The Mini Festival gets underway this weekend and there will be one young race who is glad to be back on the track.
Ben Gridley has yet to race this season and he is making his long anticipated return at the best Mini Festival.
Ben wasn’t fortunate enough to race in the festival last year and as he was there as a spectator he can’t wait to get on track and enjoy the racing.
He said: “The Mini Festival was a massive event last year, and even though I was only watching I could feel the buzz around the pit lane, looking across the track and seeing a big crowd of people. I can’t wait to a part of it this year, and it’s a great opportunity to raise my profile with some
good results.
“I’m glad that the Festival is at Brands too, it’s not only my home track but it has so much history and the nature of the circuit provides some brilliant racing.”
It is clear that Ben has missed the thrill of racing week in week out and competing in the Mini Challenge.
He added: “Of course. The challenge the championship provides is massive and there’s so many good drivers in it that it’s very competitive. I’m naturally a competitive person in everything I do but nothing gets my adrenaline pumping like racing does.
“I’ve been to Snetterton and Brands GP this year to watch, and I’m okay when I’m down in the paddock talking to the mechanics and other drivers. But as soon as they get ready for qualifying and the races I get very frustrated, but it gives me the extra determination to raise the budget so I will be at the next round.”
Having been a regular on the podium in the Mini challenge, Ben is hoping he can hook the car up this weekend and get back to the top steps of the podium.
“I’m hopeful that I’ll be fighting for podium places at the Festival. The Brands Indy circuit is such a short track that the margins are tiny, sometimes hundredths of seconds. I’m hoping that we can get an extra test day in before the race weekend just so I can familiarise myself with the new car, and get back up to speed after not racing since last year. I feel confident if it rains over the weekend I’ll be up the front, as I have experience of the Indy circuit in typical British weather.”
Ben is hopeful that the Mini challenge won’t be the first and last race of this season, as all he wants to do is to be able to compete on track.
He said: “At this moment in time I can honestly say I’m not sure. We have a few businesses who are interested in supporting me this season but we still need more help. The next round is Oulton Park in Cheshire and it’s a circuit I love after racing there in 2011, so it would be great if we can build some momentum from Brands.
“I think my results from karting and the MINI Challenge speak for themselves, and being eighteen means that I will be racing for many years to come. This provides the perfect opportunity for companies to support me through my career and reap the benefits as I progress.”