C1 Endurance Series 2023 – Silverstone 4hr 19th March
The 2023 racing season has begun, and the newly expanded RABsport Racing team headed to the Iconic Silverstone GP circuit for the first round of the Silverlake C1 Endurance Series.
The team, supported this season by CTJ Recovery, PD Extinguishers, West Coast Trailers and MPL Autoparts will battle it out this season with two cars, expanding from the single car entry in 2022.
Ready for testing! (Photo Rebecca Howland)
Familiar competitors Ethian Symonds, Motorsport UK academy driver, and Kiefer Del Piero partnered for round one in the Verodo Partner Services backed car. The two raced together in 2022 at the teams outing for the Race of Rememberance 12hr, narrowly missing out on a podium, and look to compete more in 2023. Ultimately they aim to be the lead team car in the newly built #335 C1.
The second car, #432, was crewed by new customer driver Arthur Simondet and alongside team driver coach Gary Mitchell. Arthur, a keen amateur sailor, joins the team with a wealth of MX5 racing experience in the USA, alongside a lengthy history of motorcycle racing and eagerly awaited getting stuck into his first British race!
The team descended on a wet Silverstone for a pre event test day on the 17th and set to work getting both cars and drivers up to speed, which with very limited testing time was challenging. Good improvements across the board were seen throughout the day despite damp conditions, and both the new car and new drivers bedded in for race day Sunday.
Ready for Racing! (Photo Arthur Simondet)
Qualifying:
Quali morning was a busy affair with 62 cars on the C1 grid meant finding clear track was key to a solid lap.
#335 started the session with a fuelling issue, which was quickly rectified by the crew and the car sent back out to complete its initial laps with Kiefer Del Piero behind the wheel. Ethian symonds jumped in after the driver change, and ran to the flag, aiming to get a lap time while light on fuel. A couple of track limits violations caused a deleted lap, but the crew brought the car in with a 3:05.564 and 43rd on the grid, with progress made it was a solid start.
#432 had a different approach, aiming to use the session as an extended test for Arthur Simondet. Gary jumped in to finish the session off and posted a competitive 3:03.752 to line up P31.
Race:
The race was ran in the afternoon, and consisted of a 4hr race, with 3 mandatory pit stops.
Dry conditions blessed the Silverstone GP circuit and at 13:45 the first round of the C1 Endurance series 2023 got underway!
#335
#335 driven by Ethian Symonds made an early charge, moving up 6 places on lap one, 4 on lap 2 and continuing to climb the grid to sit in P29 by the 14th lap. The crews strategy then began, sacrificing track position, the car was called to box for a double driver change series of stops enabling two of the mandatory 3 stops to be cleared. Both stops went well, and the car emerged at the end of the cycle in 52nd place. Ethian continued to charge onward, moving up to P35 by the time to swap with Kiefer Del Piero. Stop 3 was a longer one, with fuel going in, and out on to track went the #335 to rejoin the race, emerging in P42. Kiefer drove a steady and clean stint over a 2 hour period, eventually crossing the finish line in 30th place.
Both crew were pleased with the result, and the team gained valuable data for the 24hr race held in may. Ethian Symonds posted the teams overall fastest lap with a 3:02.201.
Ethian Symonds battling for position (Photo Rebecca Howland)
#432
Arthur Simondet would open the proceedings for the #432 car, and sat slap bang in the middle of a 62 car C1 grid it would be a baptism of fire for his first race in the UK! Arthur was steady at the start, being careful not to get caught up in any incidents and drove a solid two hour stint, keeping the car in one piece and coming to the change in P43. Fuel stop was on the cards at the change, and with the marshals keeping a keen eye out for infringements a minor error by Simondet saw the crew pick up a 3 minute stop go penalty. Heavy handed penality for sure but with this event being the season opener the organisers would be setting the precedent for the coming season.
Gary Mitchell drove the second stint and did his usual thing of taking no prisoners! Mitchell set a series of excellent lap times, aiming to limit the loss caused in the penalty, and coming into his series of stops was sat in 43rd. The second cycle of stops went well again, and Gary brought the car home to cross the line in P36.
Gary Mitchell enters the car during a driver change pitstop (Photo Rebecca Howland)
On the whole a testing race for both crews, the drivers and team having taken a lot of data, and information from the weekend ready for the 24hr race. Both cars showed good outright and long run pace, and drivers all improved hugely across the board, meaning good things are on the horizon for this small team!
Next race is Oulton Park 22nd April where the team shall hope to field both cars again at this amazing circuit!
