Ginetta Junior Championship racer Matt Chapman is relishing his return to the fastest track on the series calendar, Thruxton in Hampshire, for rounds five and six of the 2015 season next weekend, 9th/10th May, where he aims to deliver results commensurate with his clear front-running pace.
Up to now in his second season of car racing, the Total Control Racing driver has encountered far more than his share of misfortune but his speed and racecraft have certainly been in evidence and he heads to Thruxton determined to battle for his first podium.
During the officially timed pre-event test, which took place at the 2.35-mile track in early April, Matt performed strongly with the sixth fastest time overall. Lapping in the top three during the morning session, he was sixth in the afternoon to wrap-up a very good day’s work.
Now, as the third event of the season edges nearer, the Oxford 15-year-old is confident of improving on his season-best of 11th position from the previous event at Donington Park a fortnight ago and well and truly getting his championship moving in the right direction.
“Thruxton is a fantastic track, I really enjoy racing there”, said the youngster, “After testing last month went so well we are feeling very positive and I’m more determined than ever to start taking the results we know we’re capable of.
“Things haven’t gone to plan so far, through no fault of our own, but the car has been fantastic and if we can avoid getting caught-up in other people’s incidents then we know we’ve got the pace to run in the front group and mount a strong challenge. Two consistently good finishes are what we need, but I really want to aim for my first podium as well next weekend.”
So far this season, Matt’s qualifying pace has been very strong and at both Brands Hatch and Donington he was only fractions away from pole position – 0.1 seconds and 0.2 seconds respectively at each venue.
Converting that level of performance into big points scores is the chief aim at Thruxton, a circuit which demands maximum commitment with the fastest sequence of flat-out high speed corners in the UK – Goodwood, Village and Church.
Free practice will get underway at 12.15 on Saturday, 9th May, with the all-important qualifying session following at 15.35. Both races, which will be screened live on ITV4, are timetabled for Sunday, 10th May, with round five starting at 12.55 and round six beginning at 16.30.
Provisional Ginetta Junior Championship Standings (after Rd4):14th Matt Chapman, 30pts
