formula-bmw-uk-snetterton-mike-meadows-norfolk-race-analysing-data-first-circuit-knockhill-edinburgh-bmw-motorsport-photos-automobilsport

Mike Meadows posted sixth and ninth place finishes at this weekend’s Formula BMW rounds held at Snetterton race circuit in Norfolk. The two races were filled with thrilling action and Meadows drove well throughout the day to record respectable results and keep him in the top five of the overall championship.

The race build up for Meadows and his Master Motorsport team included a pre-event test session in which the young Banbury driver was ninth quickest in each session. Saturday qualifying was fast and frenetic, but Meadows struggled with his car, posting 14th fastest lap in both qualifying sessions. This wasn’t the level of performance that Meadows was expecting and the off-track time was spent analysing data, reviewing the car setup and working with the BMW engine specialists for an in-depth evaluation of the test. The engine was replaced overnight, but from the seventh row of the grid Meadows had his work cut out for the races ahead.

In the first of the two races Meadows stayed out of trouble while other drivers were caught in a first lap melee which brought out the safety car and at the restart he had gained four places to lie tenth. In the shortened race Meadows used every opportunity to move up the field and by the penultimate lap he was lying seventh. In a gaggle of cars in the final lap Meadows was slipstreamed by rivals and pushed back down the order, to finish ninth at the chequered flag.

For the second race of the day Meadows lined up in 14th and made a good start passing two cars on the first circuit and then picking off his rivals one by one over the course of the opening laps. He was lying in seventh place by the eighth lap and five laps later, battling hard for position he was able to take sixth place, which he then kept until the chequered flag.

Meadows said after the races, "The biggest problem for us this weekend was our qualifying sessions, when we just didn’t have the power we needed to make even the top ten. The engine change resolved many of the issues but by then the damage was done. The shortened first race left little time to make it up to the front, even though we had a quick car, but we did the best we could. I was also unlucky on the final lap to be the lead car and while the others were able to take advantage of my slipstream and slingshot past me I couldn’t defend or retaliate, which was a bit disappointing.

"The second race was much better and we certainly showed our fighting spirit as we drove hard and made up eight positions by the end, but when the racing is so close and the championship is so competitive, we need to be qualifying better. We’ll keep our spirits high and be back to contest the next two rounds in Knockhill."

The Formula BMW championship moves on to Knockhill, near Edinburgh, in two weeks time, for rounds 17 and 18 of the 20 round series.

Visit www.mikemeadows.co.uk for all his latest racing news and www.bmw-motorsport.com for further details on the Formula BMW UK championship.

- Alison Hill-

Sam Abay storm to maiden pole 17.07.07

Donington Park A stellar weekend looked to be on the cards for Orchard Funds/Team Loctite driver Sam Abay after convincingly topping the time sheets in Thursday’s official Formula BMW test. Come Saturday the teenager clearly enjoying the...

Sam Abay - A busy week ends with a season high mixed with diasppointment 26.06.07

Oulton Park Formula BMW June 2007 A busy week for Sam Abay kicked off with the Future Fuels in Motorsport conference at Oxford University where the Aussie teen was joined by Energy Efficient Motorsport ambassador David Brabham, fresh from...

Formula BMW UK - Kral storms through for Thruxton victory. 09.05.07

Round 6 - Thruxton - Race - Final Josef Kral claimed his third Formula BMW UK Championship win of the season with Henry Surtees (Carlin Motorsport) topping the Rookies. From fifth on the grid, Kral made a good start and passed Fortec drivers...

Formula BMW UK - Arundel wins Thruxton thriller. 09.05.07

Formula BMW UK - Round 5 - Thruxton - Race - Final Thruxton - Rounds 5 - 5 May 2007 - Race. Henry Arundel (Fortec Motorsport) scored his first ever Formula BMW UK Championship victory with Championship leader Marcus Ericsson (Fortec...

Makela and Ericsson convert poles to wins in 2007 season openers in Brands Hatch 03.04.07

Formula BMW UK - Brands Hatch - Rounds 1 & 2 - 01 April 2007 - Race. The Formula BMW UK Championship 2007 got underway today in spectacular style with Valle Makela (Nexa Racing) claiming the first win of the day and Rookie, Marcus...

Formula BMW UK - DRIVERS 2007 30.03.07

2 Marcus Ericsson Sweden, Fortec Motorsport, RookieDate of birth: 02nd September 1990Place of birth: Kumla (SWE)Place of residence: Kumla (SWE)Height: 174 cmWeight: 64 kgHobbies: Motorsport, Ice Hockey, Personal TrainingFavourite driver: Michael...

Formula BMW UK Championship - A Success Story. 30.03.07

From Formula BMW to a Successful Future. Sebastian Vettel (GER) is just 19 years of age. Yet the 2004 Formula BMW ADAC Championship winner acts as role model for the Formula BMW UK Championship’s present grid, having achieved precisely the...

Formula BMW UK - Newcomers show early promise at Rockingham test session. 06.03.07

The Formula BMW UK Championship made a welcome return to the race track today, as 17 young drivers came together for the first time in the first official test session of the season at Rockingham. The weather proved helpful giving drivers the...

Sam Abay - hidden talent in Muffin baking! 20.02.07

Name: Sam Abay Team: Team Loctite Nationality: Australian Date of birth: 30/09/1987 Interests: Fitness, Surfing, Jet skiing Hidden talent: Muffin Baking "Sam is one of the brightest young racing prospects I have see"seen in my long career...

Sam Abay to drive for Team Loctite 20.02.07

Australian teenager Sam Abay will drive for Team Loctite in the 2007 British Formula BMW Championship. An Australian karting standout, Abay demonstrated his potential leading the 2006 Formula BMW Asia series until the final round. The...

Review: 2006 Formula BMW UK Championship. 04.12.06

Formula BMW UK Championship. Even prior to its 2006 season kick-off, the Formula BMW UK Championship attracted true British motor racing celebrities. In the past season, WTCC ace Andy Priaulx acted as the series’ official mentor and the 1992...

Fresh Young Talent Selected for BMW UK Scholarships 2007. 18.09.06

Five international drivers have proven their driving skills and been awarded a BMW Scholarship for the Formula BMW UK Championship 2007, after competing in the final selection process in Valencia last week. Anthony Comas, Adrian Quaife-Hobbs, Tom...

Formula BMW UK - KNOCKHILL- Breen knocking on titles door. 21.08.06

Knockhill Preview - Rounds 17 & 18 - 2/3 September 2006 The Formula BMW UK Championship 2006 heads north of the border this weekend for the penultimate event of the season, which could see a new champion crowned. Twenty-year-old...

FORMULA BMW UK - Breen closes in on title while Arundel steals the Rookie lead 18.08.06

Formula BMW UK - Rounds 15 & 16 - Snetterton - Race Niall Breen (Fortec Motorsport) came another step closer to his title dream with second and first positions in today's races, giving him a 69 point lead with four races...

MIKE MEADOWS PREPARES FOR TOUGH FIGHT AT SNETTERTON IN FORMULA BMW RACES THIS WEEKEND 11.08.06

Mike Meadows, a Banbury based young racing driver is preparing for a tough battle in the next two rounds of the Formula BMW championship which take place this weekend at Snetterton in Norfolk. The 18-year-old driver has been one of the leading...

TOP TEN FINISH FOR MICHAEL MEADOWS IN FORMULA BMW RACING AT DONINGTON 01.08.06

Michael Meadows, 18 year old racing driver from Banbury, Oxfordshire, raced to eighth place in the first of the two Formula BMW races at Donington Park racing circuit in Derbyshire this weekend. Meadows fortunes were reversed in the second race...

MIKE MEADOWS READY FOR DONINGTON CHALLENGE IN FORMULA BMW THIS WEEKEND 27.07.06

The UK Formula BMW championship moves on to Donington this weekend for rounds 13 and 14 of this exciting series which gives young drivers single-seater race experience with identical cars. Mike Meadows is competing in the Championship class with...

MIKE MEADOWS AIMS FOR THE TOP IN FORMULA BMW RACES AT CROFT THIS WEEKEND 13.07.06

Young British racing driver, Mike Meadows, is aiming to climb onto the top step of the podium at Croft this weekend in the Formula BMW championship. The 18-year-old has been one of the top three racers in six out of the ten rounds he’s contested...

Formula BMW UK - Brands Hatch - Preview 05.04.06

Oakes on form at Brands Hatch test session. Bracknell, 04 April, 2006. At a bright, but cold Brands Hatch, Formula BMW newcomer, Oliver Oakes (Carlin Motorsport) continued his impressive pre-season, finishing quickest overall at the final...

[:: previous ]