Posted by Jodie Hemming on May 29, 2014
Jodie Hemming at Oulton Park
My first time back racing a car in twelve months, only this one has a roof! writes Jodie Hemming Oulton Park, Cheshire, Friday, 16 May, 2014: The morning of a test day is always busy, getting to the circuit through the UK’s endless traffic jams, signing on, and running through the test plan with the team. However, this one was a bit different! This test day morning not only would I be contending with all of the above, but getting my head round it having a roof over it whilst driving. Every other car I’ve ever driven has been an open wheel single seater, these cars are generally twitchy and physically demanding to drive. The SWB Motorsport Renault Clio I’ll be driving today is quite the opposite to what I’ve driven before, I can’t wait!! First thing before heading out on to the Oulton Park Island circuit, is to check my seat position, mirrors, and pedals. Normally the cockpit is a cramped environment, but in the Clio its massive, which is an odd feeling a first. All my personal checks done in the car, I’m happy with where I’m sat and what I can see in the mirrors (thought id better be sure of this as you want to be able to just glance in the mirrors when your racing wheel to wheel) I head out for my first laps in a tin top. The Clio I’m driving has Michelin Pilot Sport road tyres, so it’s a treaded tyre, I’m used to driving on fully slick racing tyres, so this is the first thing I notice is like the car feels like a single seater on wets, in the dry! The car sounds a bit ‘Hollywood’ when I’m cornering, loads of squeals and chirps coming from the tyres, but at least iv got half and idea already as to how much grip the car has (loads). After the first 30 minute session I’m happy with everything in the car, and feel ready to start pushing in the next session to try and put a lap together and see how much I need to find to be on the pace. As the day goes on I get more and more confidence in the car and even found time for a little pirouette down through Cascades, I finish the day about 1.8...
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