DETERMINED TO TURN PACE INTO PODIUMSGinetta Junior Championship racer Matt Chapman will head north of the border next week for the category’s annual visit to Knockhill Circuit in Fife, where the 15-year-old is determined to convert his proven front-running pace into podium finishes.
Yet again at Snetterton last weekend, the Oxford driver watched his genuine rostrum hopes vanish when contact to the rear of his car in the opening race, on the first lap, led to an instant retirement and also resulted in a back-of-the-grid start for race two.
Although mounting a storming drive through the order, gaining 13 positions across the six laps to finish on the cusp of the top 10, Matt was still rightly frustrated with the outcome of the weekend having posted the fastest time in testing and certainly having had the pace to run in the top three.
All things being equal at Knockhill next weekend, 22nd/23rd August, one of the shortest yet most challenging circuits on the calendar, Matt should certainly be towards the top of the timesheets once again in his Total Control Racing-run Ginetta G40.
Throughout the season Matt has delivered front-running speed, from qualifying just 0.1 seconds shy of pole position during the championship curtain-raiser at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, to setting the fastest lap at Thruxton in May. Having endured so much misfortune in the races in 2015, though, he is hungrier than ever to get his hands on some long overdue silverware.
“Snetterton was obviously really frustrating but we had great pace all weekend and that’s what we need to focus on ahead of Knockhill”, he commented, “I was very happy with my drive through the field in race two, gaining so many places in only six laps was a great performance and shows how well the car is working too.
“It has been a very tough season, we know we’ve had the pace to be on the podium and we should definitely have been regularly in the top six. Things haven’t worked in our favour at all, but I’m still confident we can have a strong conclusion to the season – starting with Knockhill.”
On his maiden visit to the Scottish venue last year during his first season in cars, the TCR driver performed well by securing an excellent top 10 result in the second race – fourth of the rookies – and lapped with pace good enough for the overall top four, which certainly bodes well for his second appearance at Knockhill this time around.
Officially timed testing will take place next Friday, 21st August, with free practice following on Saturday, 22nd August, at 10.30 followed by qualifying at 14.35 and round 13 at 17.40. On Sunday, 23rd August, round 14 will begin at 11.00.
Provisional Ginetta Junior Championship Standings (after Rd12): 12th Matt Chapman, 97pts
