Erstwhile Ginetta Junior Championship leader Charlie Robertson is determined to move back to the top of the driver standings at Croft in North Yorkshire next weekend, 23rd/24th June, when rounds nine and 10 of the campaign wrap-up the first half of the 2012 season.
Pushed back to third in the points table last time out at Oulton Park, having been on the receiving end of unnecessary contact in each of the two races at the Cheshire venue, the 15-year-old heads to Croft some 25 points in arrears – after topping the standings going into the Oulton race meeting.
Charlie has certainly had more than his fair share of misfortune already this season, including a puncture while leading round one at Brands Hatch and being shunted into retirement during round four at Donington Park, but even so he still has three wins to his credit and one other podium.
“I’m really determined to go out there and get back on top of the championship at Croft”, said the Whyteleafe racer, “Oulton was really disappointing for us, we should have had two podiums for sure and possibly two more wins but there wasn’t a lot we could do about what happened. Croft’s a good track, I like it a lot and I’m focused on nothing other than trying to win both of the races.”
In addition to being the ‘home’ circuit for Charlie’s Harrogate-based team HHC Motorsport, Croft was also the scene of the Caterham School pupil’s history-making maiden car racing victory this time last year. Aged just 14, Charlie became the youngest ever winner of an MSA regulated car race with success during round 10 of the season.
Prior to the ground-breaking victory, he finished second in round nine where he also posted a new lap record of 1m39.204 seconds (77.11mph). That, though, will almost certainly be bettered next weekend due to the Ginetta G40 cars now running on slick tyres rather than the treaded rubber of previous years.
“Croft was probably the best weekend of the season for us last year”, added the Investigo and Ria Capital Markets-backed driver, “Winning my first race in cars was a really specially moment, we’d been building up to it but to actually do it only halfway through my first year was a fantastic feeling.
“We’ve got some ground to make up in the championship so the best way to do that is to go out there and try and win both races. I know the HHC guys will give me a great car and it’d be fantastic to stand on the top step of the podium again at the team’s home circuit.”
Ginetta Junior will have two test sessions at Croft on Friday, 22nd June, ahead of an additional free practice at 10.25 on Saturday, 23rd June, with qualifying at 14.40. Rounds nine and 10 will both be contested on Sunday, 24th June, at 13.20 and 16.30 respectively, and will be screened live on ITV4, in High Definition on ITV4 HD and streamed online at itv.com/btcc
2012 Ginetta Junior Championship Driver Standings (after Rd8):3rd Charlie Robertson, 185pts
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