Hampshire racer Matt Harris took on the challenge of the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy and emerged fourth after the final rounds of the competitive series this Sunday, November 7th, only beaten by drivers with far more experience of the powerful single-seaters.
Run over six races, 18-year-old Matt gained valuable experience in the championship’s 300bhp FPA cars, with their unique ‘boost’ button which enable the driver to have 360bhp under his right foot a set number of times per race. Racing against drivers with many FPA races behind them, Matt more than held his own - which should see the youngster confident as he aims for a second season of Formula BMW in 2005.
“At Snetterton two weeks ago I finished in the top five in all three races,” said Matt, from Curdridge near Southampton, “which meant I’d left there second in the championship. So I was confident for Brands, but then qualifying was on a damp track, and I had hardly ever driven a Formula Palmer Audi in the wet. “
“There only 20 cars on the track, but there were drivers of wildly varying abilities and it was really difficult to get a clear lap, so I was pleased to be fourth on the grid for the first race, but disappointed with 14th in the second. The cars are very different to the Formula BMW I raced all season - almost the exact opposite with far more power and a very different technique in the corners.
“In the first race I gained a place off the line, but then got blocked and lost a couple into the first corner. I gained a position back, but it was hard to make any more moves and that was that and I had to settle for fifth. In second race I was able to fight my up to seventh, but again it was so hard to get past people - I actually burnt some of the stickers on the nose of my car as I was running so close to the exhaust of the cars in front.
“I was seventh on the grid for the final race, and gained places early on, but again could get no higher. I spent the race bottled up behind one other car - this time I even made a hole in my nose cone as I got so close and my feet started getting cold with the draught!
“I ended up fourth in the points, though everyone who finished ahead of me had done at least one full season of Formula Palmer Audi, and the champion started racing when I was a one-year-old! I’m’/ happy with that as an end to the season, and I feel confident going into winter testing now. We are aiming to do Formula BMW again next year - budget permitting of course.”
