secures two fourth places on first outing at Silverstone

Craig  Welsher,  winner  of  Silverstone  Motorsport  Academy’s  2007  Racing  Driver  Scholarship, returned to Silverstone at the weekend (11-12 August) to race there for the first time. Hopes were high for Craig heading into the weekend, and rightly so, as he took fourth place in both Avon Tyres Caterham  Superlight  Challenge  races,  working  his  way  up  to  second  place  at  one  point  in Sunday’s race and also setting the fastest lap.

Back  in  March  of  this  year,  Craig,  23,  from  Taunton,  competed  against  eight  other  promising drivers for the fantastic prize of a ‘free’ drive for the full 2007 season - featuring six double-header race  weekends  -  driving  a  Caterham  Superlight  C400,  with  full  support  from  the  championship winning team Hyperion Motorsport in the reputable Caterham Superlight Challenge.

All this, plus a programme of pre-season official race tests, adds up to a total prize value of more than £30,000. Craig started out as the underdog with no race licence or previous experience, and the scholarship competition was his first visit to the Silverstone Motorsport Academy.

After winning the scholarship, he  made  a  promising  to  start  to  his  racing  career  with  Hyperion  and  has  consistently  displayed tremendous pace. Welsher on his way to a respectable fourth place in Sunday’s race While a podium finish eluded him at the weekend, Craig was still pleased with his performance on his first race outing at Silverstone. Winding down from the weekend he commented: “It was a great feeling,  being  back  at  Silverstone  to  race.  It  is  less  than  a  year  since  my  first  assessment  with Silverstone’s Motorsport Academy and I can’t believe how much I have achieved. I was hopeful of a podium finish but  I’m more than happy with two fourth places and a fastest lap in the second race, especially considering the competition.” Steve  Hindle,  Managing  Director  of  Hyperion,  has  been  impressed  by  Craig’s  form  since  the beginning  of  the  season:  “He  immediately  demonstrated  race  pace,  which  is  surprising  for  a complete novice, but what is most remarkable is that he is holding his own on the track against current Caterham champions.  It is testament to the effort put in by Silverstone to develop racing talent.”

Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Ltd, commented: “I was delighted to see Craig back at Silverstone racing this weekend, and two fourth places at your first race event here is certainly  a  respectable  result.  Our  Motorsport  Academy  provides  a  fantastic  starting  point  for budding racing drivers and it is extremely satisfying to see the results.” Silverstone  Motorsport  Academy  is  beginning  the  search  for  its  2008  Scholarship  driver  this summer, visit silverstone.co.uk or call 08704 588 212 for more details