Shimmin was driving the Pro-R backed car, prepared by Cross Roads and TDRacing.

This very same machine had been piloted to outright victory in the Club AWD Class by Cross Roads dealer principal Jon Mathers during the 2011 season, so after a refresh over the winter, complete with a stunning new orange and white colour scheme, all eyes were on Shimmin to see if he could repeat the same level of success.

Despite Cadwell Park greeting the drivers with a deluge of rain upon their arrival – which stayed for much of the day, Shimmin was quick from the get-go, showing his competitors a clean set of wet-weather Uniroyals and the time-keepers a brace of fastest laps, to top the time sheets in both the warm-up and initial practise sessions.

With a driving style and car set-up that clearly suited the prevailing conditions, Shimmin also scored well in qualifying, setting several fastest sector times during the build-up of the round.

As the lights went out for the final, the track had dried significantly, which allowed many of the higher-powered cars to exploit their advantage on the more open parts of the challenging circuit. Despite this, Shimmin kept things neat and tidy, chipping away at his times, to net a third overall behind the capable and well-pedalled Evos of Steve Peel and Marc Kemp.

Commenting after the race, a clearly delighted Shimmin said ‘For my first ever event I am ecstatic to be on the podium. The team at Cross Roads and TDRacing have built a phenomenal car, and even this early in the season, it’s feeling very easy to drive. We’re a little bit down on power compared to some of these cars, but that’s no bad thing at Cadwell in the rain! My main focus now is to get my head down and focus on the task ahead at Knockhill. It would be great to try and repeat our success there!’

The Time Attack circus rolls into Knockhill on the 10th of June. Don’t miss it

For more details on Pro-R, please click to www.pro-r.co.uk

For more details on Cross Roads, please click to www.subaruvehicles.co.uk

JRM Racing qualifies in strong position for Spa 6-hour race
FIA World Endurance Championship
Round Two – 6-hours of Spa
4th & 5th May 2012

Qualifying report

In this afternoon’s qualifying session for round two of the FIA World Endurance Championship, driving JRM Racing’s Honda Performance Development ARX-03a, Karun Chandhok set the eighth-fastest time for tomorrow’s race – the 6-hours of Spa – amid an overall grid of 41 cars.

Having arrived at the ionic Belgium circuit earlier this week, the team prepared the car for it’s first competitive outing since the opening round of the championship at Sebring in March. And, with three practice sessions – two on Thursday and one today (Friday) – the intention was to build on the car’s proven performance on its first outing and set up the car specifically for Spa’s unique layout.

Although running well in the first of the 1.5-hour sessions, with David Brabham and Chandhok behind the wheel, the car developed a braking issue that caused the rear wheels to lock momentarily. Deciding that fixing the problem would be more important than continued running, the team opted not to complete the second-session.

But with everything working 100%, Peter Dumbreck took the car out for the third and final practice period this morning, with Chandhok finishing off the driving in readiness for his qualifying stint. Having ran perfectly for the full-hour, all that was left for the team to do was hone the car’s set up and, although eighth fastest in the 20-minute qualifying session was a step in the right direction, the team knows there is still more to come for the race tomorrow.

Following a half-hour warm-up session tomorrow morning, the six-hour race gets the green light at 14.30 CEST (13.30 GMT).
The race can be watched live at: www.fiawec.com

For more information, visit the team’s website: www.jrm-racing .com 

JRM Racing’s 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship campaign is supported by Michelin.

Team Quotes

Karun Chandhok
“The car ran well, even though we were trying different set-ups during the practice sessions and qualifying, which had an effect on our pace. I feel there’s more to come and, with a good clean run tomorrow, I see no reason why we won’t be able to improve on our start position.”

Nigel Stepney (Team Manager and Chief Engineer)
“The problems in practice meant we didn’t do all we wanted in terms of set-ups, so to start eighth is very promising. Six hours of running at Spa is a long time and, if we can make a few more improvements, then we should be on target for another good run. Of course, at this track the weather can also play a part, which could certainly shake things up.”

James Rumsey (Team Principal)
“Even with the reduced running time so far, we have been able to gather a great deal of information and data, which is not only good for Spa, but Le Mans too – which is valuable, as it’s the most important race of the year and the next round of the championship. However, we have a six-hour race tomorrow, and a lot can happen in that amount of time and we therefore have every opportunity of getting a good result.”

The team arrived safe and sound at the start of the week and began setting up the garage and preparing the car ready for the weekend. But it’s not just the fast, undulating track that the team are going to have to contest with, as the typical Ardenne Forest rainfall is likely to play a part too, with rain forecast for the weekend.

The car has been out on track today in free practice. Karun Chandok and David Brabham drove the car in this morning’s practice session, when the team spent time dialing in various settings to get the HPD up to speed on this unique track.

Although it’s been cloudy all day, thankfully the weather held out for the second practice session in the afternoon which saw the team tweaking setups and strategies once more.

Tomorrow marks the final practice session in the morning ahead of qualifying at 3.40pm (local time), and the race on Saturday at 2.30pm. Keep up to date with the team on the JRM Racing site and the World Endurance Championship website.

The two greatest names in suspension have teamed up yet again to support the VAG scene’s favourite show; GTI International. Eibach and Bilstein have joined forces to sponsor and run the handling circuit at this year’s show – offering a tantalising £1000 prize purse to the three best drivers of the weekend.

Held at the Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground over the 23^rd and 24^th of June, GTI has grown to become one of the most important shows on the VAG scene – a fact that will be celebrated by one of the best sponsorship and show content line-ups ever seen at the event.

The event allows enthusiasts unparalleled access to the infamous 20.8km Nordschleife circuit, over two days of ‘closed session’ action. Not only can guests enjoy unfettered laps without barriers, tolls or limits, the very nature of the two closed days means that there is also a complete lack of bikes, buses and tourists to hold you up. The VLN Sprintstecke circuit configuration will be running – the Nürburgring Nordschleife and GP Circuit combined as one circuit, making this a genuinely unique trackday opportunity.

The two days will both run as Open Pit Lance (OPL) format, meaning that the number of laps available will only be limited by guests fuel, tyres or bravery! Guest can also take advantage of fast passenger laps in Bilstein-equipped cars to really show what can be achieved.

Free driving tuition is available over both days, with Bilstein representatives and technical experts on hand to advise on set-up and product choice, to ensure that guests get the very best from their cars. All types of car are welcome, whether high performance road machinery or full-on race cars.

For those that book early, the price for both days is just £649 and includes the use of the F1 paddock, garages and pitlane. Both days run from 08.00 – 17.00.

For more details on the event, please click to www.destination-nurburgring.com.

For more details on Bilstein, please visit www.bilstein.de or call the UK office on 01455 283 407.

USC 2011 boasts the biggest ever music line-up to grace the stage, with the kind of acts that might think you turned into the O2 by mistake.  DJ set from Chase and Status with MC Rage, live performance from Skepta and even full-length set from The Wideboys with Ministry of Sound and BCM World Tour means that the evenings off the strip promise to be as exciting as the days on it!

Talking of which, expect blistering drag demo runs from the fastest modified cars in Europe, as well as the Euro Sports Compact racers. Not forgetting the most important drivers of all, of course! You!!!.. the enthusiasts, with three whole days of RWYB sessions to allow you to settle scores and enjoy yourself on a fully FIA sanctioned strip.

Team Maximum Lock will be demonstrating the true art of drifting, alongside Europe’s leading stunt drivers and riders, making for one of the most eye-popping displays of car and bike control on the planet.

If you’re more about the ‘show’ than the go, the UK’s largest Show and Shine contest on the Sunday usually finds the UK’s hottest rides, and for those that like to be ‘shown’ a little more than that, a trip to the legendary adult shows certainly raises the pulse..

With free camping all weekend, and several licensed bars on site, you can stay sober and sharp for the strip in the day and then enjoy a sherbet or two for larging it in the evening – safe in the knowledge you can sleep off your hangover until the sound of tortured rubber serves as your alarm call the next morning.

Sounds like you? Hit the website at www.ultimatestreetcar.com for more details and ticket prices. Or call the USC team on 01234 782828 to book yours now!

Despite the team having to burn several gallons of midnight oil to make the event, thanks to a full engine rebuild being required after ECU problems during testing, driver Jon Mathers found instant form to blitz to the top spot in Club class on day one, and second on day two of the meeting. With 16,000 Time Attack fans to cheers him on, it was the best showing yet for the Cross Roads garage prepared machine and a superb example of how the new Pro-R range of tuning components can perform under pressure.The car was sporting some exciting new enhancements for Brands, including a lightweight, bespoke Scorpion Exhausts extraction system, which managed to net the team more power, despite being under the series’ strict noise regulations as well as improved cooling and lightweight body panels by the team’s technical partners at ABW.

Saturday started with damp conditions, but the Cross Roads team quickly found the ideal set-up and a confident Mathers simply went out and posted ONE hot lap in a move that saw him go straight to the top of the leader board, a full second ahead of the opposition. A position that would remain unchallenged for the rest of the race.

On a high, the team ran a similar set up for the Sunday race, setting fastest sector times throughout warm-up and qualifying. During the session, Mathers was flying, but suffered bad luck when a combination of traffic and a series of red flags saw him only able to post second, despite showing the fastest 1^st sector time of the Club AWD class. With track temperatures spiking and the tyres dropping off, the talented wheelman had to settle for the second step on day two.

As well as taking a couple of well-earned trophies back to Cross Roads’ burgeoning trophy cabinet, Mather’s textbook drive also netted a new Pirelli lap record of 53.505 seconds.

On accepting his accolades, Mathers was quick to thank those who got him there. ‘This one is for everyone who worked so hard for Brands,’ he beamed, ‘RCM, who stayed up until 6am on the Friday prior to the race, dynoing the car, Joe and Lee from Cross Roads, Mark at TDR and of course, Subaru UK for their assistance with parts. A massive thanks to you all!’

The next Time Attack round will be at Cadwell Park on the 31^st of July. With Mathers clearly on sparkling form – and the car seemingly bomb-proof, bank on more silverware heading back to Warwickshire soon!

For more details on the Pro-R range, please click to www.pro-r.co.uk

For more details on the Cross Roads team, please click to www.subaruvehicles.co.uk

Aimed at both enthusiasts and corporate guests, the QMC offers quarter mile fans the chance to enjoy the Pod’s new startline VIP suite for a whole day, refreshments, a buffet lunch and privilege parking and facilities – all for just £89 per person. Under 16s are just half that! With a standing spectator platform just yards away from the most dramatic startline in motorsport, it’s hard to miss the action!

The new hospitality package is one of many offered by Santa Pod for its Blue Riband events. Those looking to spend a little more can enjoy private balcony suites, full seating, breakfast, full hot fork buffet lunch, souvenirs, complimentary earplugs, programmes and paddock tours on top of the already generous QMC package for just £1690 + Vat (for up to 12 people including weekend admission).

If you’re the kind of enthusiast that likes to get right into the heart of the action, Grandstand packages are also available, with all of the same perks as the balcony packages, but enjoying reserved, allocated open air seating for the entire day. This is just £119 + Vat per person and includes weekend admission.

Commenting on this new hospitality packages, Santa Pod’s general manager, David Lloyd Jones commented, ‘We believe these packages are the best value in motorsport, particularly for such a high profile FIA/UEM event. Although we offer the highest levels of corporate hospitality, we have deliberately priced the Quarter Mile Club package well within the reach of the true enthusiasts. After all, even if you’re a die-hard quarter mile fan, there’s nothing like enjoying your favourite sport in comfortable surroundings, just yards from the start. Why not make your next race meeting extra special?’

For more information on Santa Pod events, please click to www.santapod.com or call the team on 01234 782828.

The move sees the experienced Mathers taking to the track in Time attack’s ‘Club Pro’ class, in a fully road-legal Subaru WRX Sti Hatchback which has been constructed using many of the high-performance upgrades available from the forthcoming Pro-R High Performance range, which will be rolled out to selected Subaru franchised dealers throughout the season. The range includes suspension, braking, induction and exhaust upgrades, all of which can be fitted by end-users, allowing them to improve and enhance their car using manufacturer-approved parts.

‘I can’t think of a better way to show what the car and these Pro-R parts are capable of.’ explained Mathers at the car’s launch. ‘They have been through extensive pre-range testing already, but real enthusiasts know that the track is the only place to prove that something really works. It’s our first season, and the car has been built to a ‘realistic’ spec for our inaugural outings, so we’re not looking to take any scalps in our first few meetings, simply get our head around the format, do some testing, develop the car and showcase the new Pro-R range.’

As one of the leading lights in Subaru tuning, Crossroads Garage have forged a unique position within the Subaru dealer network, by creating numerous dealer ‘specials’ and many bespoke customer cars. With this extensive knowledge of the Subaru tuning market, Jon Mather’s capable wheelmanship and the support of the Pro-R range, it looks like Subaru enthusiasts finally have an officially backed car to cheer on at the track once again.

For more details on the Pro-R range please click to www.pro-r.co.uk

For more details on Crossroads Garage, please click to www.subaruvehicles.co.uk

The inaugural event, to be held on Sunday the 6th of March, offers car clubs the unique chance of experiencing an EXCLUSIVE track hire session, but without the cost!  This new initiative to a RWYB day will allocate attending car clubs exclusive sessions on track, so for the first time, they can run as a collective group and can race in dedicated sessions.  This will ensure  that friends and ‘bar-room rivals’ get the chance to race side by side and settle old scores on the FIA-approved track, under fully timed conditions.

The more cars that each club pre-books, the more track time will be allocated to them. Spilt into sessions 10 to 20 cars will get a total of 40 minutes of track time, 30-40 cars will get 80 minutes. And so on and so on – meaning that every car in each club can expect a minimum of 4 runs each, conditions permitting.

Then as an extra twist to the event the fastest runners in each club will be run wheel to wheel at the end of the day in a competition style elimination ladder, to reveal an overall champion for the day… ‘The King (or Queen) Of Clubs’!

When not on the hallowed quarter mile, guests can avail themselves of the handling circuit or drift course at no extra cost, making the day exceptional value for money. Clubs are also invited to have free stand space to socialise and recruit and of course, passengers and guests are all very welcome to join in the days activities. With full catering facilities and the ‘Pod Shop’ open all day, you don’t even need to bring any sandwiches!

Upon announcing the event, General Manager, David Lloyd-Jones said, ‘We’ve aimed this day squarely at the true enthusiasts that make the scene what it is – the Clubs. Many have wanted to hold their own exclusive event but in most cases, the cost of hiring the whole venue prohibits single clubs being able to.  With our new Club RWYB event we have been able to offer exclusivity while spreading the cost amongst a number of clubs.  Sunday 6th is our first but we have more planned and expect to make it a monthly fixture. We hope Club RWYB will make a dynamic change to static monthly club meets, and with the handling track and drift arena there to fill in any down time, it means there will be loads to do all day.’

The track opens at 9.30am and closes at 5.30pm, but in case of track down time can run under floodlights all the way through until 9pm, with a short lunch break. As the perfect way to blow out the cobwebs for the season opener at The Marangoni Fast Show, this is the ideal event to get you, your club and your cars ready for the 2011 race and show season!

The cost for a Club RWYB ticket is only £50 if brought in advance before Friday 18th February.  This includes general admission, track sign-on and drift and handling track admission.
For non drivers and spectators general admission £10 on the gate and passengers wishing to ride in a car on track is £10. For more information visit www.santapod.co.uk