|
|
|
|
RG Racing Team NewsThis is where we'll announce the latest News and most recent additions to our web site. If you've visited us before and want to know what's changed, take a look here first.
Latest NewsGary James took two second places at Darley Moor. More to Follow.
Crunch TimePress
Release 13/4/2008 - RG Racing – Mallory Park 13th April Round
1 & 2 of the British Superkart Championships RG Racing traveled to Mallory Park, Leicestershire for Round
1 and 2 of the British Superkart championships. Having finished 9th
in last years championship with Ben Willshire, the team are keen to make vast
improvements this season and arrived to compete in the 125 Open class with a
new, lighter Anderson chassis and a PFP tuned SGM engine. Bens first session out in the new kart was positive. After 13
laps, Ben put in some competitive times to set 9th fastest time with
a lap time of 55.95 seconds. Ben reported back positively on the new chassis but
felt some setup changes could find some more time around the Mallory Park
circuit. Race 1 saw a good start. Ben managed to gain 3 places in the
first few laps, working his way to a comfortable 6th place.
After an incident that saw Damian Sleep exit the circuit at Gerrards
Corner, the yellow flags were out for several laps of the race on the entry to
this corner. However, on lap 6, and still under yellow flag conditions (no
overtaking at that point), Ben was overtaken by 2 Superkarts leaving him to
finish the race in a frustrating 8th place. With plenty of
karts on the circuit, the organisers claimed the passing under yellows was not
reported by the Marshals so 8th place was the final classification.
In Race 2 Ben started 8th. He had a clean start
and was positioned nicely in the pack, lying 5th after a brave move
into Edwina’s chicane on lap 1. On lap 4 the race was stopped due to an
incident at the hairpin, which left Isle of Man competitor, Jason Kitchens,
Superkart blocking the circuit. With 9 laps remaining, the karts restarted the
race in single file and the pace was fast, despite drops of rain starting to
appear on the circuit. After a sluggish start Ben dropped a place but 2 laps
later managed to gain it back with a move on the exit to Gerrards. With only 6
laps to go, Ben was hit by another kart on entry to the 1st gear
hairpin and sent off the circuit. Unfortunately this meant the race was over for
Ben, with a DNF classification. Despite a low point scoring opening round the team left
Mallory knowing that the pace is underneath them for the season, with more
improvements still yet to come. The hard work over the winter had paid off and
the team now look forward to travelling to the Ty-Croes circuit in Anglesey on
the 10/11th of May for round 3 and 4. The 5th Gear TV program uses
the Anglesey circuit for its filming.
Pre Season Sponsor DayPress
Release 6/4/2008 RG
Racing – Supporting the Local Community RG Racing were invited to attend the opening of the new ARCO
store in Fratton Park, Portsmouth at the beginning of April. The store was
opened by guest celebrity Billy Byrne of popular TV Show, DIY-SOS, and RG Racing
were on hand to support the day with their 125cc Superkart on display. The aim of the day was to raise the profile of Naomi House
Children’s Hospice and ARCO. RG Racing donated raffle prizes for customers; 2
x 2 day passes and paddock transfers for the British Touring Car Championship
race at Thruxton on May 17th / 18th. All of the proceeds
from the Raffle will be donated to Naomi House children’s hospice and the
final amount raised will be counted on April 14th. Below, Store Manager Neal Bonner tries the RG Racing
Superkart for size with Rob Willshire (Left) team partner and Ben Willshire
driver (right).
RG Racing begin their season at the first round of the
British Superkart Championships at Mallory Park on April 13th. The grid will
contain current European and British champions plus an ex World Champion so Ben
is under no pressure to perform!!! RG Racing would like to thank its team sponsors: Apex Circuit
Design Ltd, ARCO, Trimedia, Ferodo, Demon Tweeks, NGK Spark Plugs, and Sign-Rite
of Basingstoke.
Ferodo have agreed to RG Racing with technical support in 2008. RG Racing and Ferodo have been partner now for several years. Ben Willshire commented " Its good to have Ferodo behind us. The friction materials they produce are second to none. It gives me confidence when I am on the circuit knowing that we can rely in there components." PODIUM FINISHESRG Racing drivers took podium places at Cadwell Park on the 16th Sept. Ben and Michael took podium places in there classes on the Sunday race meeting. Gary James - Top 5.
Gary
James's first meeting of the season with a new Phil Featherstone pipe, new Motiv
seat, new rear disc, new Motiv air box, new Fuel tank, new Bell crash helmet Practice
damp, trying to relearn the circuit after a gap of 4 years, misting visor
and spray. No other problems Race
1 . Track wet but it had stopped raining. Started on the 4th row of the grid
(9th) out of 24 starters of a mixed grid of 250's and 125's. Finished 7th on
track and 3rd in 125 class after avoiding a first lap shunt and a slowing moving
kart at the chicane on two occasions. Excellent out braking manoeuvre at the
final corner to Race
2. Track dry. Started on middle of 3rd row, finished 13th on the road and
5th in class. Two much rear end grip so kart was hopping around the hairpin
and the final corner. Losing valuable time. Couldn't keep up with the 250's in the dry but still had an enjoyable race.
Easter Weekend OutingsPress Release 11/4/2007 14:00 by RG Racing - Baptism of Fire for Basingstoke Racer Ben Willshire from Basingstoke had a baptism of fire when RG Racing entered him for the shake down event for the MSA British Long Circuit Kart Championship. Michael Groves was also out in the 125 class. Ben has been racing a Rotax Max for the passed few years at Blackbush and Barton Stacey decided to take on the big boys. The RG Racing team have invested a long circuit kart for the coming season. Michael had done a few long circuit race and was looking forward to a good meeting. The test day on the Friday was planned to just learn the circuit and set the kart up for the Saturday race meeting. Due to a technical problem the team lost some valuable time to prepare the Superkart for Ben. The photo shows Ben Willshire followed very closely by Michael Groves.
Race 1 saw Ben start from the back of the grid as he is a novice. Michael had qulified quite will have made a good start. Ben manage to make progress and his lap times improved with each lap. As Ben was learning the equipment the team were just looking for a finish and to bring the kart home in one piece. Ben managed to finish 10th in class. He gave us some good feedback and changes were made for the second race. Michael battled through and finished 2nd in class. Race 2 saw some changes to Ben's set up by the team. The changes allowed Ben to get a good start and keep in with the pack. He managed to progress and race against some experienced drivers finishing in front of some and ending up with 10th in class. Michael once again was using his experience from last year. He pushed hard and finished 2nd in class. The field contained current European and British champions plus an ex World Champion so Ben was under pressure to perform and he coped well. Ben's sponsors are NGK Spark Plugs, Castrol with RG Racing and Sign-Rite of Basingstoke. Next event is at Mallory Park near Leicester on 19th / 20th May. This will be round 1 of the MSA Long Circuit Kart British Championship. Ollie Howell - Ollie was racing at Kimbolton in the BRDC Stars of Tomorrow Championships. He had a fraught weekend but managed to improve his grid places by the end of each race and final. The team are looking for sponsors to assist with running cost for Ben, Michael and Ollie all young drivers with great potential. They can be contacted via their web site www.rgracing.co.uk or on 07770 280 375. The team have a portfolio available for any potential sponsor. Ben Willshire Tests the RGR SGMBen did his first test in the RGR 125 SGM long circuit kart at FEKC. The session were interesting. The first was on old tiers to allow Ben just to get use to the gear changing. The second session the team changes the gearing and jetting. The made the kart easer to drive and more completive for Ben. The RGR kart was keeping with the 250cc karts on the straights which is very good.. We also had the more nimble ICC karts in the session. With the difference with chassis we noticed we were not making headway on the ICC's, but in the faster parts of the circuit it was clear Ben was up to speed and holding his own. The team were delighted with his first outing in a gearbox kart. Ben Willshire takes another win.Ben took a win in the CKC winter series on Saturday 23rd of December. The team are using the winter to keep the team in tune for next season. Ben will be racing in the 2 remaining rounds. The 2007 season will see the Willshire name return to the Long Circuit's. Ben will be racing in the 125 Open Superkart class with some Rotax Max races used to sharpen the reactions. Top 10 FinishRG Racing's team driver Gary James finished 10th in the 125 class at the British Kart GP held at Cadwell Park. Gary faced some strange weather conditions over the weekend. Ben Willshire BSC (Hons)RG Racing's team driver Ben Willshire passed his degree with 1st Class Honors in Motorsport Technology and Management. Ben spent his last year studying hard while racing hard. The teams decision to not let Ben's racing take over in favor of his future has proven to the correct one. His year in industry was with 4th Dimension. Well done from the team and the family. Ben is now working as a Track designer for Clive Bowen (Apex Circuit Design). Ben takes a WinBen took a win at Blackbush on Saturday 27/8/05. Ben who has only race 3 times this year due to university commitments took a the win in the final after starting 2nd on the grid. He also took a heat win earlier in the day. Lovely BubblyRG Racing provides bubbly to the first three in this years British Superkart Association Formula 125 Open Championship at the final round that took place at Snetterton on August 29th (Bank Holiday Monday) 1st Paul Platt 2nd Jeremy Bates 3rd Barry Armstrong
BTCC Driver Rob CollardPresents the trophies at the CKC Dinner Dance. RG Racing drivers Steven Wands and Ben Willshire received there trophies from Rob Collard.
RG Racing takes 1st and 2nd in CKC ChampionshipThe Team Drivers take 1st and 2nd in there respective classes. Ben Willshire finished the championship 1st in Class (Rotax Max Snr) and Steven 2nd in his class (Mini Max). Steven Wands and Ben Willshire interviewed by Basingstoke GazetteBoth drivers were interviewed by the local newspaper with full back page coverage.
The coverage covered local circuits, sponsors, how to start. Ben Willshire Wins Novice Trophy and with a P3 Finish.RG Racing's Ben Willshire was awarded the novice trophy at the Camberely Kart Club June meeting in Rotax Max Snr. This puts him top of the CKC Championships. With good finishes in the heats he started the rain soaked final 5th on the grid. By the end of the first lap Ben jumped in to the lead of the 15 lap final. With 2 laps from the finish the circuit was drying with the other drivers hunting him down. Over the last 2 laps Ben was passed by 2 national experts. The novice trophy in karting is the hardest trophy to win. With 6 chances before moving off of the novice plates the Team were ecstatic.
Ben Clucas who the team assisted in the past has been signed to the Toyota F1 Drivers Academy (TDA). He is currently racing in the Italian Formula Renault championship. If you want to keep up with this fantastic young driver then go to www.benclucas.co.uk. Ben Clucas - FORMULA RENAULT ITALIA The team progresses with the Rotax Max class on short circuit. Ben has completed 2 meetings so far. The first meeting had some ups and downs. In the first race Ben was lying 5th in his first Max race when the starter switch failed causing a retirement. The remainder of the meeting was a successes. The second meeting was a disappointment as there were only 5 in the class - This is not real racing. Hopefully then next meeting will have a good grid. Ben Willshire tested the Teams Rotax Max at Blackbush kart circuit on the 28th of Feb. The times (early 25 second laps) were good for only his second time in a kart. We tested the latest XR77 oil from Castrol with some good results.
Members of The University of Herts (BSC Motorsport Tech Engineering) assisting RG Racing in the set-up at Blackbush. Ben is due to do his first race on the 27th of March at Blackbush. Ben Willshire of RG Racing has been assisting Team Fluery in the World Sidecar Championships. Ben is assisting with normal team duties. Pit board, Tyres etc. He was rewarded by 3 laps of the Oshisleben Circuit in the "Chair" at the German round of the World Superbike Championship. Both Rob and Ben have been given a passengers eye view. Ben did 3 laps at Oscheslaben in Germany & Rob 3 laps at Silverstone.
Ben Clucas gets some support from RG RacingThe team will be supporting Ben (18) up the ladder to F1. Ben who started in Karts has spent 2 seasons in Junior Formula Ford. The 2002 season brought success by wrapping up the Avon Junior Formula Ford Championship. The next step was the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch. Ben managed to win the semi final in a year old car. In the final he had an incident while leading resulting in damage to the car. The result was a 5th place. No bad for a first attempt. The team are trying to introduce Ben to the correct people. The Honda Challenge has received some support again from the Team in the way of product support. Prize giving was at BAR with Anthony Davidson handing out the silver ware and CASTROL goodies.
Off to Kabul with UNICEFTeam partner Rob Willshire who's normal job is in the logistics industry is off to help UNICEF in Kabul (Afghanistan). Rob will be responsible for the Kabul zone covering 10 provinces and 48% of the children needing education materials. Rob will be Logistics Officer on the Back to School Programme. It's UNICEF's largest logistical programme ever. RG Racing win MSA Draw.RG Racing won the MSA Draw at the Night of the Champions. The prize consists of the following:- 1 Rotax Max / Tony Kart (JAG), 1 Race Suit (Demon Tweeks), 1 Helmet, Pr Boots, Pr Gloves (ZIP), ARKS Pack (MSA) ARKS Course (Protrain), Driver Training SRS Stuart Zemillis) Rob Willshire has decided to give the prize to his some Ben to start kart racing and stop downhill mountain bike racing (Trees Hurt). This was on the understanding the kart could be used to teach students from Brooklands College Superkart Project. Below is the presentation of the Rotax Max to Ben and Rob by the MSA at Brooklands College.
Left to Right. Alan Phillips (Student) Peter Moore (Head of Eng Brooklands College) Rob Willshire, Ben Willshire, Paul Gladstone (MSA), Derek Tye (MSA), Adam Walker (Student) International Autosport Show As Normal RG Racing will man the Chequered Flag Awnings stand. The team who use the Awnings supplied by CFA will be on hand to give worth while experience to potential customers. Recent Media Coverage of RG Racing
|
Send mail to
with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
![[New!]](images/smallnew.gif){kind=small}
Gary
James get 2nd at Darley Moor 
