Trust me, this isnt a vein attempt at having you guys stroke my ego, am genuinly in two minds about this. I am a professional test driver, and have had experience with pretty much everything, from astons, to fords. Just under, 18months ago, I was in the middle of intensive testing, in a formula renault, and a GP2 car.
for those who dont know, GP2 is the racing league that lewis hamilton won before being promoted essentially into F1.
I was doing great, consistently doing great lap times, and ironically enough pulling off faster times in racing situations than free runs. I think the pressure helps. Anyway, long story short, I got ramed off a wet track and slide onto the grass 100mph and battered into the side wall (that only had one layer of tyres as a cushion). The guy who ramed me was thrown off the programe for excessivly agressive driving, and I was given the OK by the team to continue. Again, unless you are an actual driver for a team, wrecking there cars, isnt exactly a great way to get into there good books.
However, I suffered quite a bit of neck damage, and the whole episode put me off competitve driving for atleast a year. Which pushed me into the stocks stuff I am doing now to earn a living.
Fast forward to last week. I arrived back in scotland for a few family things I have coming up. First of which was my cousins 18th birthday. His mother got him a track day at knockhill racing circuit in fife. And while he was doing that, I stood and watched. Proper hollywood moment, with that longing look in my eyes. On that note, a gentleman approched me and said my name. Anyone who read my previous thread in EE will understand why I nearly went jackie chan on his ass. Or atleast try to. He was saying, naw naw I remmeber you, your that american guy from GP2. My aunt looked confused, but I explained, well, I was only in the testing phase, I didnt actually make it. I was ramed off the track and didnt drive after that.
He said to me, driving today? And, eventhough I wasnt, I went to the ticket office and booked a shot in there single seater cars. I went out and left the resident instructors in my dust And stormed round the track after 2-3 laps to get the just of it's layout. Turns out the guy is essentially the racing equivilent of a scout you would find for football/soccer in europe.
I've been offered a chance again to prove myself to some of the GP2/F3 teams, and from there, well, who really knows.
It could even been academic, like I said, I took quite a bit of a neck injury, and even if you could litterally go twice as fast as hamilton. If you dont pass the medical forget it. But assuming I do. What you think? Physically am in pretty good shape.
The only thing that is holding me back is that, if I where to make it this time. I can just see my first race, being nudged by some guy in the rear left and going into a spin, and me going skits inside the car
Judging from what I said. Thoughts? Dont take the pyscology thing too lightly. I remember being told the minute you start having doubts, that's when accidents happen. But if I can rebuild that confidence, and muniez + hot women tend to do that, I think I could pull it off.
I'll update this with progress as it goes along.
Cheers
Martyn
for those who dont know, GP2 is the racing league that lewis hamilton won before being promoted essentially into F1.
I was doing great, consistently doing great lap times, and ironically enough pulling off faster times in racing situations than free runs. I think the pressure helps. Anyway, long story short, I got ramed off a wet track and slide onto the grass 100mph and battered into the side wall (that only had one layer of tyres as a cushion). The guy who ramed me was thrown off the programe for excessivly agressive driving, and I was given the OK by the team to continue. Again, unless you are an actual driver for a team, wrecking there cars, isnt exactly a great way to get into there good books.
However, I suffered quite a bit of neck damage, and the whole episode put me off competitve driving for atleast a year. Which pushed me into the stocks stuff I am doing now to earn a living.
Fast forward to last week. I arrived back in scotland for a few family things I have coming up. First of which was my cousins 18th birthday. His mother got him a track day at knockhill racing circuit in fife. And while he was doing that, I stood and watched. Proper hollywood moment, with that longing look in my eyes. On that note, a gentleman approched me and said my name. Anyone who read my previous thread in EE will understand why I nearly went jackie chan on his ass. Or atleast try to. He was saying, naw naw I remmeber you, your that american guy from GP2. My aunt looked confused, but I explained, well, I was only in the testing phase, I didnt actually make it. I was ramed off the track and didnt drive after that.
He said to me, driving today? And, eventhough I wasnt, I went to the ticket office and booked a shot in there single seater cars. I went out and left the resident instructors in my dust And stormed round the track after 2-3 laps to get the just of it's layout. Turns out the guy is essentially the racing equivilent of a scout you would find for football/soccer in europe.
I've been offered a chance again to prove myself to some of the GP2/F3 teams, and from there, well, who really knows.
It could even been academic, like I said, I took quite a bit of a neck injury, and even if you could litterally go twice as fast as hamilton. If you dont pass the medical forget it. But assuming I do. What you think? Physically am in pretty good shape.
The only thing that is holding me back is that, if I where to make it this time. I can just see my first race, being nudged by some guy in the rear left and going into a spin, and me going skits inside the car
Judging from what I said. Thoughts? Dont take the pyscology thing too lightly. I remember being told the minute you start having doubts, that's when accidents happen. But if I can rebuild that confidence, and muniez + hot women tend to do that, I think I could pull it off.
I'll update this with progress as it goes along.
Cheers
Martyn
