The final round of the 2015 MSA British Dunlop Endurance Championship at Donington Park (7 November) will pose a unique opportunity to race ‘into the night’ and it’s a challenge that both Team BRIT (British Racing Injured Troops) and Fareed Ali are relishing.
The sun will quite literally set on the 2015 season at the history-rich Donington Park circuit this weekend and competitors will be required to adjust quickly to ever-dimming light conditions, adapting their driving styles to compensate and finding ways of identifying braking points and corner apexes while racing from daylight into the pitch black of night.
It will be the first time the Newbridge Motorsport-backed Team BRIT has raced during the hours of darkness and it will mark another step on the troops’ road to the world’s greatest motor race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which began at the start of this year.
Team BRIT and Canadian gentleman racer Ali, also a night racing novice, will benefit from expert guidance from Newbridge Motorsport and podiums are the target in this weekend’s two 90-minute races, the first of which takes place at lunchtime and the second as dusk falls over the East Midlands.
“This is the first opportunity for Team BRIT and Fareed (Ali) to race in the dark and I know everybody is really looking forward to it,” said Newbridge Motorsport Team Principal, Richard Tovey. “Fareed is particularly keen to do some night driving and I’m hoping, being an eye surgeon, his vision is up to the task!
“It will be a completely new experience for all the drivers and the first thing they’ll be struck by is how their perception of the circuit changes as night falls. Understanding where your braking and turning points are turning points are becomes far more difficult and this will be particularly true of the back of the circuit where there will be absolutely no artificial lighting to aid their visibility – your headlights don’t always point at the apexes. You need to dial yourself in to the conditions and we will build up to the perfect laps in a structured way. It’s a challenge I relish and it’s so satisfying when you find a rhythm and it will certainly good preparation for Team BRIT, as they strive for the Le Mans dream.”
Newbridge Motorsport is excited about the prospect of welcoming new drivers to the fold as the team takes its next step on the road to Le Mans, with LMP3 seats still available and the possibility of fielding a two-car assault on the 2016 European Le Mans Series (ELMS).
Parties interested in Newbridge Motorsport’s European Le Mans Series (ELMS) campaign should contact Richard Tovey:
Phone – +44 (0) 1296 682652
Mobile – +44 (0) 7795 421611
Email – richard@newbridgemotorsport.com