Susie Stoddart taking the pressure off in ‘08

Scotland’s leading lady racer ready to do battle on a more level playing field in 2008.

 

She may still have to open her points-scoring account in the DTM, but Susie Stoddart insists the pressure is off in 2008 – as she enters the campaign with her best chance yet to impress.

The Scot has moved across from Mücke Motorsport to Persson Motorsport for the new campaign – set to get into gear at her favourite circuit of Hockenheim this weekend – and she says she has settled in well, and is particularly enthusiastic about the opportunity to be working alongside 2005 DTM title-winner and Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes Formula One test driver Gary Paffett this year.

“Obviously whenever you join a new team it’s different people you’re working with and a different way of doing things,” she acknowledged, speaking to Crash.net Radio, “and that takes a bit of adapting to. I was very happy at my old team Mücke, but I was switched over to Persson and I’m very happy there also. They had Bruno Spengler and Jamie Green before they moved up to the factory team. They try to nurture the young drivers and help them to develop, which is a great situation for me to be in.
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Ginetta Juniors - Alice Powell gains ground at first round

Saturday was not overly successful. I started 2nd on the grid. I got a great start, got into first place and lead the race for a few laps. I was overtaken and then squeezed onto the less grippy surface and span off. This incident dropped me into 14th place. However, I managed to get back up into 9th place but ran out of laps.
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Second is the Word for Mishael Abbott at Road Atlanta

 

 

Braselton, GA (March 23, 2008) – In only her second Formula Atlantic race, Mishael Abbott finished second after starting second at Road Atlanta in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) National Competition.

 

Each time on the track Mishael consistently took seconds off her lap times in her K-Hill Motorsports prepared Ralt RT-41. In the Saturday afternoon qualifying session she chiseled over one second off her first qualifying time to secure second on the grid among Formula Atlantic cars. In the race she again topped her previous best lap time by over a second and finished right on the heels of the race winner to finish on the podium in second place.

 

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Amanda Whitaker battles on Formula Ford opener

County Durham’s fast female Amanda Whitaker fought through the pack in the 2008 Historic Formula Ford season opener at Donington Park.

Having had only 2 weeks to prepare the 1971 Elden Mk8 prior to the first race with only half a day at Croft to shake down the car, she knew it would be tough. With just a handful of laps practice, she qualified further back than she would have liked in the field of over 36 cars. [Read more]

Cassey Watson Returns from First Weekend of Racing

RDA driver Cassey Watson returned from Brands Hatch content with her first weekends racing in front of the BTCC’s bumper crowds and live TV cameras.

After a wet practice session a decision to play it safe left her on a wet set up when the weather changed and the track dried for qualifying and race 2, despite battling a badly handling car Cassey managed to grid in the midfield of the 22 car grid. [Read more]

Hot lady stays cool with Supervan on her tail

The crowd at Killarney race track for the International Historic race meeting in February 2008 couldn’t quite believe what they were seeing.
There was Sarel van der Merwe in a seven-litre Galaxie V8, Pedro Passyoutoo from Spain in a Ford Falcon V8, and Isle of Man ace Tim Boles in a Chev Camaro with enough excess power to light up Table Mountain for the holiday season.
[Read more]

Motorsport Interview with Susie Stoddart

MOTORSPORT aktuell Interview - “It won’t work by force!”

In an interview with swiss motorsports magazine “MOTORSPORT aktuell” Susie speaks about the difficulties in getting rid of the prejudice of just being a marketing tool and of being accepted in DTM for her driving abilities.

Q: In the third year woman drivers in DTM as a PR gag are exhausted. Why is it apparently so difficult for you to get rid of the status of a dash of coulour though?
A: I don’t even see that question. Of course you must be honest to yourself and realize that when two manufacturers indenture a woman at the same time it has got something to do with marketing. But if I hadn’t performed well I would have been out right after the first year. Norbert Haug and Gerhard Ungar place high expectations in their drivers. They provide them with the best car, the AMG Mercedes C-Class – and they expect the best from them. This is why I want to be taken serious as a racing driver.

Q: So for you this means – score as many points as possible in 2008.
A: Sure – but I had the same goal last year. I am not proud having to confess I couldn’t achieve that goal. I improved a lot, was quite close to the points on several occasions and have learned where I still have to get better. This makes me believe I am in a much better position for 2008.

Q: You got to grips with your qualifying weakness quite well.
A: Yes, and that made me happy. Now I have to sort out my other weaknesses and that should bring me into a position to score points. But I won’t put any additional pressure on myself because it’s so hard in DTM to move up into the top eight positions. But something tells me it is going to happen this year.

Q: Your problem was having to be measured up to Paul di Restas results.
A: For me it was no problem. I have never been shy of competition. Paul did a brillant rookie season in DTM and I don’t feel ashamed to admit that his results were better than mine. But honestly I did not really look at his situation because I had to concentrated on my own one. And as long as I give my best I am happy.

Q: You were quite close to him though so we are talking about details only. Which details?
A: It’s only a few tenths of a second. But those few tenths mean a lot in DTM concerning track position. Paul just got the whole package together. He was quick in qualifying as well as in race and managed to implement that into podium positions. I can learn a lot from him. But actually I know quite well where I have to work on.

Q: The last two tenths are the hardest to find. What’s the way to find them?
A: You need to develop the feeling of getting the car to the absolute limit and of how to take maximum grip out of the new tyres. Moreover you have to work hard with your engineer to make sure you know how quick the car will be on new tyres. It’s a combination of many factors. If you manage to get them sorted out the speed will come by itself. Trying to find those two tenths by force won’t work.

Q: Peter Mücke says you sometimes seem to be too determined. Is the right extent between ambition and serenity a key to success?
A: You won’t get far with serenity in DTM especially as long as you are not where you want to be. Possibly I will be more relaxed once I have scored my first points. But to get there means nothing but never stop fighting and giving hundred percent.

Q: On the other hand Jamie Green is a good example how things can work out once the knot has cracked.
A: Sure. But that also requires some luck. Jamie could have won at Lausitzring and Oschersleben already. But it did not work out, and for sure it hadn’t got anything to do with too much determination or a lack of talent.

Q: During the 2007 season all drivers in the old cars had to subordinate their own strategy to the one of their manufacturer on several occasions. Are you looking forward to the pitstop windows?
A: Yes, I do – but mainly from the point of view of the specators. For people who maybe don’t follow the series intensely some races might have been hard to follow due to the different race strategies. So the pitstop windows will mean an improvement for the whole series. I didn’t feel disadvantaged during last season.

Q: You say you’re prepared better than prior to any other season before. What do we have to expect from you?
A: I had a great winter so far. I did a lot of training, feel physically fit and relaxed and look forward to the upcoming season. Something tells me it will be a good year for me. Let’s wait and see what it will bring …

[Source]

Anna Instructs Zoe Wenham in her first season in Saxmax

Zoe Wenham has been karting for years and now steps up to make her car racing debut in Saxmax for 2008.

Anna has been keeping a watchful eye on Zoe’s racing career for the last few years:

“I have seen Zoe race karts and was impressed with her skills on track, I am delighted to of taken Zoe under my wing this season and hope to make the transition from karts to cars as easy as possible for her”

Anna switched from karts to cars at the same age as Zoe, 14 years old, where she raced T-Cars.

“I didn’t have any guidance through the transition I know how valuable it would have been”.

“I will be pushing Zoe hard in testing but also off track, her focus and fitness is crucial to keep up as it’s all part of being a quick driver”.

Anna is a fully qualified ARDS Racing Instructor working at Thruxton and Brands Hatch as well as doing manufacturer work.

Zoe’s first outing under instruction in the Saxo was last week. Anna comments:

“She listens, thinks and then puts it into practise. The improvement from her first lap to the last was impressive and her speed raised a few eye brows. I’m looking forward to working with Zoe for the rest of this year”.

The pair will be working together throughout the season.

[Source]

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