News Archive
- 12 September 2008
Ashley: “I will fight to the finish” - 02 June 2008
Ashley delighted with fighting fifth - 28 May 2008
Craig confident for Croft - 19 May 2008
Suspension problems cost Ashley at Thruxton - 16 May 2008
Craig targets podium this weekend - 07 May 2008
Ashley scores a brilliant 4th place and then rolls out of second race - 01 April 2008
Steady start for Ashley in Ginetta Junior
Ashley got his first full season in the Ginetta Junior Championship under way last weekend (29/30 March) with a solid performance at Brands Hatch in Kent.
After qualifying in a respectable 12th place for his two races (on Saturday and Sunday, respectively), 15-year old Ashley was assured of being in the thick of the action.
However, with the Ginetta Junior Championship supporting the massively popular British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in front of huge numbers of spectators — as well we being live on national TV — then some nerves began to creep in. But not for Ashley, who got a superb start.
From his 12th place on the grid, Ashley rocketed off the line and passed two cars going into the first corner, Paddock Hill Bend - but a mistake at the tight, uphill Druid’s corner saw him lose ground. Undaunted, the Corfe Hills pupil tigered his way back up through the field to take 13th at the chequered flag.
With even larger numbers of race fans thronging the grandstands on Sunday, the stage was set for more spectacular racing from the youngsters. Ashley: “I looked out of my pit garage and all you could see were these massive crowds. The grandstands were full and the buzz was amazing.”
Overnight rain had made the track surface very tricky and this would create havoc for the Juniors. Despite the BTCC race being held just prior to the Ginettas going out, the circuit remained very greasy and caught even the more experienced drivers out.
As the lights went out to signal the start of the first race, Ashley’s car stalled. He explains: “I’d put the car into 3rd [gear] rather than 1st by mistake and when I went to accelerate away, the car just stalled. I was able to get it going pretty quickly, but had already dropped to last place!”
However, several safety car periods saw Ashley profit from other drivers’ mistakes and he climbed back up the order to finish in 14th position, just behind former World Champion Damon Hill’s son, Josh.
After the race, he said: “I think the important thing was to finish both races and get them under my belt. There’s a long way to go in the Championship and I’m still learning how to push the car to the limit. I think a positive sign is that I was mid-pack and when I did drop back, I was able to move forward again. That means we’ve got a decent platform to build upon. I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be challenging for top 6 finishes now.”
Ashley won’t have long to wait to find out. His next races are this coming weekend (5/6 April) in the Ginetta Festival, at the dramatic ‘Nurburgring of the North’ — Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire.