AUGUST 12TH 2024

Race Weekend Recap: Hewlett's Impressive Debut in The Racing Honda's Championship

The latest round of The Racing Honda's Championship delivered thrilling action, especially in Class B, where the competition was fierce. Making his return to the racing scene after some time away, Hewlett delivered a stellar performance, navigating challenges that tested both his skill and determination.

With only a few weeks' notice, Hewlett found himself back in the race scenario at the iconic Oulton Park, competing in The Racing Honda's Championship alongside the Time Attack Championship, MSUK Drift Pro Championship, and Tunerfest. The preparation time was limited, but thanks to the hard work of Europa Crash Centre Dronfield and BSR - Ben Sharpe Racing, everything came together. Special thanks go to Lewis and Ryan at Europa, whose trust and support made Hewlett’s return to the grid possible.

Qualifying: Heading into qualifying, Hewlett's car was carrying over 60kg of additional weight, a significant disadvantage in a series where power-to-weight ratio is crucial. Despite this, he managed to secure P3 in class, an impressive feat given the circumstances. However, the session was not without its challenges. The brakes needed further bedding, and the tyres, being a new compound, didn't perform as expected, causing substantial mid-to-exit understeer. To make matters worse, one of the dampers had stiffened significantly, further contributing to the handling issues.

Race 1: With the car not yet optimized and the brakes already beginning to fail, Hewlett approached Race 1 with a determined mindset. After a solid launch, he quickly moved into P2 by the exit of Turn 1 and set his sights on the leader. Despite the ongoing brake issues and persistent understeer, Hewlett pushed hard, closing the gap to P1 in certain areas of the circuit. A safety car period disrupted his momentum, but he continued to push, ultimately finishing just 1.1 seconds behind the leader in P2—a remarkable achievement given the car's condition.

Race 2: The grid for Race 2 was set by the fastest laps from Race 1, placing Hewlett in P2. Determined to go one better, Hewlett made a blistering start and overtook Buky around the outside in the first corner to take the lead. Despite worsening brake issues and lingering understeer, he managed to pull a significant margin over P2 in the early stages. As the race progressed, the gap began to close, particularly in the latter part of the circuit, where the handling issues were most pronounced. On the final lap, Hewlett had a dramatic oversteer moment at Knickerbrook but managed to hold on, defending his position into Druids and Lodge to secure a hard-fought P1 on debut.

Hewlett's debut performance was nothing short of extraordinary, considering the disadvantages he faced. The victory was a testament to his racecraft and the support of his team, who worked tirelessly to get the car race-ready.

A massive thank you goes out to Lewis and Ryan at Europa Crash Centre, Ben Sharpe and his team at BSR, as well as CN Signs, 5JH Designs, and everyone else who contributed to this success. The warm welcome from the paddock, including fellow participants, marshals, and organizers, made the weekend even more special.

Hewlett will be continuing to the next round at Donington Park on the 18th of August.