Successful First Test for Lunar Racing's Jedi
24
January 2004
The Lunar Racing project kicked off its 2004 season with a successful
test in its Jedi Racing car. The project is an educational racing team,
founded by school teacher Paul Kneeshaw. The team brings together the
students from Weavers School in Wellingborough, Tresham College and
Cranfield University to share in the experience and expertise required
to run a front-line racing car, which will be driven by 16-year old
Katherine Impey. Lunar racing is also an MSportUK featured
team so their progress will be charted through the season from this
site.
The team's main focus for the season is the British Formula Ford Championship,
a part of the support package for the high profile British Formula 3
and British GT series, and a proven starting ground for many top-line
drivers. At the Autosport International racing car show, the team also
partnered with Jedi Racing Cars, obtaining a Jedi racer for testing,
and subsequently signing up to compete in the Formula Jedi Championship
alongside their Formula Ford committments. The Jedi championship will
cost the team only a fraction of the amount to run the Formula Ford,
but with this will enable the team to have more hands-on experience
with the car, and give Katherine more track time as she makes the transition
from karts to single-seater racing cars.
Thursday
22nd January saw the first drive of the Jedi which the team will use
for the season, on a rain-soaked Stowe circuit at Silverstone. Katherine's
single-seater experience before this had been limited to a day with
the Silverstone Racing School using the heavier Formula First cars.
Out in the lighter Jedi, her confidence grew quickly as she got to grips
with the sequential gearchange, and by the end of the session was pushing
hard despite the ongoing downpour.
Following the test both team and driver were pleased with the results,
Katherine confirming, "the car is much lighter, much more like
a kart to drive." She was also happy with the sequential gearbox,
finding it much easier to handle than the standard box she had used
in the Formula First car. Katherine is looking forward to the season
ahead with many of her old competitors from karting also stepping up
to the Jedi Championship.
The Jedi will be prepared and maintained by the students at Weavers
School along with the engineers from Jedi Racing Cars. The Formula Ford
will also involve a lot of hands-on work by the school, with preparation
and testing overseen by Tresham College in Corby and Cranfield University
under the supervision of the University's Darren Freeman who will act
as Race Engineer.
The Formula Ford car will be ready for its first test at Rockingham
during the first week of February, with the Jedi also due to complete
further testing laps. Check back for details soon.
See 2004 series calendar for British
Formula Ford | Formula
Jedi
Related Story 13.01.2004 - Northants
School Display Race Car at Autosport International
