From the Grid
Off the back of a very successful 5 year Porsche Club Championship campaign, including being the first to win the Championship in a Cayman and then another first, to win it in both eligible Porsche models the Cayman and the 911 – that meant we have dominated the podium for the last 4 years, we feel it’s time to ‘Evolve’.
It’s time for change in both the ‘racing’ and ‘#LegalTech’ world which is where both my own and my sponsors ‘work lives’ are based so we’re challenging our team, the car, myself and our sponsors. Days that Challenge us are days that Evolve us!.
From the First Bend
Faster for Longer, is the 2023 challenge. Join us, follow us evolving from Porsche Club Champions to Britcar Trophy Championship; from Porsche 996 to the next generation 997 car, a small number change but BIG difference in the class of racing we can compete in.
Timing is perfect as we’ve established a new title sponsorship with FormEvo for 2023, but crucially it’s the same #LegalTech eco-system partnership with Fusion IT Management, and their new development rebrand Expedite Law, EnablAI and SP1 IT Solutions. The same championship winning formula ingredients with a different mix and an all-new Porsche 997.
The cars’ performance is pegged back in Porsche Club to balance its incredible performance and evolution, with the Caymans and older 996 we ran in 2022. But we’re unleashing it’s potential, stripping the ballast weight out of it, turning up the wick and evolving into Endurance racing for 2023.
Britcar Trophy offers a national championship, which is internationally recognised, with a multimarque class structure, 50 minute and 2 hour races running across 6 rounds including 2 at the iconic Silverstone F1 circuit.
Endurance racing requires a very different approach to the sprint racing we’ve enjoyed ongoing success - with mandatory pit stops, grooved tyres and a minimum of double the track time per round, it’s all about strategy, strategy and strategy..
To finish first, first you have to finish!
Tyre management, consistency, picking the on-track battles and maximising and optimising everything - from my performance as a driver to that of the car and the team.
We’ll have full car to pit comms with the Team Principal, providing real-time data points and guidance on what other teams are doing, when they are pitting, tyre management and the like.
Biggest challenge - I’ll need to drive to a lap time that provides the opportunity to win but looks after the car and its tyres, rather than ten tenths all of the time.
We believe the cars natural fit is in Class 2 (out of 5) but there are still some decisions we’re yet to make which will influence its classification - do we run with aerodynamic aids, we can replace front and rear bumpers and add wings (and winglets - getting technical now!) which will offer some downforce but it will introduce more drag which affects our straight line speed - do the gains through the corners negate the affect.. we don’t have the luxury of a Formula 1 Wind-tunnel facility sadly but we do have the data point analysis we’ve collected from winter testing.
And then there’s fuel consumption considerations - the more we need to replace during the pitstops, the longer we’ll be on the stand refuelling - what’s the optimal balance?
To the Finish Line
Of course, plans are needed but it’s motorsport and many of the variables, development and learning opportunities will only really be possible in the race environment (not disimilar to #LegalTech and its Evolution of course) - so it’s a case of being prepared as much as possible for the unknown unknowns. And that means we need to be agile as a team, have the best tools for the job and communicate quickly and effectively, identifying a clear decision making process; Sound familiar? Motorsport, just like #LegalTech, full of agile, motivated, dare I say driven, people and good technology that aims deliver a win, in a highly regulated environment. #LegalTech
FormEvo Clark Racing, in association with its partners Fusion/Expedite Law, EnablAI and SP1, are excited by the opportunities that the Britcar 2023 will offer.
Charles Russell Speechlys LLP (A top 200 FormEvo user client)
Harold Bell
Irwin Mitchell LLP
