty, I think every race there was something different that I learned, which is great. Um I think I just need seat time, but I think now with the with the summer break over, obviously we had quite a gap between the previous round and this one. They're now coming thick and fast, so hopefully the momentum will keep going, I'll keep learning. But yeah, when I get home, I'm going to be straight on that laptop on V-Box, figuring out where everyone was faster and what I need to do next time to do better.

SPEAKER_00 3:58

And I know you'll want to thank uh sponsors as well who support you through your racing season.

SPEAKER_01 4:03

Absolutely, yeah. So huge thank you to all of my partners, particularly Phoenix Freight, they've been fantastic. But yeah, without all of my partners, I wouldn't have been on the track. Um, so yeah, I feel really privileged to have such a uh fantastic group of partners that are actually backing me. And Phoenix Freight were actually here this weekend. They were one of uh very few that made the trip, so I feel very fortunate that they braved the weather and they came up to support us.