Well its Friday morning, I’m in Newquay at the moment, been here since Monday on a water sports holiday with some of my students from Hanley Castle High School. We’ve got our last morning’s activities today, my group, aptly named ‘Nixon’s Newquay Nutters’ are doing surfing and beach games, I’ve decided to watch from the shore as I have to dash off in my car to make the last session in testing at Castle Combe this afternoon.

Well its 12.30pm and time I was bidding farewell to everyone in Newquay and head up the A30-I think!? Traffic has been OKish but a typical Friday afternoon, managed to get to the circuit just in time to see my dad razzing around in my car!! Got into the car for the last session, had 5 laps and then it was red flagged-some inconsiderate person had crashed off at the renowned Quarry corner! I later found out this was my arch rival Joel Wrole-Johnson, his car was badly damaged to the point where he will have to use the spare car for the weekend but he was fine. (SPARE CAR………huh, this is what I’m up against, would have been over and out if that had been me!!) So after only 5 laps I still have very little idea about the circuit having never been here before except to watch my dad race. Dad has given me loads of tips but it’s very hard to take them on board without seeing it so I’m off to find my better half, Rob who is also racing this weekend to see if he has any on-board footage I can watch. I’ve been swatting up for last few weeks on the circuit and watched hours of You Tube footage but not all the racing lines on there are very good!

It’s 9pm, the car is all ready and me and dad have just spent the last two hours putting the awning up and unloading everything so I’m off to bed and to watch more on-board camera footage.

Saturday Another typical early morning start, had to be signed on by 7.45am and then dash to a new drivers briefing. This is where they go through all the safety procedures and running programme which is specific to each circuit and since I have never raced here I have to go to sign my name off (there’s a register and if you’re not there you get fined…….maybe we should bring that in at school!!) Just had qualifying which was awful, I’m still learning the track. Normally I can pick a circuit up quite quickly but it’s really hard to make up the time to be really quick around here. I’m half a second off but this means I’m 10th on the grid, guess it just shows how close everything is.

It’s first race time and I’m more nervous than usual, think this is because of a number of things, firstly I’m 3rd in the Championship and leading the ladies title and I tend to put quite a lot of pressure on myself about things like that. Also it’s a fast circuit and there’s very little run off, if I get it wrong it’s going to hurt.

Race went ok, was pretty boring though really! Managed to get up to 8th but didn’t drive as well as I could do. I hate feeling disappointed in my own driving but I that’s exactly how I feel right now.

We’re all quite sociable at race weekends and my co-ordinator Rhea has organised a disco and food in the circuit’s bar, it’s great for all the mechanics and a chance for them to have well deserved alcoholic beverage, us drivers on the other hand have to stick to the likes of Coke! It’s 10pm though and I need my beauty sleep so bon nuit!

Sunday Yet another early start, first race is at 9.45am. Got lots of family and friends coming to watch today including my two cousins Sam, aged 11, and Oliver, aged 7, who are mad keen on motor racing and desperate to be the next Lewis Hamilton!

Well what a race. Had a good start, had moved up to 5th by lap 6 and was really getting into it and chasing hard for 4th when that name popped up again…….Joel Wrole-Johnson. We were coming into Camp Corner (fastest on the circuit) when he decided to hit me off at nearly 90mph! Luckily for me Anthony Williams who was behind Joel missed me and I managed to do a perfect pirouette before joining the track. I lost a lot of time and places and so could only end up 9th at the chequered flag, losing me more valuable championship points.

The car is all in one piece, just a few more extra dents and scrapes as usual. I have a very limited budget and so my car never seems to look pristine as I would like it too. All our family and friends have turned up now so just getting ready for our last race of the day and then a nice, early get away hopefully.

Last race of the day, well I’m writing this bit up just about a week after as it didn’t all go quite to plan. We had a rolling start, all made it cleanly up through the Avon rise, and I’d gone from 10th to 5th and was flying! As we came into Quarry Corner I heard a massive thump behind me, there was a big crash and 4 of my competitors had all crashed. We all carried on, the leader had got clear and we were all in the chasing pack having a great little battle. We all came over the start finish line to complete our first lap to see the yellow flags waving as the safely car had come out. The two guys in front of me had seen the flags and suddenly eased off and braked, I had seen the flags but then had to brake heavily to miss Anthony in front of me. Aston Blake who was right behind me was still committed, had not seen the flags and still had his foot flat on the accelerator at just over 90mph. Aston didn’t stop and hit me hard on the rear driver’s side, sending me head first into the barriers at 90mph. I had terrible neck pain and was taken to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol on a spinal board where I spent 5hrs. I had extensive x-rays but thankfully nothing was found to be broken, I had sustained ligament damage and am now receiving physio therapy and acupuncture to help me recover in time for racing at Donington this weekend!!!

The car is nearly fixed thanks to the hard work of my dad and some parts donated by Mansell Motorsport in Hull. Fingers crossed all goes much better at Donington and I am reunited with the top spot of the podium once more!

Anyone wanting to watch at my local circuit Donington should come and watch this weekend 2/3 Aug!