Luton-based Chris James and the Team ES Racing squad completed a successful shakedown today at Donington Park for their #78 Chevrolet Lacetti.

For the early part of the day it looked questionable as to whether the team would get out on track as the English weather dealt a blow with a damp track and thick fog. Thankfully the fog cleared and James was able to take his first foray on to the Leicestershire circuit in the Lacetti.

“It was a tricky start to the day” admits James who was running on old tyres for the shakedown, “but as the track dried off in the afternoon I was more comfortable with the car and could settle in to the task ahead.”

As the track dried off the lap times came down; James would post a best time of 1m13.8s - less than half a second off the pace of Jason Plato in 2009 when he was also driving a Lacetti.

“It’s AWESOME, there’s so much power” admits an impressed James who last season raced in the Mini Challenge.

A successful day almost ended badly as James was finishing his run, “I thought I’d drive just one more lap, but I got a little too close to the edge of the track and put a wheel on to the grass, the next thing I knew I was sliding sideways!. Luckily the only damage done was a broken splitter, it could have been a lot worse!”

Team ES Racing will be out on track at the first official test session and media day at Silverstone on 24 March. The team will then test at Brands Hatch ahead of the first round which takes place at the Kent circuit..

Team ES Racing currently has a number of sponsorship opportunities available, anyone interested should contact Chris James directly at sponosorship@eshire.com.