The famous Silverstone Circuit hosted Rounds 11 & 12 of the Ford Fiesta Junior Championship this weekend.
Phoenix FM driver Lochlan Bearman (the second youngest on the grid) came to Silverstone looking to add to his points tally which currently sees him sitting in 3rd place in his inaugural car racing season.
Bearman has been run so far this season by a single mechanic and his father but this weekend ran with the Specialised Motorsport race team.
“the car set-up was transformed” said Bearman. The tyres were consistent throughout the sessions and the balance of the car gave me confidence to push. The Essex based youngster was in the top 4 fastest in all sessions.
He qualified 3rd having been in pole position for the majority of the quaifying.
Going into race 1 with high hopes of a first win he did not make a great start and was 5th as the field exited the first corner. As they came into Maggots Bearman was positioning himself to attack on the next straight when he was hit from behind, put into a half spin and then collected by another car. The driving standards were really bad said Bearman, there was no room but they still tried a move that was never going to work. The collision dropped Bearman to last and eliminated 2 other cars. Bearman then had to pit because his rear bumper was dragging.
He eventually caught and passed the tail enders and finished the race 10th, meaning he would start Race 2 from the 5th row in 10th spot. He also set second fastest lap. Very disappointing was his verdict. I had a real chance of a podium and feel it was taken away but at least we know we have the speed.
Before race 2 the heavens opened and the track was extremely wet as the cars went to the grid. Bearman who has not yet this season raced in the wet or with the wet tyres felt he had little to lose. At the start the field went into Copse corner in a ball of spray. Bearman with little visibility made his move through Maggots and then again on the run to the complex, ending Lap 1 in 8th place. Setting fastest sectors he quickly caught a 4 way battle for 4th place which had ‘accident’ written all over it. Bearman quickly picked them off and moved into 4th place with a absolutely stunning pass around the super fast Copse corner. Recording more fastest laps the PhoenixFM driver caught and passed the 3rd place man and set his sights on the leaders. Bearman was running in a comfortable 3rd when he ran off the track and dropped to 4th. “I knew I was faster than the leaders and probably pushed too hard, when I should have settled for 3rd, but I will learn from that” said Bearman.
“The result leaves Bearman in 3rd place but only a couple of points off of 2nd.
“The next meeting at the Anglesey circuit in North Wales on 24/25 September is the penultimate round of the Championship. I’m excited about going there, another circuit to learn but I know that now we are with a team that know what they are doing I will have every chance to get my first win and keep on track for a top 3 finish in the Championship in my first season.”
