Racer looking ahead to new season

Caerphilly racer Graham Cole is hoping for a good season following a non-existent 2020.

His GCCRacing team were unable to race last year due to the race calendar falling to the pandemic.

But spirits are looking up as a race in France is already planned for early April, with a new series of races also announced.

The team have revealed a new, modified race car, the Bicknell PS7 prototype, which will see the team at the top end of the grids in the upcoming year.

But most crucially, Caerphilly firm Richwest Engineering will sponsor the team for another year, and driver Graham Cole is aware of the importance of this partnership.

He said: “We were delighted to learn recently that our long-term backers, Richwest Engineering of Caerphilly, will return to partner us once again in 2021.

“This can only be good news; there are a few new positives to pin our hopes on for a much better 2021.”

In addition to this partnership, the new Zeo Championship has been announced, which will allow races across the country to get back underway.

Cole helped craft the series that will host eight races throughout the UK, over the space of four weekends.

“A new UK Prototype Race Series is to be launched in 2021,” the driver continued.

“Couple this development with the Richwest deal and we just have to be happy.”

The new car has been modified and improved from the previous model and Cole believes the team will be more competitive.

He said: “The modifications are all aimed at improving cornering performance on higher speed bends where aerodynamic efficiency is of paramount importance.

“In 2019, when we last raced, we found that the car was a match for any of our competitors on slow and medium speed bends, up to 110mph where mechanical grip is important, but data-logging and in-car video footage indicated a loss of grip on the higher speed bends, especially above around 130mph.

“It is at speeds above 120mph where increased downforce plays the predominant part in keeping the car stuck to the track.”

He added: “If we manage to solve both these problems, we expect to be much more competitive in 2021.”

Richard West, Richwest Engineering’s managing director, echoed Cole’s outlook.

“We’ve been very lucky during this last year” West said.

“We’ve recently secured an order worth over £130,000 from a major electrical installations company, and with the prospect of further, larger, contracts to come, the trend augers well for the future despite the pandemic.”

And Richwest’s Financial Director, Adele Speak, also shares the same optimistic view and explains the reasons for backing GCCRacing for another year.

“With the prospect of a new Prototype Race series returning to the UK during 2021, and with many of our own staff and customers very interested in Motorsport, the continued alliance with GCCRacing has too many benefits to ignore.” Speak said.

The team’s season kicks off with a shakedown event at Val de Vienne circuit in France this weekend (April 3, 4, 5), closely followed by the eight-round Zeo Championship events in the UK.

The Zeo Championship’s eight rounds

Saturday April 17 and Sunday 18 – Snetterton (Norfolk, UK) – Zeo Championship Rounds 1 and 2,
Saturday June 19 and Sunday 20 – Silverstone National (Northampton, UK) – Zeo Championship Rounds 3 and 4,
Saturday August 7 and Sunday 8 – Brands Hatch National (Kent, UK) – Zeo Championship Rounds 5 and 6,
Saturday September Sunday 25 and Sunday 26 – Donington Park National (Leics, UK) Zeo Championship Rounds 7 and 8.