Round 3 marked only my third ever weekend in competitive motorsport — something that’s easy to forget in the intensity of race conditions. While each event brings progress, Oulton Park was a clear reminder of both the level of competition and the learning curve that comes with stepping into a highly competitive championship.
Heading into the weekend, I felt more prepared and confident than at any previous round. The foundations built over the opening races gave me belief that we could take another step forward. However, Oulton Park is widely regarded as one of the most technical and demanding circuits in the UK. Its narrow layout, constant elevation changes and tight, flowing corners leave little margin for error. Commitment is essential, but so is precision — and it quickly exposes any small mistake.
It’s an incredibly enjoyable track to drive, but also one that demands respect.
Free practice began with a clear focus on building confidence and understanding how the car would respond around such a technical circuit. Compared to previous rounds, outright pace proved more difficult to unlock.
We found ourselves consistently circulating just outside the top ten, floating on the edge of that group but struggling to make the breakthrough into it. While that was frustrating, the sessions were far from wasted. Oulton Park rewards rhythm and bravery, and building that confidence takes laps. Each run allowed us to gather valuable data, refine the setup and better understand where improvements could be made.
Although we didn’t quite show the pace we were hoping for, there were positive signs in longer runs and consistency — something that would prove important later in the weekend.
Qualifying brought a new challenge: the first wet official session of the season.
Wet conditions around Oulton Park add another layer of complexity. Grip levels change corner by corner and standing water can develop quickly. It was an opportunity for drivers to make a difference — but unfortunately, the session was heavily disrupted.
Multiple red flags prevented anyone from completing a lap, and with time running out, the session was ultimately cancelled. As a result, the grid was set based on championship standings.
That placed me 17th on the grid — lower than we felt our pace justified and leaving work to do across the races.
With the circuit dry again for Race 1, the focus shifted to making clean progress through the field.
The start was tidy, and I immediately concentrated on staying out of trouble — something that is especially important at Oulton Park where space is limited and incidents can easily unfold ahead. I made measured, decisive overtakes and steadily worked forward.
It wasn’t a dramatic charge, but it was controlled and consistent. I crossed the line in 15th place overall, securing another Freshman class win. While not a headline result, it was a strong, disciplined performance that demonstrated racecraft and composure — both critical qualities at this stage of my development.
Race 2 proved significantly more challenging.
At the start, I lost ground and was pushed onto the grass in the opening laps. In avoiding further contact, I brushed the barrier but managed to keep the car under control and continue. The incident dropped me down to 23rd position.
From that point, the race became about recovery and resilience.
Rather than allowing frustration to take over, I focused on rebuilding positions. Lap by lap, I worked back through the field, making clean overtakes and capitalising on opportunities as they came. By the chequered flag, I had recovered to 19th place.
Given the setback at the start, it was a respectable and hard-earned result — and an important reminder of the value of staying composed under pressure.
For the final race of the weekend, the weather once again played its part. Rain earlier in the day left the track damp and unpredictable, creating challenging conditions for everyone on the grid.
Starting 19th, I made one of my strongest starts of the season, gaining three places before the first corner. The early momentum put me straight into a competitive midfield battle.
Two safety car periods interrupted the flow of the race, compressing the field and increasing the intensity once racing resumed. Managing tyre temperature and focus during these interruptions was crucial.
As the race approached its conclusion, I remained firmly in the fight. Unfortunately, on the final lap — just metres from the chequered flag — I ran slightly wide and touched the gravel trap. The loss of momentum prevented a clean run to the line, costing several positions.
I finished 16th — still three places higher than where I started — but it was a frustrating end given how strong the opening laps had been.
Oulton Park was always going to be one of the toughest weekends of the season, and in many ways it lived up to that expectation. While the headline results may not fully reflect the effort, there were clear signs of continued progress:
Most importantly, the weekend delivered experience — and experience is invaluable this early in my motorsport journey.
Every session continues to build confidence, racecraft and technical understanding. There is still work to do, and there are still lessons to learn, but that is all part of the process.
With three race weekends now completed, the foundations are strengthening.
Focus now shifts to the next round at Snetterton — another opportunity to push forward and continue the upward trajectory.
Thank you to Performance One Motorsport for all their hard work this weekend and to Bobby Thompson for the great coaching.
