Caerphilly racer competing on some of France’s most iconic race tracks

Caerphilly race car driver Graham Cole is competing on some of France’s most iconic racing tracks over the coming weeks.

Cole will be racing on Val de Vienne, Nogaro, Magny-Cours, and Le Mans circuits as his racing season draws to a close.

To prepare, he has been testing his BPS7T Prototype at the Castle Combe circuit in Chippenham alongside members of his Richwest Engineering/GCCRacing team.

With track temperatures there exceeding 45°C, it turned out to be the perfect preparation for France – where the tracks circuits are usually high, Cole explained.

With our schedule of races, we needed to ensure the car maintained within the correct range of operating temperatures following modifications to the Turbo engine,” he added.

Richard West, director at Caerphilly-based engineering firm Richwest Engineering, said: “We made a number of changes to the BPS7’s engine parts before the Castle Combe test and Graham wanted to ensure they all worked as expected prior to the France races.”

The tests proved successful, with the previously reported overheating problems now seemingly fixed, with improved engine performance too.

“The engine’s Cosworth SQ6 engine control unit logs and records everything going on inside the engine,” explained West. “So we were able to analyse data to check for problems. 

“For example, to name a few, we monitor all critical parameters, such as boost pressures, engine temperatures, exhaust temperatures, inlet manifold temperatures, oil temperatures, charge cooler temperatures, and so on. 

“Despite the hot temperatures and very fast 180mph straight at Castle Combe circuit, everything remained within limits – confirming that the engineering work improved the turbo motor as expected without compromising reliability.”

But while there is cause for optimism, Cole is remaining cautious as he heads across the English Channel: “While we’ve proved that Richard’s engineering work was as usual spot-on, nothing can replicate the conditions experienced in a proper race.

“We won’t know how that is until we compete in the France TTE/Free Prototype races.”