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2nd round – Fiesta Junior Championship

Phoenix FM-sponsored racing driver Lochlan Bearman contested the second round of the Fiesta Junior Championship at the weekend (22 – 24th April).

In only his second ever car race, 14 year old Bearman – the youngest driver on the grid, qualified 7th out of 17 drivers after a challenging qualifying session where the balance of the car was costing him time.

“I was really on the edge out there, and couldn’t push as hard as I wanted to as it was just too unpredictable on the limit” he said.

Starting Race 1 in part dry/part wet conditions he got off the line well only to be caught up in a first corner tangle which dropped him down to 15th place. Finding the limits in the tricky and changing conditions Bearman started to work his way back up the order, making up 3 places on Lap 2. With his confidence growing he started moving to the top of the fastest laps.

”The slippery conditions helped me because it levels the field and eliminated some of the car advantage others enjoy” he said after the race. Having moved up into 12th position he then had another coming together whilst trying to make pass around the outside. The other competitor turned in hitting the front of Bearman’s car which momentarily looked as if it was going to spin, but the youngster held the car sideways for a split second before getting it all straight and continuing – but it cost him 2 places.

Getting his head down he continued where he left off and progressed up to 10th on lap 7, 8th on lap 9 and 7th on lap 10 with Fastest Lap and a new lap record!

“I was really enjoying the race and without the contact and a safety car for 5 minutes I think we could have got onto the podium” said Bearman.

The finishing position from Race 1 determines the starting position for race 2, therefore, the teenager lined up 7th on the grid. The weather conditions were now dry and sunny and the CooperMotorsport team had made set-up changes to the car to make it less unpredictable on the limit.

Getting a good start Bearman was in 4th place as they came into Stowe but he ran wide and dropped to 7th. He then got embroiled in a 3 way battle for 6th with positions changing each lap before finally making his move into Abbey to take 6th on lap 9. In the remaining laps he pulled himself up onto the front group and was right on them as the 20 minutes ran out crossing the line right behind them in a respectable 6th place.

“It’s been an incredible weekend. We were in the Silverstone Wing, in the F1 garages and racing on such famous corners it’s been a bit like a dream at times. We wanted to be in the top 10 coming into the season but I now know that with the car set-up properly I can be at the front so I’m actually disappointed with the overall result” an exhausted Bearman commented.

“I feel like we are so close to challenging for the podium but we need to spend money on the car and that’s a real problem as we don’t have any sponsorship right now. Hopefully we will find some soon and then I am sure we will be in the mix for a win”

Bearman currently sits 4th in the Championship overall and is looking forward to the next round at Rockingham in 3 weeks’ time on 13th-15th May.

 
 
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2nd round – Fiesta Junior Championship

Phoenix FM-sponsored racing driver Lochlan Bearman contested the second round of the Fiesta Junior Championship at the weekend (22 – 24th April).

In only his second ever car race, 14 year old Bearman – the youngest driver on the grid, qualified 7th out of 17 drivers after a challenging qualifying session where the balance of the car was costing him time.

“I was really on the edge out there, and couldn’t push as hard as I wanted to as it was just too unpredictable on the limit” he said.

Starting Race 1 in part dry/part wet conditions he got off the line well only to be caught up in a first corner tangle which dropped him down to 15th place. Finding the limits in the tricky and changing conditions Bearman started to work his way back up the order, making up 3 places on Lap 2. With his confidence growing he started moving to the top of the fastest laps.

”The slippery conditions helped me because it levels the field and eliminated some of the car advantage others enjoy” he said after the race. Having moved up into 12th position he then had another coming together whilst trying to make pass around the outside. The other competitor turned in hitting the front of Bearman’s car which momentarily looked as if it was going to spin, but the youngster held the car sideways for a split second before getting it all straight and continuing – but it cost him 2 places.

Getting his head down he continued where he left off and progressed up to 10th on lap 7, 8th on lap 9 and 7th on lap 10 with Fastest Lap and a new lap record!

“I was really enjoying the race and without the contact and a safety car for 5 minutes I think we could have got onto the podium” said Bearman.

The finishing position from Race 1 determines the starting position for race 2, therefore, the teenager lined up 7th on the grid. The weather conditions were now dry and sunny and the CooperMotorsport team had made set-up changes to the car to make it less unpredictable on the limit.

Getting a good start Bearman was in 4th place as they came into Stowe but he ran wide and dropped to 7th. He then got embroiled in a 3 way battle for 6th with positions changing each lap before finally making his move into Abbey to take 6th on lap 9. In the remaining laps he pulled himself up onto the front group and was right on them as the 20 minutes ran out crossing the line right behind them in a respectable 6th place.

“It’s been an incredible weekend. We were in the Silverstone Wing, in the F1 garages and racing on such famous corners it’s been a bit like a dream at times. We wanted to be in the top 10 coming into the season but I now know that with the car set-up properly I can be at the front so I’m actually disappointed with the overall result” an exhausted Bearman commented.

“I feel like we are so close to challenging for the podium but we need to spend money on the car and that’s a real problem as we don’t have any sponsorship right now. Hopefully we will find some soon and then I am sure we will be in the mix for a win”

Bearman currently sits 4th in the Championship overall and is looking forward to the next round at Rockingham in 3 weeks’ time on 13th-15th May.

 
 
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2nd round – Fiesta Junior Championship

Phoenix FM-sponsored racing driver Lochlan Bearman contested the second round of the Fiesta Junior Championship at the weekend (22 – 24th April).

In only his second ever car race, 14 year old Bearman – the youngest driver on the grid, qualified 7th out of 17 drivers after a challenging qualifying session where the balance of the car was costing him time.

“I was really on the edge out there, and couldn’t push as hard as I wanted to as it was just too unpredictable on the limit” he said.

Starting Race 1 in part dry/part wet conditions he got off the line well only to be caught up in a first corner tangle which dropped him down to 15th place. Finding the limits in the tricky and changing conditions Bearman started to work his way back up the order, making up 3 places on Lap 2. With his confidence growing he started moving to the top of the fastest laps.

”The slippery conditions helped me because it levels the field and eliminated some of the car advantage others enjoy” he said after the race. Having moved up into 12th position he then had another coming together whilst trying to make pass around the outside. The other competitor turned in hitting the front of Bearman’s car which momentarily looked as if it was going to spin, but the youngster held the car sideways for a split second before getting it all straight and continuing – but it cost him 2 places.

Getting his head down he continued where he left off and progressed up to 10th on lap 7, 8th on lap 9 and 7th on lap 10 with Fastest Lap and a new lap record!

“I was really enjoying the race and without the contact and a safety car for 5 minutes I think we could have got onto the podium” said Bearman.

The finishing position from Race 1 determines the starting position for race 2, therefore, the teenager lined up 7th on the grid. The weather conditions were now dry and sunny and the CooperMotorsport team had made set-up changes to the car to make it less unpredictable on the limit.

Getting a good start Bearman was in 4th place as they came into Stowe but he ran wide and dropped to 7th. He then got embroiled in a 3 way battle for 6th with positions changing each lap before finally making his move into Abbey to take 6th on lap 9. In the remaining laps he pulled himself up onto the front group and was right on them as the 20 minutes ran out crossing the line right behind them in a respectable 6th place.

“It’s been an incredible weekend. We were in the Silverstone Wing, in the F1 garages and racing on such famous corners it’s been a bit like a dream at times. We wanted to be in the top 10 coming into the season but I now know that with the car set-up properly I can be at the front so I’m actually disappointed with the overall result” an exhausted Bearman commented.

“I feel like we are so close to challenging for the podium but we need to spend money on the car and that’s a real problem as we don’t have any sponsorship right now. Hopefully we will find some soon and then I am sure we will be in the mix for a win”

Bearman currently sits 4th in the Championship overall and is looking forward to the next round at Rockingham in 3 weeks’ time on 13th-15th May.

 
 
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2nd round – Fiesta Junior Championship

Phoenix FM-sponsored racing driver Lochlan Bearman contested the second round of the Fiesta Junior Championship at the weekend (22 – 24th April).

In only his second ever car race, 14 year old Bearman – the youngest driver on the grid, qualified 7th out of 17 drivers after a challenging qualifying session where the balance of the car was costing him time.

“I was really on the edge out there, and couldn’t push as hard as I wanted to as it was just too unpredictable on the limit” he said.

Starting Race 1 in part dry/part wet conditions he got off the line well only to be caught up in a first corner tangle which dropped him down to 15th place. Finding the limits in the tricky and changing conditions Bearman started to work his way back up the order, making up 3 places on Lap 2. With his confidence growing he started moving to the top of the fastest laps.

”The slippery conditions helped me because it levels the field and eliminated some of the car advantage others enjoy” he said after the race. Having moved up into 12th position he then had another coming together whilst trying to make pass around the outside. The other competitor turned in hitting the front of Bearman’s car which momentarily looked as if it was going to spin, but the youngster held the car sideways for a split second before getting it all straight and continuing – but it cost him 2 places.

Getting his head down he continued where he left off and progressed up to 10th on lap 7, 8th on lap 9 and 7th on lap 10 with Fastest Lap and a new lap record!

“I was really enjoying the race and without the contact and a safety car for 5 minutes I think we could have got onto the podium” said Bearman.

The finishing position from Race 1 determines the starting position for race 2, therefore, the teenager lined up 7th on the grid. The weather conditions were now dry and sunny and the CooperMotorsport team had made set-up changes to the car to make it less unpredictable on the limit.

Getting a good start Bearman was in 4th place as they came into Stowe but he ran wide and dropped to 7th. He then got embroiled in a 3 way battle for 6th with positions changing each lap before finally making his move into Abbey to take 6th on lap 9. In the remaining laps he pulled himself up onto the front group and was right on them as the 20 minutes ran out crossing the line right behind them in a respectable 6th place.

“It’s been an incredible weekend. We were in the Silverstone Wing, in the F1 garages and racing on such famous corners it’s been a bit like a dream at times. We wanted to be in the top 10 coming into the season but I now know that with the car set-up properly I can be at the front so I’m actually disappointed with the overall result” an exhausted Bearman commented.

“I feel like we are so close to challenging for the podium but we need to spend money on the car and that’s a real problem as we don’t have any sponsorship right now. Hopefully we will find some soon and then I am sure we will be in the mix for a win”

Bearman currently sits 4th in the Championship overall and is looking forward to the next round at Rockingham in 3 weeks’ time on 13th-15th May.

 
 
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