A racing car driver from Caerphilly is aiming to add an overseas title to his list of UK Championships.
With two UK Open Sportscar Class titles already under his belt, Graham Cole has set his sights on success in the TTE series in France.
Cole, a rally driver turned racecar pilot already has two Motoring News National Rally Championship titles and three British/Welsh Race-Driver Championship titles under his belt but is now looking for a new challenge.
He explained “I’ve always enjoyed competing at different circuits and having covered virtually all UK and Irish venues while competing in the British Open Sports Series, the TTE French series – especially Le Mans – will make for a completely new challenge.
“I hope we’re not being too boastful, but in the Jade Traxstar we still hold OSS Lap Records at Donnington Park, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, and Pembrey, so I feel we’ve proved our pace here.”
The French TTE championship is going to be a tough nut to crack given the strict regulations governing car eligibility.
Unlike in the UK where virtually anything goes, the French series applies strict “CN” rules which means the Jade Turbo race car, with which Cole set these lap records, is not eligible in Europe.
However, his long-time backers Richwest Engineering of Ystrad Mynach, have the engineering skills and expertise to convert the engine in Cole’s new BPS7 race car to CN specification, enabling the speedy veteran to compete on the European stage.
Cole added: “We actually did a few recce races in France last year.
“We raced at Val de Vienne in Mid France, Nogaro close to Bordeaux, and world famous Le Mans.
“It was tough going at all those circuits as it was our first visits to them. Nevertheless we were pretty pleased to get a second place podium finish at Le Mans, when the foggy and wet conditions of that race suited us best. I think it was similar to racing in Wales.”
Cole’s 2018 race program starts at the ex-French Grand Prix circuit Dijon this month, ending with another outing at Le Mans in November.