It has been a month since CAMS Rising Stars Trent Harrison and Jack Le Brocq last raced their Penrite Mygales, but it has been a month well spent by the Minda Motorsport team, preparing to take on the demanding Gold Coast circuit as the fired-up drivers hunt the championship lead in the penultimate round of the Australian Formula Ford Championship.
Harrison continues his work in driver training, passing on his knowledge of vehicle performance and driver skill, and has continued to work with the team on vehicle development for the tight street circuit conditions where passing will be at a premium.
Le Brocq took on the opportunity to race with multiple championship winning team Jamun Racing in the United Kingdom, competing in the final rounds of the British Formula Ford Championship at Silverstone Arena, before heading on to the British Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch. Proving himself once more, Le Brocq achieved great results on the international stage including a pole in both qualifying and the first heat, while taking on invaluable knowledge of race craft, vehicle development and team preparation (additional information on Jack’s UK experience is available on amsf.org.au).
In preparation for the streets of the Gold Coast, the Minda Motorsport team recently completed a test day with Williamson, another of the Minda Motorsport racers, to ensure the CAMS Rising Star Penrite Mygales were fully prepared and ready to rock up north.
Together again on Australian soil, there’s no doubt Harrison and Le Brocq are more than ready to race, with both young drivers committed to pushing to the next level once more to take on and beat the challenges of the field and the concrete canyon that now lies ahead.
Don’t be surprised to see a red-and-whitewash of the podium, and with the expected performance from both cars and drivers, the lap record could come under some serious competition.
Trent Harrison #12
“The Surfers tack rewards commitment but it also takes more from you than any other place.
“It’s tight. You’re hanging on for dear life and pushing yourself to the limit. It’s full on but it’s awesome and after taking fifth last year here in my debut Formula Ford event, I’m confident on the circuit.
“Our cars have the speed so it wouldn’t be surprising if the team all comes home top three, even having not been here before with these chassis’.
“We’re clever and we’ve shown all season that we’re good to race at the front and take the glory so we’ll be up there again with more glory still to come.”
Jack Le Brocq #49
“I’ve had the chance to go and race in the UK since our last round and it was awesome, I learnt heaps!
“The UK trip has definitely helped with improving my race craft as the racing was so close and I think just from those few races it has taught me a lot on how to approach the challenge in new ways, especially with passing as it’s so difficult over there, just as it will be difficult on the Gold Coast this weekend.
“We’ll be strong at Surfers. It’s a track I know well, I had a good run here last year and with our cars getting better and better every time we race, the team is looking very good for the top step of the podium this time around.
Bruin Beazley, Team Manager
“Jack and Trent are obviously all fired up.
“We’ve done a fair bit of work with the cooling systems, as well as had a test day at Calder recently with Tom (Williamson, Minda Motorsport) to work on some further issues we wanted to sort out and that went well.
“I honestly believe that we could say we’d be disappointed if one of our guys didn’t win the round here on the coast, especially after Jack’s overseas performance which is quite extraordinary and shows the level these boys are at.
“It’s a great place, the cars are ready, the boys are in a great mindset, so we’re going to go out there and smoke them.”
