Leading Days of Thunder team signs driver from ‘home’ town

Plymouth’s home grown talent, Chris Cooke will race the learndirect sponsored car in this year’s 2004 Days of Thunder Championship. Chris will be driving for Team West-Tec who’s team principle Gavin Wills began shared the same ‘roots’ and who’s racing dream began in the same city sixteen years ago.

Team West-Tec was started in May 1988 on a Government Enterprise allowance and a grant scheme of £40 per week. The early years were devoted to running cars, which were driven by Gavin Wills and over a rapid period of time the business was built into a multi car race team.

On Wednesday 14th April ITV West Country filmed with Chris Cooke at Rockingham as he focused on his preparations for the 2004 season.  Last year Cooke drove for West-Tec in two races and he also raced with the CWS race team.  He now heads into his first full season with backing from a household name sponsor.Team West-Tec and learndirect have already proved to be a winning combination, with two visits to the podium for last years driver Rob Speak, including victory in round 3 of the 2003 championship.   learndirect is a national household brand, providing online courses at all levels of ability.  On a local level learndirect has links with the Tresham Institute based in Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough. The Tresham Institute is a Centre of Vocational Excellence in Motorsport and Performance Engineering and is a partner in the new “National College for Motorsport” providing the first Motorsport Technician training in the country.

The Days of Thunder series – featuring 170mph American V8 car racing as seen in the Tom Cruise film of the same name – will take place on the first Sunday of each month, from May to October. Rockingham’s 52,000 seater venue offers 100% visibility from 95% of its seats, which means fans can witness all the action at Europe's fastest circuit. ENDS