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Did my ARDS test with 10 of my fellow competitors at Goodwood. The written exam was a bit of a formality but the practical driving test was a little unnerving - having to do 2 identical laps of an unknown circuit, in an unfamiliar car, at a faster pace than expected, with only one familiarisation lap beforehand! But all was fine and the application for my National B race license is in the post.

Liam • News, Background

The main objective of this track day was to evaluate the tyre options for the series control tyre. We had previously already specified the control tyre as the Yokohama A539 and these have been used by several cars without any problems. But since then we have been given the option to run our cars as an invitation class in the BMWRDC Kumho Challenge. Obviously we would need to run Kumho tyres for these races and so if we could find a Kumho tyre tyre that met our own requirements then we would be onto a winner!

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Liam • Background, Race Reports

A chance to give the BMW some proper track time and where better than this country's premier venue - Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit! 3.2 miles of Formula 1 tarmac, grandstands and marble garage floors...

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Liam • Background, Race Reports

I had been looking forward to this event for months. Finally a chance to get the BMW on track at Lydden Hill, where we'll be having eight races next year. I made the decision early on that I couldn't afford and didn't have time to get the car and myself race-ready for this meeting. The next best thing was to enter the sprint so that I at least got a handful of laps in before the new season.

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Liam • News, Background, Race Reports

After walking the course I was worried that it was too straight to suit the BMW and the corners not tight enough to make it interesting. I was very wrong!

3000rpm and a quickly slipped clutch made for quite an effective start and the rest of the course was good fun. Power oversteer on the exit of the 'roundabout' was encouraging It had quite a respectable pace all-in-all.

My best time was a 1:11.88 - about 2 seconds slower than the few Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 in our class. We were also lumped in with mental Ford Escort Mk2/Mk3 on full slicks which were doing 1:05's!

Jez also brought his BMW for his first sprint. His is the more powerful (but heavier) 320i so I was glad to be a couple of seconds faster than him. It was a great day but also frustrating. After initially deciding that a deep line would be best for the roundabout hairpin I realised I was wrong and took the conventional line for my final run. It felt much faster and I was convinced I had improved on my previous time. So I was a little bemused to find that I actually went a few tenths slower and couldn't figure out why. It put a downer on the end of the day but it was still a good meeting. That's sprinting... you're only really competing against yourself!

Liam • Background, Race Reports

It's such an intense experience... waiting for the lights... standing start... wheelspin.... unknown corners... blur, blur, blur... Paddock Bend... oversteer... gravel trap... timing beam

Dead chuffed at how competitive the Elise was compared to the other classes, especially the Caterhams. My silverware is proud of place on the mantlepiece - I'm surprised and delighted with 1st in class with a run of the 1.75-lap sprint circuit of 86.57 seconds. It was great to actually take part and then still have time to watch the racing in the afternoon.

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Liam • Announcements, Background, Race Reports

Sold for £510 (I'm crap at haggling).

Actually it drove really well. Got oversteer turning right out the forecourt as the black tyre goo struggled for traction. Performance was better than I was expecting - not earth shattering but respectable I thought.

Pulled away nicely from a few standing starts, brakes worked OK and locked the front wheels quite easily. Tracked straight enough and went round corners quite happily. The steering felt pretty vague but I reckon it will do the job.

Pick it up tomorrow after work once they put the passenger door window back on its runners. It's got a bunch of MOT certs and receipts. Looks like it's had some sort of engine rebuild (new followers) at some point and the cam belt was changed at 75k.

Looking forward to tearing the insides out now...

Liam • Announcements, News, Background

A 1989 G-reg 318i coupe with 124k miles. Advertised locally for £595. Hoping to haggle on the drivers seat that's ripped to shreds, knackered dampers and scored brake discs :)

Liam • Announcements, News, Background