Driver blog

Cassey Watson

Cassey Watson is this year competing in the British Ginetta Junior championship for drivers aged 14 to 16 years old. The series uses Ginetta G20 GT4 cars with Ford Zetec 1.4 litre engines.

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Facebook

Wednesday, October 1 2008

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Matthew Rimmer for starting a fan page for me on facebook.

It has been a shock to me this year, the amount of fan mail I’ve received from all around the world, but for somebody to make the effort of starting a fan page is a lovely thing to do.

So any new photos or news about anything I do Motorsport wise, I will tell Matthew about and it will be in the news section so would be great if you would all join the group, it would be a real reward for Matthew if he had a busy page, and you never know it could be beneficial for me in sponsor negotiations, and lets face it anything would help at the moment.

Here’s the link:
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26520225557

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FPA Test 2

Thursday, September 25 2008

Last night I had my second of three FPA tests we’ve booked, and I am extremely happy with how things are going.

For the second time after a dry day the rain came just before the test started, leaving a greasy track for the first 30 mins, then light stopped play a few minutes early as the darker nights close in.

However there were many things to be happy about, firstly my strength has increased dramatically with the changes I made to my training after test 1. I can honestly say after nearly 2 hours in the car I felt totally fresh and with no noticeable tiredness in my arms or neck at all. This is excellent news because I know that a number of drivers find this car very physical indeed.

Secondly mentally I now know how to drive this car quickly, after the first test all I was aware of was how different the car was to everything else I’d driven. This time I finished the session feeling totally at one with the car, and I can’t wait to get back out in it.

Lastly and most importantly I went quicker, leaving myself confident that I can be quick in the Championship right from the start in 2009.

So now onto test 3, the important one. I have been told I have to impress in test 3, and I feel fully equipped to do so. Who knows it may actually be dry right through, third time lucky right?

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The Silverstone 24 Seconds!!!

Monday, September 22 2008

I was really looking forward to last weekend, my boyfriend Nigel was racing in the Britcar 24 hours at Silverstone and one of the support races was FPA, which would give me a chance to see what to expect next year.

As expected the FPA set up was extremely professional and I can’t wait to be involved next year.

However I was at Silverstone as a fan, and everything was looking great for the Team LNT Ginetta G50. I hadn’t attended a 24hour race and with Nigel due to be racing a large amount of the night session I couldn’t wait for race start.

Then disaster, as the lights turned green for the start of the race a Mosler on the front row lit up the rear tyres and spun in front of the pack sending a TVR into the wall, the out of control TVR then came back across the track collecting the Ginetta. 24 hours to go and out ... Gutted!

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Local Council Award

Friday, September 19 2008

I was thrilled to learn this morning that our local council, Wychavon District Council, have chosen me as winner of their ’Talented & Gifted’ Award.

This is great news for me as the Award provides me free use of the county’s Gym & Swimming facilities and also their organized exercise classes. Great timing, as I have just increased my training in preperation for FPA next year.

I would like to thank Wychavon Council for this award. It will be extremely beneficial to me.

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Fitness For Motorsport

Thursday, September 11 2008

Ever since I moved from Cadet karts to Juniors when I was 11 I have been very aware of my need to train extremely hard in order to be able to compete at the highest level. As a small 11 year old moving into Junior TKM and competing against 16 year old lads I had to strengthen up quickly and ever since then I have spent alot of time in the gym.

I do alot of work on core strength and balance as these are the skills that really hone your ability to feel what the car is doing beneath you.

Also my college course with the Race Driver’s Academy has really helped me learn what I need to work on as far as my aerobic exercise and to help me work out a successful training routine.

However although it is obvious which muscles I need to actually strengthen, neck, shoulders etc, there is no substitute for driving the car in order to really find out where the work should be centered.

So it may sound strange but after my first drive in the Formula Palmer Audi last week, I was really looking forward to waking up the following morning in order to find out which muscles hurt. Sure enough I awoke to aches and pains that have really allowed me to hone my training to work on those specific muscles ready for 2009.

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FPA Test

Thursday, September 4 2008

Since I was 3 years old I’ve dreamt of being a racing driver, with IndyCar my passion.

Karting was fun and I have loved all the cars I have raced so far. However after so many years of supporting open wheel racing, it was easily the most important day of my life on Tuesday when I climbed into a 375BHP Turbocharged Formula Palmer Audi.

Although racing in the Indy 500 is the ultimate dream, FPA is part of the same dream.

The idea of the first test was to get used to the car as it is obviously hugely different to the Ginetta sportscars I’ve raced this year. However I was surprised to find I had no nerves whatsoever even as it poured with rain minutes before the test started.

The whole experience was superb, I have never known such a professional setup as FPA and everyone was extremely pleased with how the test went.

I will now have two more tests at the end of September the idea being to then decide my plans for 2009. However I think after just 1 of 3 tests I can already say that FPA is where I want to be!

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ARDS Instructor!

Thursday, August 28 2008

Great day yesterday!

Spent the day at Thruxton race circuit on one of their excellent driving experience days. These days must be the best going because they are always extremely busy and they provide a fabulous mix of supercars to excite any petrol head.

I had to attend the full day with the team of excellent instructors, including taking part in briefing. Then I split my day between meeting and greeting on the gate and numerous sessions out on circuit instructing whilst under the scrutiny of the head instructor in the back seat.

I am thrilled to say I have passed the test and have been cleared to be an ARDS instructor, which was one of my main goals for 2008. So I am looking forward to working regularly at Thruxton circuit and being available for private tuition at track days.

So anyone reading this thinking of taking to the track and wanting an instructor please email kc@casseywatson.co.uk

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Driving Lessons... To Give & To Receive

Friday, August 22 2008

Back in 2006 when I first moved from karts to cars I had some instruction from ex BTCC drivers, Eugene O’Brien and Danny Buxton, both of whom were superb instructors and ever since then it’s a job I’ve really wanted to do myself.

Thanks to the MSA giving me special dispensation to upgrade straight from my Junior National B Licence to the International C licence I need to become an ARDS instructor, I am close to being able to do the job earlier than I expected. I had a trial at Thruxton Circuit last week and that went extremely well and made me even more keen to do the job.

However one problem, the other criteria I need to meet to be an instructor is a Full road licence. I was 17 on the 16th August and have already passed my theory on the 19th and now have my practical booked for September 9th. So here we go I have about 2 weeks to turn myself from a racing driver to a driver on the road, so that’s enough writing on here I have parallel parking to practice!

Kc
x

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Opportunities!

Tuesday, August 19 2008

This weekend just gone was the 2nd of four consecutive weeks I will be spending at Silverstone. This one was the F3/British Gt round and I was there to support my Tockwith teammate Nigel Moore who is the reigning Ginetta Junior Champion and is this year racing the gorgeous new Ginetta G50. There was cause for celebration as with victory in the first race he was crowned Champion!

The good news for me was that following my two Ginetta G20 podiums last week there was buzz around the paddock with lots of people taking the time to congratulate me. Now congratulations and recognition is always nice but for me the important thing to come out of the weekend was the offer of a drive in the final G20 round at Donington Park in October. I have accepted this drive on the understanding I need to find sponsorship. Hopefully I will find the £1500 I need in order to prove a point on the big Ginetta stage. My podiums last week were great but I’m desperate to repeat those results on the big stage infront of the TV cameras.

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Senior Debut!

Monday, August 11 2008

I haven’t blogged for a few weeks, mainly due to feeling pretty down and disapointed following confirmation that a car would not be available for me for the rest of the Ginetta Junior season, basically leaving me without a drive.

I’d had extremely high hopes for this year when we entered the Championship but really from the first pre-season test I knew things were going to be tough.

However after having an extremely good week last week I am feeling very positive, and am looking forward to what the future has in store for my Motorsport career.

Firstly last week the MSA confirmed they would support my application to upgrade straight to an International C licence from my Junior one. This is great because not only can I accept an exciting invitation to go to Sweden to race in the Swedish Ginetta Championship next month but also it means I will be in a position to take my ARDS instructors test alot earlier than I expected, and this is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.

Secondly thanks to Simon Moore from Tockwith who provided a Ginetta G20 for me I was able to use my new licence straight away, by entering the senior Ginetta race at Silverstone.

I was extremely nervous because I have never been in a race that wasn’t for my age group, cadet karts, Junior Karts and then the 3 Junior Race categories. For the first time I would be racing ’grown-ups’

My nerves weren’t helped by the fact that the first time I would ever get to sit in the car would be to drive it on to the circuit for qualifying. Nothing like great preperation!

Fortunately there were no red or yellow flags during qualifying so at least I got the full 15 minutes and could gradually improve my lap times. The car was great fun to drive the extra power made the rear end move around constantly a feeling I really enjoy and never really had from the low power junior cars.

Things went well, not suprisingly my fastest lap was my final one and it was good enough for 5th on the grid which I was thrilled with in the circumstances.

Not long after qualifying had relaxed my somewhat frayed nerves they were set jangling once again by the fabulous British summer. Just as the call went out over the tannoy for us to go to the collection area for race 1 down came the rain. Great 1st senior race and the first time I get to drive the car in the wet, add to that the fact we’ve been called up so no time for a wet set up on the car. Terrific!

Fortunately the clerk of the course made the decision to give us two green flag laps due to the sudden change in conditions so at least I new what to expect from the car in the race, (basically this had become a drifting race, Lol).

Anyway I made a steady start maintaining my 5th position on the first lap then concentrated on staying with the car’s in front. The conditions were very difficult and two cars in front of me had spins so I concentrated on bringing the car home, I achieved this collecting a podium on my debut.

By the time we were called for race 2 the weather was lovely and the track dry, I was starting fourth and knew that if I wanted another podium I would need to earn it as the conditions were perfect.

I have been making good starts all year in the junior car but was a bit concerned about the best way to get off the line cleanly with the extra power. Happily I timed the lights perfectly and made a great start and even found my self leading into the first corner. Unfortunately I can’t finish this with the happy news that I held on and won, but lets face it in the circumstances that would have been a slightly unrealistic dream, however I finished race 2 on the podium as well, finishing 3rd once again.

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Top 2008 race winners

1	Craig Baird	32
2	Kyle Busch	21
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4	Jack Lemvard	19
5	Donny Schatz	18
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8	Earl Bamber	16
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12	Toon Rutgers	15
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15	Ivan Utrera	14
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19	Chris Hyde	13
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This list also includes series that span over the new year (i.e. 2007-08 championships).

Driverdb.com blog

News, updates, bugs, tired ramblings, small breakdowns and other stuff related to maintaining, adding and expanding Driver Database.

A small bug fix
November 14 2008
Fixed a small bug today that's been visible on the driver's career details pages. Up until now the text "Complete results needed" were always shown for non-championship races eventhough race, pole, podium and fastest lap were reported. A bit confusing really - but now we should be rid of it (unless ...

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