OLIVER CLARKE CLOCKS VALUABLE TESTING MILEAGE AS PREPARATIONS RAMP UP AHEAD OF 2020 SEASON-OPENER

Oliver Clarke has ramped up his preparations ahead of the new BRDC British F3 Championship season over the past week, showcasing impressive pace on his return back behind the wheel during test days at both Donington Park and Silverstone.

More than 100 days since he last put his Hillspeed-prepared machine through its paces, the 17-year-old hit the ground running and showed no signs of rustiness despite the recent coronavirus lockdown preventing him from driving.

As the countdown to his eagerly-anticipated debut in Britain’s premier single-seater series intensifies, Clarke racked up the mileage as he continued his pre-season test programme.

On Friday 3rd July, Donington Park provided the backdrop for the Torq Racewear athlete’s first post-lockdown test.

Under the flightpath of East Midlands airport, Clarke lapped competitively in both dry and wet conditions – fuelling his and the team’s confidence ahead of the revised campaign.

One week later and Clarke – who hails from Kings Lynn – descended on the home of British motorsport, Silverstone, and delivered another flawless performance on the Grand Prix layout of the famous venue.

Joined by Fewkes Sports Management’s Head of Driver Development Jordan King, Clarke benefitted from the wealth of racing experience King has built up down the years having enjoyed stints in Formula One, IndyCar and the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Battling challenging track and weather conditions once again, the former multiple karting champion underlined his credentials as one to watch in 2020 with a string of impressive laps around the Northamptonshire circuit.

Oliver Clarke:

“It has been really great to finally get back behind the wheel of a race-car and sharpen my skills ahead of what is going to be a busy few months of racing due to the condensed schedule.

“Both test days at Donington Park and Silverstone proved to be hugely beneficial as it not only allowed us to blow the cobwebs away but also try some things that we perhaps wouldn’t have had the opportunity to try during the season.

“Our times have been really encouraging and having somebody such as Jordan in my corner is only going to benefit me further as I can draw on all of his experience and hopefully apply it to what I’m doing.

“It has been a long time coming but the start of the season is now well within sight and I’m feeling really confident that we can make our mark on the championship once racing gets underway.”

Jordan King:

“There’s no doubt that Oliver is a very promising talent and we have been delighted with the way that he has adjusted to life in the BRDC British F3 car so far.

“To come out of lockdown and be straight on the pace is a credit to Oliver and the work that he is currently putting in behind the scenes. We’ve made some very good progress during the past week.

“We’re under no illusions that the BRDC British F3 grid will be ultra-competitive this year, but are convinced that Oliver has the ability take it all in his stride and compete at the front.”

OLIVER CLARKE REVVED UP FOR RACING RETURN IN BRITISH F3 iRACING CHAMPIONSHIP

Oliver Clarke will get back behind the wheel of a race car this coming Sunday (May 17) – albeit it virtually – as he takes part in the inaugural British F3 iRacing Championship, which is being launched in association with Apex Racing TV.

With the 2020 motorsport season currently suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Clarke’s eagerly-anticipated graduation to the single-seater category with Hillspeed has been placed on hold until a new schedule has been confirmed.

In the absence of real racing, the Torq Racewear athlete will instead be getting the competitive juices flowing by representing Hillspeed amidst a packed grid of current and former British F3 drivers in the five-round championship.

The ‘virtual’ season-opener will begin around Oulton Park and will be followed by visits to Spa Francorchamps, Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Donington Park.

Each round of the iRacing Championship will comprise of two races plus practice and qualifying, and will be broadcast live from 6pm BST on the official BRDC British F3 Facebook page and YouTube channel.

The overall winner of the championship will be presented with the coveted ‘The Jack Cavill Trophy’ and a magnum of champagne.

Oliver Clarke:

“These are unprecedented times at the moment with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic so it is great that we are able to get back to some form of racing with the British F3 iRacing Championship.

“Since lockdown began I’ve been putting in the hours on my home sim and although nothing can replace the sensation of driving a race car, this is pretty close. It’s been keeping me sharp, both physically and mentally – which has been important whilst we wait for the season to begin.

“With all five events being streamed live on a variety of platforms, this will be a fantastic opportunity to stream my brand to an extra audience that we potentially wouldn’t have normally, and that can only be a huge benefit to my loyal partners.

“Looking at how competitive the entry list for the iRacing Championship is suggests that we are all going to have to be on top form; however I’m confident that I will be able to mix it towards the front. I’m really looking forward to get going over the next five weeks!”

British F3 iRacing Championship Calendar

May 17 – Oulton Park (International)
May 24 – Spa Francorchamps
May 31 – Silverstone (Grand Prix)
June 7 – Brands Hatch (Grand Prix)
June 14 – Donington Park (Grand Prix)

OLIVER CLARKE IN OPTIMISTIC MOOD FOLLOWING BRDC BRITISH F3 MEDIA DAY

Oliver Clarke will head into the opening round of the BRDC British F3 Championship season at Oulton Park next month in optimistic mood following the series’ official Media Day at Snetterton, which took place earlier this week.

Having put pen to paper on a deal to graduate up into the series with the race-winning Hillspeed outfit late last year, the 17-year-old has been working hard behind the scenes in readiness for the eagerly anticipated curtain-raiser.

In what was one of the first collective outings for a majority of the 2020 field at the Norfolk venue, the Torq Racewear Athlete – who hails from Kings Lynn – enjoyed a productive two days of running around what is his local circuit.

Making the step up into the high-profile category after competing in the F4 United States Championship last year, Clarke wracked up the mileage as he continued his pre-season testing schedule.

Sporting a new red and gold livery in honour of Hillspeed celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, Clarke and the team worked through a thorough testing programme in what were cold and sometimes drizzly conditions.

Alongside testing, Clarke also took part in the traditional interviews and photoshoots that take place on the BRDC British F3 Media Day as well.

Oliver Clarke:

“Since we made the announcement that we would be stepping up into BRDC British F3 this year we have been keeping our heads down and working hard to get things how we want them.

“From my own personal fitness to continuing to find the sweet spot in what is a new car for both me and the team, we have been putting in the hours and hopefully we will reap the benefits of that hard work as the year progresses.

“We weren’t really going for overall lap times during the sessions as we have little bits we are working on however it was good to share the track with the rest of the grid for the first time and see where things stack up.

“I feel as prepared as I ever have done going into a new season and I’m optimistic that we can hit the ground running at Oulton Park next month.”

The 2020 BRDC British F3 Championship roars into life on April 11/13, with Oulton Park playing host to the opening three races of the campaign.

OLIVER CLARKE PRODUCES BATTLING F4 PERFORMANCE IN PITTSBURGH

Oliver Clarke endured a frustrating second event of the season in the F4 United States Championship powered by Honda this past weekend (June 21/22/23) as he tackled the Pittsburgh International Raceway.

Coming off the back of a battling performance at the Road Atlanta season-opener, the Velocity Racing Development driver had his sights on fighting further towards the front and scoring a another solid haul of points.

Having been fully focussed on his exams back at home in recent months, Clarke returned to American soil keen to get back behind the wheel and joined a majority of the grid for a two-day test in Pittsburgh prior to the event.

Fine-tuning the car during the test and then free practice, the 16-year-old endured a tough qualifying session around the 17-turn, 2.78-mile circuit. Setting a best time of 1:43.235, the Fewkes Sports Management hotshot ultimately finished the ultra-competitive battle for pole position back in 15th.

Lining up on the eighth row of the grid for race one, Clarke didn’t stay in 15th for long as he was on the move as soon as the lights went out. Scything his way past a handful of drivers during the opening stages, Clarke was soon into the top ten and on the back of an almighty scrap for seventh place.

Tucked up behind Christian Brooks, the former karting champion attempted to utilise all of his overtaking prowess but was unable to make a move, settling for tenth place as he took the chequered flag.

With the grid for the second race of the weekend determined by drivers’ in-race fastest lap from the opening encounter, the Norfolk-based racer lined up on the grid in tenth.

Dropping the clutch as the action roared into life, Clarke found himself in the thick of the action but sadly dropped down the order and ultimately finished a lap down on the leaders.

Keen to bring the curtain down on his weekend with a high, the sophomore season racer started the third and final 15-lap sprint from 14th.

In what proved to be another exhilarating encounter, the teenager narrowly missed on another top ten finish as he hounded the back of Josh Bethune and Guilherme Peixoto – ultimately crossing the line in 11th.

Oliver Clarke: “It has been a tough weekend and I don’t think the results are a fair reflection of the pace and potential we had coming into the weekend. We’re learning as a team all the time however and although the results haven’t fallen our way there are plenty of positives to take away.

“One top ten finish is frustrating but we are well aware of how competitive this championship is as a whole and it is still wide open.

“I don’t think we are too far away from that breakthrough result; we’ve just got to keep working hard as a team, make progress and I’m sure it will come.”

OLIVER CLARKE DIGS DEEP TO SCORE CAREER-BEST F4 UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH

Returning for a second year in the ultra-competitive single-seater series with Velocity Racing Development, the 16-year-old scored a career-best finish of fifth place in the third and final encounter of the weekend – capping off a memorable comeback.

After refining the car during both practice sessions around the 2.54 mile circuit, qualifying looked set to be a frenetic session however Clarke and the rest of the grid would ultimately be unable to take to the track to duke it out for pole position.

Heavy rain, strong winds and lightening caused flash floods at the venue and qualifying was cancelled, with grid positions for the season-opener based on the fastest times from practice – meaning Clarke would line up ninth for round one.

Lining up inside the top ten, the Norfolk-based racer enjoyed a strong start to the seven-lap encounter however his aspirations of the podium were dashed soon after as an engine failure forced him to grind to a fiery halt.

With substantial damage to his rear-wheel-drive machine, Velocity Racing Development worked overnight to ready the #62 for race two the following day, and Clarke repaid his team’s hard work with a scintillating performance.

Starting from the pit lane, the former karting ace underlined his overtaking prowess as he scythed his through the order, securing one jaw-dropping overtake after another.

Dispatching a handful of drivers on the opening tour, Clarke soon became a force to be reckoned with as his striking VRD machine firstly edged into the top 20, and then into the top 15.

Hounding the back of Ryan MacDermid and Wyatt Brichacek in the closing laps, the British teenage sensation narrowly missed out on the top ten at the chequered flag, instead settling for 12th overall.

Virtue of the starting grid for race three being based on the fastest lap times from the previous race, Clarke lined up on the outside of the front row for the final encounter in second place.

Lacking rear tyre temperature, Clarke lost a handful of spots as the lights went out but was soon back on the tale of the leading pack. Try as he might, Clarke was unable to find his way past those ahead of him and crossed the line in fifth – his best finish to-date in the championship.

Oliver Clarke:

“Kicking off the weekend, we made lots of improvements throughout testing and we lined up for race one feeling confident. Sadly an engine fire put pay to our chances of making an impact towards the front of the field.

“The team were brilliant and a lot of credit must go to them as they worked through the night to ensure we could get on the grid for races two and three the next day. To go from the pit lane to 12th in that second race was fantastic and set us up for a strong final race.

“Wheel spin off the line and then being pushed wide early on scuppered our progress but we bounced back and brought the car home in fifth, which is my best finish to date in the championship.

“Looking ahead to the next round I’m confident that we will be firmly in the mix towards the front. We can take a lot of positives from the opening event and there is still a little bit of speed to find but we will get there. I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do next time.”

Following the opening round of the season, Clarke leaves Road Atlanta sitting ninth in the Drivers’ Championship.

The F4 United States Championship powered by Honda resumes at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex on June 21/22/23 for the second event of the season.