“Coming off of another strong showing at Gridlife Atlanta with a double podium in Streetmod for ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, I was feeling all the momentum and all the confidence heading into my 10th Gridlife Midwest, the event that started it all for me! The energy at Gridlife Midwest is just unmatched in every way, from the massive crowds to the festival vibes throughout the weekend, it’s always been my favourite event making a podium here just that much more meaningful. This is Gridlife’s Indy 500.”

“This weekend proved to me more of a challenge that I could have ever expected though. Right at the first corner of the very first session, my ABS failed, making each braking zone incredibly challenging. While racing a car designed without ABS is relatively straightforward, racing one without it that’s designed to have it is nothing short of dangerous.”

“Because of this, I was far off of the pace I needed to be fighting at the front, and potentially too far off to even put it in the top-5 for the podium sprint. I knew that if I wanted a podium, I needed to give it my absolute everything to at the very least make it into the sprint in order to give us the chance to fix our ABS issues, and I was able to do just that! Modulating my SR-21 pads and focusing on perfecting each and every braking zone, I got us into the sprint by just over a second! This gave us a full day to chase whatever electrical issue was causing our problems. Thankfully, Gridlife is a paddock full of the most helpful people, and after getting help from a couple mechanics on a Rush SR team, we found the blown fuse, and the ABS was back to working as it should! 

“Come Sunday, I knew what I had to do, and now that I could actually lean into the full potential of my ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ brakes, I knew I could give it my everything to go for my third podium in a row for the season! Although I missed out on second place due to fuel cuts from the car getting little too hot waiting in the pits from an incident on track, I was able to secure third, and with Eric Dewitt in first, this was yet another double podium for ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ! After such a challenging event, to be able to come home with a podium is something I’ll forever be grateful for. Next up we’ve got Watkins Glen, one of my favourite tracks and a place that the Mercedes really shines at! The last time we were there, not only did I set the Streetmod record, I was also able to get the overall record! I’m so hyped to see what we can do this time!â€�

“Round 3 of the Armed Forces Race Challenge brought a different format, with a single 45-minute race featuring a mandatory pit stop.

“Having never driven the circuit outside of the simulator, qualifying was always going to be a learning experience. Unfortunately, the session was heavily disrupted by incidents, resulting in multiple yellow flags and a red flag, limiting us to just two genuine flying laps. Despite this, we secured P6 overall and P1 in class with a 2:19 lap time. Both the car and I had more pace to find, but given the circumstances, it was a solid result.”

“The race got off to a great start. A strong launch allowed us to move from P6 to P4, passing two cars before Turn 1 before making another move on the guest Caterham to take P3 heading into the second hairpin.

“We settled comfortably into third place and were showing strong race pace before technical issues began to emerge. A low coolant warning appeared, with temperatures gradually increasing. Initially, this reduced engine boost, causing us to lose ground, before eventually removing boost entirely.

“From that point, the focus shifted from fighting for positions to managing the car and ensuring we reached the chequered flag without causing further damage. While several other Class B competitors also encountered issues and retired, allowing us to finish P1 in class, it was disappointing to lose what had been shaping up to be a very competitive result.”

“The positive takeaway is that the car clearly has the pace to run at the front, and the root cause of the issue has now been identified. We can address it, move forward, and come back stronger for the next round.

“Another major positive from the weekend was the performance of the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ braking package. The combination of the RP-X front pads, Bluestuff rear pads and ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ discs performed flawlessly throughout the event. Even under repeated heavy braking for the duration of the 45-min race, there was no sign of fade, and pedal feel remained consistent from start to finish. That level of confidence allowed me to progressively push my braking points later as the day went on, knowing the brakes would deliver the same performance lap after lap, the T51 Racing bespoke brake cooling kit also played it part and helped to keep the whole system temps down throughout.”

“A huge thank-you to everyone who came along to support, help prepare the car, and make the weekend possible. There were a few challenges leading up to the event, and at times it looked like we might not make the grid, but thanks to the efforts of those around me, we got there.

“Finally, a massive thank you to ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, Karlyone Care Ltd, and the Army Sports Car Racing team for their continued support throughout the season. Your backing is greatly appreciated, and we’re looking forward to coming back fighting at Brands Hatch in August.â€�

“Autoworks Motorsport closes the first round of the Iberian Supercars at the Algarve International Circuit with a bittersweet taste. The weekend demonstrated the excellent technical level of the Madrid structure and the incredibly fast race pace of its driver duo, but the final results were overshadowed by the harshness on track.

“The weekend began with very positive feelings in the qualifying sessions, where the tremendous equality and great form of the drivers from the Madrid structure were evident.”

“Héctor Hernández and Borja Hormigos drove to the limit, stopping the clock with a minimal difference of just one tenth of a second in favour of Héctor. This consistency in times demonstrated the rapid adaptation of both to the latest evolution of the BMW M4 GT4 (G82) and gave the team excellent starting positions for the official races. In the first race of the weekend, the team started from fourth position in the GT4 Bronze category, while in the second race they managed to secure a stellar second position.

“However, luck did not accompany them in both races when they were running in podium positions. In the first race, a heavy hit delivered by the same rival relegated the team to fifth final position, a result that did not do justice to the real pace on track. The story repeated itself almost identically in the second leg. A new impact by the same opponent left the vehicle severely damaged, forcing a retirement and depriving the car of crossing the finish line.”

“Despite the double material blow, the balance of the structure is positive professionally. The pure performance of the car, the race pace, and the flawless work of the young technical specialists and technological partners (ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ racing and ELF Lubricants) proved that the project has plenty of speed to fight for the GT4 Bronze championship.”

“Qualifying showed that Borja and I are running the same times and that the car is fast,” says Héctor Hernández. “The race pace was spectacular and that is the positive takeaway. We know we have the speed and that the team worked at two hundred percent, but it is a shame that external factors leave us without the points we deserved.”

“It makes us very angry to finish like this because starting second in race two, the podium was within our reach,” declares Borja Hormigos. “In the second leg, the hit forced us to retire. Now it is time to change the mindset immediately; we had to experience the bitter side of racing and now we have to pull together to leave the car perfect.”

“The logistics team is already on its way back to the Autoworks Motorsport facilities. The technical staff will focus all their efforts starting today on evaluating the structural damage and proceeding with the urgent repair of the BMW M4 GT4, with the aim of arriving in full condition for the most important event of the year in front of their fans.

“The second round of the Supercars Endurance season will be held at the Circuito de Madrid Jarama-RACE. The event will score points solely for the Spanish Supercars Championship and promises to bring together a high-level grid once again on a circuit with a unique history in Iberian motorsport.”

“Going into this weekend, fresh off of a strong result at Gridlife Carolina coming in P2, I had so much confidence to give it my everything one of my all-time favourite tracks: Road Atlanta. To start out the weekend, I was met with some traffic during my flyers, so initially I wasn’t able to show what the true pace was. With this being a two-day, traditional time attack weekend with a limited schedule, the pressure was on to put together a perfect lap. On top of that, we had rain in the forecast for Sunday, potentially limiting us to only 3 dry sessions.”

“Road Atlanta is a very high-speed track, with the car hitting speeds of over 165 mph, putting the braking performance on centre stage. My SR-21s performed at their best, giving me the confidence to carry as much speed as possible into even the heaviest of braking zones, without a single ounce of hesitation, just full confidence. Ending the day on Saturday, I still never got a truly clean lap catching traffic on a track that is incredibly difficult to pass at, but even with this, I was able to put us into P3 going into Sunday.”

“Come Sunday morning, to my surprise, we had no rain! I knew exactly where I needed to find the time, and I did just that. Battling back and forth up until the last session, I ended the weekend in P2, with Eric Dewitt in P1, also on ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵs! Just like Carolina, this was an ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Streetmod 1-2, and on top of that, in ClubTR, the entire podium was swept by ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ equipped cars! I couldn’t be prouder to show represent ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ in such a strong showing against such a strong field at one of the most difficult tracks in the world.â€�

“This weekend, we attended Rounds 1 and 2 of the Armed Forces Race Challenge at Silverstone National Circuit.

“Making the results even more special, this marked the very first race weekend for the car and myself, making it a huge milestone after 18 months of work preparing the car myself to get it race ready.”

“The weekend proved challenging from the outset, with intermittent boost issues that unfortunately remained unresolved throughout both races. Despite the setbacks, we kept pushing and were able to bring the car home in both races, securing a strong P3 in class during Race 1 and improving to P2 in class in Race 2.

“A huge positive from the weekend was the performance of the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ package. The RP-X pads paired with the Bluestuff pads and discs performed flawlessly throughout the weekend, delivering consistent stopping power with zero brake fade and remaining sharp and reliable across both races.”

“Massive thanks to the Army Sports Car Racing Team, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, and KARLYONE CARE LTD for all of their continued support throughout the weekend. Your backing makes it possible for us to keep pushing forward, even during difficult race weekends.

“We’ll regroup, resolve the boost issues, and come back stronger for the next round at Snetterton 300 on the 20th of June.�

“We ended up scoring P2 at Gridlife Carolina, and Dewey got P1 so we’re looking at an ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ front-row lockout!

“The first day, we battled the heat since temps were in the 90s, but on Sunday after putting in some sticker tires I was able to go 5 tenths faster than my previous personal best!”

“The SR-21s felt incredible all weekend and I really had the confidence to push into the braking zones and trust the ABS when needed.

“Next up is Atlanta and I really think we’ve got a good shot at getting P1 there, it’s a track that really suits the Mercedes and personally a track that I’m very comfortable at.�

“What a weekend of contrasts at Silverstone. From the frustration of a last-lap mechanical failure whilst running strongly in Race 1, to fighting through the entire field in treacherous wet conditions to take Race 2 victory — including the fastest lap of the race. A weekend that truly tested every aspect of our package, and one I am incredibly proud of.�

Qualifying – 6^th

“A solid start to the weekend, securing P6 overall and placing us firmly within contention for the race ahead. The lap gave us strong confidence in the car’s balance heading into Race 1.â€�

Race 1 – DNF

“Race 1 was a genuine disappointment, though not without significant positives. From sixth on the grid, we quickly moved to the front and led the race for over half the distance — demonstrating real pace and racecraft. A potential podium, and possibly P2, was very much within our grasp. Heartbreakingly, a mechanical failure on the final lap brought our race to a premature end. The pace shown throughout was hugely encouraging and the team’s work all weekend was commendable.â€�

Race 2 – P1 Victory + Fastest Lap

“Race 2 will be one to remember. Starting from the back of the 420R grid on a fully saturated track, and running on tyres I had never used in wet conditions before, the challenge was clear. Rather than letting the uncertainty affect our approach, we stayed focused, built a strong rhythm from the opening laps, and began working our way methodically through the field. The wet conditions demanded complete concentration, and the car responded superbly. We overtook competitor after competitor, ultimately crossing the line in first place — with the fastest lap of the race to our name. A hard-fought, fully deserved victory.�

Looking Ahead

“This weekend has given us great momentum. The speed is clearly there, and so is the ability to perform under pressure in difficult conditions. We will review the Race 1 mechanical failure thoroughly to ensure it cannot be repeated, and we head to the next round with confidence and determination.

“A huge and heartfelt thank you to every one of our sponsors — your continued support is what makes weekends like this possible. We are proud to represent you on track and look forward to doing so again at Snetterton.�

“A really positive and productive shakedown at Donington Park’s National Circuit for the car’s first outing, with lots of positive feedback from coaches and passengers that came out in the car.

“The car performed exceptionally well straight out of the box for its first outing, with only a couple of small niggles that were quickly identified and are easily resolved ahead of the next outing. Overall, balance and confidence in the car is very high, and it’s clear we’ve got a strong platform to build on.”

“Grip levels were outstanding throughout the day, allowing us to push harder with each session and really start to explore the car’s potential.

“A big highlight was the braking performance. The new ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ setup, running a combination of RP-X and Bluestuff pads, was absolutely faultless. Consistent, confidence-inspiring, and strong under all conditions, I am yet to actually reach the limit of the brake setup; they performed perfectly all day and are a massive step forward for the car, I am currently adding a brake cooling setup to help keep performance at its optimal level for the races.

“I am now tweaking the couple of bits that needed attention and giving the car a once over ready for the first race of the season at Silverstone in May.”

The 750 Motor Club Armed Forces Race Challenge (AFRC) was developed to bring together four-wheeled motor racers from all across the Armed Forces. The challenge allows a level playing field of competition irrespective of car performance by rewarding consistency during races, so the focus remains on the driver rather than the machinery. Find out more by .