Amateur racing driver, PR guru and TV presenter Paul Cowland recently returned to the Wolfrace ‘motorsport family’ and competed in his first race of 2014 at the weekend.
Paul is competing in the Production GTi Championship – round one was at Rockingham and Paul’s trusty VW Golf GTi fitted with Wolfrace TrackReady alloys performed well – achieving a podium finish in race 1.
“It’s always nice to race in the sunshine and Saturday’s trip to Rockingham proved to be positively tropical with temperatures soaring and the sun beaming from the early morning onwards” said Paul.
The championship is well supported and a grid of 26 cars lined up in the morning. The first qualifying session included a good mix of both 8v and 16v metal. Paul’s highly competitive 8v Golf was perfectly set up to deal with the high track temperatures and high-friction surface at Rockingham thanks to a new set of 7.0×15″ Wolfrace Track Ready Pro-Lite wheels and sticky Toyo R888 tyres.
Qualifying proved difficult as Paul couldn’t get a clear run in the 15 minute session, the track layout is better suited to 16v motors and the 200k 8v engine was breathing heavily!
Race 1 started and things were a little different. Temperatures were still in the ascendance which probably helped, Paul was able to stay with the 8 valve pack and retirements either by crashes or overheating meant the trusty GTi managed 3rd place…
“to finish first, first you have to finish!” – Big P.
As is typical of Race 2, most drivers were now at one with their machines, the Race 1 ‘shake down’ giving valuable vehicle information to all teams.
Paul’s BILSTEIN suspension Golf was unable to compete on the long straights after a few battles with both 8 and 16 valve machines, Paul finished 4th in class.
Not a bad day out, all things considered!
“Despite the lack of power, it had been clear that my new chassis package was on the money. With the BILSTEINs set to almost fully-firm, and the superb new Wolfrace lightweight wheels and tyres working their magic” – Big P.
After much pounding of kerbs (keeping within the new MSA track limit regulations!) the new Wolfrace alloys stayed perfectly true and able to within the beating.
Next up – Brands Hatch Indy, a track that’s much more suited to an old 8 valve motor.
“Thanks to Carnetix in Melton for prepping the car!” – Big P.
Until next time!
P
Thanks to Simon Arthrell for image use.
