Winning your first race isn’t always how you imagine it.
From the stands, it probably looked like a hard charge and a late move for the win.
For me, it didn’t feel like that at all.
It felt more like a game.
That’s the biggest thing I remember from being in the car.
The Start
The start wasn’t ideal. I dropped to fourth.
Then two cars tangled at Paddock and the safety car came out.
At that point, there’s nothing you can do. I just told myself I had time and focused on the restart.
Be ready.
On the restart, I got the jump on fourth and we were back on it.
I was calm. The race was on.
Just do the job.
Next was third. I focused on catching him, but before we even got into a proper fight he missed a gear and I was through. Bit of grass, but that’s fine.
Now the leader was up the road.
That was the first part done.
The Middle
Now it was time to chase.
I fixated on the sector lights on the dash.
Every time you go quicker, you get a green.
That became everything.
Just go green.
Lap by lap, sector by sector.
Green is the only colour I want to see.
The only colour I’ll let it show.
Later I was told I did three 51.1 laps back-to-back. All race lap records.
In the car, I didn’t care.
I was just looking for green.
As I started catching traffic, it didn’t change.
Now it became a different game.
Pass the car, then try and get one or two greens on that lap.
Keep building.
Keep going.
I was closing on the leader, but even then, it didn’t really register.
I was still in the game.
The End
When I caught Tom Hawkins, I had a look around the outside.
It wasn’t quite there.
Too much risk.
So I backed out and reset.
Down through Paddock, the plan formed.
Get the exit right onto the start-finish straight.
Come out of the tow early.
Commit to it.
It felt like it unfolded before it happened.
I was further back than expected and it caught him out.
Once I was through, nothing changed.
Straight back to the game.
Just go green.
There were still cars to lap. Still sectors to improve.
Into Druids I checked the mirrors once.
Tom was there, but not close.
That was enough.
Back to it.
Coming out of Clearways, I had a car to lap.
I went to the inside and committed.
From there it was flat to the line.
And then it all lets go.
Like opening a can of pop.
Everything you’ve been holding just disappears.
The Reset
Even on the cool-down lap, my head had already moved on.
Oulton is next, and it’s a track I don’t know as well.
If anything, the win increases the focus.
Everyone else will raise their level.
So I have to be smarter with how I prepare.
I have to be better.
Nothing really changes.
If anything, you strip it back.
Reset.
Start again.
Look for the green.
