What a busy year this has been! It was great to have a packed schedule throughout 2021 to make up for the frustrations of the previous year.
We’d like to take this opportunity to review some of the highlights of the drivers, teams and championships that JB Data Engineering has worked with throughout the season.
Amigo Motorsport – Britcar Trophy
We made contact with Richard Bernard in late 2020 and discussed how JB Data Engineering could support him in his Britcar Trophy campaign in 2021. Richard had the Ecumaster ADU, EMU, PDM , Battery Isolator, Keypad along with the USB to Can and GPS installed in his Porsche Boxster 986S and wanted some help in optimising the system before the season got underway.
Testing went well and we learned a lot about the system, meaning that we went to the first round at Silverstone full of confidence. Some teething problems meant that qualifying didn’t go as we wished but Rich made a great start in Race One before a mechanical issue forced his retirement. Race Two was much more positive and we made eight places up at the start to finish 21st overall out of 34 finishers.
Round Two at Snetterton was disappointing with a spin in Race One and a fire in Race Two. Richard decided not to continue with the season following the second round. There were, however, many positives to come out of the two-round campaign. Firstly, we had excellent discipline throughout the team, the engineering plans were good as were communications and when we spotted a development point, we worked on it. We hope to work with Richard again in 2022.
Amigo Motorsport – Silverlake C1 Challenge 24-Hour Race
JB Data Engineering’s support at the C1 Challenge 24 Hour Race was a relatively last-minute arrangement after Chelmsford-based Amigo Motorsport decided to enter a second car for Ben Hurst, Keith Hemsworth, Ashley Woodman and 2019 British GT champion Graham Davidson.
As JB Data Engineering had previously worked with three of the four drivers, we quickly established a rhythm that resulted in the #450 car qualifying in 33rd position. The race was going well but a mechanical failure during the night meant an engine change. The resulting loss of time was impossible to make back and the #450 car finished in 43rd position.
We were also compromised by contact out on track, an inevitability when you have a large grid with many novice drivers. The finishing position was a great shame, as the result didn’t reflect the immense amount of hard work that the team put in to keep the car running.
Breakell Racing – Revolution Cup
James Breakell’s Lancashire-based team competes with Revolution A-Ones, Radical SR3s, Ginettas and TCR Saloon Cars. We had contacted them at the start of the year to see if JB Data Engineering could offer support to any of their entries. James invited us to a test day where Richard Wells was testing his Revolution A-One.
We provided data engineering to James, Richard and the team at the Silverstone round of the Revolution A-One Cup. We also supplied VBOX equipment for Richard in his Praga as well as data equipment for Breakell Racing to support them for the rest of the season.
We thoroughly enjoyed working with James’ team and we look forward to building on that relationship as move into 2022.
CCK Motorsport – Porsche Carrera Cup GB
JB Data Engineering was approached to support Charles Rainford in his debut in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB campaign with CCK Motorsport. Charles had a lot of experience in historic racing machinery but less so in contemporary sportscars so we were very pleased to assist him in getting up to speed in what is a demanding racecar.
Testing went well and everything was positive for the first round at Snetterton where Charles qualified sixth in the Pro-Am class. Fifth- and fourth-place finishes in class in the two 30-minute races demonstrated that Charles was making good progress. Sadly, however, operational constraints meant that the team was unable to retain our services for the remainder of the season.
Porsche Carrera Cup racing is probably amongst the most competitive single-make series on the calendar and we very much looking forward to returning to the PCGB grid in 2022.
Ultimate Speed – Intelligent Money British GT Championship
JB Data Engineering worked with Mike Brown and Matt Manderson in 2020 so we were delighted to be invited back to support the team for the opening round of the British GT Championship in 2021.
The team was probably hampered by a lack of pre-season testing and the pace of the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 was not improved by rear-end contact during the first practice session. After the car was repaired, the team pushed as hard as it could and it was great to see Mike Brown enjoying himself in the Aston Martin.
Sadly, that was Ultimate Speed’s only British GT outing in 2021 but we hope to see them back on the grid for the premier domestic GT series next season.
Valluga – GT Cup
We were contacted by team owner Benjamin Heatherington at the start of the year with a request to provide VBOX support. After some initial discussions, we attended a test day at Snetterton after which the team asked if we could provide VBOX support and data analysis for their GT Cup campaign.
We worked closely with the team at a number of GT Cup rounds and were delighted to be part of the highly professional outfit that clearly has ambitions to race at the highest level of GT Racing. There is no doubt they have the drive and determination to do so and we hope we can continue our working relationship as we look ahead to the new season.
SVG Motorsport – Ginetta GT5 Challenge and Ginetta Academy
JB Data Engineering’s working relationship with SVG Motorsport began in 2019 and when we were approached by team owner Andy Johnson to support Owen Hizzey in his Ginetta GT5 Challenge campaign in 2021 the answer was, of course, yes! Owen is very much at the start of his racing career so we were very pleased to provide some coaching along with data services.
We have known Toby Trice from his days in the GRDC in 2019 so when the Kent-based driver decided to move to Ginetta Academy, we were there to support him. Toby had an astonishing season, resulting in him winning the inaugural Ginetta Academy championship. Toby now has ambitions to move into Porsche Carrera Cup racing with ultimate goal to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. JB Data Engineering wishes him the best of luck in his future campaigns and looks forward to being part of Toby’s team, wherever he may race.
EDF Motorsport – Britcar Endurance Championship
We have worked with Eddie Farrow’s EDF Motorsport since 2017 and when we were asked to support their 2021 British Endurance Championship TCR entry of Ashley Woodman and Martin Byford, we were delighted to help.
Testing in the early part of the year helped the duo’s pace and consistency with the hard work and excellent preparation of the team being rewarded with second place in the Endurance category’s E4 standings at the end of the season.
Had the team not been unlucky with two DNFs, there is no doubt that Woodman and Byford would have had a chance at the E4 title and this was all due to thorough pre-season planning and testing and the determination to keep improving as the year progressed.
We look forward to being part of EDF Motorsport’s continued success in 2022.
Throughout a very busy season, we were also fortunate, and grateful, to have supported Jacob Heap as he contested the 2021 Junior Sports Car Championship. It was great to see the progress that Jacob made over the course of the season. Jacob has a big future ahead of him and we hope to continue providing support as he moves up the championship ladder.
There were a number of other teams and drivers that we worked with but sadly space prevents us from commenting on them all. However, to all the competitors that we worked with, we had a lot of fun and we hope to see you all again next year.
A huge ‘Thank You’ to all our customers!
So as 2021 draws to a close, JB Data Engineering would like to say a huge thank you to all our customers throughout the season. The last twelve months have been hugely satisfying and we very much look forward to providing data support, analysis and coaching wherever you may require it as we look forward to the new season.
We wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
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