Falcon Motorsport´s Chris Mealin has been reflecting on the first half of his debut season in the 2014 Formula Ford GB Championship, and the Manxman believes that he can build on what has been an impressive season so far.
"We´ve gotten off to a very good start, 10 Scholarship podiums with my first overall podium at Oulton Park in some very tricky conditions is something I would have never thought could happen with my limited experience in single seaters; I set a target at the start of the season to claim my first overall podium before the summer break and I´ve been able to achieve that".
Undoubtedly Chris´s highest point of the season is claiming his first overall podium at Oulton Park, the weekend after his accident at Thruxton, showing that he is more than capable of bouncing back as soon as possible. He added, "winning the Scholarship class has also got to be up there and it´s something that I will always look back on as one of those good times".
Looking back at the five tracks that he has raced at in the first half of the season, Chris admitted that he has loved racing at all of them. "Brands Hatch was a great opening to the season with 3 Scholarship podiums and winning the Scholarship class in the last race, Donington we had better pace but a few things happened which didn´t help and we definitely felt we could have gotten more out of that meeting. I got my best start to a race at Thruxton from 8th to fighting for 3rd at the end of lap 2 but sadly my heavy crash ended the weekend early. Oulton Park was probably my favourite as everything flowed together nicely, a great weekend for sure, and Croft was a good circuit to race at too, very technical and fast but we were on the back foot with every session due to issues with the car".
Despite it being his debut season in the championship, Chris is loving every minute of it and the challenges it brings; "It´s fantastic to be part of the championship, they give a huge help to every young driver that comes up from karting who wants to start a career in single seaters like myself, from the quality of the racing to working with the teams, TV, media, fans and help with looking for sponsorship, it´s just brilliant!"
With the second half of the season starting this weekend at Snetterton, Chris is hoping for more strong finishes and to build on what he has already achieved in the opening half of the season. "As long as I can keep scoring Scholarship podiums in every race and claiming those overall podiums more often now that would be great. In the back of my mind though I´m still after that first race win which I don´t think is too far off from happening, as long as we keep doing what we´re doing and improving every time I go out onto the circuit then who knows what results could come my way".
Written and inerviewed by Alan Faulkner
Photo Credit: Alan Faulkner
