Pizza Hut Racings Steve Charman has made some positive improvements on the Gold Coast street circuit this weekend, 19-21 October 2012, which has boosted his confidence ahead of a full season in the Auto One V8 Ute Seriesprotected by Armor All in 2013.

Whilst the results arent exactly what the 2011 NSW Formula Ford Champion was hoping for, Charman believes that these two rounds have been an invaluable learning curve before he takes on the full season next year.

This year was always about getting our eye in and getting used to the racing in the Championship so we can hit the ground running right from the start next year and have a really good crack at the Rookie of the Year Championship, said Charman.

Im definitely disappointed with some of the results, but I didnt expect to come out and blitz the Series, especially not when I have never raced with a roof, nor competed on a circuit like Surfers. 

Having decided to only do the two rounds, Charmans decision to tackle two of the hardest tracks is expected to pay dividends for the full season next year.

We had an amazing opportunity to be part of the 50th Anniversary of the Bathurst 1000, which was plagued by electrical issues, and the Gold Coast was the first time I have competed on a tight street circuit lined with concrete walls, and where you look for the curbs to better your times.

We certainly could have picked some easier rounds, but I think it was important to throw ourselves in the deep end and learn the tough parts straight away so we are fully prepared for next year, said Charman, its not like we can ease into the season, not with Adelaide being the first round.

Charmans weekend on the Gold Coast was hampered from the start, as the tight circuit didnt allow for a lot of room to move, and constant traffic did not help to record a solid qualifying result, leaving the Pizza Hut Ute to start Race 1 in 25th.

We got a lot of learning done in the opening practice session, but we didnt get a chance to put a lot of it to use in qualifying, said Charman, we got baulked on almost every lap, and the one good one I had I had a slight error, so I had a lot of work to do right from the start.

In Race 1, Charman had avoided a number of opening incidents and was up to 14th after two laps, but was caught out on the back straight two laps later, when a minor collision knocked the top off the oil cooler, dropping oil all over his tyres and forcing an early retirement.

We managed to keep clean and avoid a few incidents in the opening laps to be up by 10 places, said Charman, on lap 5 I just got passed by Jeremy Gray out of turn four, and heading into the back chicane he broke about five to 10 metres earlier than I was expecting and the impact with his tow hook took the top off the oil cooler and we had to pull out of the race.

With an overnight engine change, Charman was going to start the reverse grid race from near the rear of the grid and had made some good progress, but couldnt affect a pass on Todd Zani into the corners, and a lack of fresh air had the engine down on horsepower on the straights.

I would be in a good position into the first chicanes on Zani, and he would end up straightlining it, and because of the engine temps it would take a lot of work in the breaking areas to get back in there and it would happen again, so we ended up stuck in 23rd.

In the final Race, Charman started from 28th position, and soon had the Pizza Hut FG V8 Ute looking like a one-eyed monster after he was caught in a concertina at turn four on the opening lap, with Noel Edge turning around Gray, and despite the performance of the car being compromised, he managed to make a number of passing moves to finish in 19th.

We lost the front bar and headlight on the first lap, but I was pretty happy to be able to make some moves through the field to pick up nine places and get inside the Top 20 by the end of the race.

Charman will now concentrate on finalising his arrangements for 2013, but is looking forward to getting back into the Series as soon as he can.

We have to work out some details for next year, but Im definitely hooked on the Series, and look forward to joining the grid at Clipsal now that I have banked some invaluable knowledge and experience.