Preview to the 2nd GT4 season race in Brands Hatch.
On the 4th and 5th of May, the 2nd race of the GT4 European Series season is taking place for me with the race at Brands Hatch, and I finally get to race in England. Why „finally“? I was on the island for the first time in 2009, back then still privately. I visited London with Dad and Grandpa. I was there for the second time in 2012, and since then there have been numerous other visits. However, from now on, they have ALWAYS been for motorsport.
In September 2012, I got to know iZone, a company that offers simulator training. I prepared for the Formula BMW Shootout at the Red Bull Ring in October 2012 in the simulator for the first time. With success. As a result, I came to the simulator training on the island a few more times to prepare myself optimally for the races. I was also allowed to go to McLaren in Woking in September 2013, for the first time in the hallowed halls of the traditional Formula 1 team, to complete a fitness test. In February 2014, McLaren then accepted me into the McLaren Performance Academy. This was followed by regular visits to Woking, where we learnt about all the facets needed to become a successful racing driver. The most important of these were racing behaviour, fitness, mental strength, the right diet, regeneration, planning a race weekend and then reflecting on it afterwards. As you can see, I learnt a lot from McLaren back then. In 2015, I was then part of the McLaren Performance Academy for another year. At the end of the year, I also won the „McLaren Driver of Promise“ award. Still a great honour for me.
If you add it all up, I've probably been to the island over 30 times. Just for motorsport. But without ever driving a single metre on a racetrack. Let alone a race. So I'm really looking forward to finally getting into a racing car in England on 4 and 5 May and being able to drive metres. It will be a very special race for me. Especially as I always associate England with great moments in my motorsport career. I've already flown over twice just to collect a trophy. On 12 December 2015, I received the McLaren „Driver of Promise“ award in Woking, which I have already described. Last year, the SRO Awards took place in London on 24 November. There I was presented with my biggest trophy to date. Although I was still slightly disappointed at the time that we weren't allowed to take home the biggest one, as we were so close to the title in Zandvoort, it was still a unique evening to be part of the 2018 SRO Awards and another great memory of England.
Accordingly, I am willing to continue this success story on the island's asphalt and am very much looking forward to this race. You can follow the qualifying and the races live on YouTube, by the way, and please keep your fingers crossed for me.
Best regards,
Yours, Benjamin.