Ben Gridley was back on track a few weeks ago at the annual Mini Festival that is held at Brands Hatch.

This season Ben got to race in the Mini Challenge at the festival for the first time and he loved every minute of it.

Speaking exclusively to Kent Sports News Ben spoke about getting back on track after an absence from the series this season.

He said: “It was great to be back racing in the MINI Challenge with the Staffordshire University team. It was a real learning curve working one to one with the team, optimising the best of the car and myself. After I got out of the car, I couldn’t wait to get back in it!

“I wasn’t too happy with how qualifying went as it was wet and I didn’t feel comfortable in the car, but I achieved the targets I set myself race by race. The first race I wanted to finish to get some race time under my belt, but still be competitive. The second race I wanted to be half a second quicker than the first race. And in the final race I wanted to be up in the front pack, which was great.”

There was some great wheel to wheel racing that Ben was involved with throughout the weekend and that is what he believes racing is all about.

He added: “Definitely. The last race on Sunday was amazing. The first seven in the Cooper Class were all together going into the final lap, literally side by side and nose to tail. I passed a few guys on the outside and ended up fourth, after starting the last lap sixth. I could have had third position but I missed a gear at the most crucial moment unfortunately.”

The previous year Ben unfortunately was only a spectator at the festival and his experience this year has left him wanting more.

He said: “It was completely different. We had a pit walk and grid walk on Sunday where spectators could come down and see the car and me. We managed to get a lot of names on the roof for £5 which was great and also being able to autograph people’s programmes, it was quite a surreal experience if I’m honest!

“Absolutely. Hopefully the weather next year is better as I think that turned some people away over the weekend, but racing in front of large crowds and the atmosphere it produces was like nothing I had experienced before.”

The season now moves onto Oulton Park for the next round of the season in a week’s time and Ben can’t wait to be out on track again.

He added: “I love Oulton Park, it’s a real driver’s circuit and I’m really looking forward to it. Thankfully it’s only a few weeks away and I’m aiming to be straight on the leading pace up there, challenging for podiums.

“I’m confident I will be racing for the rest of the season. We won’t be doing Zandvoort due to the cost of it and because I’m not in the championship fight, it’s effectively a waste of money for us. The
championship doesn’t visit Brands again this year, we’re now off on our travels around the country. “Although we should be holding a post season event at Brands for my sponsors, where they can come along and have passenger rides with me to celebrate the end of the season.”