Bobby Thompson got behind the wheel of a Team HARD. prepared Volkswagen Racing Cup car for the first time last weekend.

It was clear that the young driver part of the Kent team’s young driver programme can’t wait to get back on track and start racing.

Speaking to Kent Sports News after his first shakedown test of the season at Brands Hatch, Bobby said: “So far there has been a lot of travel down to the team each week, to see how my car has been getting on.

“Obviously we are at the first track day at Brands Hatch, and it is about getting a feel for the car and how it feels changing gears as it is obviously left hand drive and I have got to change gear with my right hand.

“It is a big difference to what I was doing but it is a big step ahead. At the moment I think I prefer changing gear with my right hand, I am right handed and it is easier to throw it in gear. We will see how it goes.”

It was the first time for Bobby to take to the track in his new VW Golf and it was something that he was keen to learn from.

He added: “It is my first time out and it is the first time I have seen the car fully done with a race seat in it. It looks a nice car and we aren’t going to push the car to hard today only revving to 4,500 rpm, just keeping everything easy.

“The first session I had a good start to the session and I am just waiting to go back out for the second session and get going. The brakes were a lot different to what I am used to, they don’t need to be glazed so you have to hit them quite hard. I was just trying to bed them in for the first session really.”

It is Thompson’s first season with Team HARD. and also racing in the VW Cup and he hasn’t set himself any unrealistic targets for his first campaign.

“I would like to finish in the top eight really and at each meeting, maybe I can target top fives and be consistent in the top five and top ten. Tony is an all-round good guy and it helps that he has raced previously and is now managing, it really helps out.”

Bobby has some more experienced drivers in the team with Howard Fuller and Simon Rudd that he can take advice from during the season.

He said: “I am sure there stats and footage will be on the computer for throughout the season and I will be able to examine what we all do differently and what helps and what doesn’t help.

“I haven’t raced for a while now, maybe half a year because we run out of money last season, this is a big difference for me being rear wheel drive as I am used to front wheel drive with Formula Ford.”