Luke Reade returned to racing in 2015 in the Mini Challenge and he loved every minute being back behind the wheel.

For Reade it was a welcome return to a full season of racing, and it gave him the perfect opportunity to showcase the talent that he has.

Speaking to Kent Sports News about his season, Luke said: “It was great, I loved every minute of it. It was touch and go all season weather we could race all year. But I have got a fantastic set of sponsors who helped me every step of the way, and it was great to be part of the full championship.

With it being his first season in the Mini Challenge, Luke didn’t really set himself that many targets, knowing it was going to be a steep learning curve.

He added: “No not really, I was fully aware this was going to be a big learning year. I always want to win, so until we get there I’m not 100% happy. But I am still really happy with how 2015 went and it gives me a great platform to work on for 2016.

“I never paid much attention to the championship standings. After a bit of bad luck early on in the season I concentrated on finding time in myself and the car with the team Sussex Road and Race, and we are fully prepared for an assault on the championship in 2016.

Luke didn’t have the best of luck in the championship as he said but once he found that luck, he was regularly inside the top ten.

He said: “I think I won the trophy for the most DNFs this season, out of the first 10 races I finished only three. After this we changed team to SRR and never looked back. This was a new car to SRR so we effectively started the season half way through. Yes we could have finished higher in the championship without the DNFs, but this is all part of racing and fires us up for next year.

“We had some extremely good races this year, usually coming though the pack after a DNF! We have been quick in the races within tenths of the fastest time, it has been my starts that have been letting me down. Which is something I will address over the winter. There is no doubt that we will be fighting for podiums from the word go next season.”

With the season now having come to an end we asked Luke what his highlight of the season was and it seems it was the high and low point of the 2015 season.

“The best but also one of the worst moments of 2015, would have been Silverstone in the wet where I came though the pack and got into third. Setting fastest lap each lap catching the leaders, then the clutch let go at the end of start finish straight locking the wheels and ending my race in the gravel. My stronger performances came at the end of the season with SRR.”

Luke is now looking ahead to 2016 and turning the potential shown in 2015 into reality and he is excited to get back on track again.

He said: “Yes 2016 with be a full attack on the Mini Challenge championship. After finishing on a high at Brands Hatch with a win in the Motoring news saloons championship, it fully boosts my confidence going into 2016 in winning ways.

“We are now pushing hard for sponsors to come on-board with us for 2016. I am confident we offer one of the best motorsport sponsorship packages. For any enquires please contact Alex Reade. Email [email protected] Phone 01474871412

Images courtesy of Dave Young, Mark Campbell and Rafal Biniszewski