Assen UK VdeV
Driving to the top of the table
September 2008
Ryan Hooker (Upminster, Essex) and team-mate Sarah Reader put in another sterling performance in the VdeV UK Championship when it visited Assen in Holland for its latest round. Racing to a 4th place finish the pair have secured the Championship lead with two rounds left to go.
This was Ryan's first visit to the TT Circuit at Assen and it proved a great circuit to drive the TFL Racing prepared Juno on. With both practice and qualifying in dry conditions, Ryan and Sarah put in their best qualifying to date taking 7th on the grid and noticeably closing the gap to the dominant Ligiers on the track.
With a change on their usual tactics, Sarah started the race to drive the first hour and a quarter. Though starting in the dry the skies over Holland turned rainy at the 6 lap mark and the wet conditions remained until Sarah handed over to Ryan for the final hour and three quarters.
As a dry line appeared Ryan and the team choose to stay out on wets as his lap times remained competitive and this strategy played well into the team's hands as the rain fell for a period once more.
Coming home in 4th place, any disappointment at just missing the podium was soon dispelled as their points haul saw them take the Championship lead for the first time this year with just two rounds left.
"Assen was a fabulous circuit and great fun to drive" said Ryan afterwards, "and once again we've proved competitive and consistent. To come away with the Championship lead with two rounds to go is exhilarating. This is mine and Sarah's first season racing together and the first season of VdeV for TFL Racing so it is proving an even better debut than we dared dream for."
Their next race will be back on UK soil when they race at Croft in North Yorkshire on 27-28 September and will be a 3 Hour race.