It’s nearly 8 months since my last sprint outing at Aintree last year and I am well and truly ready for the season to start at Goodwood next Saturday. I’ve been looking at old Caterham Academy drivers’ blogs about their Goodwood experiences and to work out what sort of times I should be aiming for in an ex academy car. The best ever Academy time at Goodwood is 100.69 – I did a 104.78 last year without any testing (unlike the Academy guys) so I’m not a million miles off the pace but there is plenty of room for improvement.

During my best run last year I got a rubbish start with too much wheelspin and didn’t carry enough speed through Madgwick (the first corner). After that I had a cracking run through Fordwater (easily flat in a class 1 car) St. Mary’s and Lavant but I forgot to change down to 3rd for Woodcote and was slow through the chicane. All of that meant I was 0.02 seconds slower than Dad which left me in 2nd place. With a decent start, a bit more commitment to Madgwick, remembering to change gear for Woodcote (maybe trail breaking through the first apex which is not as tight as the second) and throwing it through the chicane I should be able to knock a fair bit of time off.

Time to set some targets for myself. Time wise I’ll be a bit disappointed if I don’t make it into the 102 second bracket - remember I will still have only had approximately 10 laps experience of the track by the time I leave on Saturday evening. In terms of position I would like a top 3 in class but achieving my time target is more important to be honest. More than anything though, I hope for decent weather, healthy banter and close competition.

Pop along to see what it is all about - entry was free for spectators last year and it is the most atmospheric venue that we visit.

I’ll put another post up (with some pictures) when I get back home next Sunday to let you know how we got on.