GTC driver Andrew Rackstraw is set to continue his exciting international campaign, driving for the first time in England this coming weekend.
The youngster who landed in England on Thursday morning is super excited to get his second taste of international racing under his belt. He was last on international duty back in April when he raced in the British Racing and Sports Car Club, Avon Tyres National Formula Ford 2022 Championship for Round 2 at Knockhill Racing Circuit , Scotland.
Rackstraw driving for the Kevin Mills Racing Team, will be competing in Round 5 of the championship this Saturday and Sunday at the world famous Snetterton Circuit.
SNETTERTON INNIT
The 4.779km circuit is situated in Norfolk England and will provide a very different challenge to that of Knockhill.
It has a very unique layout, with a wide variety of corners built to test drivers to their limits. Long straights, fast flowing corners, hairpins and even some off-cambered chicanes to add to the mix. It is a very technical circuit but equally rewarding when a good lap is put together. Another challenge is the wind, which can catch you out especially going through Turn 1. And in a single-seater, all it takes is one gust of wind to have a moment!
The nature of the circuit also allows for plenty of overtaking and seriously close racing when it comes to the Formula Fords. Most of the corners feature very special names from Motorsport legends and champions like Senna, Nelson, Williams, Hamilton, Agostini and Brundle to name a few. This adds a nice touch to what is a popular circuit worldwide, and someone like Rackstraw will appreciate the rich heritage of the circuit that he will be racing on.
The weather seems to be behaving itself although there is the ongoing heatwave that is currently tormenting most parts of Europe. Record high temperatures were felt in parts of England yesterday where a high of 40.4 degrees was seen at Heathrow Airport. Looking at the weather in Norfolk, it should be around mid ’20s for the weekend. Perfect conditions for racing and more of what Rackstraw is used to. Last time in Scotland the temperatures were near freezing and the wind and rain wreaked havoc. Let’s see what the talented South African driver can do in more familiar conditions.
“It feels like it was just yesterday that I made my International racing debut but here we are already for my second crack at it. I learned so much from my first event, and I am very much relishing the opportunity to be racing in England for my second ever international event.
The standard of racing is on a different level here and it’s going to be amazing to take to such an iconic track and race wheel to wheel with 20 plus cars on track.
The car is the same car I raced at Knockhill, so it’s just a case of jumping in and learning the track as fast as I can. I enjoyed working with the Kevin Mills Team last time and I’m hoping we can continue to work well together over this weekend. Also happy to have my mentor and coach, Claudio Piazza Musso,with me to share the experience and to help me reach my goals.
When we last raced, we had the pace for a top 6 finish but things didn’t go our way. If we can avoid any trouble then I hope to repeat the good showing we had in Race 2 at Knockhill. This is the last opportunity I’ll have to race the car before the Walter Hayes Trophy which is the big event at Silverstone later this year. So I’ll be fully focused on learning and absorbing as much as I can.
I have to say a big thanks to my family and friends for all their support. Especially my parents who continue to make my racing dream a reality. To all my supporters, thank you so much and I hope to do you proud this weekend. And last but not least thank you to Ian Schofield and Investchem for making this all possible as well as RDSA for their guidance and mentoring. Let’s go racing!”
FIRED UP
Andrew Rackstraw is definitely one fired-up young man and we wish him all the best as he takes on the racing weekend ahead.
For updates on how the weekend is going, stay tuned to his social media outlets as well as his website and profile pages.
It should be one epic racing weekend packed with lots of action!
Rackstraw is never too far away from a podium finish and could very well be in the mix this weekend.
Time to go racing!
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