CHE Racing Team aims to end season on a high at The Bend

This weekend marks the final round of the Australian Formula Ford Series at The Bend where the CHE Racing Team aim to end the season on a high.

It’s been a solid season for the Canberra-based squad as it’s welcomed steady improvement from its two rookie drivers and multiple trophies.

Lachlan Strickland has been a standout rookie during the season scoring a maiden podium and being a pacesetter at various rounds. Strickland will be targeting a top 10 finish in the title with strong results at The Bend.

Teammate Imogen Radburn has demonstrated vastly improved race-craft this season, especially in the past two rounds where she has needed to claw back ground after opening race incidents.

Radburn will carry enhanced knowledge after getting the opportunity to join team mentor and Supercars driver Cameron Hill at Bathurst where she was immersed in the Matt Stone Racing crew for the weekend.

The Australian Formula Ford Series concludes after seven rounds across five states at The Bend Motorsport Park on October 13-15 as part of the Shannons Trophy Series.

QUOTES

Lachlan Strickland
#47 Rightway Insurance Services/CHE Racing Team

“It’s been a very exciting year,” Strickland summarised.

“It was a big build up at the end of last year coming into this season. A lot of work was put in just to get me into the car. I’ve learnt a lot, but at the end of the day I’m racing cars. Even though the results sometimes haven’t been there, I’m having a lot of fun.

“The team has been fantastic and it’s been a really positive first year, so I’m looking forward to giving it a crack in 2024.

“I’ve only completed a very short test day, we only did four or five sessions, so I still will be getting some of my bearings. The facility itself is awesome, it’s world class and one of the best I’ve been to.

“My engineer Chris and I have developed a really good relationship, as I have with Colin, Cam, Heath and everyone in the team. They’ve been exceptional and haven’t put a foot wrong all year.”

“I’m wanting to end my season on a high, which lines us up well for next year as if we can carry some momentum is always a good thing.

Imogen Radburn
#29 Radburn Racing Team/CHE Racing Team

“I feel like I’m getting more confident rather than sitting back and watching the boys come through, I’m now fighting with them,” said Radburn.

“I’ve been to The Bend two or three times, a couple have been in torrential rain and one dry day, so it’s not a place I’m totally familiar with. It’s a circuit I believe I can figure out quickly, so I’ll go in there with an open mind and see what happens.

“It was pretty eye opening just to see how much goes into where you want to end up like the simple things in doing data and debriefs, I learnt a lot doing that with Cam on Thursday and Friday at Bathurst. It’ll help me to progress to where I want to be in a few years.

“I haven’t always understood data easily, but on the weekend spending heaps of time with Cam doing that it made a lot more sense and this will be able to help me this weekend as I make the most of what I learned last weekend.

“It definitely hasn’t been easy juggling my HSE studies and racing. I’ve just completed an English exam yesterday, with another one today. I fly out straight after and come back Sunday night for my Maths exam on Monday, but it’s something I’ve got to do to chase my dreams.”