Schools Out Racing at Silverstone

Sunday 5th October was our first ever ‘Schools Out’ race for junior drivers (those still attending school) - and what a race it was! All the drivers had prior experience driving the F4 car at Silverstone having attended a ‘Race Practice’ or ‘Schools Out’ session in advance of race day.

'Schools Out' offers reduced priced sessions to junior drivers both after school and on weekends with even more time slots available during half term and holidays. This enables them to develop the skills required to race competitively and enjoy the experience of public racing.

Eight drivers competed across three age categories meaning there was plenty of opportunity amongst the drivers to win in their respective age category.

The twenty minute qualifying session saw every driver set a lap time and secure a grid position for the main race. Freddie Lane set the the fastest lap during qualifying with an impressive 2:03.646 to secure pole position. Louis Johnson took second place with a time of 2:03.695 and Zidane Soleman secured the third spot with a time of 2:04.884 These three were followed by:

4. Ollie Heath 2:06.472

5. Tom Ball 2:06.708

6. Charlie Ray 2:08.621

7. George Heath 2:09.559

8. Harry Standing 2:12.328

As good as the qualifying times were, the race throws up the additional challenge of competing over 30 minutes – where consistency is paramount to a good race result. After qualifying there was a five minute interval. Some drivers chose to sit it out on the grid while others chose to stretch their legs, taking some refreshments before climbing back into their cockpits with less than a minute remaining before lights out. So relaxed was George Heath that he only made it back to his car with a handful of seconds to spare - meaning his race started with one glove on and one glove off. How he managed to put on his second glove during the race remains a mystery. This is not a skill I am familiar with - so credit must go to him for his multi-tasking abilities.

As is often the case with race starts, the entire grid descends on the first corner only fractions of a second apart. With so many vying for each inch that separates them, mistakes happen and drivers often lose a place or two in the early moments of a race. There were no collisions. Every driver held their nerve and within a lap or two most found their groove and the lap times began to tumble. Ollie Heath and Tom Ball did remarkably well to move up to second and third place, while both Louis Johnson and Zidane Soleman dropped back down the grid.  Harry Standing, a relative new comer to sim racing made up a place and showed great potential, keeping his cool and improving his lap time. 

As the race progressed Freddie Lane begin to pull away but Louis Johnson moved up through the field to secure second place with a lap time just 1/1000th of a second off the leader. Zidane Soleman also made good progress moving up to third overall and fought for position with Louis for much of the race. Both drivers did exceptionally well.

Tom Ball and Ollie Heath settled into fourth and fifth place with lap times one or two seconds off the pace of our leaders but still lapped one or two seconds ahead of Charlie Ray, George Heath and Harry Standing. It’s worth noting that all the lap times by all these Junior drivers are faster than two thirds of adult drivers.

Freddie Lane took the chequered flag with a very deserving win. He qualified in pole position, led from start and set the fastest overall lap of 2:03.090. Freddie won outright. Louis Johnson and Charlie Ray won within their age categories.

It was great to see all the drivers perform so well. The racing was excellent. This was our first Junior driver 'Schools Out’ race with many planned for the future. Our next race will be held at SPA Francorchamps. We already have a leaderboard up in venue and online so junior drivers can compare their lap times and prepare for the next race which will be announced shortly.

We encourage all junior drivers to give it a go. You need to attend a session in advance of the race to set a lap time and prepare for the race. Winning isn't easy, but taking part is an experience to cherish. Learning and applying race craft in a professional motorsport simulator is an adrenaline fuelled ride that needs to be tried to be appreciated. The skills shown this weekend should not be underestimated. The next generation of motorsport stars are younger sim racers and professional sim racers are growing in number with every year that passes.

Our race took place during the F1 Singapore Grand Prix, which was also being shown in venue. Our own race was more interesting watch. We had plenty of spectators cheering the drivers on. It is tradition here at VRROOM that our winners get to celebrate by shaking up and spraying a bottle of bubbly. They aren't allowed to drink it.

So if you have aspirations to become a motorsport sensation then we're here to play our part, providing junior drivers with a unique opportunity to race in a public venue, form friendships and be recognised and celebrated for their skills behind the wheel - even though none of our competitors hold a driving license.

Here's a few photos of the heroes who took part in our inaugural 'Schools Out' Racing.