George Grant’s efforts to raise awareness for Mission Motorsport took a significant stride forward during round three of the MaX5 Racing series held at Cadwell Park last weekend (May 31/June 1).The GGR Motorsport driver – making a first competitive appearance at Lincolnshire’s undulating circuit since witnessing father Ronnie compete there in the 1970s – felt his understanding of the Mk3 Mazda MX-5 increase significantly both in and outside of the cockpit.Two days of testing beforehand with Mission Motorsport’s Tony Compson and Major James Cameron certainly helped in that respect, despite Grant feeling the Louth venue’s tricky nature had slightly masked those gains over the weekend.“Cadwell is an extremely difficult circuit,” explained Grant. “It’s complicated to learn and tricky to find a groove, which is emphasised by the extremely narrow track width. It’s almost like Monaco, but without the glamour!“Along with my engineer, Tony, I am beginning to understand how to relay detailed feedback and acknowledge that the smallest tweaks can make a big difference. And, through the exhilarating Halls Bend complex, it helped me feel more at one with the car and relaxed, which was an incredible sensation. It’s tricky to string a lap together, but proved that we’re working well as a team.”Once again the camaraderie of Mission Motorsport – which supports ex-servicemen and women in rehabilitation and recovery – made a big impact on Grant, as did the entire family atmosphere within the paddock.“The Mission Motorsport guys are truly terrific; I have so much to learn from them,” admitted Grant. “David Birrell, who races with prosthetic legs, is an inspiration to me. It puts everything into perspective. We also get a lot of outside support while at races. For me that echoes the spirit of motorsport. I met some of the marshals who have been here 40 years and it’s barely changed in that time.”A poor start would hamper Grant’s progress in race one, but as his confidence and rhythm increased throughout the weekend so he was able to match the pace of more experienced rivals. Indeed, only an error at the restart of race three after a Safety Car period scuppered his chances of a good result.“It’s amazing how much you can learn in one weekend,” beamed Grant. “Small suspension tweaks and adjusting my position in the car made a big difference. I felt that I managed the tyres and brakes well, so overall I’m very pleased.“It’s also encouraging to know where we can achieve significant performance gains ahead of Brands Hatch. I think we’re on the cusp of making that important step up, which is promising.”Grant will aim to continue his upward trajectory around the Brands Hatch Indy layout at round four of the championship on July 26/27.