Chris Diamond travelled to Brands Hatch in Kent for the first rounds of the Armed Forces Race Challenge competing as part of the Army Sports Car Racing sprint team.
It was to be his first race in cars having progressed from karting in 2018.
The Armed Forces Race Challenge is unique in not using line position for the Championship points – instead it uses performance index (PI) which is calculated on consistency.
This negates the vast difference in budgets and car spec – focusing on driver ability to maintain consistent lap times rather than outright pace.
As an Army Team driver, his job is to maximise points for the team – so consistency was the key aim.
Wirral soldier Chris Diamond: Selected as one of four 'works' drivers
Qualifying:
Although dry, the session was first thing meaning tarmac temperature was low. This meant the session was peppered with incidents.
On the out lap one of the other Army cars managed to find the gravel at the bottom of Paddock Hill bend due to a mechanical issue and the session was stopped.
Following the restart Chris was just starting his first flying lap when yellow flags were out again at Paddock Hill due to a Navy MG ZR in the gravel.
Competitors have to complete a minimum of three laps to prove competency and compete in the race.
This meant the race director allowed the field to continue under turn1 double waved yellows to complete this requirement before red flagging the session. Just three laps completed, Chris qualified 24th/34 for race one.
Race One:
The weather had been disgusting for the hour or so before the race started so as the field lined up on the grid for Chris’s first ever race – at Brands, in the cold/wet – he was pretty nervous.
He cleared the start - despite an Astra Bertone having gearbox issues in the middle of the track - and made it through Paddock Hill with any first lap carnage avoided.
A rhythm now had to be found to maintain consistent circulation.
Chris on track at Brands Hatch
Cars were off the track all over the place throughout the race so when the chequered flag fell it was a massive relief to have managed to survive.
That was it – first ever "tin top" race completed.
Once PI for the race was calculated, Chris was classified 8th, top novice and top Army – a truly positive result to kick things off.
Race Two:
Race two was instantly looking better as the sun had been out and the circuit had dried. A good opportunity to really get stuck in then!
Chris was starting 23rd on the grid, but an incident at the start meant a red flag on the first lap and the field was re-gridded.
On the restart – a good start meant holding the inside line through paddock.
The aim, although wanting to remain punchy, was to find some space and again get into the rhythm and maintain that consistency needed.
READ> Wirral soldier Chris Diamond is racing towards success
Despite a little battle with a BMW Mini, Chris was able to settle the pace and again kept the car on the black stuff to bring home a strong PI performance.
Overall - a brilliant debut weekend and a great start to the season. The overall PI result calculation of the two races puts Chris in 10th overall of 34 entrants – 2nd novice overall.
The team are already looking forward to the next round at Anglesey on June 15/16
All Chris's race reports will be published in the Wirral Globe and on our digital platforms - so keep your eyes peeled in the coming year for updates on his progress.
Chris would like to thank his sponsors: Cheshire Oaks Honda, Ace of Vapes Wirral, K&N Filters, Colourspray, RRR Remaps, Express IT Services and all of the Army Sports Car Racing partners.
Follow Chris on Facebook by clicking here
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