I have started up a semi regular report from the Pro Division of Preston Racing, from the perspective of a 'beat' reporter assigned to my team...Team Hazeluna. The full article is on our group's Fb page, but I was asked to post it on the forum too. (Text only here tho')
This was the first...
AND THEY'RE OFF!!!
Pro Season 50 kicked off with an impressive 1-2 around the Albert Park circuit for Steptoe & son. Not entirely unexpectedly the team relegated from Elite last season outclassed the field and showed how little qualifying is relevant in this formula if you have the fastest car. Falcon Racing's Smith rounded out the podium, so no surprises there either. The Falcons look competitive from the off. One shock was the poor showing from Bucks Fizz, so strong last time they raced at this level, they failed to register a point on their return. Is this temporary? Or are the green and white cars really that far off the pace? A very creditable showing by Mevill Motorsports saw Anderson in 6th and also notable was the point for Ryan's newly promoted team.
What of Team Hazeluna? Goodwin took her customary pole (4 from 5 starts) and converted it into a solid 5th place, but Genario seemed to have left his form at home on the Copacabana. Better is expected from the Brazilian than a midfield showing, tho' his one stop strategy may have been a blunder.
Still a promising start for Hazeluna and already a major upgrade is being brought to Malaysia.
What of the next race? KL is a very different track to Melbourne and the form a team showed around Albert Park may not be an indicator of how fast they will be at Sepang. The two races together tho, should give us a fuller picture of season 50's Pro pecking order.
Next time, I hope to bring you an exclusive interview...but I'll keep it under wraps for now. 🏎
Two more (currently) to follow.
Second article...
Sorry it has been a while...but life got...intense. Anyway...on with the piece.
TH notebook....early season 50.
Silverstone already...so what has been happening in Pro, and Team Hazeluna in particular? Well the season has seen a dominant force, Steptoe and son having won all the races with the exception of the single Bucks fizz win. A truly impressive performance. Trailing in their wake Bucks fizz and Vanguard could hardly be closer and Falcon racing have been there and thereabouts and sit fourth. What of CBS? Well the demise of this team was not foreseen, but performances from them had been patchy. So few surprises at the top, the divisions strongest four teams leading the way. Team Hazeluna, a mixed bag really, a bad tyre and set up choice in China, a missed race in Bahrain and underfilling the cars in Monaco have hampered progress so the team sits firmly in fifth, just where they finished last season. Optimism, however, is high. Monaco should have brought a win and race pace is better. There is also a new face in the garage, Hazel Turner has come over from touring cars to try single seaters and is TH's new reserve driver. Early indications are that she is quick.
So how has all this affected the team. We spoke to Luna Goodwin about this and other matters.
THn: So, Luna, how has your season been so far?
LG: A bit up and down really, there have been some highs and some lows.
THn: The highs?
LG: My speed in qually has been really good, the 07 is mighty over the single lap, and it is great to have a car I can really push, the team have done a great job there.
THn: It is a shame the race performance doesn't match the raw speed...
LG: Yeah, that's been the achilles heel, but we are closing the gap, long runs have got better.
THn: What about those lows you mentioned?
LG: Well...China....
THn: Yes, China.
LG: We got it wrong in Shanghai, these things happen, it's a pity, we had high hopes that the circuit would suit the car.
THn...and Monaco?
LG: Obviously, any driver wants to win in Monte Carlo and to run out of fuel whilst leading and going away, on the very last lap was...well...the radio got bleeped out quite heavily.
THn: What was the cause?
LG: A combination of things, we knew it was borderline, there was a minor instumentation problem and frankly...I pushed too hard...so plenty of blame to share around. We succeed as a team and we screw up as a team.
THn: How has the addition of Hazel Turner affected the team dynamic?
LG: Haze is great, when she gets fully fit and up to speed we are gonna see just how talented she is.
THn: Girlpower?
LG: Suppose so, it'll be great racing with Haze, I've known her a few years now and while it'll be sad to say goodbye to Pablo, the team is really looking forward to a new chapter in its story.
THn: Thank you, Luna, and good luck for Silverstone and the rest of the season.
(Luna Goodwin interviewed in between practice sessions for the British GP.)
And the latest....
Team Hazeluna notes....Monza season 50.
Since the last article a lot has changed for the guys in purple, the car has taken a huge leap forward and each driver has taken to the top step of the podium. Let's recap swiftly.
Silverstone... the, by now customary pole for Luna Goodwin was duly added to her already impressive tally and the young Briton backed it up with a very strong podium, finishing less than a second behind the second Steptoe and sons car as that team continued its dominance with another 1-2 finish. Genario also got points in 8th. A strong showing from a heavily updated car.
Nurburgring...
This time the Brazilian made it one step higher, funishing second to Schmelling of S&s. Goodwin, despite another pole, could only manage a single point.
Hungaroring...
More good points for TH as Goodwin converted pole to third again with Genario in sixth. This race saw a really close finish as the top 4 were less than two seconds apart. Another 1-2 for S&s.
Valencia...
Pablo Genario went back to the scene of his only race win and repeated the feat coming through the field from a lowly 9th place on the grid. Goodwin also qualified in midfield and came through to take sixth. The car with another batch of upgrades showed real pace and Genario was faultless to finish six seconds ahead of the nearest (S&s, of course), challenger.
Spa...Many consider the Ardennes circuit to be the best and Luna Goodwin recorded her first GP win in Belgium. A truly dominating display, she led from pole position and only surrendered the lead after her two pitstops. To further underline the teams competitiveness Genario claimed third to help lift the team to 3rd in the Pro Championship.
After some less than stellar showings from Falcon Racing and Vanguard, Team Hazeluna are now in serious contention for the second promotion place.
And what of the chances of making it three wins in a row? Well..."as long as Monza stays dry, the cars should be thereabouts..."said team principal, Dave Benton. "We expect a strong showing from two in form drivers."
Could historic Monza see the winning streak continue? Will the Steptoes reclaim the top step of the podium? Can Bucks fizz add to their single win of the season. Will Falcon, or Vanguard, or both react to the challenge thrown down? Whatever the result the combination of close, fast racing and aggressive strategies should keep both the local tifosi and the travelling TH fans, nicknamed the 'Purple Haze', regally entertained in the former Royal Park of Monza.
