Hard Charging Bearman…Fiesta Juniors at Silverstone

Last weekend Lochlan Bearman contested Rounds 5 & 6 of the Ford Fiesta Junior Championship. Bearman was going into the weekend sitting in 4^thplace in the Championship and looking to improve on two 3^rd place finishes at the previous round…

The Jamsport Racing team set the car up perfectly for qualifying me and we finished in second place less than a tenth off pole position.

In race 1 I made a reasonable start and maintained 2nd position as the field exited Copse corner and headed up towards Maggots corner. By the end of the first lap I had pulled away from 3^rd and began chasing down the leader. By the start of lap 3 I was right on the back of the leader. The car felt great we were pulling away from the field. I had already set what was to be the fastest lap of the race and felt confident that I had more pace I the car and that I would be in a good place to challenge for a win.

Then disaster struck as we headed onto the back straight a bolt had failed and dropped into the gear box causing instant and terminal failure.

It’s so disappointing. We were a certain 2^nd and I had a really strong car to challenge for the win. Words can’t describe how that feels but unfortunately that’s a side to motor racing that is ever present and unpredictable. I will take the positives that the car felt so good and I had set fastest lap.

In race two I had to start at the back but had a good start and passed 2 cars before the first corner. Avoiding 2 cars making contact in front of me I was forced wide but maintained momentum allowing to pass 2 more cars with a better run up towards Maggots where I made up another 2 places under braking. Exiting the Brooklands and Luffield complex I crossed the line in 8^th place at the end of lap 1. As in Race 1 the car felt fantastic said Bearman.

At the end of lap 2 I passed another car under braking at for Copse and this put me on the back of 3 cars battling over 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th. At the end of lap 4 we came into Brooklands three a breast and I got down the inside taking another position and moving up to 5^th. Closing on the two in front I was perfectly placed to benefit from the tow towards Maggots allowing me to get the inside line and secure 4^th. At the end of lap 8 I was able to apply pressure on the 3^rd place man who locked his brakes and I got alongside, we ran door handle to door handle out of the last corner and along the pit straight. I had the inside line and was second as we exited Copse corner. 2^nd place was in my sights and having quickly caught them I got inside at Brooklands and got the inside at Luffield. I was in 2^nd by the time we crossed the start finish line. So within the first half of the race I had gone from last to 2^nd.

One of my team mates was leading and by the time I got into clean air he was too far away for me to catch, so I just focussed on driving cleanly and getting the car home. After the disappointment this felt like a win!

I feel like I’ve finally got a car that can compete and I can’t wait for Rockingham on June 18^th for Rounds 7 & 8.

Full timing info can be found here.